U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 970-07
August 06, 2007
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Soldiers Mia From Vietnam War Are Accounted For
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that group remains of five U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, will be returned to their families soon for burial with full military honors.
They are Chief Warrant Officer Dennis C. Hamilton, of Barnes City, Iowa; Chief Warrant Officer Sheldon D. Schultz, of Altoona, Pa.; Sgt. 1st Class Ernest F. Briggs Jr., of San Antonio, Texas; Sgt. 1st Class John T. Gallagher, of Hamden, Conn.; and Sgt. 1st Class James D. Williamson, of Olympia, Wash.; all U.S. Army. The group remains of this crew will be buried on Aug. 14 at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. Gallagher's remains were individually identified, and his burial date is being set by his family.
Representatives from the Army met with the next-of-kin of these men to explain the recovery and identification process, and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.
On Jan. 5, 1968, these men crewed a UH-1D helicopter that was inserting a patrol into Savannakhet Province, Laos. As the aircraft approached the landing zone, it was struck by enemy ground fire, causing it to nose over and crash. There were no survivors. All attempts to reach the site over the next several days were repulsed by enemy fire.
Between 1995 and 2006, numerous U.S./Lao People’s Democratic Republic /Socialist Republic of Vietnam teams, all led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), conducted more than five investigations, including interviews with Vietnamese citizens who said they witnessed the crash. Between 2002 and 2006, JPAC led three excavations of the site, recovering remains and other material evidence including identification tags for Schultz, Hamilton and Briggs.
Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC also used dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.
For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO Web site at http:// www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
Labels: Fallen Heroes, POW/MIA, Vietnam War
U.S. Army Pvt. Brian Terry, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, speaks with an Iraqi woman during a clearing operation in the Hateen district of Baghdad, Iraq, July 26, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tierney Nowland
U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas Ciurro, with 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, prepares to enter and search a house during a clearing operation in the Hateen district of Baghdad, Iraq, July 26, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tierney Nowland
U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division run up stairs to begin searching a house during a clearing operation in the Hateen district of Baghdad, Iraq, July 26, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tierney Nowland
U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas Ciurro, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, breaches the door of a house during a clearing operation in the Hateen district of Baghdad, Iraq, July 26, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tierney Nowland
A U.S. Army soldier assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division checks the chamber of an AK47 for any rounds while searching a house during a clearing operation in the Hateen district of Baghdad, Iraq, July 26, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tierney Nowland
U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas Ciurro, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, looks around a rooftop of a house for weapons or suspicious items during a clearing operation in the Hateen district of Baghdad, Iraq, July 26, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tierney Nowland
U.S. Army Sgt. Jonathan Theodore, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, speaks with an Iraqi man during a clearing operation in the Hateen district of Baghdad, Iraq, July 26, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tierney Nowland
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