WWII POW Airman Sgt. James H. Murray (Photo: DPAA)
A February press release issued by the Department of Defense announced that on September 23, 2024, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, DPAA, confirmed the identification of U.S. Army Air Forces Sgt. James H. Murray, a World War II prisoner of war. Murray, a 25-year-old from Hollywood, California, was captured during the war and later died as a prisoner. His family recently received a full briefing on his identification, allowing more details to be shared about his case.
In late 1941, Murray served with the 93rd Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group in the Philippines when Japanese forces invaded in December. Intense battles followed until U.S. forces in Bataan surrendered on April 9, 1942, with Corregidor falling shortly after on May 6. Thousands of U.S. and Filipino troops were captured and forced to endure the grueling 65-mile Bataan Death March, suffering from relentless violence, starvation, and exhaustion along the way. Many perished along the way due to execution, disease, or exposure. Survivors were sent to prison camps, including Cabanatuan POW Camp #1, where conditions were dire, and thousands more lost their lives.
Murray was among those held at Cabanatuan, where malnutrition and disease were rampant. According to historical records, he died on November 22, 1942, and was buried in Common Grave 816 within the camp cemetery. After the war, the American Graves Registration Service exhumed remains from the site and relocated them to a temporary military mausoleum in Manila. An initial identification effort in 1947 was only able to confirm one set of remains from the grave, while the rest were classified as unidentifiable and interred at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, MACM, as “Unknowns.”
In 2019, as part of the ongoing Cabanatuan Project, DPAA recovered the remains from Common Grave 816 for further analysis. Scientists used dental and anthropological assessments, along with mitochondrial DNA testing, to identify Murray’s remains. Circumstantial evidence further supported the findings. Though his grave was marked as “Unknown” for decades, it was maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission, ABMC. With his identification confirmed, a rosette will be placed next to his name on the Walls of the Missing at the MACM to indicate that he has been accounted for.
Murray’s final resting place will be Arlington National Cemetery, though the burial date has yet to be determined. His family and those wishing to attend his services can contact the Army Casualty Office at (800) 892-2490 for further details.
DPAA acknowledges the contributions of the ABMC and the U.S. Army in their continued efforts to locate and identify missing Service Members, ensuring that those who made the ultimate sacrifice are honored and remembered.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.