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Minnesota native MIA during WWII to be buried with full military honors
Forensic testing matched his remains to family samples after a 2013 crash-site recovery, and a full military burial is planned for the Navy pilot.
- Navy officials identified Lt. Thomas Arthur Ruth on April 8, 2025, after laboratory analysis and family DNA comparison confirmed his remains more than 80 years after his plane crashed in the Pacific Ocean during World War II.
- Ruth, born April 23, 1917, was declared missing in action on June 30, 1943, at age 26 during Operation Toenails when his F4F Wildcat crashed on a combat mission over Rendova Island supporting naval operations against the Japanese-held Munda Airfield.
- During combat patrols, Ruth led Gold 7 flight and engaged Japanese aircraft; VF-21 claimed three shoot downs that morning, including one by Ruth, but he lost contact with his squadron as the formation dove over enemy bombers and never returned to base.
- Ruth's nephew Thomas said the family was 'pleasantly surprised that the Navy found him' and grateful for recovery efforts; Ruth will receive full military honors and be buried Wednesday at Riverside Cemetery in Jackson, Minnesota, next to his parents' plot.
- A Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command team located the crash site in 2013, disinterred remains in 2019, and confirmed identification in 2025, demonstrating the Navy's 12-year forensic investigation and ongoing commitment to accounting for missing World War II service members.
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Minnesota native MIA during WWII to be buried with full military honors
JACKSON, Minn. — A burial with full military honors is planned Wednesday, May 27, for Lt. (Jr. Grade) Thomas Arthur Ruth. His remains were discovered more than 80 years after he was declared missing in action when his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean during an aerial mission in World War II. Burial for the Jackson, Minnesota, native is planned at 11 a.m. at Riverside Cemetery, 300 U.S. 71 South, Jackson. Ruth’s nephew — also named Thomas Rut…
·Cherokee County, United States
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