Tipton Conservative February 9, 1978
Transcribed by Sharon Elijah, June 16, 2023
The Long Wait is Over, Eilers’ Death ‘Official’
The long wait is now officially over.
Lt. Col. Dennis Eilers, US Air Force, can no longer reasonably be presumed to be alive. Missing in action since Christmas eve, 1965, he is now considered to have been killed over Laos.
The final determination was made late year by the Department of the Air Force. Mr. and Mrs. Walter F. Eilers were notified of his death shortly after Dec. 1. Because of the serious illness of Mr. Eilers, Col. Eilers’ death was not announced by the family until this week.
It was 11 years, 11 months and 8 days after the aircraft of which 1st Lt. Dennis Eilers was the co-pilot vanished while on a combat mission over Laos, that his “status” was determined. The notification was expected by Mr. and Mrs. Eilers.
During the first Christmas after Denny was reported missing, there was the hope that he was alive somewhere in the jungle of Vietnam or Laos and that, somehow, he would return to his family. As the years passed and not a single bit of evidence came that their son was alive, the Eilers accepted the fact that he was dead.
The letter they received from the Department of the Air Force, is formal, but not without compassion. It states that “a select panel of officers at the Air Force Military Personnel Center…recommend that a finding of death be made.” The official date of his death is Dec. 1, 1977, but “this is not considered to be the actual or probable date of death, but is established in accordance with the cited law…”
It is almost certain that Lt. Eilers, now listed as Col. Eilers, and the other 4 members of the crew of the aircraft on an armed reconnaissance mission over Laos, were killed when the aircraft crashed.
No word of any kind, directly or indirectly, has been received by the air force or the department of defense concerning any of the 5 members of the crew.
The letter to the Eilers states that…”our government has made a commitment to you and other families that every possible resource will be utilized to obtain from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and its allies the fullest possible accounting for all of our men who have not returned and whose remains have not been reported as provided by in the Geneva Convention. Let me assure you that if any information is received at any time in the future which would shed additional light on the circumstances surrounding your son’s loss, or if his remains are recovered, you will be notified immediately.”
A private memorial service Col. Eilers will be held by the immediate family sometime in the near future. A stone marker will be placed in the family plot.
During the time that he has been listed as missing Col. Eilers has been promoted at the same rate as other officers in the air force, to captain and then to major. His promotion to lieutenant colonel is posthumous and was made Dec. 6, 1977. His pay and allowances were continued during the time that he was listed as “missing”.
The details of the last flight in which Co. Eilers took part are set out in the official summary of facts and circumstances of the missing crew of an AC-47 aircraft, a heavily-armed reconnaissance aircraft sometimes used for close support of ground troops.
Col. Eilers, who was a member of regular air force at the time of his death has been awarded 6 decorations. The Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, The Purple Heart, the Gold Star Service Pins, the Vietnam Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
The Distinguished Flying Cross, the highest honor that the air force can give, and ranking second only to the Congressional Medal of Honor, was awarded for heroism in an action to rescue a downed helicopter pilot. The action took place approximately 2 weeks before Col. Eilers vanished.
The citations for the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal are:
Distinguished Flying Cross…”First Lieutenant Dennis L. Eilers distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight as an AC-47 co-pilot over the Republic of Vietnam, on 9 December 1965. On that date, while flying on a night airborne alert mission Lieutenant Eilers and crew responded to an emergency call from a downed helicopter crew. Despite the adverse weather, hostile ground fire and with complete disregard for their own personal safety the aircraft remained above the distressed helicopter, providing fire power and flare illumination, discouraging advance Viet Cong ground forces in their attempt to reach the downed crew. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Eilers reflect great credit upon himself and the United State Air Force.”
Air Medal…”First Lieutenant Dennis L. Eilers distinguished himself by meritorious achievement while participating in sustained aerial flight as a combat crew member in Southeast Asia from 14 November 1965 to 24 December 1965. During this period, outstanding airmanship and courage were exhibited in the successful accomplishment of important missions under extremely hazardous conditions including the continuous possibility of hostile ground fire. His highly professional efforts contributed materially to the mission of the United States Air Force in Southeast Asia. The professional ability and outstanding aerial accomplishments of Lieutenant Eilers reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.”
Col. Eilers was a graduate of Tipton high school and Coe college, where he was a member of the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps. Following his graduation from Coe he became a member of the regular air force and he was stationed in Texas and California before he went to Southeast Asia as member of the 4th Air Commando Squadron.
He is survived by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Walter Eilers and a brother Dean, all of Tipton, and 2 sons, Curtis L. Eilers, 15 and Brett A. Eilers, 13, both of Cedar Rapids.
The summary of facts and circumstances of Lt. Col. Eilers’ last flight, as given by the air force, are:
“The crew departed Da Nang Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, at 0728, 24 December 1965, on an armed reconnaissance mission over Laos under the direction of an airborne battlefield command and control center. The weather was clear with scattered clouds at 3,000 feet. The AC-47 wad diverted to an alternate target and while enroute to the target, at approximately 1050, made a “May Day” distress call. The distress call was heard by the pilots of a flight of two aircraft in a refueling area. It was repeated twice and, although continuous efforts were made to establish radio contact all efforts failed. The pilots who heard the distress calls relayed the information to the radar control center, which in turn passed it to the Da Nang Command Post; however, no search for the aircraft was initiated until after it failed to return to Da Nang Air Base at 1330, as scheduled. When a check of nearby airfields failed to reveal its whereabouts, an intensive aerial search was initiated at 1448. The missing crew’s alternate target was over a mountainous, heavily forested area about 18 miles east-northeast of Saravane, Laos. Thorough coverage of the flight path and the area of highest probability of loss yielded no clues to the disappearance of the crew and aircraft. The formal search was terminated at approximately 1500, 26 December 1965.
“In accordance with the provisions of Section 555, Title 37, USC, the members of the crew were continued in a missing status at the expiration of the initial 12-month period of absence. No accounting for the crew members was ever received from the North Vietnamese government or its allies, and their names never appeared in the prisoner communications channels which proved to be reliable. In addition, no information pertaining to them has ever been obtained from any other official or unofficial source.”
In addition to Lt. Col. Eilers the members of the crew were Col. Derrell B. Jeffords, aircraft commander; Col. Joseph Christiano, navigator; Chief Master Sergeant William K. Colwell, flight engineer, Chief Master Sergeant Arden K. Hassenger and Chief Master Sergeant Larry C. Thornton, gunners. All of the crew were promoted to these ranks after 1965.
