SwiftVets.com

[lthrneck]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 18, 2005
Missing in Action Serviceman Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office
(DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. Navy pilot, missing
in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be
returned to his family for burial with full military honors.

Navy Commander Thomas E. Dunlop of Neptune Beach, Fla.,
will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery on March 21.

On April 6, 1972, Dunlop took off in his A-7E Corsair II
from the USS Coral Sea on a bombing mission of enemy targets in Quang
Binh Province, North Vietnam. While over the target area, his aircraft
was struck by an enemy surface-to-air missile and as his wingman
watched, Dunlop's aircraft exploded in a fireball and crashed. No
emergency beeper signals were received from the area of his crash.

In April 1993, joint U.S. and Vietnamese teams interviewed
five residents of Quang Binh Province about the crash, but the
information did not further the investigation. In 1994, 1995, 1996
and 1998, U.S. and Vietnamese investigators interviewed at least 13
other people in the province without results. Meanwhile, U.S. survey
teams visited potential crash sites in 1995, 1998 and twice in 2002.
Again, no useful information was obtained.

Then in 2003 and again in 2004, specialists from the
Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) excavated a crash site where
they found aircraft debris, personal effects and human remains later
identified by JPAC scientists as those of Dunlop.

Of the 88,000 Americans missing in action from all
conflicts, 1,836 are from the Vietnam War with 1,399 of those within
the country of Vietnam. Another 747 Americans have been accounted for
since the end of the Vietnam War.

For additional information on the Defense Department's
mission to account for missing Americans from all conflicts, visit the
DPMO Web site at www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1169.
_________________
"Old Breed, New Breed, There's not a DAMM bit of
difference so long as it's the MARINE Breed"
- Lt. Gen Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller

Semper fi
uuurah
Carry On!!

[1991932]

Thanks for posting that, lthrneck.

I've followed all of your posts and links and find them comforting, especially when the memories are almost forty years old.

Mission accomplished, Commander Dunlop. Rest in Peace.
_________________
Former "War Criminal"

[lthrneck]

I like your signature.
_________________
"Old Breed, New Breed, There's not a DAMM bit of
difference so long as it's the MARINE Breed"
- Lt. Gen Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller

Semper fi
uuurah
Carry On!!

[gocars]

Thoughts and prayers for a fallen comrade finally returning home.

I echo the sentiments, may you rest in peace Commander Dunlop.

Gocars
101st Airborne
'Nam 67-70
U.S. Army Rangers Lead the Way!