After nearly 80 years, the remains of a New Jersey soldier, who was declared killed in action in 1944, have finally been identified. This soldier, US Army Pvt. Cervini, was just 22 years old and from Bridgeton, New Jersey, and he was part of the 475th Infantry Regiment during World War II.
Cervini was serving in the China-India-Burma Theatre when he lost his life. His remains have reportedly been moved to at least eight different burial sites, including the Pacific National Memorial Cemetery in Honolulu, Hawaii.
In 2022, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) began excavating and analyzing his remains. The identification process was finalized late last year through a combination of dental, anthropological, and mitochondrial DNA tests.
The DPAA noted that Cervini fought alongside many others in difficult conditions against numerically superior Japanese forces in the jungles of Burma in 1944. They engaged in a series of intense battles to disrupt Japanese supply lines.
Merrill’s Marauders, the troops he was with, entered Burma in February 1944, targeting critical supply routes. They managed to capture a vital airfield near Myitkyina on May 17, with assistance from Chinese infantry regiments. After facing intense combat for over two months, the Japanese forces were eventually pushed out on August 3rd.
Cervini lost his life on June 16, 1944, during the fighting around Myitkyina, although the specific details of his death are still unclear. Soldiers who died in this conflict were buried in temporary sites, and several isolated graves were also established.
The mission was deemed complete and Merrill’s Marauders disbanded after marching 750 miles through the jungles, partaking in five significant engagements along the way. Sadly, over a hundred members perished due to illness, enemy actions, or the severe jungle conditions.
