Madera WWII Vet Identified, Laid to Rest at Arlington
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A Madera man, missing in action since World War II, has been identified and is being buried at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., Wednesday.
The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced Tuesday that a U.S. Marine missing in action from World War II has been identified and is being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
The man is Sgt. John H. Branic, U.S. Marine Corps.
Branic was a platoon leader for L Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division on Aug. 19, 1942, when a Japanese force overran his defensive position on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. During the attack, Branic was killed, but the Marines of L Company counterattacked and succeeded in driving the Japanese back. The location of Branic’s remains was not reported to headquarters, as the L Company executive officer was also killed.
In February 1992, the U.S. Embassy, Solomon Islands, reported to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command that remains believed to be those of an American had been recovered at a construction site on Guadalcanal. JPAC took possession of those remains the following month and excavated the site where they found additional remains. In the same general area, they found World War II-era ammunition, but no additional remains.
In 2004, an American researcher with the First Marine Division association reported to JPAC that a Solomon Islander had possession of a ring with the inscription "JHB" on the inside. The ring was found at the initial burial site.
JPAC scientists and Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory specialists used mitochondrial DNA as one of the forensic tools to help identify the remains. Laboratory analysis of dental remains also confirmed the identification as Branic.
Volunteer BeautyOn April 06, 2006 Semper Marine Deatachment #205 has the finishing touches put on their all tile Marine Corps League Seal, at their entrance, by Sasha Kissoondath. Sasha Kissoondath, president of S&S Tile Contracting Co. Inc., puts the finishing touches on the Marine Corps League tile emblem at the Semper Marine Detachment #205 building on Thursday (April 6, 2006). Kissoondath, himself a former Marine and a detachment member, donated all the materials and labor to install the Marine emblem of Eagle, Globe and Anchor in tiles. The emblem, in the traditional Marine colors of red and gold, is at the entrance to the new detachment headquarters on Landis Avenue Vineland, NJ. 
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NEWSLETTERJuly 12, 2010 Fellow Marines, Well, here we are in July, getting ready for our two best fund-raising events: The Clearfield County Fair Parking and The "Over 40 Softball Tournament." A Fair Parking Detail will be needed from August 1 through August 7, Charlie Rothrock will oversee the manning and I will assist him. As always, we need everyone's assistance for parking cars. Please contact Charlie Rothrock at 765-6324 or me at 265-1761 if you can help for a few hours or for any time you can spare. At the "Over 40 Tournament," we'll need help for both Saturday and Sunday. You can contact Richard Provost at 765-8643 and let him know that you will be there to help out! Our Detachment Picnic has been confirmed for Saturday, August 21 at noon at "Over The Mountain Restaurant." It is located on Rocton Mountain on Rt. 322 between Clearfield and DuBois. More information will follow in the August letter as to who to contact and the type of food to bring. Sadly, as some of you may know, Richard Allegretto passed away. Members of our Detachment visited at the funeral home and accorded honors for him. He will be missed. Our next meeting will be July 21 at the DuBois American Legion at 193. Snacks will follow the meeting. Don DeSantis, Commandant Sgt. William L. Dixon Detachment
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