thedrifter
06-26-07, 05:08 AM
Local Marine's Remains To Return Home After 40 Years
POSTED: 5:40 pm PDT June 25, 2007
UPDATED: 6:55 pm PDT June 25, 2007
BAKERSFIELD -- A local Marine who was killed in Vietnam 40 years ago will soon be returning to Bakersfield.
Moshier was killed June 11, 1967 when his Marine Reconnaissance Ream was killed when their helicopter crashed in Quang Tri Province as they were about to enter enemy territory to gather crucial intelligence on the North Vietnamese Army.
It was the units third attempt of the day to deploy the Marines at a designated landing zone, as the first
two attempts were unsuccessful as enemy fire was too much for the group of four helicopters to handle.
On that third attempt the lead helicopter, carrying the 23-year-old Moshier a nine other marines and the flight crew, came close to landing before enemy fire or a mechanical problem brought their Sea Hawk helicopter down.
Moshier and the rest of the Marines were listed as killed in action and just last month military DNA labs in Hawaii positively identified Moshier's remains after nearly 40 years.
More than 1,300 U.S. servicemen's remains are still unaccounted for in Vietnam and for local marines this recent discovery is a first for them as well.
His family was informed May 30th and a full military funeral will be held July 18 at Hillcrest Cemetary.
Moshier's mother and sister still reside in Bakersfield.
Ellie
POSTED: 5:40 pm PDT June 25, 2007
UPDATED: 6:55 pm PDT June 25, 2007
BAKERSFIELD -- A local Marine who was killed in Vietnam 40 years ago will soon be returning to Bakersfield.
Moshier was killed June 11, 1967 when his Marine Reconnaissance Ream was killed when their helicopter crashed in Quang Tri Province as they were about to enter enemy territory to gather crucial intelligence on the North Vietnamese Army.
It was the units third attempt of the day to deploy the Marines at a designated landing zone, as the first
two attempts were unsuccessful as enemy fire was too much for the group of four helicopters to handle.
On that third attempt the lead helicopter, carrying the 23-year-old Moshier a nine other marines and the flight crew, came close to landing before enemy fire or a mechanical problem brought their Sea Hawk helicopter down.
Moshier and the rest of the Marines were listed as killed in action and just last month military DNA labs in Hawaii positively identified Moshier's remains after nearly 40 years.
More than 1,300 U.S. servicemen's remains are still unaccounted for in Vietnam and for local marines this recent discovery is a first for them as well.
His family was informed May 30th and a full military funeral will be held July 18 at Hillcrest Cemetary.
Moshier's mother and sister still reside in Bakersfield.
Ellie