One of World War II's biggest mysteries is finally solved as missing US soldier who belonged to iconic Army unit is identified

One of World War II's longest mysteries has finally been solved as the US military identified a missing soldier from an iconic Army unit more than 80 years after his disappearance. 

Joseph Gala, a US Army soldier and 'Merrill Marauder's' member, was declared killed in action on July 14, 1944, two months after he went missing during a mission in Burma, now known as Myanmar. 

According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), the US Military announced on November 4th that Gala's remains were identified and were accounted for on September 10, 2025. 

The exact circumstances of Gala's death at 21-years-old were never recorded.

'They tried to figure out for years and years whatever really happened to him. We're very honored that he is able to finally come home,' Scott DeGregory, a family member of Gala, told WCVB. 

The agency reported the village of Mankrin was Gala's last seen location as he fought alongside the 'Merrill Marauders' group, a volunteer infantry unit named after its commander. 

'After arriving at the recently captured airfield in Myitkyina, Burma, Gala's battalion advanced south from the village of Mankrin on June 16 [1944] against heavily fortified Japanese positions north of Myitkyina,' the DPAA wrote in a press release. 

The 'jungle fighters' group was created by President Franklin D Roosevelt to complete a 'secret and dangerous mission' in the China-Burma-India theater, also known as the 'forgotten theater,' according to the US Army. 

Joseph Gala, a US Army soldier and 'Merrill Marauder's' member, was declared killed in action on July 14, 1944, two months after he went missing during a mission in Burma, now known as Myanmar

'Merrill Marauders' was created by President Franklin D Roosevelt to complete a 'secret and dangerous mission' in the China-Burma-India Theater, also known as the 'forgotten theater,' according to the US Army

The DPAA agency reported the village of Mankrin was Gala's last seen location as he fought alongside the 'Merrill Marauders' group (pictured), a volunteer infantry unit named after its commander.

Although about 3,000 men volunteered for the mission, only 200 returned home. 

'We were expendable. A plan existed on paper to get us into Burma, but no plan existed to get us out,' Sam Wilson, a former Marauder soldier, told the US Army. 

'Those that volunteered had no idea what the mission was going to be,' Robert Passanisi, one of the surviving troops, told CBS. 

Each soldier who fought in the 'Merrill's Marauders' group was later awarded a Bronze star from the US military. Pentagon officials ordered that none of the men would be placed in combat again.  

In 1946, all the remains of servicemen killed during the battle were transferred from the US Military Cemetery in Myitkyina, Burma to Kalaikunda, India. 

Any unidentified remains were then transferred to the Central Identification Laboratory on Oahu, Hawaii, for further analysis in 1947. 

'Despite the efforts of CIL staff, multiple sets of remains could not be identified and were subsequently buried as a World War II Unknowns in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl in Honolulu,' the DPAA stated in their press release. 

'To identify Gala's remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the used mitochondrial and autosomal DNA analysis...' the DPAA wrote. 

Robert Passanisi, one of the surviving troops, told CBS, 'those that volunteered had no idea what the mission was going to be' 

Some of the surviving troops reunited in 1981, including Bob Passanisi Sr, John Passanisi, Lance Long and Bob Passanisi Jr (right to left). Source: Facebook/@Merrill's Marauders Proud Descendants. Source: Facebook/@Merrill's Marauders Proud Descendants

Gala was finally laid to rest with full military honors at Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn, Massachusetts, on November 5. Source: Facebook/@Bob Smith

Gala was finally laid to rest with full military honors at Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn, Massachusetts, on November 5.   

Bob Smith, an attendee of Gala's burial, shared details about the soldier being honored in the ceremony. 

'This story has a personal connection for me. My father's friend was also a member of Merrill's Marauders. He was from Malden, Massachusetts, and I remember seeing a television news interview with him several years before he passed away,' 

'Welcome home, Private Gala. Your sacrifice, your courage, and your service will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, hero,' Smith wrote.    

The Daily Mail has reached out to the DPAA and Bob Smith for comments or further details.