U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY — More than 70 people — including his children and grandchildren — attended the service today for Maj. John L. Carroll, who was killed in 1972 during the Vietnam War.
Carroll, an Air Force pilot, was shot down by enemy fire on Nov. 7, 1972, during a mission over Xiangkhoang Province, Laos.
Earlier this year, Carroll’s remains were found near the crash site.
He was buried today, with full military honors, next to his wife, Beverly, at the academy cemetery. His wife died in 1995.
“Today has been a day that is long-awaited,” said the Rev. Joseph Deichert during a Mass and celebration of life at the academy’s Cadet Catholic Chapel. “This day, we can put closure to this and say he does rest in peace, and he is home.”
Carroll graduated from the academy in 1962.
In 1972, during the Vietnam War, Carroll volunteered to fly O-1 “Bird Dogs” for the Ravens, a covert, clandestine group of pilots who flew military missions.
It was during Carroll’s Raven mission that he was shot down and killed.
