The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense POW/MIA Office (DPAA) announced the identification of remains of 250 service members who were reported missing in action during previous armed conflicts. This figure set a record throughout the agency's history, surpassing the previous maximum. DPAA is responsible for searching, exhuming, and identifying the remains of American military personnel reported missing in action during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and other conflicts. The agency's work includes archival research, field expeditions, and laboratory analysis using modern methods, including DNA analysis. Achieving the record figure in fiscal year 2026 resulted from years of efforts to improve identification technologies and expand international cooperation during excavations at past combat sites. For families of fallen service members, such identification often brings an end to decades of uncertainty and waiting. The agency continues its work searching for thousands of U.S. service members who remain reported missing in action.