The Pentagon says it has identified remains belonging to Lt. Col. Alton C. Rockett Jr., who was listed as missing in action from the Vietnam War. The Birmingham, Ala., native and his copilot Capt. Daniel L. Carrier were part of a two-ship F-4C mission over North Vietnam that had turned to fly back to base, when the lead fighter pilot saw a fireball in his mirror. Attempts to contact Rockett and Carrier by radio proved futile. The location prevented search and rescue attempts. In 1989, Vietnam repatriated sets of remains, along with documents believed to be those of Rockett and Carrier and one other. However, Rockett’s remains could not be positively identified. Subsequent investigations over several years and receipt in 2003 of a DNA sample from a relative finally led to identification of the 1989 remains as belonging to Rockett.
Airman Charged in M18 Shooting Death Found Dead
Oct. 27, 2025
The Airman arrested in connection with the M18 pistol discharge that killed a fellow member of Air Force security forces on July 20 in Wyoming was found dead earlier this month, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed.
