Vietnam soldier's family meets casket
December 19, 2007 12:05pm
THE family of a fallen soldier killed in the Vietnam conflict arrived in Darwin with his coffin yesterday en route to his final resting place.
Lance Corporal John Gillespie, 36, an army medic, died on April 17, 1971, aged 24, when a RAAF Iriquois helicopter crashed and burst into flames during a medical evacuation in the Long Hai Hills of Phuoc Tuy province, in southern Vietnam.
All those who died in the incident were eventually recovered except Lance-Cpl Gillespie.
A Federal Government excavation of a helicopter crash site discovered the remains recently identified as those of the fallen soldier.
His widow, Carmel Hendrie, and daughter, Fiona Pike, flew in to Darwin with siblings of the lance corporal to watch soldiers of the First Combat Services Support Battalion carry his casket on to the tarmac from the RAAF C130 Hercules aircraft.
The family spent some quiet time for reflection with the soldier before reboarding the aircraft bound for Melbourne.
Lance-Cpl Gillespie will arrive home at RAAF Williams Point Cook with his family and will be buried with full military honours.
----------------------------------
WELCOME HOME BRO. WE'LL NEVER FORGET.
Rick c
News 
Market Data 
Discover 
