KTNV ABC,Channel 13,Las Vegas,Nevada,News,Weather,Sports,Entertainment,KTNV.com,Action News .:. After 40 years Nellis Air Force pilot remains are found and identified

After 40 years Nellis Air Force pilot remains are found and identified

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NV  (KTNV) - There is finally closure to a mystery that spanned four decades. A Vietnam combat veteran's remains were identified and the family can now lay him to rest.

It all began on February 20, 1967 when a plane went down. Now more than 40 years later a piece of bone is discovered during an excavation in Vietnam.

"This is the four inch bone fragment that was found," pilot's daughter, Christine Stonebraker says.

While it would take more than two years for DNA results to be confirmed, Christine Stonebraker now knows what happened to her father, Nellis based Air Force pilot and Thunderbird announcer, Russell Goodman.

"Don't give up hope, don't give up hope, there's always a chance you'll see your loved one's remains as well," Christine says.

Goodman was on a bombing mission in North Vietnam when his plane, an F-4 Phantom was hit with a surface to air missile. Goodman was presumed dead but no one knew for sure.

"We're always in wonder, is he still in captivity? Is he being tortured?" American Legion Commander, Cliff Adely says.

Adely says they keep an empty seat at every American Legion Post in honor of those missing in action and prisoners of war.

"Years don't count, the man is a veteran who's been missing and now he's been found and that's an honor itself," Adely says.

But for Christine, only ten years old when told her father wasn't ever coming home, its more than an honor. Its an opportunity she'd never thought she'd have to lay her father to rest.

Next Thursday, Nellis Air Force Base is holding a special memorial service with the Thunderbirds to honor Goodman. Action News will be there to bring you the ceremony.