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Oregon National Guard Soldiers Working to Bring Home Missing Vietnam War Service Member.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Henry Gish, who was killed during the Vietnam War in 1968
Episode 3108 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature stories about what the DPAA is doing to bring home all the MIA’s from the Vietnam War.. One of the featured stories appeared in the Star News of Medford, Wisconsin and was titled: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency works to make sure the missing are never forgotten. The other story comes from WTVQ-DT at Lexington, Kentucky and was titled: Fallen Kentucky Airman from Vietnam War returns home to Madison County.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) plays a vital role in honoring America’s promise to its service members: that none will be forgotten. For families of those missing in action—particularly from the Vietnam War—this commitment represents more than duty; it is the hope for closure after decades of uncertainty and loss.
The Vietnam War alone left 2,633 U.S. service members unaccounted for. Today, 1,067 have been identified, but more than 1,500 remain missing. These numbers represent not just statistics, but individual lives and grieving families waiting for answers. The DPAA’s tireless work—searching jungles, analyzing crash sites, and using modern forensic science—ensures the nation lives up to its moral obligation to those who served and sacrificed.
This mission is especially important as time passes and witnesses fade. The recent return of U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Henry Gish, who was declared missing in Laos in 1968, underscores the continued relevance and emotional power of this work. After more than 50 years, his homecoming to Kentucky brings long-awaited closure to his family and community.
Organizations like the National League of POW/MIA Families continue to advocate for accountability and remembrance, focusing especially on Vietnam War cases. Their efforts have helped shape national policy and sustain public awareness.
While DPAA has made progress, the job is far from finished. Accounting for every MIA, particularly from the Vietnam War, is more than a mission—it’s a sacred promise. The work is painstaking, but essential, ensuring that those who gave everything in service to their country are never forgotten and, one day, finally brought home.
Listen to Episode 3108 and discover more about what the DPAA is doing to bring home all the MIA’s from the Vietnam War..
