U.S. Army First Lieutenant Paul G. Magers of Billings, MT, and his gunner, Chief Warrant Officer Donald L. Wann of Shawnee, OK, are finally coming home after being shot down during a rescue of an Army Ranger team in Quang Tri province in 1971.
http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_53beeb96-a585-11df-9c96-001cc4c03286.html
http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=13789
May they rest in peace.
and may their surviving loved ones have a peaceful closure…
God Bless them.
Ditto Randolph. Too many still have not made it back and worse, have been forgotten.
It is always a somber experience, but if you ever make it to DC you must check out the wall, Viet Nam memorial.
thank you for your service, Magers and Wann
Prayers sent for the fallen heroes. May their families find peace, with their loved ones resting on free soil at last.
The Vietnamese government subsequently declared the region within Quang Tri Province where the aircraft crashed as off-limits to U.S. personnel, citing national security concerns. As part of an agreement with JPAC, a Vietnamese team unilaterally excavated the site and recovered human remains and other artifacts in 2008. The Vietnamese returned to the site in 2009, expanded the excavation area and discovered more remains and additional evidence.
Fuckers.
Still talking the time to stick it to us every chance they get. If I am ever made President I will resume Operation Rolling Thunder at the earliest convenience.
May the LT and Chief Rest In Peace at home finally. Like others have said may this bring closure to the families. I wish all of the fallen could make it back to U.S. soil.
Deleted. Previous billingsgazette link contains the updated material.
I am glad these me are finally home where they belong.
Semper Fi.
I was on the fence about voting for you in the other thread but now I’m definitely IN!
RIP and welcome home, Gents.
I am glad they are coming Home!
Rolling thunder ,I was thinking Break out the Enola Gay for One More Mission
RIP, and welcome home Gentlemen.
I hope they get a Heroes welcome when they get back.
May they rest in peace on American soil…
Well said Buck. I am glad they will be home soon. It makes me sad to think of all the questions and thoughts family members must go through when they just don’t know. I hope they have some family who will be more at peace just knowing and having them home after so long. I wonder if their parents are still alive.
1st Lieutenant Magers mother is still living and will attend the memorial services for her son.
His brother, Fred Magers, was quoted in the Billings Gazette article linked above as stating, “This is a joyous occasion and if anybody at the services comes wearing somber colors, Mom might just cuss them out and at 92, she has earned the right to do this.”
MontanaDave
Thanks for the update. I did not see the second story in the link about the family, only the story about his class mates. It sounds like his Mother at 92 has the right attitude. I like the idea of wearing lasley and other 70’s clothes to celebrate his life and his return. Great attitude.
This one strikes a bit close to home, vocationally speaking. Although the time for mourning has long since passed, it is a cause for celebration that these boys can finally be laid to rest in a place where their sacrifice will be properly acknowledged and appreciated.
AC
Rest in peace, soldiers.