: On another note: In the mind and heart of our
: family there has always been the question,
: "Was it really Eddy that was
: found." I was asked this question this
: past week by Eddy's siblings. I could only
: respond with, I am sure someone made sure it
: was Eddy. So, my question is, if as
: mentioned, that only two of the bodies had
: dog tags. What other positive identification
: measures would have been taken, or do any on
: the recovery team remember the actual
: recovery of Eddy's body and the extent of
: his injuries.

I don't remember many details about the actual incident, Tim, even though I was in Pleiku at the time and I know I was at the memorial service.

I don't recall any talk of only two of them having dog tags, but I suppose it is possible. Unlikely, as I remember things, because everybody wore them at all times for obvious reasons.

What I can tell you, in all seriousness, is this: nobody guessed about anything to do with our dead. By "our" I mean any American dead in any unit that I ever had contact with.

Whatever steps were taken, until some positive identification was made and confirmed, no effort would have been spared and no guesses would have been made.

The Army in those days did an extremely poor job of communicating what a careful, meticulous job they did for the fallen. There were rare mistakes, but very few.

Was it really Eddie?

There was absolutely no talk at the time of any questions about IDs of the crash victims

Also, I was not at the crash site, but knowing how careful our people were and knowing how seriously we and they took our and their responsibilities to our dead, there is not a shred of doubt in my mind it was Eddie who came home.

None.

Bob Kilpatrick