Remains Of Two Missing Servicemen Identified

LOS ANGELES, CA – The remains of two 19-year-olds killed in mid-20th century wars have been identified and will each be buried with full military honors this week, Gov. Jerry Brown's office announced Monday. Both men were from Los Angeles.

On Nov. 20, 1943, Pvt. Donald S. Spayd landed on the island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands as part of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. Spayd died on the first day of that World War II battle as Allied forces tried to secure the island.

In 1949, a military review board declared his remains non-recoverable. But in June 2015, the private organization History Flight Inc. notified the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency that they discovered a burial site on the island and recovered the remains of what were believed to be 35 U.S. Marines, which were then turned over to DPAA in July 2015. Scientists with DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used DNA and other evidence to identify the remains, according to the DPAA.

Spayd will be buried on Wednesday with full honors, and his family will receive a letter of condolence from the governor.

In November 1950, Cpl. Clarence R. Skates, a member of Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, was reported missing in action between the towns of Kumu-ri and Sunchon in North Korea. Cpl. Skates' regiment suffered heavy losses when the unit was overrun by Chinese forces.

After the Korean War ended, a former prisoner of war reported hearing that Skates died while marching to a POW camp. Based on this information, Skates was declared dead as of Feb. 5, 1954.

In 2002, remains of up to 11 people were recovered from the site of a temporary prison camp in Unsan County, North Pyongan Province, North Korea. They were sent to a laboratory and identified by DPAA and Armed Forces Medical Examiner System scientists.

Skates will be buried on Friday with full honors, and his family also will receive a letter of condolence from the governor.

Brown ordered that flags by flown at half-staff over the state Capitol in honor of both men.

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