Capt. Virgil Meroney III: A hero comes home to rest

Col. Mark Anderson, 188th Fighter Wing commander, right, presents a Unites States flag to the family of Capt. Virgil Meroney III June 10, 2012, in Fort Smith, Ark. The flag was flown over Afghanistan during the 188th’s last combat deployment to Kandahar in 2010 and was also flown over Meroney’s repatriation ceremony in Fayetteville, Ark., during a flyover conducted by the 188th. Meroney was missing in action during the Vietnam War after being shot down in his F-4D Phantom II aircraft, which crashed while carrying out a nighttime strike mission in Kahammouan Province, Laos. Meroney’s remains were identified May 24 and were returned to his family for burial with full military honors. Four A-10C Thunderbolt II “Warthogs” with the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 188th Fighter Wing performed a missing man formation during its flyover. (National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Brambl/188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs)