This tradition, known as "flags in," has been conducted annually since The Old Guard was designated as the Army's official ceremonial unit in 1948. Every available soldier in the 3rd U.S. Infantry participates, placing small American flags one foot in front and centered before each grave marker.

WASHINGTON, November. 6, 2019, The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced that Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Michael Kocopy, 20, of Boothwyn, PA, killed during World War II, was accounted for on 27
August 2019.

In November 1943, Kocopy was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, which landed against stiff Japanese resistance on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, in an attempt to secure the island. Over several days of intense fighting at Tarawa, approximately 1,000 Marines and Sailors were killed and more than 2,000 were wounded, while the Japanese were virtually annihilated. Kocopy was killed on the first day of the battle, Nov. 20, 1943. His remains were reportedly buried in the Central Division Cemetery on Betio Island.

In 1946, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company centralized all of the American remains found on Tarawa to Lone Palm Cemetery for later repatriation. However, almost half of the known casualties were never found. No recovered remains could be associated with Kocopy, and in October 1949, a Board of Review declared him “non-recoverable.”

In 2014, History Flight, Inc., a nonprofit organization, identified a site correlated with Cemetery 26. Excavations of the site uncovered multiple sets of remains, which were turned over to DPAA in 2015, where they were subsequently accessioned to the DPAA laboratory.

To identify Kocopy’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.

DPAA is grateful to the United States Marine Corps for their assistance in this mission. Additionally, DPAA is appreciative to History Flight, Inc., for their partnership in this mission.

Of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II, more than 400,000 died during the war. Currently there are over 70,000 service members still unaccounted for from World War II with approximately 30,000 assessed as possibly recoverable. Kocopy’s name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl, along with the others killed or lost in WWII. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

On Sept. 21, 1966, CDR James B. Mills, a Naval Radar Intercept Officer (RIO), and the pilot, Capt. James R. Bauder, USN, were assigned to Fighter Squadron Twenty One, aboard the, USS Coral Sea, flying in an F-4B in a flight of two aircraft on a night armed reconnaissance mission over then-North Vietnam. During the mission, the other aircraft lost contact with Mills’ aircraft, and his plane did not return to the ship. No missiles or anti-aircraft artillery were observed in the target area and no explosions were seen. An extensive search was conducted with negative results. Based on this information, Mills was declared missing in action.

Between 1993 and 2003, the loss of the Bauder/Mills aircraft was investigated a total of 15 times, with no success. In 2006, during Joint Field Activity 86, the investigation led to a possible underwater crash site. Five underwater investigations were required in order to determine the aircraft wreckage correlated to Bauder/Mills’ loss. In 2011, the Air Force Life Science Equipment Laboratory, now an element of DPAA, was able to positively identify the recovered wreckage as the Bauder/Mills aircraft.

Between 2010 and 2017, Underwater Recovery Teams (URT) from DPAA conducted excavations of a submerged aircraft crash site in the waters immediately off Quynh Phuong Village, Quynh Luu District, Nghe An Province, Vietnam. During the excavations, numerous pieces of aircraft wreckage, consistent with the Bauder/Mills aircraft, were found, as well as possible osseous material. The remains found were identified as Mills’ pilot, Bauder.

In June, 2018, a DPAA Joint Recovery Team conducted another excavation, finding additional remains.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced on 28 August 2018 that Navy Reserve Cmdr. James B. Mills, 26, of Bakersfield, California, killed during the Vietnam War, was accounted for Aug. 20, 2018.

To identify Mills’ remains, DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence.

CBS News anchor Norah O'Donnell speaking with General Mark A. Milley who serves as the 20th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery.

On October 28, 2010, Staff Sergeant Adam Lynn Dickmyer died at age twenty-six of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He served with the 2d Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2d Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) , Fort Campbell.

Prior to this assignment, Adam served in the Old Guard at Fort Myer, Arlington, Virginia for five years. He served as Commander of the Relief and Assistant Sergeant of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

On Sept. 21, 2010, America lost one of its bravest sons. Navy SEAL, LT Brendan Looney, a San Diego, Calif. resident, was 29 years old. Brendan was born in Silver Spring and raised in Owings, Md., where he attended DeMatha Catholic High School, and excelled as a football and baseball player before graduating in 1999.

First Lt. Travis L. Manion, 26, died April 29 in combat in Anbar province. He was serving his second tour in Iraq, embedded with an Iraqi army unit that he was leading and training.
“He was so sure what he was doing over there was right,” said his mother, Jannette Manion. “He called the night Bush made his speech about the troop surge and told us, ‘That’s exactly what we need.’ His biggest concern was that the politicians over here were giving life to the insurgents by putting the military and president down.”
“He was a kid with a big heart, never had a bad word for anyone. He was all heart; that is who he was,” his father Tom Manion said.
"IF NOT ME, THEN WHO..."

Capt. Joseph W. Schultz died May 29 when the vehicle he was traveling in, while on a mounted patrol, struck an improvised explosive device in the Wardak Province, Afghanistan.

Master Sgt. Joshua L. Wheeler, 39, of Roland, Oklahoma, died Oct. 22, 2015 in Kirkuk Province, Iraq, from wounds received by enemy small-arms fire during an operation.

