Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – President Joe Biden recounted a personal story about his uncle’s military service during World War II. He mentioned that his uncle’s plane crashed near New Guinea, and his remains were never recovered due to the presence of cannibals in the region. This revelation came during a speech at the United Steelworkers Headquarters in Pittsburgh.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting agency, however, has a different account of the incident. According to their records, Biden’s uncle’s plane was forced to ditch in the ocean for unknown reasons. Despite this discrepancy, Biden stood by his version of events, highlighting the dangers faced by his uncle as a reconnaissance pilot over war zones.
Documented cases of cannibalism in the region during the mid-20th century lend some credibility to Biden’s claim. The DPAA report states that three crew members were lost in the crash, with no trace of their bodies or the aircraft found during subsequent searches.
Biden’s assertion that his uncle’s remains were never recovered is supported by the fact that his uncle is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines. The President paid tribute to his uncle at a veterans’ memorial in Scranton, Pennsylvania, during his visit to the state.
White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates reinforced Biden’s pride in his uncle’s service and the importance of honoring veterans’ commitments. No additional details were provided regarding Biden’s mention of cannibals hindering the recovery efforts.
The President’s comments came in the context of criticizing former President Donald Trump’s alleged disparagement of fallen service members, linking back to a 2020 report that claimed Trump had belittled US service members killed in battle. Biden’s remarks added a personal dimension to the ongoing discourse about military service and honoring veterans.