Page 6 - Desert Lightning News So. AZ Edition, July 6 2018
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6 July 2018 Desert Lightning News
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Vietnam fighter pilot finally comes homeFacebook.com/DesertLightningNews
Story and photo by al DNA analysis, dental and anthropological Lt. Col. Robert Marsi, West Point Garrison chaplain, led those gathered in prayer
CORY ANGELL analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence at the conclusion of the ceremony and noted what an honor it was to celebrate
to identify his remains. the life of Major White, “an American Hero.â€
West Point Garrison Public Affairs
The headstone he will be buried under
WEST POINT, N.Y. — Maj. James Blair reads, “Missing in SE Asia.†His father, Air
White went missing in Southeast Asia on Force Maj. Gen. Edward H. White, West Point
Nov. 24, 1969. He was finally laid to rest at Class of 1924, and his mother Mary Haller
West Point alongside of his mother, father White, are named on the same stone.
and brother, June 19, 2018.
His brother Air Force Lt. Col. Edward H.
His wife, Sharon Cook, and daughter, Kath- White II, is buried one stone away. His stone
erine White, were in attendance. Katherine says, “First American to walk in space.†He
was less than a year old when her father was an astronaut killed Jan. 27, 1967 while
went missing. rehearsing on the launch pad for the upcom-
ing Apollo I launch. A fire broke out in the
“When we were in high school, he was al- capsule killing him, Virgil Grissom and Roger
ways incredible at sports,†said Cook. “It could Chaffee.
be a game where they were losing and the
odds seemed impossible, that seem to drive “Inspired by his brother’s accomplish-
him even more. Early on I expected him to ments, Jim also wanted to enter the space
knock on the door any day. I figured if anyone program and to do that you needed to be a
could make it, it would be him.†test pilot,†said Lt. Col. Robert Marsi, West
Point garrison chaplain. “To be a test pilot he
According to the Defense POW/MIA Ac- needed flight time in combat and volunteered
counting Agency, White, a 357th Tactical for service in Vietnam.â€
Fighter Squadron fighter pilot, was in a
flight attacking enemy troops when weather White’s Air Force Academy classmates also
conditions deteriorated and contact with him attended the ceremony along with veterans,
was lost after his first pass. When wreckage POW/MIA supporters and friends. The Air
was sighted four days later, a ground team Force and the West Point Band provided
searched the area and found small pieces of honors. A missing-man F-15 Eagle flyover
wreckage, but no remains were recovered. opened the events.
White was later declared missing in action. “I am proud to join you all here today in
He was not accounted for until recently, when honoring Maj. James Blair White, an Ameri-
scientists from DPAA and the Armed Forces can hero,†Marsi said.
Medical Examiner System used mitochondri-
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