Unknown No More? Operation 85’s First Identification Case Reaches the Pentagon

On December 11, 2025, Operation 85 reached a historic milestone. For the first time since the attack on Pearl Harbor, a fully documented identification case for a USS Arizona Unknown was formally delivered to the Department of War for official review.

The case centers on Seaman First Class Earl Leroy Morrison, a 20-year-old sailor from Sidney, Montana, who served aboard USS Arizona and was killed on December 7, 1941. For more than eight decades, his remains have rested at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, marked only as “Unknown X-51.”

Over the past 18 months, Operation 85 uncovered a compelling trail of evidence linking Earl to this specific set of remains. Among the most significant discoveries:

• A cigarette case engraved “E.L.M.” recovered alongside the remains in 1942 and documented by Lt. Cmdr. Samuel Fuqua

• Survivor testimony referencing Earl by name

• A chain of custody in historical records that preserved the initials E.L.M. through multiple reburials

• Physical and dental characteristics matching Earl’s service records

• DNA reference samples from his family ready for comparison, though no testing has ever been performed

• A detailed analysis by independent experts supporting Earl as the most likely match for Unknown X-51

Operation 85 compiled all historical documents, chain-of-custody records, genealogy, eyewitness accounts, and the family’s formal request into a comprehensive presentation. This material was submitted in person to the Under Secretary of War, who will now pass the case to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) for evaluation under Department of War policy.

This submission marks the first time in 84 years that Earl Morrison’s case — and the possibility of identifying Unknown X-51 — has reached the proper authority for review.

It is not only a milestone for Earl’s family, but also for all families of the USS Arizona crew who have waited generations for answers. The Morrison case demonstrates that with modern research, DNA technology, and the persistence of Operation 85 families, even the most difficult historical mysteries can move toward resolution.

To view the full case presentation, supporting documents, and the complete history of Unknown X-51, please visit our dedicated page:

👉 X-51 / E.L.M. Case Overview
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ENTIRE CASE FILE & SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

Operation 85 will continue to update all families and supporters as the Department of War and DPAA review the request.