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Missing Bogota Marine Identified Through DNA After Almost 50 Years

BOGOTA, N.J. — A U.S. Marine from Bogota who was missing since the Vietnam War has been accounted for, The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said.

Marine Corps Reserve 1st Lt. William C. Ryan of Bogota.

Marine Corps Reserve 1st Lt. William C. Ryan of Bogota.

Photo Credit: Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Marine Corps Reserve 1st Lt. William C. Ryan was identified earlier this month through DNA found at the scene of a military plane crash.

"On May 11, 1969, Ryan was the radar intercept officer of an F-4B aircraft, for the Marine Fighter Attack Force 115, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Fleet Marine Force Pacific, on a combat mission over Savannakhet Province, Laos," the agency said.

"While pulling out of a bombing pass, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. The pilot lost control and called several times for his radar officer to eject, but received no response. 

"The pilot ejected before the aircraft crashed, and other members of the flight only witnessed one parachute leave the aircraft. The location of the crash site precluded a search and recovery effort, but the pilot was rescued. Ryan was declared deceased as of May 11, 1969."

Joint teams with the U.S., Lao People’s Democratic Republic and other groups gathered information on Ryan's death from January 1990 until May 2012, and studied six crash excavation sites near Ban Alang Noi.

Earlier this month, the remains were sent to the DPAA laboratory for analysis where circumstantial evidence was used in the identification of his remains.

Interment services are pending.

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