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U.S. Air Force Col. Walter A. Renelt, 40, of Roberts County, South Dakota
Episode 3338 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a press release about the identification of another Vietnam War MIA. The featured story is titled: Pilot Accounted For From Vietnam War (Renelt, W.). It appeared on the DPAA website.
It was reported that the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has announced the successful identification of U.S. Air Force Col. Walter A. Renelt, a courageous Vietnam War pilot who was missing in action for more than five decades. Col. Renelt, 40, of Roberts County, South Dakota, was officially accounted for on June 23, 2025, bringing long-awaited answers to his family and honoring the sacrifice of one of America’s finest Vietnam veterans.
Serving with the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Renelt was flying an O-2A Skymaster reconnaissance mission over Laos on November 20, 1969, when his aircraft was struck by enemy fire and crashed. Dangerous weather and intense enemy activity prevented rescue efforts, and he was declared presumed dead in 1973. Through decades of relentless recovery missions, scientific forensic analysis, and international cooperation, DPAA finally identified his remains using dental records and recovered material evidence.
This remarkable recovery highlights the unwavering commitment to America’s Vietnam War heroes, POW/MIA recovery efforts, and the promise that no fallen service member will ever be forgotten. The dedication of the DPAA, the U.S. Air Force, the American Battle Monuments Commission, the governments of Laos and Vietnam, and their partners demonstrates the nation’s enduring mission to bring every missing warrior home.
Today, Col. Renelt’s name is memorialized at the National Cemetery of the Pacific and on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., where a rosette now marks that he has been accounted for. He will be laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on August 17, 2026.
The story of Col. Walter A. Renelt is a powerful reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and legacy of all Vietnam veterans. Their service, dedication, and heroism will never be forgotten, and America’s commitment to honoring every missing service member remains stronger than ever.
For more information about this MIA identification – see these websites:
- https://www.dpaa.mil
- https://www.facebook.com/dodpaa
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/dodpaa
- https://www.instagram.com/dodpaa/
- https://x.com/dodpaa
- https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000BTU8EAO
Listen to episode 3338 and discover more about the identification of another Vietnam War MIA.
