Dear , 

My uncle, ARM 1c Wilbur Archie Mitts returned home to Seaside, California, 79 years after his plane was shot down during WWII. My entire family will be forever grateful to the dedicated individuals of Project Recover who contributed their time, effort, and many years of hard work to make our uncle’s repatriation possible. Additionally, we received the closure we had sought for generations. Wilbur’s homecoming and memorial were a beautiful gift to our family and a life highlight for all who attended.  

Now, in this 80th year since his loss, we have learned that the gift continues to grow. When my uncle’s Avenger was shot down on September 10, 1944, and did not return to the USS Enterprise, two other sailors, AOM 1c Anthony Di Petta, and the pilot, LT Jay R. Manown, were with him. AOM 1c Di Petta was repatriated in July 2023, two months prior to our uncle, in Nutley, New Jersey. We have since anticipated an announcement that LT Jay Manown’s family would receive the same gift as we did last year. That gift will be realized in October 2024, when LT Manown will be reunited with his loved ones in West Virginia because of the efforts of Project Recover.  

One of the many blessings to come from the repatriation announcements of this Avenger Crew is my connection with Anthony Di Petta’s niece, Suzanne. Now, one year after meeting Suzanne, I have also connected with Jay Manown’s niece, Rebecca, who is preparing for her uncle’s homecoming. As the oldest living members of our respective families, we three nieces have found this process to be such an emotional and unbelievable experience. None of us could have ever expected this, and we are grateful that our families have all grown through the process. I am overwhelmed with emotion as our three families prepare to meet for the first time at LT Manown’s service, 80 years after our brave uncles sacrificed it all for freedom.

I remember my grandmother expressing deep sorrow that she did not have a place to put flowers to honor and remember her son. The  experience of placing my uncle’s headstone in the same cemetery as his three siblings and close to his mother gave me great personal joy.   

Today, on POW/MIA Recognition Day, I encourage you to give the gift of hope to the millions of MIA Gold Star Family members who continue to suffer in silence.  Support the great work of Project Recover. Together, we can “Keep America’s Promise.” 

Eternally Grateful,

Diana Ward

Project Recover, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(ϲ)(3) organization 

(EIN/Tax ID: 45-0512575) and is not a federal agency.