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VIETNAM CRASH SITE TO BE SEARCHED FOR ARMY PILOT'S

REMAINS -- Exactly 36 years after his helicopter went down, the

crash site of a long-lost Army pilot will be searched, with the hope

that the remains of Capt. Arnold "Dusty" Holm will be found.

Capt. Arnold E. "Dusty" Holm Jr.

For a previous story about "Dusty" Holm...click here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfJAN08/nf012708-7.htm

Story here... http://www.courant.
com/news/local/hcu-vietnammia0610,0,1530359.story

Story below:

-------------------------

Vietnam Crash Site To Be Searched For Army Pilot's Remains

By JESSE A. HAMILTON
Washington Bureau Chief

WASHINGTON -- Exactly 36 years after his helicopter went down, the Vietnam crash site of a long-lost Army pilot from Connecticut will be searched starting tomorrow, with the hope that physical remains of Capt. Arnold "Dusty" Holm will be found and returned home.

The office of Rep. Joe Courtney, whose district includes Holms' native Waterford, confirmed the search, which starts Wednesday and continues through July 25.

Conducted as one of a number of similar annual operations by U.S. military recovery specialists, the process will start with about a week of site preparation and equipment installation before the real work of sifting through the ground begins.

The 28-year-old captain's aircraft, a Hughes OH6A Cayuse, more commonly known as a "Loach," was shot down during a military operation on June 11, 1972, and the impact was believed to have killed Holm and two passengers: Pfc. Wayne Bibbs and Spec. Robin Yeakley.

That crash site of Holm's small scout helicopter was discovered two years ago, not far from the city of Hue, but the list of missing-in-action search sites is lengthy, and Holm's site was put in line with many others until the search could finally be scheduled by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command this month.

Two years ago, searchers had discovered strong evidence of wreckage specific to Holm's particular aircraft.

There is no guarantee that human remains have lasted through the decades in Vietnam's acidic soil.

Often, discoveries amount to a few scattered teeth.

And even if material is found, it'll have to be analyzed in Hawaii labs for months before any possible confirmation that Holm has been found.

If Holm is finally returned to Connecticut, family members have said they will have a memorial service in the New London church where he was baptized and married.

-------------------------

posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org

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