News Releases for August 2005
August 19, 2005
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Hoeven Honors Lt. Col. Darel Leetun, All North Dakota Military Missing In Action
Hoeven Presents Family Of Darel Leetun With Flag, Distinguished Service Medal
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today presented the family of fallen North Dakota Air Force pilot, Lt. Col. Darel Leetun, with an American flag flown over the state Capitol Building, and the state’s Distinguished Service Medal. The ceremony was held to honor Leetun, a member of the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron in Vietnam, and all North Dakota military missing in action. According to the Defense Department, 10 North Dakota soldiers and airmen remain missing in action.
On hand to mark the ceremony in Bismarck today were Darel Leetun’s son Keith of Virginia; his brother Tracy of Bismarck; his sisters Carol Penfield and Janell Christman, both of Minnesota; and his nephew Robert Leetun of Bismarck, as well as a number of other family members. Keith Leetun organized a special program for the ceremony to honor his father’s memory and service to the nation, as well as that of other military veterans.
“Today, we honor not only Darel Leetun for making the ultimate sacrifice for his country, but all of our men and women who didn’t come home from their service in defense of our country and our values,” Hoeven said. “With service members now in harms way around the world, it is particularly important that we demonstrate that neither time nor circumstances can diminish our gratitude and respect for our fallen heroes.”
Leetun, who was about to turn 34 when he died, was born in Hettinger, and graduated from Steele High School and North Dakota State University. He was the son of Milton and Therese Leetun. Darel Leetun and his wife Janet had two children, Keith and Kerri. All three now live in Virginia.
On Sept. 17, 1966, Leetun led a bombing raid over Lang Son Province, North Vietnam, where his F-105D 'Thunderchief' aircraft was hit by ground fire. Even though his jet was on fire, he “remained in formation” and delivered his ordinance, according to his citation. Other pilots in the flight saw the jet crash, but did not receive emergency beeper signals or see a parachute. His remains were later found on a hillside by a joint U.S.-Vietnamese search team with the help of local villagers. They were positively identified by American forensic experts in Hawaii last March.
An interment ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on July 8th honored Leetun with full military honors and a 21-gun salute. The Air Force posthumously promoted him to lieutenant colonel and awarded him the Air Force Cross, which recognizes extraordinary heroism.
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