Sailor Killed in Pearl Harbor Attack Accounted for After 80 Years

Remains of USS California crewman Clyde C. McMeans identified through DNA and forensic analysis

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:40pm

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The remains of U.S. Navy Seaman 1st Class Clyde C. McMeans, who was killed aboard the USS California during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, have been identified more than 80 years later through DNA and forensic testing. McMeans was one of 103 crewmen who died when the ship was torpedoed and bombed by Japanese forces.

Why it matters

The identification of McMeans' remains provides closure for his family after decades of not knowing his fate, and is part of ongoing efforts by the U.S. military to account for and properly honor all those who lost their lives in the Pearl Harbor attack. This case highlights the importance of continued research and technological advancements that allow for the identification of long-lost service members.

The details

McMeans, who was 26 years old at the time, was assigned to the USS California on December 7, 1941. He was helping other sailors get to shore in a motorboat when it was struck by a bomb. He was reported missing and later declared dead. Navy personnel worked until April 1942 to recover remains of the USS California's crew, which were interred in cemeteries in Hawaii. Decades later, McMeans' remains were identified through DNA and forensic analysis.

  • On December 7, 1941, McMeans was aboard the USS California during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
  • In April 1942, Navy personnel recovered remains of the USS California's crew, including 42 casualties initially identified.
  • On November 25, 2025, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency officially accounted for McMeans' remains.
  • On May 1, McMeans will be buried with military honors at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The players

Clyde C. McMeans

A U.S. Navy Seaman 1st Class who was killed aboard the USS California during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 at the age of 26.

Edward McMeans

Clyde McMeans' brother, who was a medic and survived World War II.

Kathy Herrmann

Clyde McMeans' niece, who said the family has "loved him forever, without ever knowing him."

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

The U.S. government agency responsible for identifying the remains of missing service members.

USS California

The battleship that was torpedoed and bombed by Japanese forces during the attack on Pearl Harbor, resulting in the deaths of 103 crewmen including Clyde McMeans.

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What they’re saying

“We've loved him forever, without ever knowing him.”

— Kathy Herrmann, Clyde McMeans' niece

What’s next

McMeans' funeral service will be held on May 1 and he will be buried at the Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery in Corpus Christi, Texas with military honors.

The takeaway

The identification of Clyde McMeans' remains after over 80 years provides closure for his family and is part of the ongoing efforts by the U.S. military to honor and account for all those who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor. This case highlights the importance of continued research and technological advancements that allow for the identification of long-lost service members.