Remains of Soldier Identified After 53 Years

The remains of U.S. Army Warrant Officer Albert R. Trudeau have been identified 53 years after he was declared missing in action following a helicopter crash during the Vietnam War on October 26, 1971. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced the discovery on December 4, 2024, after a two-month underwater excavation of the crash site near Nha Trang, Vietnam, which yielded DNA and circumstantial evidence confirming Trudeau's identity. Initially, four of the ten soldiers on board the CH-47B Chinook helicopter were recovered, while Trudeau and others remained unaccounted for despite various recovery attempts over the decades. His family expressed relief and emotional overwhelm at the news, highlighting a long-awaited closure. Trudeau, who lived in Teaneck, New Jersey, will be honored with a burial at Arlington National Cemetery.