Editing Missing in action (section)

==Problems and solutions==
Until around 1912, service personnel in most countries were not routinely issued with [[Dog tag (identifier)|ID tags]]. As a result, if someone was [[killed in action]] and their body was not recovered until much later, there was often little or no chance of identifying the remains unless the person in question was carrying items that would identify them, or had marked their clothing or possessions with identifying information. Starting around the time of the [[First World War]], nations began to issue their service personnel with purpose-made identification tags. These were usually made of some form of lightweight metal such as aluminium. However, in the case of the [[British Army]] the material chosen was compressed fiber, which was not very durable. Although wearing identification tags proved to be highly beneficial, the problem remained that bodies could be completely destroyed (ranging from [[total body disruption]] to outright disintegration), burned or buried by the type of high-explosive munitions routinely used in [[modern warfare]] or in destructions of vehicles.

Additionally, the combat environment itself could increase the likelihood of missing combatants. The odds of a combatant being declared MIA could be increased by scenarios such as [[jungle warfare]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/820454--jungle-battlefield-lost-for-68-years-discovered |title=Jungle battlefield 'lost' for 68 years discovered |work=thestar.com |access-date=2012-10-11 |location=Toronto |date=June 8, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Justin R. Taylan |url=http://www.pacificwrecks.com/dogtags/army/odenthal/index.html |title=Pvt Martin Odenthal – Dog Tag & Grave Discovery on Guadalcanal |publisher=Pacific Wrecks |access-date=2012-10-11}}</ref> [[submarine warfare]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,432102,00.html |title=U.S. Navy Confirms Lost WWII Sub Found Off Aleutians |publisher=Fox News |date=October 3, 2008 |access-date=2012-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021040017/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,432102,00.html |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Landale |first=James |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8321516.stm |title=UK {{pipe}} Sub's wartime grave discovered |work=BBC News |date=2009-10-23 |access-date=2012-10-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author={{Not a typo|NetherlandsInfo|mation}}|url=http://www.defencetalk.com/missing-submarine-k-xvi-found-after-70-years-38040 |title=Missing Submarine K XVI Found After 70 Years {{pipe}} Navy & Maritime Security News at DefenceTalk |publisher=Defencetalk.com |date=2011-11-01 |access-date=2012-10-11}}</ref> aircraft crashes in remote mountainous terrain,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.warhistoryonline.com/featured-article/remains-of-wwii-soilder-come-home-after-68-years.html |title=Remains of WWII airman come home after 68 years |publisher=Warhistoryonline.com |access-date=2012-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116084512/http://www.warhistoryonline.com/featured-article/remains-of-wwii-soilder-come-home-after-68-years.html |archive-date=November 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> or sea battles. Alternatively, there could be administrative errors; the actual location of a temporary battlefield grave could be misidentified or forgotten due to the "[[fog of war]]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Waterfield |first=Bruno |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/9550949/British-paratroopers-body-found-in-Holland-68-years-after-battle-of-Arnhem.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919014647/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/9550949/British-paratroopers-body-found-in-Holland-68-years-after-battle-of-Arnhem.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 19, 2012 |title=British paratrooper's body found in Holland 68 years after battle of Arnhem |publisher=Telegraph |date= September 18, 2012|access-date=2012-10-11 |location=London}}</ref> Finally, since military forces had no strong incentive to keep detailed records of enemy dead, bodies were frequently buried (sometimes with their identification tags) in temporary graves, the locations of which were often lost<ref>{{cite web |author=Reading Room Manchester |url=http://www.cwgc.org/news-events/news/two-unmarked-graves-in-popielow-cemetery-poland-discovered-to-be-those-of-two-british-servicemen.aspx |title=Two Unmarked Graves in Popielow Cemetery Poland Discovered To Be Those Of Two British Servicemen |publisher=CWGC |access-date=2012-10-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015055049/http://www.cwgc.org/news-events/news/two-unmarked-graves-in-popielow-cemetery-poland-discovered-to-be-those-of-two-british-servicemen.aspx |archive-date=October 15, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cwgc.co.uk/Hidden.htm |title=cwgc.co.uk |publisher=cwgc.co.uk |date=January 1, 2011 |access-date=November 14, 2011}}</ref> or obliterated e.g. the [[Battle of Fromelles#New cemetery|forgotten mass grave at Fromelles]]. As a result, the remains of missing combatants might not be found for many years, if ever. When missing combatants are recovered and cannot be identified after a thorough forensic examination (including such methods as [[DNA]] testing and comparison of [[dental records]]) the remains are interred with a tombstone which indicates their unknown status.

The development of [[genetic fingerprinting]] in the late 20th century means that if cell samples from a cheek swab are collected from service personnel prior to deployment to a combat zone, identity can be established using even a small fragment of human remains. Although it is possible to take genetic samples from a close relative of the missing person, it is preferable to collect such samples directly from the subjects themselves. It is a fact of warfare that some combatants are likely to go missing in action and never be found. However, by wearing identification tags and using modern technology the numbers involved can be considerably reduced. In addition to the obvious military advantages, conclusively identifying the remains of missing service personnel is highly beneficial to the surviving relatives. Having positive identification makes it somewhat easier to come to terms with their loss and move on with their lives. Otherwise, some relatives may suspect that the missing person is still alive somewhere and may return someday.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/4374611.stm |work=BBC News  | title=Arnhem soldier buried 60 years on | date=March 23, 2005 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4755183.stm |work=BBC News  | title=Family of dead WWII airman found | date=May 9, 2006 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4198304.stm |work=BBC News  | title=Funeral for RAF crew, 61 years on | date=September 1, 2005 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/7745635.stm |work=BBC News  | title=Mystery of soldier's grave solved | date=November 24, 2008 | access-date=May 12, 2010 | first=Julian | last=Sturdy}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/174121.stm |work=BBC News  | title=British War hero finally gets hero's funeral | date=September 18, 1998 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/193380.stm |work=BBC News  | title=German WWII pilot laid to rest on Teesside | date=October 14, 1998 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> However, many of these identifying procedures are not typically used for combatants who are members of militias, mercenary armies, insurrections, and other irregular forces.