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40 years after his death, Vietnam War airman reburied at Arlington
By: KIMBERLY HEFLING - Associated Press | ∞
ARLINGTON, Va. -- Air Force Maj. John F. Conlon III's remains lay for 40 years in a shallow grave in Vietnam, placed there by villagers. On Tuesday, they were brought to Arlington National Cemetery.
During a brief ceremony, conducted beyond the earshot of reporters, a Catholic priest expressed thanks for the return, and about 60 people watched and quietly recited the Lord's Prayer. After the playing of taps, Conlon's remains were buried under the shade of a sugar maple tree.
His sister, Claire Evans, 71, placed her hand over her heart as a military escort in Air Force dress blues saluted the flag-draped casket transported in a horsedrawn carriage.
Conlon's parents and a second sister died without knowing what happened to him.
Conlon, from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., was four months into his tour in Vietnam when the observation aircraft he was on disappeared on March 4, 1966, in the Binh Dinh Province. He was 25.
Air Force Maj. Stuart M. Andrews, 37, who was flying with him, also disappeared.
For six days, the military searched for the two men before giving up.
In 2005, investigators from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command working with Vietnamese officials interviewed villagers who described the crash site. They spoke of finding and burying two American crew members, said spokesman Larry Greer.
An archaeological dig in February led to the finding of Andrews' dog tag and Conlon's remains, along with aircraft debris and other personal items. Dental records were used to confirm Conlon's identity.
There was a memorial service at Arlington for Andrews in 1978. Andrews, who was married with two children, was from Stamford, Conn., but was living in Montgomery, Ala., when he left for Vietnam.
Nearly 1,800 Americans who fought in the Vietnam War remain unaccounted for.
On the Net:
Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office: http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo
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