York County airman's remains recovered from Vietnam four decades after his plane was downed

Daily Press ^ | December 27, 2009 | Jon Cawley

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YORK

It took 41 years, but a York County airman missing in action since the Vietnam War has finally been laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery after his remains were positively identified earlier this year.

Melvin Douglas Rash, of Grafton, was buried with full military honors Dec. 7 at the revered Washington-area cemetery. He had been missing since 1968, when his Air Force C-130 airplane was presumably shot down over Vietnam.

After years of dead ends, the plane's wreckage was finally positively identified in 2002 in a jungle area near the Laotian border. It took six years before military investigators — with permission from the Vietnamese government — were able to get to the site and use archaeological techniques to sift through the remaining wreckage and surrounding area where they found human remains later matched to five of the plane's nine crew members. Rash was one of those five, said Rash's older brother Larry Rash.

"I've done more grieving in the last few months than I had since he went missing," Larry Rash said, adding that the family held out that there would be a homecoming. "Eventually, the hope just faded — although we never really gave it up. Finding the remains forced closure."

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Melvin Douglas Rash, of Grafton

Melvin Douglas Rash, of Grafton, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Dec. 7 after being listed as missing in action since 1968 when his C-130 aircraft was shot down over Vietnam. The plane's wreckage was positively identified in 2008 and further investigation uncovered human remains that were matched in 2009 to Rash and four more of the plane's nine member crew. (Courtesy of the Rash family / December 23, 2009

[Mmogamer]

Welcome home. *Salutes*

[davetex]

Welcome home Airman Rash. RIP.

[Karma Police]

Too many lost in that terrible terrible pointless war. Americas young men gave so much, but they never had a chance with our own government working against them. Shameful. Absolutely shameful.

[Eagles6]

Yes, welcome home.

[ConorMacNessa]

Welcome home at last, Brother!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Sunshine Sister]

I’m happy our fighting son is finally home. Rest in peace Mr. Rash. You have earned it. God bless you and your family!

[alfa6]

Sad Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[onedoug]

RVN ping

[proudmilitarymrs]

Welcome home son. May your family be comforted by your return.

Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice.

mrs

[LuvFreeRepublic]

Another American hero is given his final and just farewell. Rest in peace.

Thanks for the post.

[Dubya]

SOLDER REST GENTLY PRESSED
TO THE CALM MOTHER EARTHS
WAITING BREST
DUTY DONE LIKE THE SUN
GOING WEST

SEMPER FI, GOD BLESS

[DJ Taylor]

"terrible pointless war...government working against them...Shameful Absolutely shameful..."

An American gives up his young life in service to his country and these words are all you have to mark the moment?

A simple "Thank You" from a grateful countryman would be more appropriate.

[Neil E. Wright]

WELCOME HOME and R.I.P. Airman RASH .... Thank you for your service and sacrifice in the cause of FREEDOM!

This old sailor SALUTES you!!!

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for Karma Police (member Since Dec 29, 2008): You sir/madam, ARE A FRACKING IDIOT. DO NOT bring past politics into a tribute thread to one of our fallen heroes. You probably never even served, which means you're not only an IDIOT, but a shirker as well. Take your crap off this thread and discuss it elsewhere. Let those of us who HONOR our fallen heroes have a politics free thread.

Foor DJ Taylor: you were too easy on this dirtbag, aka Karma Police, you should learn to be more forceful in future.

Toward FREEDOM!

[Neil E. Wright]

oops ... Foor = FOR

[Karma Police]

I didn’t serve in Vietnam, not because I’m and idiot, or because I’m a shirker, but because it happened 20 years before I was born. Seeing stories like these breaks my heart. Our government did not support our troops’ efforts in Vietnam and abandoned this airman’s sacrifice for four decades. They left him in the jungle, just like who knows how many POW’s. They deserved better. Much much better. A simple thanks to this airman isn’t enough, we must ensure through vigilance that we never allow such abuses of our fighting men and women to be forgotten or perpetrated again. If that makes me a dirtbag on FR, then so be it.