COLUMNS Bring Them Home

L. I. VETERANS BULLETIN

research, field investigations, archaeological surveys, forensic analysis and DNA testing.

The DPAA deploys teams of professionals, including historians, anthropologists, forensic scientists and recovery specialists to locate and excavate potential burial sites, crash sites, or other locations where missing personnel may be located.

Advancements in technology and scientific techniques have significantly aided the recovery efforts. Forensic anthropology and DNA analysis have become powerful tools in the identification process. DNA samples from family members are collected and compared with remains to establish positive identifications. The use of satellite imagery, remote sensing technologies, and GIS (Geographic Information System) mapping has enhanced the ability to locate and assess potential recovery sites.

The United States government has also made efforts to strengthen cooperation and information sharing with foreign governments. This collaboration is crucial, especially in cases where missing personnel might have been buried or located in other countries. Agreements and partnerships established with nations involved in past conflicts, allow for joint investigations, data sharing, and repatriation efforts.

Our government also supports the families of missing personnel. The Next-OfKin program, managed by the DPAA (www. dpaa.mil), provides information on the progress of investigations, access to counseling services, and assistance in obtaining military benefits and entitlements.

I am presently working with the family of Staff Sergeant Benjamin Bromley of Mineola, whose body has never been recovered. Bromley was an engineer of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps, that was flying a mission in the North Atlantic in July of 1943 when it was reported missing. The government has released its findings to Bromley’s family, all ending without resolution. As the 80th anniversary of

Bromley’s disappearance approaches, the family, several generations later, continues to gather clues and holds high hope that technological advances will bring their Staff Sergeant home for good.

The recovery and identification process remains challenging. The passage of time, logistical constraints, and the complexity of locating and identifying remains pose significant obstacles. Some recovery efforts are hampered by political, geographical, or security considerations in certain regions of the world.

I recently assisted the Army and their professional forensic geneaologists on a hunt for the next-of-kin of a World War II soldier whose remains were recently recovered on foreign soil and positively identified. The family, who had originally lived in Great Neck, has since either moved away, passed away or disappeared from Long Island over the course of nearly eight decades. Sadly, our efforts to locate a next-of-kin for this particular soldier were unsuccessful.

Through ongoing research, technological advancements, international cooperation, and dedicated personnel, the efforts to recover POWs and MIAs continue to make progress. The ultimate goal is to provide answers and closure to families, to honor the memory of those who served, and to ensure that their sacrifices are never forgotten.

–Christy Hinko, managing editor at Anton Media Group and U.S. Navy veteran dgilderubio@antonmediagroup.com

In the 60-plus years that George Benson has been a professional musician, the Montreal International Jazz Festival has always held a special place in his heart dating back to the event’s humble origins in 1980.

“I’ll be seeing musicians I haven’t seen in a long time because they’re coming from all over the world,” he said. “I’ve seen it grow from a nice event to an enormous event. One of my favorite photos is one of myself and Paco De Lucia and John McLaughlin. I love playing there very much.”

Having just turned 80 back in March, Benson shows no signs of slowing down. With 10 Grammys to his name starting back in 1977 with a trio for Best R&B Instrumental Performance, Best Pop Instrumental Performance and Record of the Year, the octogenarian musician has always straddled the jazz and pop worlds. His multi-generational appeal even found English virtual band Gorillaz seeking out his services for their 2018 cut “Humility.” It wasn’t necessarily an easy sell for Benson, who initially declined to participate when his manager forwarded the group’s request.

“I thought it was an African-American group and I told her there was no way I was going to be on a record with some cats called The Gorillas because it sounded so ridiculous,” he recalled. “When I found out they were a Caucasian group from England, I had no idea what was going on so I told her to send me the music. I didn’t hear anything I could shine on or make sound better so I didn’t want to waste any body’s time. I said I couldn’t do it because I couldn’t find anything that meant anything. They asked her to have Mr. Benson put anything on there because they just wanted my sound. They sent me another song that sounded worse than the first song to me, so I went back to the first song. I went into the studio and