Airman Alvin Scarborough identified 81 years after dying as a prisoner of war in World War II

A historical development has taken place with the identification of an American airman who passed away 81 years ago as a prisoner of war during World War II. U.S. Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Alvin R. Scarborough, 22, from Dossville, Mississippi, was with the 454th Ordnance Company when the Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in December 1941, triggering months of fierce combat.

Invasion and Surrender of the Philippines

The invasion of the Philippine Islands by Japanese forces led to the surrender of the Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942, and Corregidor Island on May 6, 1942. The American and Filipino service members fought valiantly until the eventual surrender, which marked a significant turning point in the theater of war in the Pacific.

After the surrender, thousands of U.S. and Filipino soldiers, including Scarborough, were captured and detained at prisoner-of-war camps. Scarborough was subjected to the infamous 65-mile Bataan death march, a grueling ordeal that claimed the lives of many prisoners. He was later held at the Cabanatuan POW camp, where over 2,500 prisoners of war reportedly died due to the harsh conditions.

Sarborough passed away on July 28, 1942, and was interred along with other deceased prisoners in the local Cabanatuan Camp Cemetery in Common Grave 215. Graves at the Cabanatuan cemetery were exhumed after the war, and the remains were relocated to a temporary U.S. military mausoleum near Manila.

In 2018, remains from Common Grave 215 were sent to DPAA labs for analysis. Although many remains could not be identified, researchers employed a combination of anthropological analysis, circumstantial evidence, and mitochondrial DNA to confirm Scarborough's identity on September 21, 2023.

Burial Plans and Legacy

Staff Sgt. Alvin R. Scarborough will be laid to rest in Carthage, Mississippi, on a date to be determined. This significant development brings closure to the long-standing mystery surrounding Scarborough's disappearance and offers a sense of resolution to his family and community after over eight decades.

Securiong this identification is a testament to the ongoing efforts of agencies such as the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) to provide closure to the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice during wartime. The identification of Scarborough serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by American service members during World War II and stands as a tribute to their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity.