Remains of Vietnam war soldier James Van Bendegom returned to US family
The remains of an American soldier who went missing in fighting near the Cambodian border during the Vietnam war have been identified and returned to his family, the US embassy in Phnom Penh said.
The remains of an American soldier who went missing in fighting near the Cambodian border during the Vietnam war have been identified and returned to his family, the US embassy in Phnom Penh said.
US Defence Department scientists were able to uncover the identity of Staff Sergeant James Van Bendegom using DNA analysis, 47 years after he disappeared when his patrol was overrun, the embassy said.
At the time of his capture, aged just 19, Van Bendegom was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division. His unit came under attack on July 12, 1967 and returning American POWs later stated that he had died in Cambodia from wounds sustained during the battle.
"At the time, the information provided by the Vietnamese national did not correlate with any unaccounted-for American service members," a statement released by the embassy said.
However, DNA tests were recently carried out and the results matched with Van Bendegom's family members. His remains were returned to the US and were interred with full military honours at a ceremony on November 11 in Bendegom's hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin.