THE WALL OF FACES

Welcome Home

Dear Col Lester Holmes, Thank you for your service as an Air Operations Officer - Pilot. I am glad you were identified in 2003, Welcome Home. Today is Independence Day, and there is no better time to honor you. Please watch over the USA, it still needs your strength. Rest in peace with the angels.

LT COL Lester Holmes, You are not forgotten. Pilot of O-1E 51-012102.

Hi. I have had Lester’s MIA bracelet for over 30 years and am hoping to get in touch with a family member that might want it.

COL Lester E. Holmes was a Covey Forward Air Controller assigned to the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Da Nang. On May 22, 1967, he was flying USAF O-1E Birddog (#51-12102) five miles northwest of Thon Can So, just outside the northern edge of the DMZ. Holmes was on a visual reconnaissance mission at 8,000 feet searching for SA-2 missile sites when his aircraft was blown out of the sky by an SA-2. His body was not recovered and he was promoted while missing. On September 8, 1999, remains believed to be Holmes were repatriated to the U.S. They were positively identified on September 25, 2003. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]