An Ohio University alumnus was buried Friday in Vienna, Ohio, with full military honors ' 38 years after he was reported missing in action in Laos.
Air Force Capt. James E. Cross of Warren, Ohio, and his co-pilot were shot down on April 24, 1970, while flying a U-17B light aircraft over Xiangkhoang Province, Laos.
Other U.S. aircraft in the area flew over the crash site and did not see any movement or receive any beeper signals or radio transmissions from the two men
according to a Department of Defense press release.
The department positively identified his remains last month.
Cross graduated from OU in 1965. He was president of the OU Young Republicans and commander of his ROTC detachment. He entered the Air Force in 1967 after attending George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
In 1969, he completed a tour of duty and requested another immediately.
- said Ed Cross, father of Captain Cross. He was well liked and a good son.
Many residents and several veteran organizations from Warren rallied to support the family and show their respects to James.- but also a very joyous occasion
said Dennis Crouch, retired Air Force colonel and president of the Forward Air Controller Association. Ed Cross' son is home ' he has come home to rest in the United States.
There are still 1,757 Americans who fought in the Vietnam War who are classified as missing in action, according to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command.
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