Pinelawn, New York — The family of a naval officer from Pennsylvania, who perished in a tragic ship explosion during World War II, is seeking closure nearly 82 years after the disaster. They believe that the remains of Petty Officer 3rd Class Herbert Alvin Dunkel may lie in unmarked graves at Long Island National Cemetery, where several unidentified sailors from the USS Turner incident are thought to be interred.
Recent efforts by historians have uncovered evidence suggesting that some of the sailors who went missing after the Turner sank may indeed be buried at the cemetery, with headstones bearing the inscription “Unknown U.S. Sailor, January 3, 1944.” This date marks the day when the USS Turner exploded while anchored in New York Harbor, leading to the deaths of 136 crew members.
As the anniversary of the sinking approaches, Dunkel’s family is urging the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency to exhume these graves. Edward Skiba, Dunkel’s nephew, expressed the family’s desire for resolution after so many years of uncertainty. “We would really like to bring this to closure,” he said, highlighting that they had previously believed that no remains were ever recovered.
The agency currently considers Dunkel’s case an “Active Pursuit.” Research conducted about a decade ago revealed records indicating that at least four crew members from the USS Turner may be buried as unknowns in the cemetery. This information has reignited the family’s hopes for identification and proper burial.
In addition to the four unidentified sailors, researcher Ted Darcy, now retired, posits that more crew members could be interred among the unidentified graves. “These guys have been neglected by the government,” he stated, emphasizing the need for recognition and a dignified burial for those service members whose families remained unaware of their fate.
John Eakin, a fellow military researcher, suggested that the remains of multiple sailors may have been mishandled, potentially consolidated into fewer coffins returned to their families. The extent of this intermingling remains unclear, further complicating the quest for closure.
In response to earlier reports on the situation, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency indicated it would investigate relevant archival materials and reach out to families of the Turner crew members. However, Skiba noted that only a small number of families of the unidentified victims have submitted DNA samples necessary for making progress on exhumations.
Dunkel, who was just 21 years old and recently married when he enlisted, was serving on the USS Turner when the disaster occurred. On the morning of January 3, 1944, the vessel was involved in a catastrophic explosion. While more than 150 crew members were rescued, the event led to significant loss of life and left many families seeking answers.
The cause of the explosion remains a mystery, with records indicating that munitions were being defused around the time the ship met its tragic fate. Dunkel is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the East Coast Memorial in Manhattan, which honors those service members who lost their lives in the Atlantic during the war.
Back in his hometown, a memorial stone stands next to Skiba’s grandparents’ grave, commemorating Herbert Dunkel. Skiba expressed his longing for a more definitive tribute, wishing to see his uncle’s final resting place alongside family rather than as an enduring mystery in an unmarked grave.
As the family continues their fight for closure, they hold onto hope that the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency will take the necessary steps to uncover the truth about those lost in the tragedy and provide a final resting place that honors their sacrifice.