Photo by Capt. Jennifer French | 173rd Airborne Brigade | 05.11.2025
The 173rd Airborne Brigade's legacy was written in blood long before the mountains of Afghanistan or the sands of Iraq. It was carved into the jungles of Vietnam—where 1,790 Sky Soldiers gave their lives and 8,500 wounded in one of the most grueling and costly chapters of the brigade’s history. From 1965 to 1971, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was the first major U.S. Army combat unit to......
Photo by Capt. Jennifer French | 173rd Airborne Brigade | 05.11.2025
The 173rd Airborne Brigade's legacy was written in blood long before the mountains of Afghanistan or the sands of Iraq. It was carved into the jungles of Vietnam—where 1,790 Sky Soldiers gave their lives and 8,500 wounded in one of the most grueling and costly chapters of the brigade’s history. From 1965 to 1971, the 173rd Airborne Brigade was the first major U.S. Army combat unit to......
Photo by Staff Sgt. Cole Yardley | Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency | 11.10.2024
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Tiffany Le, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) linguist, screens soil during an investigation mission in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Linguists serve as a communicator between the team and local workers as well as government officials while on mission. There are approximately 1,576 personnel missing from the Vietnam War. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff......
Photo by Staff Sgt. Cole Yardley | Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency | 11.10.2024
Dr. Lauren Santini, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) scientific recovery expert, screens soil during an investigation mission in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Nov. 11, 2024. Soil is screened through quarter inch steel mesh, with team members removing excess soil and organic elements, searching for anything related to missing personnel. There are approximately 1,576 personnel......
Photo by Staff Sgt. Cole Yardley | Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency | 11.10.2024
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Austin Jacobs, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) mountaineer, screens soil during an investigation mission in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Nov. 11, 2024. DPAA trains personnel to conduct operations in mountainous terrain, with mountaineers serving as experts in operating in areas with potentially hazardous slopes. There are approximately 1,576 personnel......
Photo by Staff Sgt. Cole Yardley | Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency | 11.10.2024
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Austin Jacobs, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) mountaineer, searches for a metal hit during an investigation mission in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Nov. 11, 2024. Investigation team members surveyed multiple sites, following historical and eyewitness leads to investigate sites associated with missing personnel. There are approximately 1,576 personnel......
Photo by Staff Sgt. Cole Yardley | Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency | 11.10.2024
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) investigation team members and local workers screen soil during an investigation mission in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Nov. 11, 2024. Team members utilized a dry screen to screen excavated soil from a test pit, searching for anything related to missing in action personnel from the Vietnam War. There are approximately 1,576 personnel missing from......
Photo by Staff Sgt. Cole Yardley | Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency | 11.10.2024
U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Matthew Sponagle, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) explosive ordnance disposal (EOD)l technician, sweeps for metal hits during an investigation mission in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Nov. 11, 2024. EOD technicians use a metal detector to search for possible aircraft wreckage and other metal that can give DPAA personnel a better picture of where......
