TERRE HAUTE — Over 84 years after the “date which will live in infamy,” two Indiana natives and second cousins killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor are finally coming home.
Seaman 1st Class Paul Eugene Newton and Seaman 1st Class Wayne Edward Newton were both serving aboard U.S. Navy battleships on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese surprise attack propelled the United States into World War II. After decades of being listed as “unaccounted for,” the cousins will be buried with full military honors this May.
The identification of the two sailors is part of the Pearl Harbor Ships Project, a massive undertaking by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).
Following the successful identification of over 360 crewmen from the USS Oklahoma, the DPAA expanded its efforts to include the USS West Virginia and USS California. The process is a meticulous blend of science and history:
Starting in 2017 and 2018, the agency disinterred unidentified remains from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (the “Punchbowl”) in Honolulu.
Scientists at labs in Hawaii and Nebraska utilized forensic anthropology, odontology (dental records), and DNA analysis.
Wayne Newton’s identification specifically relied on mitochondrial DNA sequencing provided by his maternal relatives.
Paul Eugene Newton: USS West Virginia
A native of Romney in Tippecanoe County, Paul Newton enlisted in 1940. He was serving on the USS West Virginia when it was struck by multiple torpedoes. While counter-flooding prevented the ship from capsizing, 106 crewmen, including Paul, lost their lives.
Paul Newton will be buried on May 11 at Arlington National Cemetery. His surviving relatives currently reside in Greenville, South Carolina.
Paul Newton’s decorations include a Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star.
Wayne Newton: USS California
Terre Haute native Wayne Newton was aboard the USS California, which sustained two torpedo hits and a bomb strike before slowly sinking to the harbor floor. He was one of 103 crewmen killed on the vessel. His burial will be on May 16th at 11:00 a.m. at Grandview Cemetery in Terre Haute. His surviving family still resides in his hometown of Terre Haute.
Wayne Newton’s decorations include a Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Medal.
The attack on Pearl Harbor destroyed 20 ships and killed over 2,400 Americans. Projects like this ensure that even after eight decades, the promise to “never forget” remains a functional reality.
As of early 2026, the DPAA has achieved significant milestones, including reaching a 60% DNA threshold for family reference samples related to the USS Arizona, signaling that more identifications of “unknown” service members are on the horizon.
For the Newton family, this May will mark the end of a long journey, providing closure that spanned generations.
