"Not to be forgotten".

United States Military Dental Technicians have a unique opportunity to serve in a variety of interesting jobs and locations. One such opportunity is on the staff at the Army's Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI) established in Honolulu, Hawaii in May 1976. CILHI is responsible for the search, recovery, and identification of U.S. service members missing from all past wars including World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War.

World War II

More than 78,000 service members unaccounted for

* World War II missions typically consist of three teams deploying numerous times each year to such places as Europe, Papua New Guinea, China, the Pacific Islands, and many other locations where service members are missing.

Korean War

More than 8,100 service members unaccounted for

* While access to South Korea has been ongoing, access to North Korea opened in 1996. Approximately five times a year the CILHI sends two teams to North Korea. The recovery areas include the Chosin Reservoir, Kujang and Unsan Counties, and Kaechon City. Location and the number of recovery teams may vary year to year depending on the previous year's negotiations.

Cold War

Approximately 120 service members unaccounted for

* CILHI has conducted five Cold War recoveries located in Soviet Armenia, Vladavostok, Nicaragua, Russia and near Yuri Island.

Vietnam War

Approximately 1,900 service members unaccounted for

* Southeast Asia missions to Vietnam and Laos typically involve six teams deploying to Vietnam and three or four teams deploying to Laos five times a year. In addition, two teams deploy to Cambodia once a year.

Additionally, CILHI participated in various humanitarian missions and operations for emergency support over the years. Those missions include the terrorist attack on the Pentagon in 2001, the aircraft crash in Same Nuah, Laos in 2000, Korean Airline disaster on Guam in 1997, attack on the USS Stark in the Persian Gulf in 1987, Gander Air crash in Newfoundland involving the 101st Airborne Division in 1985, and the Marine barracks bombing in Beirut in 1983, as well as many other missions.

The CILHI Mission is worldwide in scope, ranging from the steamy rain forests of South America to the deserts of the Middle East, from the glaciers of Tibet to the tropical jungles of Papua New Guinea.

The CILHI staff is comprised of about 247 military and civilian personnel under the command of a U.S. Army Colonel. Although under the command of the Army, the CILHI is jointly manned with military personnel from all branches of the armed services. The unit is divided into four major sections: Command and Support, Search and Recovery Operations, Casualty Data Analysis, and the Laboratory.

"Working at the CILHI is diverse and exciting with many opportunities for growth," says TSgt Jon Skerbitz, Air Force dental technician and Laboratory NCOIC (Non-Commissioned Officer-In-Charge). TSgt Skerbitz recently deployed on a mission to Laos as a member of a recovery team. In addition to deploying, he provides daily administrative and logistic support to 31 anthropologists and 4 odontologists (dentists), all of whom have advanced degrees and specialized experience. He also assists in the radiography of remains received at the CILHI. During this stage of the process the scientists examine the remains, employing state-of-the-art computers, microscopes and radiographic equipment to determine and document all dental and anthropological data. He assists CILHI odontologists in the harvesting of dental tissues and the anthropologists in preparing osseous remains for mitochondrial DNA analysis. These specimens are then sent to the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) in Rockville, Maryland where they are processed.

The laboratory NCOIC is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of lab equipment and performs research, ordering, receiving, dispensing, training, inventory and accountability functions for the laboratory budget. In addition, the laboratory NCOIC oversees laboratory security by monitoring more than 3,500 visitors and up to 300 tour groups annually. He is responsible for training and compliance with safety procedures and maintains all lab safety equipment.

While the recovery and identification process may take years, the CILHI remains committed to scientific excellence and the fullest possible accounting of all service members killed in the defense of this great country.

The U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI), Hickam AFB, HI 96853-5530 provided information for this article. USA-CILHI is on the Internet at http://www.cilhi.armymil.

AJ Mark Gleisner, DDS, MS, is a Forensic Odontologist stationed at the Central Identification Laboratory, HI. 1SG Gerald Weigle is First Sergeant, Pacific Regional Dental Command.