Marine's Remains Returned from Vietnam After 39 Years

13WHAM-TV Rochester | 9/28/2006 | Chalonda Roberts

[rochester_veteran]

Marine's Remains Returned from Vietnam After 39 Years

Chalonda Roberts (Chili, N.Y.) - After 39 years, a Marine from Chili is finally coming home from the Vietnam War.

It isn't the homecoming his family dreamed of, though. His father recently learned his son's remains have been identified and will be flown back to U.S. soil.

James Widener was 18 when his helicopter was shot down in 1967. His father, Jay Widener, never gave up hope that his son would be found.

The elder Widener, now 83, flips through a book filled with pages of letters written over the years asking for help to find his son.

He said, "I wrote to every politician, every person in the world to try to get more on it, and they couldn't help. They tried."

Widener remembers the day his son James joined the Marines. He was 17, right out of high school.

"He watched his brother struggling through college with them tapping on his shoulder all the time and he didn't want that, so he said, ‘Dad I want to go into the service, get the service over with, and then go to college,’" Widener said.

Widener also remembers the day, 39 years ago, he received news that his son's helicopter was shot down.

"I was mowing the grass sitting on the lawn mower...When I saw the car come in, my first instinct was to run, because my brother had been killed in the war," he said.

Widener believes the Vietnamese had his son's remains all this time. He blames them for how the remains were handled and has bitter feelings toward the leaders of the country.

"They probably killed him,” Widener said. “He was probably alive at the time and they killed him, but they buried him in a two-by-four shoe box…chopped up bones and everything else put in. They don't respect anything," he said.

Military personnel took DNA samples from Widener's family, which later proved to be a match.

James' mother died three years ago. Widener said living with the unknown was heartache for him and his wife.

Although Widener, 83, finally has closure, he says he never gave up hope.

"I suffered over a long period of time and to tell you the truth it doesn't make any difference. I'll suffer the rest of my life with it because it's a loss I'll never forget," he said.

James Widener will have a full United States Marine Corps military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery.

His father said the service is scheduled for the end of next month.

[rochester_veteran]

I've made mention of Jimmy Widener in a few threads in the past. He's a 1966 graduate of my kids high school and was a great athlete. He's being buried on November 3, 2006 at Arlington National Cemetary. Our Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 20, has been asked to provide a color guard. The Widener Family has given so much to our country and has lost at least five sons during various wars, going back to the Civil War. At least Jimmy is coming home now.

[sargunner]

RIP Marine. Welcome Home..

[beltfed308]

RIP James. You are finally home.

[auboy]

Many give some. Some give all.

RIP, Jimmy Widener.

[in the Arena]

Welcome Home.

[Arkinsaw]

Still waiting for Capt. Jerry Mundt. I wore his POW bracelet until it broke into pieces from wear.

[kellynla]

R.I.P. Marine


Over thirty years and we have yet to get a full accounting of the American MIA's & POW's.
But that hasn't stopped Ford Motor Co. and others from profiting from Commie sweat shops in Viet Nam.
Hopefully, one of these days we'll elect a POTUS with a set.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[in the Arena]

Description of the incident.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jewidener.htm

[rochester_veteran]

From rememberances at Jimmy's Virtual Wall webpage

18 Feb 2003

Jimmy was an all-around athlete, who competed in soccer, wrestling and track. Always had a big smile on his face and had a good sense of humor. On high school graduation night, June 25, 1966, he and some other guys were sitting in the front row on the stage, and on cue, they all crossed their legs. It was very funny. He dated Gloria, my next door neighbor.

From a high school classmate, Ronnie Johnston

21 Feb 2003

I grew up with Jimmy, he was like a big brother to me. His Mom baby-sat for me while my mom worked. Jimmy was one of four brothers so to have a girl in the family, well, I guess I was teased by them all as anyone can imagine. They had a backyard in-ground pool, the only one in the country neighborhood that we grew up in, so our summers were spent at the Widener's pool. What fun!!! I have so many wonderful memories of growing up in their family and can still remember like it was yesterday when we heard that his helicopter had gone down and he was MIA. It was like losing a brother, because that was how I felt about the whole family, they were like my own. I was only 14 years old, but the memory of that day will always be with me, 34 years later. Kathleen Westlake Moses

[TheBattman]

How many times have politicians told us that all remains that will be found and returned have been?

I am thankful that at least this one family will get some closure.

[kellynla]

I know exactly how you feel.

There were 12 of us who left for MCRD in 1968.
I was the only one on the plane back from Viet Nam.

