Marines Missing From Vietnam War Are Identified NOV 08

DOD ^ | DOD

[Dubya]

Marines Missing From Vietnam War Are Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of four U.S. servicemen, missing from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

They are Lance Cpl. Kurt E. La Plant, of Lenexa, Kan., and Lance Cpl. Luis F. Palacios, of Los Angeles, Calif. Remains that could not be individually identified are included in a group. Among the group remains are Lance Cpl. Ralph L. Harper, of Indianapolis, Ind., and Pfc. Jose R. Sanchez, of Brooklyn, N.Y. All men were U.S. Marine Corps. Palacios will be buried Friday in Bellflower, Calif., and the other Marines will be buried as a group in the spring in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

On June 6, 1968, these men were aboard a CH-46A Sea Knight helicopter that was attempting an emergency extraction of elements of the 1st Battalion, 4th Regiment, 3rd Marine Division then engaged against hostile forces in the mountains southwest of Khe Sanh, Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam. The helicopter was struck by enemy ground fire and crashed, killing 12 of the 23 crewmen and passengers on board. All but four of the men who died were subsequently recovered and identified.

Between 1993 and 2005, joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), investigated the incident in Quang Tri Province, interviewed witnesses and surveyed the crash site three times. The team found a U.S. military boot fragment and wreckage consistent with that of a CH-46 helicopter.

In 2006, a team began excavating the site and recovered human remains and non-biological material evidence including La Plant’s identification tag. While at the site, a Vietnamese citizen turned over to the team human remains the he claimed to have found amid the wreckage. In 2007, another team completed the excavation and recovered additional human remains, life support material and aircraft wreckage.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA and dental comparisons in the identification of the remains.

[roofer13]

Viet Nam Vets from the left ,Kerry,can not get elected CIC.Viet Nam Vets from the right ,McCain,can not get elected CIC.This country will never trust us.Dont mean nothin.

[luvadavi]

Prayers for our brave fallen Marines. God bless and keep them and the ones who love them.

[Dream Warrior]

Thank you, you will always be heros.

[Syncro]

Kerry and McCain declared some time ago that there were NO more MIA or POW’s in Viet Nam.

That cleared the way for normal trade relations with Viet Nam and Kerry's brother instantly went over there and started making millions and others followed suit.

Shame on them, deserting our Military Heroes that gave their lives and what for?

Filthy lucre.

God bless these men's families for the closure that they now have.

[bd476]

American flag and Indiana flag flying half mast
Eastern Elementary School (Greentown, Indiana)



My heartfelt prayers are extended tonight for

Lance Cpl. Ralph L. Harper

of

Indianapolis, Indiana

and for the

brave Marine Lance Cpl. Ralph L. Harper's surviving family, friends, and loved ones.

God Bless you Cpl. Harper and thank you for your service to our country. Semper fi. Rest in peace.



Back Home Again In Indiana sung a capella





Indiana MIA-POW

[bd476]

Please offer prayers in honor and memory of these brave young Marines who are returning home at last after their selfless and courageous service to our country during the Viet Nam war.



Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of

Lance Cpl. Kurt E. La Plant
of
Lenexa, Kansas


Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of

Lance Cpl. Luis F. Palacios
of
Los Angeles, California

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of

Lance Cpl. Ralph L. Harper
of
Indianapolis, Indiana

Requesting prayer for the family, friends, and loved ones of

Pfc. Jose R. Sanchez
of
Brooklyn, New York

[calcowgirl]

God bless them and their families.

[DoughtyOne]

I am glad these men are coming home. I am so sorry it took so long.

[bd476]

My prayers tonight are extended in honor and memory of these brave young Marines who are returning home at last after their selfless and courageous service to our country during the Viet Nam War.

My heartfelt prayers and thanks go out to all of our American Soldiers, Sailors and Marines who courageously served our country during the Viet Nam War.

My prayers are also for the surviving family, friends, and loved ones of all of our American Soldiers, Sailors and Marines.

God Bless you all.

Lance Cpl. Kurt E. La Plant
of
Lenexa, Kansas


God Bless you Cpl. La Plant and thank you for your service to our country.
Semper fi. Rest in peace.



Lance Cpl. Luis F. Palacios
of
Los Angeles, California


God Bless you Cpl. Palacios and thank you for your service to our country.
Semper fi. Rest in peace.



Lance Cpl. Ralph L. Harper
of
Indianapolis, Indiana


God Bless you Cpl. Harper and thank you for your service to our country.
Semper fi. Rest in peace.



Pfc. Jose R. Sanchez
of
Brooklyn, New York


God Bless you Pfc Sanchez and thank you for your service to our country.
Semper fi. Rest in peace.

Newsreel Video (with no audio): Local Vietnamese villagers lined up to greet and pay respect to our U.S. Marines as they came ashore in amphibious landing craft joining ranks with the Ninth Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Da Nang, Viet Nam.

Fascinating historical newsreel video of U.S. Marines Landing at Da Nang, Viet Nam.

Tribute to Marines: Amazing Grace

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall USA website

[Slip18]

Prayers and more prayers. The poor families and friends.

[garykfd]

Find the cost of Freedom
Buried in the Ground
Mother Earth will swallow You
Lay your body Down

Welcome Home Marines

Gary, USS(JOLLY)ROGERS DD-876 USN 69/73
“RUNNIN THE GUN LINE”

[sargunner]

>>My prayers are also for the surviving family, friends, and loved ones of all of our American Soldiers, Sailors and Marines.<<

I do echo your sentiments completely. It is always a bittersweet moment when one of ours is finally returned home to their country and allow the closure they needed and deserved.

I personally have served with 24 of those names on that Wall. All perished performing CSAR, attempting to bring back our Brothers from all branches of our military. Twenty-two were USAF and two were USCG. The lack of acknowledgment of these men is understandable. It is a common occurrence on this board.

USAF -RVN 1967-68, 1970-71, 1972-73

[Calpernia]

Thank you for your service. Welcome home.

[PistolPaknMama]

Just wow. Thank you for the link.

[Joe 6-pack]

If you liked that one, you'll probably appreciate this one, too....

[antisocial]

These Marines died fighting communism abroad while we are allowing it to flourish here at home. G-d help us.

[Admin Moderator]

Thread History

Action	User	Date/Time
Append keyword "powsmias"	calcowgirl	11/06/2008 10:53:35 PM PST
Unlist keyword "notbreakingnews"	Admin Moderator	11/06/2008 9:51:59 PM PST
Append keyword "godsgravesglyphs"	SunkenCiv	11/06/2008 4:55:07 PM PST
Append keyword "notbreakingnews"	A.A. Cunningham	11/06/2008 4:53:34 PM PST
Append keyword "vietnam"	HokieMom	11/06/2008 4:29:07 PM PST
Append keyword "mia"	HokieMom	11/06/2008 4:29:07 PM PST
Append keyword "welcomehome"	HokieMom	11/06/2008 4:29:07 PM PST

[okay]

[Ancient Drive]

Welcome home. It is sad that the America that brings you home is in such a disarray, but we welcome you with open arms. God bless you, and rest in peace.

[bd476]

Sargunner, my thoughts, prayers and deep gratitude are extended to you for the great gift and sacrifice you made for our country when you served in our military during Viet Nam. God Bless you and thank you for your service to our country.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Here’s health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve
In many a strife we’ve fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.

-—Marine Corps Hymn