2013 National POW-MIA Recognition Day Poignant to Family of Pilot Killed in Vietnam

The pilot's "Naval Aviator's Certificate" was repatriated with the next of kin.

USMC LCL Robert N. Smith, whose F4B crashed over North Vietnam in 1969

(Washington, D.C.) - "Doc" Sheehan is currently the VFW State Surgeon for Illinois. He wrote the story below, and the video was produced by Patrick J. Hughes. It will bring tears to your eyes, and rightly so. Read on:

On September 20, 2013 National POW-MIA Recognition Day in front of the Lincoln Memorial, I returned a piece of personal memorabilia to the daughter of USMC LCL Robert N. Smith, whose F4B crashed over North Vietnam in 1969.

No remains were ever found and he remains MIA, presumed KIA.

His original "Naval Aviator's Certificate" that was issued to him in 1952 at the rank of 1LT was found in a hotel in Livonia, Michigan and brought to me to try to repatriate it with the next of kin.

Thanks to the efforts of the USMC POW/Casualty Office in Quantico, VA and the USMC Protocol Office at the Pentagon, his daughter, Robin Smith was located and called me.

September 20 is also her father's birthday, so there is no better time to return it to her. It's my highest honor to fly to return to meet her and give her the pilot's wings certificate.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

Produced by Patrick J. Hughes