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[rochester_veteran]

From VVA Chapter 20 email list: Sent: Monday, October 09, 2006 8:46 AM Subject: Widener Repatriation

TOGETHER THEN, TOGETHER NOW

USMC Pfc. James E. Widener of Churchville-Chili (suburb of Rochester, NY) was declared missing in action in Vietnam after a helicopter crash on June 11, 1967. After 39 years his remains have been positively identified and he is being repatriated, to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery with a full U.S. Marine Corps funeral.

The Widener family has requested the presence of the Honor Guard from local Chapter 20 Vietnam Veterans of America at the ceremony, tentatively scheduled for November 3, 2006.

Due to costs associated with honoring this request, donations are being sought to defray the expenses for these 8 members to pay tribute to their fallen comrade

Please send your donation (checks may be made payable to VVA Chapter 20 - Widener Repatriation Fund) to VVA Chapter 20, 1199 E. Main Street, Rochester, NY 14609. Your support is greatly appreciated. Questions may be directed to (585) 482-7396 or (585) 978-1331.

[cryptical]

Hmm, 11 Marines in the helicopter but only 1 body found?

[John Carey]

Welcome home, friend.

[rochester_veteran]

Hmm, 11 Marines in the helicopter but only 1 body found?

Here's a quote from Jimmy's father, Jay:

Widener believes the Vietnamese had his son's remains all this time. He blames them for how the remains were handled and has bitter feelings toward the leaders of the country.

"They probably killed him,” Widener said. “He was probably alive at the time and they killed him, but they buried him in a two-by-four shoe box…chopped up bones and everything else put in. They don't respect anything," he said.

Jay Widener is probably right. I would guess the remains of the other Marines were found as well and the Vietnamese are holding back on this information.

[bmwcyle]

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

[2Jedismom]

I wanted to post an update to this...

After reading “in the arena’s” link, I was so moved that I sent a sympathy card to the family, care of the VFW post the brother belonged to. I just had to tell them how very much I appreciated this young man’s service.

This past Saturday I received a wonderful note from Peter Widener. He enclosed a program from when a bridge was dedicated in his brother’s honor and also a copy of the “James E. Widener Congressional Act of 2007” which President Bush signed.

[Pyro7480]

[rochester_veteran]

2Jedismom wrote:

After reading “in the arena’s” link, I was so moved that I sent a sympathy card to the family, care of the VFW post the brother belonged to. I just had to tell them how very much I appreciated this young man’s service.

This past Saturday I received a wonderful note from Peter Widener. He enclosed a program from when a bridge was dedicated in his brother’s honor and also a copy of the “James E. Widener Congressional Act of 2007” which President Bush signed.

Thanks so much for sharing with us! Yes, the bridge was just dedicated. There's a story about Jimmy walking on the railing of that bridge and him an Pete canoeing under it! It's great that Pete wrote to you!

My wife and I were invited to the dedication to Jimmy's Memorial Garden, above Churchville-Chili HS Stadium, this past July. What a moving ceremony it was. The CCHS Class of 1966, Jimmy's graduating class, established and built the Memorial Garden and the ceremony was one of the most moving and emotional ceremonies I've ever been too. It made me proud to be an American! There wasn't a dry eye in the Stadium! Here's a link to the blog, that also has some reflection articles about Jimmy and his family and also some posts from the members of the CCHS Class of 1966:

Local Marine James E. Widener Garden of Recognition was dedicated on Saturday

Here's some pictures of the James Widener Memorial Garden:

Here's a picture of Roger Yencer, former CPL, U.S. Marine Corps, presenting the POW/MIA flag to Jay C. Widener, Jimmy's father. Also in the picture is Ray Melens, Commander of the Color Guard of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 20.

That was so moving when the POW/MIA flag was presented to Jay. Ray Melens saluted the colors, saluted Jay Widener and with eyes pointed towards Heaven, he saluted Jimmy. The Gates-Chili pipe band then played Amazing Grace. It was so moving!

Thanks so much for letting us know about Pete's thank you note!

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving! Please keep in your prayers those who gave all for us, including Jimmy Widener and also Sgt. Eddie Jeffers.

[rochester_veteran]

2Jedismom and All

Here's a picture of the bridge and the sign. Jimmy's brother, Pete, is in the person in the center of the picture.

It's a small bridge over Black Creek, here in Chili, NY, but it's significant to family and friends because Jimmy spent alot of time on or around the bridge, canoeing, fishing or just clowning around and scaring the daylights out of his parents, by walking the girder on the bridge!