The remains of nine U.S. airmen who were missing in action from the Vietnam War have been accounted for and returned to their families for burial with full military honors. The individually identified remains of each airman were previously returned to their families for burial. On May 22, 1968, the men were aboard a C-130A Hercules on an evening flare mission over northern Salavan Province, Laos. Fifteen minutes after the aircraft made a radio call, the crew of another U.S. aircraft observed a large ground fire near the last known location of the aircraft. Search and rescue attempts were not initiated because of heavy antiaircraft fire. Analysts developed case leads with information spanning more than 40 years. Through interviews with eyewitnesses and research in the National Archives, several locations in Laos and South Vietnam were pinpointed as potential crash sites.
The remains of nine U.S. airmen who were missing in action from the Vietnam War have been accounted for and returned to their families for burial with full military honors. The individually identified remains of each airman were previously returned to their families for burial. On May 22, 1968, the men were aboard a C-130A Hercules on an evening flare mission over northern Salavan Province, Laos. Fifteen minutes after the aircraft made a radio call, the crew of another U.S. aircraft observed a large ground fire near the last known location of the aircraft. Search and rescue attempts were not initiated because of heavy antiaircraft fire. Analysts developed case leads with information spanning more than 40 years. Through interviews with eyewitnesses and research in the National Archives, several locations in Laos and South Vietnam were pinpointed as potential crash sites.
Gravesite Details
Chief Master Sgt. Knebel was from Midway, AR. Thank you to Davy B for sponsoring this memorial.
