From DPMO ::
REMAINS OF SEVEN U.S. SERVICEMEN FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA IDENTIFIED
The remains of seven American servicemen previously unaccounted-for from Southeast Asia have been identified and were returned to their families for burial in the United States. They are identified as Capt. Peter H. Chapman, Centerburg, Ohio; 1st Lt. John H. Call, III, Potomac, Md.; Technical Sgt.. Allen J. Avery, Auburn, Mass.; Technical Sgt.. Roy D. Prater, Tiffin, Ohio; and Sgt. William R. Pearson, Webster, N.H., all U.S. Air Force. The names of one U.S. Air Force airman and one U.S. Army aviator will not be released at the request of their families.
On April 6, 1972, Chapman, Call, Avery, Prater, and Pearson were flying an H-53C Super Jolly helicopter on a search and rescue mission over Quang Tri, South Vietnam. While trying to evade enemy ground fire, Chapman, the pilot, flew the helicopter to an altitude of 200 feet. The helicopter crashed into the ground and burst into flames. Other aircraft in the area did not see anyone exit the aircraft prior to impact.
In 1989, 1992, and 1994, joint U.S.-Vietnamese teams investigated and excavated a crash site in Quang Tri Province. During the 1992 investigation of this loss incident, a local villager reported finding remains and burying them in his garden. The U.S. investigators excavated the garden and recovered possible humans remains. Later, in 1994, a joint team found numerous bone fragments, personal effects, and aircraft wreckage. The remains were repatriated to the U.S.
The remains of Chapman, Call, and Pearson were identified individually, and along with Avery and Prater, are part of a group remains identification. Mitochondrial DNA testing was used to confirm the identifications.
With the identification of these seven servicemen, 2,109 Americans remain unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War.
THIRD JOINT RECOVERY OPERATION IN NORTH KOREA TO BEGIN
The third U.S.-North Korea joint recovery operation of 1997 will commence on October 4 and last approximately 20 days. This joint operation follows the successful completion of the two operations in which the remains of five possible Americans were excavated. The area to be investigated is where the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd battalions of the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division engaged Chinese forces in battle in October 1950.