AIRMAN MISSING IN ACTION FROM THE VIETNAM WAR IS IDENTIFIED

Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office (Public Affairs) ^ | April 1, 2009 | Staff

[Stonewall Jackson]

AIRMAN MISSING IN ACTION FROM THE VIETNAM WAR IS IDENTIFIED

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

He is Lt. Col. Earl P. Hopper, Jr., U.S. Air Force, of Phoenix, Ariz. He is to be buried on April 3 at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.

On January 10, 1968, Hopper and Capt. Keith Hall were flying an F-4D Phantom near Hanoi, North Vietnam, as part of a four-ship MiG combat air patrol. Before they reached the target, an enemy surface-to-air missile exploded slightly below their aircraft. Hall radioed that he and Hopper were ejecting. He told Hopper to eject, but when he heard no response, he repeated “Earl get out!” Hopper replied, “I’ve pulled on it and it [the ejection seat] did not go,” followed by “you go!” Hall then pulled on his primary ejection handle but it failed to initiate, forcing him to use the alternate. Hall was captured and held as a prisoner of war until 1973, but Hopper was unable to get out of the aircraft.

Between 1993-1998, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) conducted three joint investigations and five excavations at the crash site in Son La Province, west of Hanoi. The team interviewed four informants who had knowledge of the site. The excavations recovered numerous skeletal fragments and crew-related items which were ultimately used in the forensic identification process.

Among other forensic tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists used extensive dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Welcome home, Colonel Hopper, and thank you for your service.

[cll]

Welcome home, Sir.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Until They Are Home

If you want on or off my POW/MIA Ping List, please FReep Mail or Ping me.

[Carry_Okie]

How many POW-MIAs remain from Nam?

[Travis T. OJustice]

YEA! More great news!

Welcome home, Lt. Col. Earl P. Hopper, Jr! Thank you for your scarifice.

[bmwcyle]

Hand Salute.......................two

[NonValueAdded]

Welcome home, Colonel, and my prayers are with your loved ones today.

[amom]

Salute, Lt. Col. Earl P. Hopper, Jr. Welcome Home Sir. Rest well.

[RebelTXRose]

This makes me think of the brother of a girl from my grade school class. He’s not been returned.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Stonewall Jackson]

According to the latest numbers I have seen, there are 1,736 Americans still missing in Southeast Asia.

Of these, 944 are deemed recoverable, 134 are been deferred (while their cases are being studied to determine whether or not they can be recovered), and 658 have been determined to be non-recoverable (lost over water, disappeared in transit, etc...).

[Carry_Okie]

Thank you. It is one of the finest attributes of the US military that such cases do not go forgotten.

[pabianice]

Welcome home, shipmate.

[afnamvet]

Welcome Home Colonel Hopper. May you rest in peace.

[llevrok]

The war is not over until all come home.

Welcome back, Airman. And thanks.

[tiredoflaundry]

Welcome home Colonel Hopper. May you now be able to rest in peace.

[reagan_fanatic]

:Salute:

[garykfd]

Welcome Home Sir.

God Bless and Keep You and Your Family

[Godwin1]

Welcome Home, sir. God keep you and your family.

[ConorMacNessa]

Welcome Home, Col. Hopper!

[beachn4fun]

Welcome Home Colonel Hopper
Now rest
Salute and thank you.

[cubreporter]

Thank you for your service ... You have been reassigned and are now enjoying your final PCS. Rest in peace and know those who cared were always behind you and those like you.

[PGR88]

Lt. Col. Hopper - Thank you and God bless you and your family.

[CitizenM]

Welcome home, Sir. We have never forgotten and we will always be grateful. Rest in Peace now.

[Kathy in Alaska]

TAPS

Welcome Home and RIP Lt Col Earl Hopper Jr

Amazing Grace

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[philly-d-kidder]

RIP Lt Earl cooper Jr

[proudmilitarymrs]

Lt. Col. Earl P. Hopper, Jr., welcome home, son, you have served well, RIP.

mrs

[Repeal The 17th]

Hand salute for the Colonel and prayers for the family.

[calcowgirl]

Welcome home, Colonel Hopper.

[americanophile]

"...we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Welcome home Colonel Hopper. Thank you and God bless you.

[Dubya]

Soldier rest, Gently pressed,
To the calm, Mother Earth's
Waiting breast;
Duty done, Like the sun:
Going West.

SEMPER FI AIRMAN, GOD BLESS YOU

[Bushbacker1]

Welcome home Col. Hopper. Thank you for your service and Rest In Peace, Sir.

[Jim Ralls]

RIP Colonel in the land you gave your life to defend. Welcome back.

[TASMANIANRED]

Welcome home, faithful servant.

Rest in peace.

[SouthTexas]

Welcome home and thank you.

[oneamericanvoice]

God bless you, Colonel Hopper! May you finally rest in peace.

[Chode]

Welcome home sir... RIP.

Never Forget

Capt. Morgan J Donahue USAF MIA 12-13-68 Laos

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SJ.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

Welcome Home,Brother... GOD Bless...

[Aquakat]

Thanks Stonewall,

PGR on it pending family invitation.

Lt. Col. Earl P. Hopper, Jr, you have not been forgotten and we will not forget.
Welcome Home hero.

[ops33]

Lt. Col Hopper is the son of Colonel Earl P. Hopper, USA (Ret). Col Hopper passed away 11 Jul 2008, almost a year before his son is returned to our country.

[Clemenza]

Welcome home. :)

[Mr. Silverback]

Welcome home, Colonel. A hero proved in liberating strife.

[antisocial]

God bless you, Colonel Hopper, May you finally rest in peace.

[HokieMom]

May the family now find peace.

[Marine_Uncle]

Another American hero returned to these blessed shores.