ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 131

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 5, 1996

By Assemblyman DeSOPO and Assemblywoman ALLEN

An Assembly Resolution honoring the late Lieutenant Colonel James W. Widdis and Major Robert C. Davis for their service to this nation and extending condolences to their families.

Whereas, On March 23, 1969, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel James W. Widdis and his navigator, Major Robert C. Davis, both originally from Burlington County, were flying a night reconnaissance mission over Laos to pinpoint anti-aircraft positions manned by Laotian Communists; and

Whereas, Their aircraft came under heavy fire as it approached the target zone; and

Whereas, An airborne forward controller in another plane heard them say "we're going in" shortly after their A-26 attack plane made a pass over an anti-aircraft position; and

Whereas, The controller then observed a fireball in the jungle, followed by a column of smoke; and

Whereas, Visual and electronic searches the next day failed to locate the plane and the two officers; and

Whereas, Joint field operations conducted by the United States and Laos in 1994 and 1995 surveyed and excavated the crash site where they recovered human remains and the aircraft wreckage; and

Whereas, The remains of Lieutenant Colonel Widdis and Major Davis were identified, partly through mitochondrial DNA testing; and

Whereas, Now, more their 27 years after their plane went down, the remains of Lieutenant Colonel Widdis and Major Davis are coming home; and

Whereas, Hopefully, this homecoming will bring a sense of closure to this tragedy for the families and friends of these fallen aviators; and

Whereas, Hopefully, the continued cooperation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic will result in the finding of the remains of other servicemen who have been deemed missing in action; and

Whereas, It is appropriate to honor the late Lieutenant Colonel James W. Widdis and Major Robert C. Davis for their service to this nation and extend condolences to their families; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. This House honors the late Lieutenant Colonel James W. Widdis and Major Robert C. Davis, both originally from Burlington County, for their service to this nation and extends its heartfelt condolences to their families.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the families of the late Lieutenant Colonel James W. Widdis and Major Robert C. Davis.

STATEMENT

    This resolution honors the late Lieutenant Colonel James W. Widdis and Major Robert C. Davis, both originally from Burlington County, for their service to this nation and extends its heartfelt condolences to their families.

Honors the late Lieutenant Colonel James W. Widdis and Major Robert C. Davis for their service to this nation and extends condolences to their families.