WWII Soldier from Maryland Identified and Set for Burial After Decades Missing

A World War II soldier from Maryland, U.S. Army Air Force Staff Sgt. John A. Tarbert, who was missing for nearly 80 years, is finally set to be laid to rest. Tarbert, a native of Port Deposit, was just 24 when his B-24J Liberator was shot down over Bassenheim, Germany, during a bombing mission on September 27, 1944. Despite searches for his remains following the war, recovery efforts were initially unsuccessful. Villagers in the area had reportedly buried some remains from the crash, but none were identified as Tarbert.

In February 1946, the American Graves Registration Command made efforts to locate unaccounted U.S. soldiers from the region. However, Tarbert’s body wasn’t recovered at the time. Another search was conducted in 1951, and two sets of remains were found near the crash site, but they couldn’t be identified. Those remains were buried in the North Africa American Cemetery in Carthage, Tunisia, where they remained for decades.

It wasn’t until September 2022, when the remains were exhumed and sent for forensic analysis, that new advancements in DNA technology finally provided the answers his family had been waiting for. Using Y chromosome and autosomal DNA testing, scientists positively identified the remains as Tarbert’s. His family has been notified, and arrangements for a burial have been made. On October 8, 2024, Tarbert will be laid to rest at Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, New York, providing his family long-awaited closure.

This marks another step in the ongoing mission by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to locate and identify soldiers who went missing during World War II. Tarbert’s identification follows that of two other Maryland soldiers who were recently accounted for after being missing in action during the war.

These efforts underscore the DPAA’s commitment to honoring the memory of fallen service members and the families who have endured decades of uncertainty. As more advancements are made in DNA technology, the hope is that more missing soldiers will be identified and properly honored for their sacrifices.

As the October burial date approaches, Tarbert’s story serves as a reminder of the dedication and bravery of the men and women who fought in World War II and the ongoing work to ensure that no one is forgotten.