A serviceman missing in action from the Vietnam War has been
identified and returned to his family for burial.
He is Air Force Col. Lester E. Holmes of Plainfield, Iowa.
On May 22, 1967, Holmes was flying a forward air control mission
over Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam, when his 0-1E “Bird
Dog” aircraft was struck by enemy fire. Another forward air
controller in the area saw Holmes’ aircraft spiral toward the
ground, but there were no emergency radio beacons picked up for the
next several days. Enemy activity in the area prevented a search
and rescue operation.