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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Air Force pilot shot down in Vietnam buried in Montana

Associated Press

BUTTE – An Air Force pilot has been laid to rest in his home state of Montana more than 48 years after being shot down during the Vietnam War.

The Montana Standard reported that Air Force Capt. Robert Edwin Holton was buried with full military honors at Sunset Memorial Park near Butte on Saturday. A C-130 Hercules, a large military transport plane, flew over the cemetery and tipped its wing.

His remains were excavated from the crash site earlier this year and were returned to Montana Friday.

Holton was Butte’s lone service member missing in action from Vietnam. People have worn MIA bracelets in his honor, some dating back to 1969 – the year his plane went down.

Friend Sue MacPherson put hers on top of Holton’s casket so it could be buried with him.