The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) is a branch of the military with the mission "to achieve the fullest possible accounting of all Americans missing as a result of the nation's past conflicts." Part of which is identifying remains of individuals who have died in those conflicts.

One of the primary methods of identification is through the use of mtDNA. If they can extract mtDNA from the remains, the next step is to compare it to family members to confirm an identification. This type of DNA is only passed down from the mother to her kids. Males have it but don't pass it on.

JPAC, on their website, currently includes three Davenports (below) on their Missing in Action list. They are trying to locate relatives to confirm identities. This doesn't necessarily mean they have found Davenport remains - it means that if they did find them, they would already have a DNA sample from a relative that they could compare too. James W Davenport (in bold) is on JPAC's "urgent" list. This means the case is active and a possible identification is possible if a DNA comparison can be made. 

The Davenport Surname DNA Project is in an ideal situation where we can help find the relatives of these men, get DNA samples, and hopefully assist in returning these soldiers home. If you know any of these three Davenports, and especially if you are related - please contact the Davenport DNA Project administrator or JPAC. For more information - their website is http://www.dpaa.mil/

Note: Since mtDNA runs in the maternal line, only certain individuals can "donate" their DNA. Using James as an example - if he had a sister, she would share the same mtDNA. Testing her sons or daughters would be OK. As would her daughter's kids. However, if James had kids, they would not do since they would have his wife's mtDNA.