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Vietnam War Pilot’s Remains Identified After 50 Years
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has identified the remains of a Vietnam War pilot who went missing half a century ago. Captain Ronald W. Forrester, 25, from Texas, was flying an A-6A Intruder when it vanished over northern Vietnam in 1972.
Forrester’s plane disappeared without a trace, despite search efforts. He had written a letter home on Christmas Day, two days before his disappearance, expressing his belief in his mission but also his dwindling morale.
Discovery and Identification
Decades later, investigators discovered remains and evidence believed to belong to the missing aviators. Using circumstantial evidence and mitochondrial DNA, scientists from the DPAA identified Forrester on December 4, 2023.
The DPAA, a division of the Department of Defense, uses various techniques to identify the remains of service members killed in combat.
Legacy and Recognition
Forrester left behind a wife, four-year-old son, and 18-month-old son. His remains will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on October 7, 2024.
The DPAA has accounted for over 1,000 American service members from World War II, over 450 from the Korean War, and more than 1,000 from Vietnam since 1973.