Three Less Vietnam MIAs
Modern DNA forensic analysis techniques are powerful. And they’re useful for more than law enforcement or medicine.
Modern DNA analysis was used recently to identify the remains of SFC William T. Brown of La Habra, California,SFC Donald M. Shue of Kannapolis, NC, and SFC Gunther H. Wald, of Palisades Park, NJ. The three US soldiers disappeared after an ambush in South Vietnam in 1969 – 43 years ago.
All three were reported to have been injured/wounded at the time. However, they could not be extracted during the ambush. A combination of enemy presence and weather precluded US forces from searching the site for 8 days after their disappearance. When US forces returned they located no bodies.
In any case: the MIA list from Vietnam is now three names shorter. That’s a good thing.
Rest in peace, my elder brothers-in-arms. Rest in peace.
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Update: the Army Times article omitted the fact that remains of all three MIA soldiers have been recovered – not only SFC Brown’s – as well as the names of the other two MIAs. These other individuals were SFC Donald M. Shue of Kannapolis, NC, and SFC Gunther H. Wald of Palisades Park, NJ. It also omitted the fact that a group burial of remains was scheduled in Arlington National Ceremony for the three on August 30, 2012. I’ve edited the article to account for this new information. Hat tip to 2-17 AirCav for the reference to the additional information.
Category: No Longer Missing
Welcome home Brother. You were gone but not forgotten.
From DoD press release, 27 Aug 2012: “Army Sgt. 1st Class William T. Brown of La Habra, Calif., Sgt. 1st Class Donald M. Shue of Kannapolis, N.C., and Sgt. 1st Class Gunther H. Wald of Palisades Park, N.J., will be buried as a group on Aug. 30, in a single casket representing the three soldiers, in Arlington National Cemetery. Brown and Shue were each individually buried on Sept. 26, 2011, at Arlington and May 1 in Kannapolis,N.C.”
Source: http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=15539
More on SFC Brown: http://www.ocregister.com/news/remains-369669-brown-three.html
God bless them and their families.
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(From Army Times story: “But bad weather and the presence of the Viet Kong prevented rescuers from reaching the site for eight days.” Yes, and Amerika, I suppose.)
Welcome home, brothers. Sorry it took so long.
2-17 AirCav: thanks for the background. Obviously the Army Times article I referenced above wasn’t exactly complete or accurate. (smile)
I also got a kick out of the “Viet Kong” reference in the article. I guess the Army Times author must have confused them with fictional 100′ tall gorillas. After all – the VC did practice guerrilla warfare, right? (smile)
In any case, it’s great that 3 – not 1 – names have been removed from the Vietnam MIA list and have come home. Rest in peace, brothers.
Welcome home, brothers, at last.
Thanks for posting. I’m sure the families are somewhat relieved… but old wounds are opened, yet an honor befitting the brave men by a grateful nation.
Very glad to see this happening.
Here’s a similar story of a Marine killed in action in Korea – he was identified through chest x-rays, but unfortunately ten years too late to bring his mother peace. Beautiful pictures of the ceremony at the link:
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/08/marine_cpl_clarence_huff_laid.html
RITTMAN, Ohio — Clarence “Bud” Huff Jr.’s story didn’t end when he was killed 62 years ago on a frozen hilltop in Korea.
The 20-year-old Marine corporal who grew up in Hinckley was laid to rest in his latest and last grave Wednesday at the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman.
Huff was one of the 15,000 Marines suddenly surrounded by 120,000 Chinese troops at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War.
For 17 days the Marines battled their way out of the mountains. Huff’s company was sent to hold a hilltop to cover the retreat. By the time the company was relieved, only 20 were still able to fight.
…
#6 – That wound was never closed. We went through this with my Dad’s brother, after he was reported missing in action, it took several months before he was declared dead and we had a memorial service. Then the Army spent decades updating the family, getting DNA samples, etc. It didn’t end until they found remains, albeit very little (the jungle is very efficient with the circle of life), and we had the ceremony at Arlington.
Story here:
http://www.lighthorseaircav.com/mem-swan-3.html
My family is very grateful that our military never gave up the search so that we could finally have closure. I think that until you have that final confirmation, a tiny part of your heart still has hope.
RIP Brothers.
Hopefully you have finally received the acknowledgement you deserve.