Posted on 11/19/2007 10:28:42 AM PST by Dubya
DALLAS -- The Navy chaplain, his voice rising above the flapping of dozens of U.S. flags, called it a "beautiful and bittersweet day."
A little bit of Lt. j.g. Frank E. Hand III had returned to Texas, after having spent much of the last 39 years in the water off the coast of Vietnam. Hand, three other officers and eight sailors were killed when their P-3 Orion was shot down April 1, 1968.
He received full military honors, including a "missing man" flyover by Navy F/A-18 Hornets, at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery on Monday morning. His remains were identified this year after Vietnamese fishermen found them and turned them over to Defense Department officials several years ago.
"You'll hear a lot about closure today, but the family had closure about 40 years ago," said Bruce Hand, Frank's younger brother. "Today is a homecoming for a brother, a husband, a son and someone who chose to serve."
Hand, who was 26 when he was killed, graduated from Carter-Riverside High School and attended Arlington State College before joining the Navy in 1964.
The executive officer of Hand's former unit, Patrol Squadron 26 from Brunswick, Maine, attended the service to posthumously promote Hand to full lieutenant.
God Bless this hero & may he rest in peace.
You’re home now,sir! Rest in peace in the presence of our Creator.
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Thanks for sharing this tribute to our fallen aviators. Never heard any storys of P-3s going down to hostile fire. Anybody have the whole story on LTJG Frank E Hand III’s mission and that long forgotten incident?
Welcome home shipmate!
welcome home........enjoy God’s rewards.........
A very large USAF salute to you Lt. Hand.
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