Bones of three missing American soldiers among many other during Vietnam War found in Cambodia



Phnom Penh: According to Kampuchea Thmey Daily News, On 21/August/2015, the DEFENSE POW/MIA ACCOUNTING AGENCY (DPAA) declared that the bones of missing American soldiers during Vietnam War were found and had been buried with the honor as soldier, according to the declaration of US Embassy in Cambodia on 25/August/2015 which our office (Kampuchea Thmey News) just received the news around 5:15 pm.
The US Embassy in Cambodia confirmed that MAJ Dale W.Richardson, 28 years old, originally from Mount Sterling, Illinois state, his bones will be buried at Mountain View in Arkansas state. Mr. Richardson served in Battalion number 2, Regiment armored number 24 of the first division of army group forces and he was a passenger on Huey helicopter which was heading to the Kantum charity base in South Vietnam, however the helicopter changed the direction due to the bad weather.

After had been flying into Cambodia air space, the helicopter had been shot multiple times from the group which forced the captain to do the emergency landing in Kampong Cham province.

4 soldiers and 4 other passengers were still alive after the helicopter had been successfully landed. One soldier had successfully escaped from the arrest by the enemy and managed to come back to the front line, but three soldiers and 1 passenger were arrested. 2 soldiers had been released by Vietnam in 1973 and the bones of two soldiers who were arrested during that time were handed to The United State in 1980 after the identity had been identified. MAJ. Richardson died at the landing place while confronting with the enemy. His corpse wasn’t taken back after the fighting.

According to another declaration related to this case by the US embassy in Cambodia, during 1992-2008 a joint group of researchers between Cambodian and American researchers was searching for the location where the bones located, but wasn’t succeeded. On 18/February/2009/ the researcher group interviewed a witness in Maymouth district who confirmed that he knew about this event. The witness told the researcher group the place where the body of MAJ Richardson was buried. Therefore, the researcher group dug up that place, but it turned out to be disappointing as nothing had been found. From 16/ January till 11/March/2011 the joint group of researchers between Cambodian and American researchers continued to dig up the area around, but they still couldn’t find anything.

In February/ 2012/ the group of researchers interviewed again with 2 witnesses and the witnesses told them the second place which believed that the body of MAJ Richardson was buried. The second place is not really far away from the first place. As a result, they found bones and some other military equipment in one grave.

In the process of identifying the identity of MAJ Richardson, the scientist of DPAA and Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) analyzed on the evidences based on the situation and used some tools to determine his DNA. As a result, they found that the DNA matched with his sister’s DNA.

On 31/ March/ 2015, DPAA declared that they have found bones of two other missing American soldiers during Vietnam war in one grave located in Maymouth district, Tbong Khoum province in which previously known as Kampong Cham province. Sergeant Bunyan D.Price, 20 years old, originally from Monroe, North Carolina State. Sergeant Rodney L.Griffin, 21 years old, originally from Mexico, Missouri State. They both were on Huey Helicopter with MAJ Richardson. Price was buried again on 11/ April/ 2015 at Belmont, North Carolina state and Griffin was buried again on 25/April/2015 at Mexico City, Missouri State with the honor as soldier. So far, 1629 American soldiers still remains missing during Vietnam War.

Engrish: 1. DALE WAYNE RICHARDSON



Wall Name:DALE W RICHARDSON
Date of Birth: 5/5/1941
Date of Casualty: 5/2/1970
Home of Record: CASHTON
County of Record: MONROE COUNTY
State: WI
Branch of Service: ARMY
Rank: MAJ
Panel/Row:11W, 87
Status: MIA
- See more at: http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/43261 ... L7HvG.dpuf

2.BUNYAN DURANT PRICE JR



Wall Name:BUNYAN D PRICE JR
Date of Birth: 2/9/1950
Date of Casualty: 5/2/1970
Home of Record: BELMONT
County of Record: GASTON COUNTY
State: NC
Branch of Service: ARMY
Rank: SSGT
Panel/Row:11W, 87
Status: MIA
- See more at: http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/41650 ... pC2tz.dpuf

3. RODNEY LYNN GRIFFIN



Wall Name:RODNEY L GRIFFIN
Date of Birth: 8/1/1948
Date of Casualty: 5/2/1970
Home of Record: CENTRALIA
County of Record: BOONE COUNTY
State: MO
Branch of Service: ARMY
Rank: SGT
Panel/Row:11W, 85
Status: MIA
- See more at: http://www.vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces/20067 ... RgqN7.dpuf

Amazing story

Right. I can't believe that there are some Cambodian survivors who still remembered where those bodies buried.

Might be interesting to talk to, they've lived through a lot.

Vietname War was a bitter history of Cambodia. I wonder how many bone of American soliders in Cambodia?

qinjingyou wrote:Might be interesting to talk to, they've lived through a lot.

Yes this is actually the most practical way we learned about major events happened in Cambodia. I actually learned more about khmer rouge from my family especially my grandparents and parents. It is good to hear what they have gone through during khmer rouge. All of them were separated to live in different places and each of them had different and unique experiences to share.

prahkeitouj wrote:Vietname War was a bitter history of Cambodia. I wonder how many bone of American soliders in Cambodia?

You are right, Cambodia had been affected a lot from Vietnam War. I wish we could have learned more about it from school and also i wish more Cambodians are aware about this major event. It was not just about America and Vietnam.