Master Sergeant Joshua L. Wheeler is not only the recipient of a Purple Heart, he has also received 11 Bronze Stars. Four of the 11 Bronze Stars are with Valor.

General Mark A. Milley who serves as the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff placed his challenge coin near the headstone of Master Sergeant Joshua L. Wheeler in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery.

General Mark A. Milley and his wife of over 35 years Hollyanne walking thru Section 60 of Arlington.

Technical Sergeant Scott E. Duffman, was killed in action in Afghanistan, on February 18, 2007, when an MH-47 with twenty-one other personnel crashed.
At the time of the crash, the special operations team was providing CSAR coverage to several ongoing operations.
Duffman was assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron (24 STS), stationed at Pope AFB, North Carolina, and his decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Air Force Achievement Medal.

Lance Cpl. Eric W. Herzberg, 20, of Severna Park, Md., died Oct. 21, 2006, while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. After graduating high school in 2005, Eric joined the Marine Corps, and was deployed to Iraq in July 2006. Eric was survived by his mother, Gina Barnhurst, his father, Eric Herzberg, his sister, Katie, and brother, Matthew.

General Mark A. Milley who serves as the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff placed flags at the headstone of the fallen in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery.

1st Lt. Kenneth M. Ballard, a 26-year-old Army officer had been scheduled to return from Iraq eight days before he was killed by small arms fire, his single mother said of her only child.
Lt. Ken Ballard, a tank platoon leader, died May 30, 2004 in Najaf, where U.S. troops had halted offensive operations Thursday as peace talks continued with Shiite militia leaders, said Karen Meredith, Ballard’s mother.
In one of the last e-mails Meredith received from Iraq, her son wrote, “Don’t worry about us. We know what we’re doing.”
Ballard originally had been scheduled to return from a little more than a year in Iraq on May 22, but Meredith said she rescheduled his “welcome home” party to Labor Day weekend after his stay was extended. The timing of his death made the news even more painful, she said.
Mother and son chatted, online or over the telephone, almost every day. The pair last talked Thursday, “a bonus day” because Meredith received both a letter and a phone call from her son.
“He was an only child. I was a single mom. He knew how important it was for me to hear from him,” Meredith said.
In his absence, Meredith began posting his photos from Iraq on her Web site, to keep friends and family updated about his daily activities and to remind the world “there are real people over there.” Ballard’s favorite picture shows him pointing to the fist-sized hole left by the sixth rocket-propelled grenade to hit his tank.
“It was important that people see his smiling face and for people to know what was going on in Iraq, that it wasn’t just a news story,” she said.
Born in Mountain View, Ballard joined the Army after graduating from Mountain View High in 1995. He served in Bosnia and Macedonia before taking a leave to attend Middle Tennessee State University, where he earned a degree in international relations in 2002.
Ballard planned to serve in the Army for two more years, then to earn a master’s degree and work in Washington, D.C. Now, Meredith said, “it’s going to be a different kind of welcome home.”

Our Gold Star Moms brought plenty of their cookies for the soldiers placing flags. For Flags In 2021 the American Gold Star Mothers and TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) family members were allowed to place flags at the headstones of our fallen heroes.

Gold Star Mother Sarah Taylor helped in the placing of flags at the headstone of our fallen heroes.

Gold Star Mother Patti Elliott helped in the placing of flags at the headstone of our fallen heroes.

Gold Star Mother Chaplain Elaine Brattain helped in the placing of flags at the headstone of our fallen heroes.

Gold Star Mother Lee-Ann Forsythe helped in the placing of flags at the headstone of our fallen heroes.

Semper Fidelis

Army Ranger, Honor Guard Captain carries a supply of flags for our Gold Star Mothers and TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) family members.

Gold Star Mother National President Jo Ann Maitland places flag at Vietnam MOH Bruce Wayne Carter’s headstone in Section 60.

Members of the Air Force honor guard place flag at the headstone of their friend Airman First Class (A1C) Alvin Cornelius Mack III

Gold Star Mother National President Jo Ann Maitland places flags along a row in Section 60, the home to many of our Iraq, Afghan heroes.

Gold Star Mother Patti Elliott spends some time with her only son Lucas in Section 60. Was honored to attend his full honors burial recording it for his family.

L/Cpl Eric L. Ward, 19, of Redmond, Washington, died February 21, 2010, while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

A fourth-generation Marine, Ward was a machine gunner. While the exact cause of L/Cpl Eric L. Ward’s death was not released, his unit was reportedly involved in an intense offensive to retake the city of Marjah from Taliban control, according to the Seattle Times.

L/Cpl. Nicholas S. O’Brien, 21, of Stanley, North Carolina, died June 9, 2011 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

SEAC Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Ramon “CZ” Colón-López after placing flag pays his respects to L/Cpl. Nicholas S. O’Brien.

General Mark A. Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is holding information I had given to him concerning the “Lost Fire Team” from the Mayaguez Incident of May 1975.
This was the 2nd time I had asked General Milley to look into why these three Marines, Pvt. Danny Marshall, Pfc. Gary Hall and L/Cpl Joseph N. Hargrove were left behind by their Marine Corps leadership. There remains have never been recovered and their families would like to know why they have never been awarded recognition for giving up their lives for Our Freedoms?