Repatriation of remains of US servicemen
Two cases of remains and artifacts believed to belong to American pilots recovered in the 77th joint search mission in April and May 2004 were handed over by representatives of the Vietnam MIA Office to representatives of the US MIA Office at Noi Bai international airport May 28, 2004. One case contained remains and artifacts relating to two American pilots listed as Missing in Action in a plane crash in the remote Tay Truong Son area of Ngan Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province. The other case contained remains and artifacts relating to two American pilots listed as Missing in Action in a plane crash in Khe Sanh township, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province. These remains and artifacts are sent to Hawaii for further identification.
Present at the handover ceremony, were representatives of the US MIA Office, Ambassador Raymond Burghardt, US Embassy officials and Air Force Reserve Major General Edward Mechenbier who was taken prisoner of war in 1967. Representatives of the US Government thanked and highly valued the humane policy and effective cooperation rendered by the Government and people of Vietnam.
Since 1973, this has been the 93rd return of remains of US servicemen killed in the war in Vietnam, with a total of 822 sets of remains repatriated.
