Air Force Tech. Sgt. Allen J. Avery (Photo Credit: Debbie McBride)
BOSTON (CBS) – A Massachusetts airman who went missing in action during the Vietnam War will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday.
On April 6, 1972, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Allen J. Avery and five others were on a search and rescue mission when their chopper went down.
In 1997, the crew was buried at Arlington as a group, except for Avery.
DNA tests have since identified his individual remains.
Exactly 40 years after the crash, Avery, who was from Auburn, will be laid to rest with full military honors.
thank you for your service and sacrifice allen avery. now you can be reunited with your crew, and rest in the company of many heroes. a cousin and 2 friends also served in vietnam. a nephew served 2 iraq tours. be at peace, and watch over all of the newer generations serving in harm’s way.
≡✪≡ Thursday, 6 April 1972: Operation “Freedom Train”
In Military Region I, Quang Tri Province: HH-53C, s.n. 68-10365, call sign Jolly Green 67 was performing a search-and-rescue mission for BAT 21B & Nail 38B near Cam Lo, northwest of Quang Tri, when their Sikorsky helicopter was hit by enemy fire and crashed.
KIA were:
• Capt Peter Chapman
• 1st Lt John Call III
• TSgt Roy Prater
• TSgt Allen Avery http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.asp?ID=611
• Sgt William Pearson
• Sgt James Alley
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