‘Mission Accomplished’: Vietnam Veteran’s Remains Make it Home Nearly Half-Century Later

Posted on July 15, 2011 at 10:13pm by Madeleine Morgenstern
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The remains of a fallen Vietnam pilot returned home Thursday, 45 years after Lt. Commander William Patrick Egan was shot down.

His whereabouts were unknown until a DNA sample provided by his niece a decade ago matched bone fragments a farmer in Laos turned over to U.S. officials in late 2009.

“The first thing I would say is mission accomplished; those are the best words,” Linda Sanders told Houston’s ABC affiliate KTRK. “I always was worried about him, but I always knew he’d be home, eventually. I didn’t think it was going to take this long.”

A Navy officer presented Egan’s widow, Anne Egan, with an urn containing his remains.

“I’ve been waiting for them to find him all these years,” she told the Houston Chronicle. A burial is scheduled for Saturday.

Egan’s A1-H Skyraider was shot down April 19, 1966 during a then-secret mission bombing a military complex in Laos. At the time, the military only listed Egan as missing before later acknowledging the classified mission, the Chronicle reported.

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Comments (28)

Dismayed Veteran
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 8:58am
Welcome Home, Brother.

Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.

Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep,
May the soldier
or sailor,
God keep.
On the land
or the deep,
Safe in sleep.

Love, good night,
Must thou go,
When the day,
And the night
Need thee so?
All is well.
Speedeth all
To their rest.

Fades the light;
And afar
Goeth day,
And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well;
Day has gone,
Night is on.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
‘Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
‘Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.
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Eric Von Zipper
Posted on July 18, 2011 at 2:35am
My friends… To Lt. Commander William Patrick Egan… Thank you, for all you did and everything you gave for your Country. I hope this closing chapter of your life has brought comfort to your family, friends and loved ones. Sir, I salute you…
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rwhiteside
Posted on July 17, 2011 at 10:16pm
Thanks for your service, sir . . .well above and beyond the call!
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tnchick
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 4:41pm
I agree about Bill Maher! Who cares what he does or says? He’s a dirtbag. Stop covering him! Makes me sick to think about all the guys lost in a war they were not allowed to fight.
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BlkWdow
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 2:31pm
What a great ending! Welcome home!
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PghLady13
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 1:44pm
As one who lost someone near in those terrible times, thank you and your family for your sacrifice. It is good to have you home.
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PghLady13
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 1:41pm
I lost someone near to me in those terrible times. Thank God he made it home. Thank God for his family who knows the ultimate sacrifice.
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- loriann12
  Posted on July 16, 2011 at 4:10pm
  I lost an uncle recently to agent orange exposure in Viet Nam….glad this guy made it home finally.
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carolinaconservative
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 1:20pm
He gave his life so that dirtbags like Bill Maher and his panel can voice their opinions. The latest Bill Maher story goes beyond the pale. It is disgusting! Why does the Blaze keep giving this guy free publicity?

Welcome home, brother! You may not recognize the country you love and gave your life for!!
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nysparkie
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 1:09pm
May he and his family be at peace. Watch over them Lord, Amen.
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sweathog1948
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 12:37pm
My heart goes out to this soilders family. Viet Nam was the worst war America has been in. I do not believe our country stood behind the men in this war as they should have. To me if we are going to be at war we should go in to win, with all barrels blasting not so with Viet Nam. Our brave men were not supported as they should have been. Worst thing of all is how some Americans treated these guys when they came home, very shameful. I hope we as a country have learned some good lessons from Viet Nam.
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gpk
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 12:34pm
Welcome Home Brother.
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Arkansawyer
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 12:16pm
Welcome home !
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Dustoff
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 11:30am
Welcome home Brother.
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Seabee79
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 10:00am
God Bless You, and welcome home.
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redsred
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 9:46am
POW – you are not forgotten.

Welcome Home, Brother
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dupaws
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 9:22am
As a Veitnam Veteran, To the family of Lt. Commander William Patrick Egan, my most heart felt fellings for you. He serve and died for the America we know and loved. One day we will all be together again, in a place that has no war. never to be separated from loved ones and friends.
RIP Lt. Commander William Patrick Egan.
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Vietvet1
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 8:59am
In a few days, I am going to attend the Annual meeting of the National Alliance of Families

http://www.nationalalliance.org/

We get to meet with those in our Government involved in finding our POW-MIAs. They include the DPMO, CILHI, JPAC as well as Stoney Beach and non Governmental entities. In all the years I have attended… all the Families get is BS from the agencies and when caught in lies.. they degrade the families. I agree that we need to return those who have died but.. next to nothing has been done to investigate LIVE SIGHTINGS. No investigation has been made on LIVE SIGHTINGS in South East Asia since 1999. And we now have 2 missing in the Sand box. Pvt.Bowe Bergdahl in Afghanistan and Spc. Ahmed Altaie in Iraq. This is how “Michael Blassie” was treated.

http://www.nationalalliance.org/blassie/bunkidx.htm

This info was brought out by a man named Ted Sampley. I had the opportunity to examine the contents of the Tomb (sans the remains) and photoed it. His ID could have been made from just the contents that were buried WITH him in that Tomb. I still have the pics and use them to let others know that our Government hides the truth to create a Fairy Tale. Welcome Home LT CMD Egan. About 88,000 more to go. (WWII,Korea,Vietnam, South West Asia, and the Cold War).
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mikenleeds
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 8:51am
Great American story
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oldchevyguy
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 8:51am
Welcome home Brother
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Gonzo
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 8:42am
Welcome home sailor, thank you for your sacrifice.
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80mesh
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 7:19am
he has slipped the surly bonds of earth and touched the face of god ……welcome home bro
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DeltaHawk
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 6:01am
ANother victim of Democrat lies RIP brother.
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- G3L
  Posted on July 16, 2011 at 6:14am
  RIP, my brother and thank you. GOD BLESS YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND AMERICA!
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OATHKEEPERHONORYOUROATH
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 5:53am
Welcome home Brother.
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CitizenVetUSA
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 2:21am
We have been waiting, welcome home veteran.
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- silentwatcher
  Posted on July 16, 2011 at 2:55am
  Welcome home troop. BTW. Laos is in Cambodia.
  Report Post »
tacobender
Posted on July 16, 2011 at 1:35am
Welcome Home Shipmate.
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