Another Belated Homecoming
DPMO recently announced the identification of another US MIA from Southeast Asia.
LT Dennis W. Peterson, ENS Donald P. Frye, and Aviation Antisubmarine Warfare Technicians William B. Jackson and Donald P. McGrane, USN, were lost on 19 July 196, when their SH-3A Sea King helicopter was shot down in Ha Nam Province, North Vietnam. Peterson’s remains were definitively identified and he was declared accounted for on March 30, 2012. Frye, Jackson and McGrane were accounted for in 1982. They were buried with full military honors today in a group ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
Rest in peace, my elder brother-in-arms; welcome home. All honor and respect you, and to your fallen comrades resting beside you.
. . .
Over 73,600 US personnel remain unaccounted for from World War II; over 7,900 US personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War; and over 1,640 remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. If you are a relative of one of the individuals listed here (World War II – critical need), listed here (Korea), or listed here (Southeast Asia) – please consider reading this link to see if you qualify to submit a mtDNA sample.
If you qualify to submit a mtDNA sample, please submit one. By submitting a mtDNA sample, you may be able to help identify US remains that have been recovered and repatriated but not yet positively identified.
Everybody deserves a proper burial. That’s especially true for those who gave their all in the service of this nation.
(Edited to add: today’s Navy Times has an excellent article on the internment at Arlington. It’s worth a read. I’m giving this article a temporary bump to highlight the Navy Times link.)
Category: No Longer Missing
They were shot down while on a rescue mission–what they did.
Welcome home, LT, it’s been a long time.
From DOD: “On July 19, 1967, the four servicemen took off from the USS Hornet aboard an SH-3A Sea King helicopter, on a search and rescue mission looking for a downed pilot in Ha Nam Province, North Vietnam. During the mission, an enemy concealed 37mm gun position targeted the helicopter as it flew in. The helicopter was hit by the anti-aircraft gunfire, causing the aircraft to lose control, catch fire and crash, killing all four servicemen.”
Rest easy, at last, my brother.
Hondo,
Thank you for these postings. When I read these, it gives a little peace and calm to my harried soul to know that our elder-brothers-in-arms are still being sought for, identified, and returned home for their proper rest.
Damn! It’s dusty in here again!
Eternal rest, elder brothers. You’ve earned it – the hard way.