c130 3 may 1972

Bracey, Lester
Air Force Staff sergeant

Lester Bracey, age 20, from Yonkers, New York, Westchester county.

Parents: Hayward Bracey (1925-2018) and Catherine Jarvis Bracey (1926-2007)
Spouse: Sheryl (Stevens)
Children: Kim Renee, 2

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Gorton High (1969)

Date of death: Wednesday, May 3, 1972
Death details: On June 12, 1974, the Central Identification Laboratory-Thailand (CILT, now DPAA) identified the remains of Staff Sergeant Lester Bracey, missing from the Vietnam War. Staff Sergeant Bracey joined the U.S. Air Force from New York and was a member of the 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 374th Tactical Airlift Wing. On May 3, 1972, he was a crew member aboard a C-130E Hercules that took off on a resupply mission near An Loc, Vietnam. The aircraft was shot down during the mission, and SSgt Bracey died in the incident. Once fighting in the area had subsided, search and rescue teams recovered the remains of most of the crew; however, Sgt Bracey’s remains could not be individually identified until 1974.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Yonkers Herald Statesman (1975, 1972)

Hopper, Joseph Clifford
Air Force Staff sergeant

Joseph Clifford Hopper, age 24, from Memphis, Tennessee, Shelby county.

Parents: Clifford Hopper
Spouse: Awei Hopper
Children: None

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, May 3, 1972
Death details: On June 12, 1974, the Central Identification Laboratory-Thailand (CILT, now DPAA) identified the remains of Staff Sergeant Joseph Clifford Hopper, missing from the Vietnam War. Staff Sergeant Hopper joined the U.S. Air Force from Tennessee and was a member of the 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 374th Tactical Airlift Wing. On May 3, 1972, he was a crew member aboard a C-130E Hercules that took off on a resupply mission near An Loc, Vietnam. The aircraft was shot down during the mission, and SSgt Hopper died in the incident. Once fighting in the area had subsided, search and rescue teams recovered the remains of most of the C-130E’s crew; however, SSgt Hopper’s remains could not be individually identified until 1974.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Memphis Commercial Appeal (1974)

Mciver, Alexander
Air Force Captain

Alexander Mciver, age 34, from Santa Monica, California, Los Angeles county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, May 3, 1972
Death details: On June 12, 1974, the Central Identification Laboratory-Thailand (CILT, now DPAA) identified the remains of Captain Alexander McIver, missing from the Vietnam War. Captain McIver joined the U.S. Air Force from California and was a member of the 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 374th Tactical Airlift Wing. On May 3, 1972, he was a crew member aboard a C-130E Hercules that took off on a resupply mission near An Loc, Vietnam. The aircraft was shot down during the mission, and Capt McIver died in the incident. Once fighting in the area had subsided, search and rescue teams recovered the remains of most of the C-130E’s crew; however, Capt McIver’s remains could not be individually identified until 1974.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Unger, Don Lee
Air Force Captain

Don Lee Unger, age 26, from Lake Worth, Florida, Palm Beach county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, May 3, 1972
Death details: On June 12, 1974, the Central Identification Laboratory-Thailand (CILT, now DPAA) identified the remains of Captain Don Lee Unger, missing from the Vietnam War. Captain Unger joined the U.S. Air Force from Florida and was a member of the 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 374th Tactical Airlift Wing. On May 3, 1972, he was a crew member aboard a C-130E Hercules that took off on a resupply mission near An Loc, Vietnam. The aircraft was shot down during the mission, and Capt Unger was killed in the crash. Once fighting had stopped in the area, search and rescue teams recovered the remains of most of the crew; however, Capt Unger’s remains could not be individually identified until 1974.
Cemetery: Lake Worth Memory Grades, Florida

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com 

Widerquist, Thomas Carl
Air Force 1st lieutenant

Thomas Carl Widerquist, age 25, from Morton Grove, Illinois, Cook county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Wednesday, May 3, 1972
Death details: On June 12, 1974, the Central Identification Laboratory-Thailand (CILT, now DPAA) identified the remains of First Lieutenant Thomas Carl Widerquist, missing from the Vietnam War. First Lieutenant Widerquist joined the U.S. Air Force from Illinois and was a member of the 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 374th Tactical Airlift Wing. On May 3, 1972, he was a crew member aboard a C-130E Hercules that took off on a resupply mission near An Loc, South Vietnam. The aircraft was shot down during the mission, and 1st Lt Widerquist was killed in the incident. Once fighting in the area had stopped, search and rescue teams recovered the remains of most of the C-130E’s crew; however, 1st Lt Widerquist’s remains could not be individually identified until 1974.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Back To Top