The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency's mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel from past conflicts to their families and the nation. Within this mission, we search for missing personnel from World War II (WWII), the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars, and other recent conflicts. Our research and operational missions include coordination with hundreds of countries and municipalities around the world.

After careful deliberation and for statistical accounting purposes, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has established March 29, 1973, as the start date for the past conflict personnel accounting mission. This date marks the establishment of the United States Army Central Identification Laboratory, Thailand (CIL-THAI) and reflects the start of the continuous lineage of past conflict personnel accounting organizations that preceded DPAA. Definitizing this start date ensures the total number of accounted-for personnel reported to families, the Congress, and the public is consistent and accurate. This start date will be integrated into DPAA's internal databases and reflected on the public-facing websites and social media to ensure the publication of accurate figures.

At present, more than 81,500 Americans remain missing from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and the Gulf Wars/other conflicts. Out of the more than 81,500 missing, 75% of the losses are located in the Indo-Pacific, and over 41,000 of the missing are presumed lost at sea (i.e. ship losses, known aircraft water losses, etc.).