Fallen hero comes home after four decades

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Michael Gibson
  • Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations
Easton, Pa. --  The Air Force brought home and provided full military honors to a fallen Airman during a burial ceremony Sept. 24 at a cemetery in Easton, Pa., approximately 43 years after he was lost in Vietnam.

Maj. Bruce Lawrence was originally declared missing in action after his F4-C Phantom II was shot down by enemy forces July 5, 1968 while flying an armed reconnaissance mission about 23 miles southwest of Dong Hoi, North Vietnam.

The Air Force promoted Lawrence two ranks from first lieutenant to major while he was in MIA status. Ten years after he was shot down, his status changed from MIA to killed in action without his remains being found.

A team from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command discovered the remains of Lawrence decades later in Vietnam and positively identified him by comparing DNA to his surviving family members.

"JPAC sends teams of about 15 people over to Vietnam to excavate crash sites. They are only allowed over there for a certain amount of time during certain parts of the year," said Danielle Van Orden, Air Force Mortuary Affairs past conflicts representative. "That is why it takes so long."

Van Orden informed the Lawrence family that JPAC found and positively identified his remains. She worked closely with the family, coordinating the return of Lawrence while providing them service, care and support.

"It was an honor to do this," said Van Orden.

The Lawrence family was surprised to hear the news.

"I was initially stunned in the fact that I did not know the Air Force was still actively looking, so it was an unbelievable and welcome surprise," said Todd Lawrence, nephew of the deceased.

Maj. Jarrard Galbreath, from Pacific Air Forces Directorate of Personnel, had the unique opportunity to personally escort the major back to his hometown from JPAC located in Hawaii.

"It was a phenomenal opportunity and experience to see this from the beginning to the end," said Galbreath. "This is the first time I have ever done this, and it was an experience I never knew would be so rewarding."

An Air Force honor guard team transferred Lawrence's remains in a solemn movement from an aircraft to a hearse after he arrived at the Philadelphia International Airport Sept. 22.

"He was the first one off the aircraft," said Galbreath. "Everyone at the airport showed respect."

Police, veterans and motorcycle clubs then escorted the fallen Airman back to his hometown.

"There were probably 300 total motorcycle escorts by the time we reached Phillipsburg," said Terry Lee, chairman of the board for Rolling Thunder Chapter 3, New Jersey. "They were forecasting an inch to three inches of rain but we showed up anyways."
The community had the opportunity to honor the fallen hero Sept. 23 for a public memorial service when a horse drawn caisson carried him through Main Street to Walters Park, Phillipsburg, Pa.

"The community was outstanding, we had downpour rain yesterday at the memorial service, and people were there with standing room only while in the rain," said Terry Calandra, a Vietnam Veteran and Purple Heart recipient who served on the Bruce Lawrence Committee which helped plan the memorial services. "You can't ask for more than that from a community."

Police, firefighters, boy scouts and many members of the community lined the streets with American flags and honored the patriot as he traveled through his hometown for one last time Sept. 24 during a procession from the funeral home to his final resting place.

"The support from everybody was unbelievable here," said Jeff Murray, fire chief for Williams Township Fire Department.

T-1 aircraft out of Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., could be seen in the distance as they conducted a fly-over during the burial ceremony at the cemetery honoring the major.

"It was absolutely beautiful," said Todd Lawrence. "Words really cannot express how professional the Air Force was, everything from beginning to end was just first class, it was all about honoring him."