Ang Pahayagan

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has launched one of its largest and most complex underwater recovery missions to account for Americans associated with the sinking of the Oryoku Maru, a Japanese prisoner-of-war transport ship destroyed in Subic Bay during World War II.

The multi-year mission led by DPAA in partnership with the United States Navy and the Government of the Philippines, reflecting strong U.S.–Philippine defense cooperation and a shared commitment to honoring those who served, said a DPAA news release dated February 24.

The Oryoku Maru was carrying Allied prisoners of war when it was sunk in December 1944. The recovery effort presents significant operational challenges, requiring the use of advanced underwater recovery and identification techniques to ensure the mission is conducted with the utmost care and dignity.

“This mission represents our solemn commitment to provide the fullest possible accounting to families and the nation,” said Barrett Breland, DPAA team leader for the Oryoku Maru recovery. “We carry this responsibility with compassion and integrity, and our success depends on strong partnerships and unwavering respect for the fallen.”

The operation underscores the enduring alliance between the United States and the Philippines and highlights the Department of Defense’s commitment to recovering and identifying Americans who remain unaccounted for from past conflicts.

TOP 📸: A U.S. Marine serviceman pays his respects at the Oryoku Maru Memorial Shrine during a commemoration rite in Subic Bay Freeport in this December 2024 file photo. (Ang Pahayagan photo / JUN DUMAGUING)