VFW - 6-09-17 MIA Update (1-American's WWII & 2 Vietnam)
 

VFW Action Corps Weekly
RE: https://www.vfw.org/actioncorpsweekly

MIA Update:

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced the identification of remains of three Americans who had been missing in action from WWII and Vietnam. Returning home for burial with full military honors are:

01. Marine Corps Pfc. Larry R. Roberts, 18, of Damascus, Arkansas, will be buried June 14, in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Roberts was assigned to Special Weapons Group, 2nd Defense Battalion, Fleet Marine Force. Roberts' unit landed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll on Nov. 20, 1943. After five days of intense battle against the Japanese, Roberts was declared killed in action on Nov. 25, 1943.

02. Navy Cmdr. Charles B. Goodwin was an RF-8A pilot, assigned to Detachment D, VPF-63, CVW-15. On Sept. 8, 1965, Goodwin took off from the USS Coral Sea on a combat photo mission over North Vietnam. Fifteen minutes later, Goodwin radioed that he had encountered thunderstorms en route to the target area. No other transmissions were received from Goodwin and, after unsuccessful searches over the target area and adjacent coastal waters, Goodwin was declared missing in action. Interment services are pending.

03. Air Force Reserve Capt. Joseph Smith was an F-100D pilot. During a combat mission over Cambodia, Smith’s wingman noticed a stream of white vapor coming from the left wing of Smith’s aircraft. Smith crashed a half-mile from the target. An aerial search was conducted the following day, but a recovery operation was ruled out due to intense enemy activity in the area. Smith was listed as missing in action as of April 4, 1971. Interment services are pending.

Welcome Home Men - may you now Rest In Peace on your homeland.