Three Soldiers recovered in Vietnam
 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 937-11
November 07, 2011

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Soldiers Missing from Vietnam War Identified



The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of three servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

Army Capt. Arnold E. Holm Jr. of Waterford, Conn.; Spc. Robin R. Yeakley of South Bend, Ind.; and Pfc. Wayne Bibbs of Chicago, will be buried as a group, in a single casket representing the entire crew, on Nov. 9, in Arlington National Cemetery. On June 11, 1972, Holm was the pilot of an OH-6A Cayuse helicopter flying a reconnaissance mission in Thua Thien-Hue Province, South Vietnam. Also on board were his observer, Yeakley, and his door gunner, Bibbs. The aircraft made a second pass over a ridge, where enemy bunkers had been sighted, exploded and crashed, exploding again upon impact. Crews of other U.S. aircraft, involved in the mission, reported receiving enemy ground fire as they overflew the crash site looking for survivors.

Between 1993 and 2008, joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), interviewed witnesses, investigated, surveyed and excavated possible crash sites several times. They recovered human remains, OH-6A helicopter wreckage and crew-related equipmentincluding two identification tags bearing Yeakley's name.

Scientists from the JPAC used forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence to identify the crew.

Today more than 1,600 American remain un-accounted for from the Vietnam War. More than 900 servicemen have been accounted for from that conflict, and returned to their families for burial with military honors since 1973. The U.S. government continues to work closely with the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to recover all Americans lost in the Vietnam War.

For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO website at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1169.

Welcome home, gentleman. Thank you for your service and sacrifice - you are not forgotten.

Thank you for your service gentlemen...

Rest well

Welcome home men and thank you for your service.

RIP Warriors, Vaya con Dios..

Welcome home. Rest in peace.

Welcome home!!!!

Rest in Peace Warriors.......

RIP men...

Welcome home!

Gone but not forgotten,God Bless,Rest in Peace Warriors...........:(

They were just simple soldiers and their ranks are growing thin
But their presence should remind us; we may need their like again,
For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.
If we cannot do them honor while they're here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give them homage at the ending of their days.

Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say:
OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY. (author unknown)

The passing of our soldiers often go unnoticed and unsung by most of the world, remembered only by family and friends. Wish it were not so. May they RIP, their families will be in my thoughts and prayers.

I realize it's a Canadian song,however I believe most appropriate for this occasion...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrkgV5bl7kQ

Big Teddy

Welcome home soldiers! Thank you for your service and sacrifices.

Welcome home, and prayers out to the families.

RIP Gents, welcome home.

RIP — Welcome home.

Now that you're finally home, may you rest more peacefully. Prayers to your families...

Welcome home Gentlemen, may you finally Rest in Peace.

Welcome home... RIP.