By Bernadette H. Carreon
Horizon news staff

The Joint Prisoner of War /Missing in Action Accounting Command is back in Palau to conduct investigations of sites believed to be associated with missing American servicemen from World War II.
Capt. George Mitroka, senior team leader said that his team is composed of 29 men who would conduct an underwater recovery operation for a month to investigate wreckages for missing American soldiers.
"The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Commands, JPAC, mission is to account for
All missing American service members from our nations past wars. No
Case is ever closed until we determine what happened to that service
member," Mitroka said.
JPAC is under the authority of the United States Department of Defense.
Mitroka said that there are approximately 78,000 Americans still unaccounted for from World War II and there approximately 100 believed missing in Palau.
"Every soldier is entitled to one certainty that he will not be
forgotten; and the men and women of JPAC are singular in our focus.
that the reason we deploy to some of the most remote and rugged areas on earth are to keep that promise. This mission could not be completed.
Without the support of Palau as the host nation; and everyone we have come in contact with have been supported and encouraging of our effort.
JPAC encourages anyone with information relating to an American loss to contact us either directly or through the American Embassy or Consulate." He added.
He said that during this mission his team is excavating one location underwater in Aimeliik State.
His team is also conducting investigations around the country that could correlate other cases of possible missing Americans lost during WWII.
The team was here in 2005 to also conduct a recovery operation.
Rita Olsudong, National Archaeologists , Bureau of Arts and Culture said that the bureau is working together with the Navy team to ensure that sites are protected and stay preserved.
The team obtained a permit to work on the site.