Military death notices

When were family members notified of the dead and missing in the attack on Pearl Harbor? Amid the chaos and confusion of the sneak attack, I imagined there were higher priorities at the time. Though the military no doubt had a protocol in place, which probably varied from case to case, my interest is in the general time span from the actual occurrence to the notification of kin. I'd appreciate any personal recollections. Thank you all.

 

I've wondered that myself. My uncle was stationed at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. Evidently, it took several weeks for news of his status to reach my grandparents. My uncle and all of his siblings are now deceased, so it's difficult to get info. If I can learn anything about his experience, I'll post.

 

Even that is informative. You mentioned that news arrived eventually. So your folks were notified that all was well with your Uncle? Was that because your folks inquired or was it automatic?

 

I recall seeing on one of the Military channels an interview with one of the survivors, and his mother actually. As soon (within a day or two) as possible, the military command had a great number of small post-cards printed up and distributed to the surviving service personnel. They were to fill in their names, and state of health, and a short comment section. These were gathered up, and sent to the mainland within the week where they were placed in the normal first class mail system. As to those who were killed, I would expect that the wait on that would take quite awhile since there are still markers over remains in The Punch Bowl (military grave-yard) in Honolulu that are listed as "unknown".

I would expect that since the mails were at the time, sorted and delivered on rail cars as they spread out from the west coast, it could have taken different times for each family depending on where they lived to get news on their surviving offspring. Just something I recall, and vaguely at that so I could easily be wrong.

 

This is an area of the war that has always intrigued me. I can't imagine not knowing...the sheer amount of MIA and unknowns from the war is heart breaking. I'd love to work in the forensics field that helps ID them and bring them home.

 

There's a wartime article on the subject published in the Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No 329 August 1944.

Go here http://www.navy.mil/media/allhands/acrobat/ah194408.pdf

Article starts on page 10.

Rich

 

The answers I was seeking. I extend my gratitude, my friend. -thank you.