Teen sailor killed aboard USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor identified after 82 years through DNA analysis

The remains of a 17-year-old sailor killed during the World War II onslaught connected Pearl Harbor are returning location much than 84 years aboriginal for a due burial.

Royle Bradford Luker volition beryllium laid to remainder with afloat subject honors successful Plainview, Arkansas, connected May 30, according to his obituary. He volition beryllium buried alongside his parents, including his father, who was a World War I veteran.

"As a Fireman Third Class successful the United States Navy aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia, helium gave his each and was killed successful the enactment of work during the onslaught connected Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, connected December 7, 1941," his obituary from Cornwell Funeral Homes stated.

His burial was arranged aft modern forensic investigating and DNA investigation comparing his remains with DNA from surviving relatives confirmed his individuality decades later, the obituary said.

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Royle B Luker was 17 years aged erstwhile helium was killed during the astonishment Japanese onslaught connected Pearl Harbor connected Dec. 7, 1941. (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency)

For his work and sacrifice, Luker reportedly received galore subject honors, including the Purple Heart, awarded to those wounded oregon killed successful combat, and the Navy Presidential Unit Citation, which recognizes bonzer heroism by subject units nether force fire.

Other honors and awards listed successful his obituary see the Gold Star Veteran designation, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal.

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Sailors basal amid wreckage watching the USS Shaw detonate during the Japanese onslaught connected Naval Air Station Ford Island astatine Pearl Harbor. (Fox Photos/Getty Images)

Luker was among the 106 crewmen killed erstwhile the USS West Virginia was struck during Japan’s astonishment battle connected Pearl Harbor.

For decades, helium was listed arsenic killed successful action, portion his remains were  unidentified and interred arsenic unknowns astatine the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. His sanction was besides memorialized connected the Courts of the Missing there.

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Nearly 82 years aft his death, Luker was officially accounted for connected May 29, 2024, aft authorities exhumed galore caskets for modern forensic and DNA testing, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

The USS Arizona Memorial is seen successful Honolulu earlier the 84th day of the onslaught connected Pearl Harbor connected Dec. 7, 2025. (Mengshin Lin/AP)

The teen sailor was the lad of George F. Luker, a WWI veteran, and Nettie Estelle David Luker, according to his obituary.

Family members, immoderate of whom lived successful Arkansas during his deployment, reportedly said Luker was remembered "with pridefulness and love."

According to the obituary, helium is survived by 2 nephews, Donald Bradford Henderson and John Luker, arsenic good arsenic a niece, Becky Downen Lensing.

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"More than 80 years later, DNA from Royle Luker and a family's willingness to stock their DNA bridged the spread betwixt nonaccomplishment and knowing," his obituary stated. "He volition present beryllium returned location and laid to rest."

According to the U.S. Navy, the USS West Virginia was moored astatine Ford Island successful 1941 erstwhile Japanese craft launched torpedoes against the battleship. The vessel suffered aggregate torpedo hits and yet sank to the shallow harbor floor.