Missing In Action - A Son's Story
Our featured speaker November 13, 2009 was Lt. Cdr. Brian Danielson. His father was shot down over Laos during the Vietnam War when Brian was 1 year old. His dad was listed as "Missing in Action."
Cdr. Danielson shared the multi-decade process that took place to locate his father, Captain Benjamin Franklin Danielson. Danielson said that the rescue efforts that took place to rescue his father and the "rear seat" turned out to be the largest ever in recorded history. Over 500 sorties were flown to destroy the North Vietnamese battery positions that were entrenched in the hills and mountains leading up to the pass that led to the Ho Chi Minh Trail. More ordinance was dropped in this one area for this one single purpose than was dropped by the US in all of World War II.
The flyers were located on either side of a river and eventually the rear seat was rescued, but, not without a cost--both to equipment and personnel. A gunner on a chopper was killed. He was five days from leaving Southeast Asia and seven days from getting married.
Danielson shared the process of how his mother was notified, first that his father was missing and then that rescue operations were suspended after three days. Over many years, Danielson ended up meeting the person who was in charge of the rescue operation and the "rear seat," 1st Lt Woody Bergeron, the last man to speak to his father.
He gave us an overview of the various military and government agencies that are commited to finding all of America's missing service members. Over 78,000 from World War II, 8,000 from the Korean Conflict, 2,000 still in Vietnam--this is down from 2,800. The teams of researchers include anthropologists, ordinance disposal technicians, commuications officers, translators, and medics.
Cdr. Danielson was given an opportunity to go to Laos in March and April 2006 to join the team looking for his fathers remains. A few years earlier, a bone fragment was located along with dog tags. Through DNA analysis, the fragment was determined to be Boxer 22's-Capt Danielson. In the early 90's his gun was located in a museum in Vietnam.
Once the team got to the site, they had to clear the live ordinance, then the surface vegetation before the painstaking process sifting through a 100' x 100' area four square feet at a time. Many locals were brought in to help with this process.
At the end of the 30 days they ended up with about 100 lbs. of material. There was very little, if any, bone material. Cdr. Danielson then went on a tour in Iraq. After that he and his mother decided that the search was over and they held memorial services for his father in Kenyon, Minnesota. The Patriot Guard Motorcycle Group provided an escort and perimeter for the procession at the service.
He concluded his presentation by saying that the lessons learned of how Vietnam-era servicemen were treated upon their return to the States, is having a huge impact on how we are treating our returning servicemen and women today.
Growing up, following in his fathers footsteps, Brian became a Naval Pilot. He has served several tours of duty in Iraq and currently flies the EA-18 Growler based at Whidbey Island Naval Station.
Click here to learn more about Commander Danielson's father.