During a recent visit to a war memorial in Scranton, Pennsylvania, President Joe Biden shared a personal story about his uncle who served in World War II. He mentioned that his uncle, Ambrose Finnegan, flew reconnaissance missions over war zones in single-engine planes for the Army Air Corps. Unfortunately, his plane was shot down over New Guinea, an area known for cannibals. President Biden revealed that his uncle was eaten by cannibals and his body was never found.

However, the official account by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency differs from President Biden’s recounting of his uncle’s death. According to their report, the plane was forced to ditch in the ocean off the north coast of New Guinea due to engine failure. An aerial search party found no trace of the missing aircraft or its crew members. Second Lieutenant Ambrose J. Finnegan, from Pennsylvania, remains unaccounted-for and is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates told CNN that President Biden is proud of his uncle’s service and highlighted his story to emphasize the importance of honoring and supporting veterans. Bates mentioned that the President spoke about the commitment to equip and take care of those who serve in war, emphasizing that American veterans are not “suckers” or “losers.” President Biden used his uncle’s story as an example while advocating for supporting and caring for veterans and their families.