Remains Of Vietnam Vet Returned To Iowa

Exactly 37 years after he was shot down over North Vietnam, Col. Lester Holt (USAF) went home to Nashua (IA) Saturday.

He'd been flying as an aerial spotter aboard an OE-1 Bird Dog on May 22, 1967, when he came under ground fire. He was last seen spiraling into the dense forest about six miles north of the demilitarized zone. For so long, Col. Holmes was missing, his family unsure of his fate.

"It's the end of doubts," said his oldest son, Bruce. "The end of not knowing. (We're) able to put him to rest."

Lester Holmes had more than 25 years of service to the Air Force when his Bird Dog went down. He logged more than 10,000 hours of flight in missions during World War II, the Berlin Airlift and the Vietnam conflict. His remains were identified recently by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command based in Hawaii.

Saturday, Holmes's three sons, Bruce, Roger and Tommy, removed the MIA bracelets engraved with their father's name from their wrists for the last time.

"I welcome you not to a funeral but a homecoming," said Tommy. "Today we add the final chapter. Your tour of duty is finally complete. You are home and home to stay."

FMI:  www.jpac.pacom.mil