U.S. Army
The remains of a missing 1st Infantry Division Soldier have been returned home after 105 years.
During World War I what began on July 16, 1918, the Aisne-Marne offensive would last for nearly a month. Three days after it began U.S. Army Pfc. Charles McAllister of Seattle, Washington, who at the time was serving with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, of the American Expeditionary Force in France, was reported missing in action. He was twenty-three.
In McAllister’s case, with help from the Washington State National Guard, sufficient anthropological, dental and circumstantial evidence was obtained. Using this evidence, the DPAA and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System were able to make positive mitochondrial and nuclear DNA matches.
McAllister’s remains were officially identified on April 15, 2024, exactly 105 years, eight months and 27 days after he was reported missing. Soon after, he was sent home to Washington.
“It was great that we were able to finally get him home,” said Kevin McAllister, a relative of Charles.
Pfc. Charles McAllister was buried in Acacia Memorial Park and Funeral Home with full military honors in Seattle, Washington, on Aug. 21, 2024.
When his remains were finally returned to his hometown of Seattle, a service, honoring the sacrifices made by all those who willingly volunteered to serve and fight a nation’s wars, was conducted.
(U.S. Army photos by Sgt. Charles Leitner)