SwiftVets.com

NavyChief · Last edited by NavyChief on Tue Nov 02, 2004 7:16 pm; edited 1 time in total

A day of sadness to reflect on their sacrifice, and a day of comfort to families who can reach closure as their loved ones have finally come home...

Please take a moment to say a prayer for these families.

Thank you,

- Navy Chief

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

No. 1098-04
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov 02, 2004
Media Contact: (703)697-5131
Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711

MIAs Identified from The Vietnam War

Six servicemen missing in action from the Vietnam War have been identified and are being buried as a group at Arlington National Cemetery Friday with full military honors.

They are

Air Force Col. Theodore E. Kryszak of Buffalo, NY;

Air Force Col. Harding E. Smith of Los Gatos, Calif.;

Air Force Lt. Col. Russell D. Martin of Bloomfield, Iowa;

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Luther L. Rose of Howe, Texas,

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ervin Warren, of Philadelphia.

On June 23, 1966, the crew was aboard an AC-47 “Spooky” gunship flying a nighttime armed reconnaissance mission over southern Laos. At about 9:25 p.m., the aircraft radioed, “we have a hot fire,” and another radio transmission was heard to order “bail out.” Witnesses reported the aircraft was on fire, then crashed into a heavily wooded area 30 miles northeast of Tchepone, in Khannouan Province, Laos. No parachutes from the crew were observed and no emergency beepers were heard. An aerial search of the site found no evidence of survivors.

In cooperation with the Lao government, a joint team of U.S. and Lao specialists traveled to a suspected crash site in Khammouan Province in October 1994 where a villager took them to an area where personal effects, aircraft wreckage, crew-related materials and a crew member’s identification tag were found.

In May-June 1995, a joint U.S.-Lao team excavated the site where they recovered human remains as well as identification media of other aircrew members.

The U.S. recovery team members were from the Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI). CILHI scientists applied a wide array of forensic techniques to the recovered remains, including comparisons of dental charts and x-rays, as well as the use of mitochondrial DNA sequencing.

The DNA sequencing was done by the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, whose results aided the CILHI scientists in identifying the remains.

More than 88,000 Americans are missing in action from all conflicts. Of these, 1,849 are from the Vietnam War.

The CILHI is now part of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. For more information please call the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) at (703) 699-1169, or visit http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/.

*edited by me for emphasis
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Working with Senator Kerry four years in the POW/MIA Office left me thinking -- when did the man ever do any work?

Son of a VET · Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:42 pm Post subject:

Thanks Cheif.
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Stolen Honor

CTW · Rear Admiral Joined: 10 Sep 2004 Posts: 691

God Bless. CTW

1991932 · Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:08 pm Post subject:

That story moved me; left me speechless.

I actually removed my baseball cap while I was reading it.
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Former "War Criminal"

rb325th · Admiral Joined: 21 Aug 2004 Posts: 1334

Welcome Home, RIP!
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U.S. Army 1983-1995, 11C1P/11H2P NBTDT

leeinwv · PO3 Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Posts: 268

May God give them peace finally and my heart goes out to the families.

cpowkj · Ensign Joined: 22 Aug 2004 Posts: 67 Location: Texas

Welcome home.
If I had an audio capability I'd include a bugle playing Taps.
Salute to all of them.
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Chief Johnson
Young Vietnam Era Vet, was at Yankee Station on USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) during fall of Siagon, April 1975. Also, participated in rescue of the Merchant Ship Migues from Cambodia, May 1975. Currently, drilling reservist supporting CENTCOM.

ATACKM · Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks Chief,
I will step into the rain this evening and will sound "Taps" to honor them.
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ATACKM
Gulf War Veteran
Proud American
http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org

Wescoot2 · Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:28 pm Post subject:

They finally made that long journey Home.......Rest well Brothers........Rest well.........
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If your Gonna Be One...Be a BIG RED ONE

No Mission To Difficult...No Sacrifice To Great...

DUTY FIRST

MACVJOE · Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:30 pm Post subject:

WELCOME HOME
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE
RIP
GOD BLESS YOU AND USA
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Retired 86 Army
MACV Upper Delta 68-69

dmackto · Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:34 pm Post subject:

wow..

What an emotional day..
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Deborah
The FROZEN CHICKEN Journal

This is no time for ease and comfort. It is the time to dare and endure.
- Winston Churchill

Navy_Navy_Navy · Admin Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 5777

Welcome home.

I'm heartbroken that it's taken so long.

And that so many more still wait.

God bless your families with a little peace, after all these years.

.

BuffaloJack · Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:48 pm Post subject:

Welcome home.
You've been away too long.
http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20041102-1466.html
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Swift Boats - Qui Nhon (12/69-4/70), Cat Lo (4/70-5/70), Vung Tau (5/70-12/71)

3rd gen Navy · Posted: Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:59 pm Post subject:

welcome home brothers. ave et vale.
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Warm Regards,
Sean G. Smith,
RN, BSN, EMT-B, U.S. Navy, 1994 - 2003.
BS Biology, Business Administration, Nursing
The Deal with Life: Make decisions based on what you might gain, not on what you may lose.
!!!!!! LET THE WILD RUMPUS BEGIN !!!!!!

MJB · LCDR Joined: 14 Aug 2004 Posts: 425

*sniff* hard to type with teary eyes...

Welcome home
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MJB
USAF '85-'92