Picture taken January 14, 1969.  Colonel Virgil K. Meroney, Aircraft Commander, and 1LT. Virgil K. Meroney III, Weapons System Officer (G.I.B. - Guy in Back) preparing for young 1Lt. Meroney's first combat mission in South East Asia.  Flying from Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand.

January 14, 1969, 1Lt. Virgil K. Meroney III, being congratulated by Colonel Virgil K. Meroney after successful completion of 1Lt. Meroney's first combat aerial mission in South East Asia.

February 7, 1969, Colonel Virgil K. Meroney flew his last combat aerial mission, his 141st, with 1Lt. Virgil K. Meroney III, again, in the back seat.

March 1, 1969, during a night bombing mission over Laos, 1Lt. Virgil K. Meroney III, was shot down and has since been classified as Missing in Action.

Captain Virgil K. Meroney III, Military ID Card recovered during JPAC, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, crash site excavation in July 2011.

Vietnam Memorial Wall, Washington, D.C.

Arkansas Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Little Rock, Arkansas

A 1967 Graduate of the University of Arkansas and Air Force ROTC member, Virgil K. Meroney, III.

After graduation, Virgil was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Air Force and he went into flight school. Upon earning his Wings and volunteering for duty in Southeast Asia and after F-4D
training at George AFB, he was assigned to an F-4D, Phantom II, Wing in Thailand, the same Wing as my Dad.

Colonel Virgil K. Meroney, was a career Air Force Officer and Fighter Pilot.  He and my Brother were born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.   Col. Meroney (then Capt.) was the first and only P-47 "Razorback"  Thunderbolt ACE (with 9 aerial victories) of his entire Group (352nd Group,  487th Fighter Squadron) during WWII. After his unit transitioned to P-51's he was shot down on his 3rd P-51  combat mission over Germany, was immediately captured and was a POW guest for 1 year until his successful escape. 
MY Mother did not know he was a POW until 6 weeks after his interment.  He was missing in action during that time.  Dad had varieties of extraordinary and exemplary assignments through his 33 year AF career and his last combat assignment was as Vice Wing Commander, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing & stationed at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand.  He had 141 F-4D combat missions during his tour in SEA.
   
After successful initial orientation training, on January 14, 1969, my Father  (Aircraft Commander) took my Brother (Weapons System Specialist/Navigator) on his first Combat Mission in an F-4D, Phantom II, over North Vietnam.  3 weeks later on February 7, 1969, Dad, on his last combat mission (his 141st combat aerial mission) took Son again to the skies over SEA. Dad headed home Feb 8, 1969 to the US and was assigned "Chief of Safety" for the US Air Force at Langley AFB.  3 weeks later, March 1, 1969, Brother was on a night bombing mission over Laos & was shot down & went missing.

My Dad passed away in 1980 & was provided full Air Force Military Honors at his funeral in Pine Bluff. Brother's wife, Connie, passed away in 2008.  My Mother passed away in 2009.Brother, Virgil, Jr. (Mike), will be buried next to Connie in Fayetteville, Arkansas, June 9, 2012.  They are all together. 
 
Those who have known or heard about this history & story find it to be truly unique & especially for 2 Arkansas Aviation Heroes.  The Ft. Smith Air Museum has recently completed a permanent display honoring Colonel & Captain, Father & Son, Father & Brother with memorabilia, documents, photographs and model airplanes each flew in their Air Force Careers - True Arkansas Aviation Heroes.

I miss you, Brother, and know of your love of family, commitment, service and sacrifice to our great Nation.

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Arlington National Cemetery Funeral Services, Friday, October 19, 2012.

Thank You to the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Office, The Arlington National Cemetery, The United States Air Force Honor Guard and the 175th Air National Guard Wing at Baltimore, Maryland, for providing the flyover and many numerous other agencies.

A gathering of Meroney and Keller Family and Friends to Honor and pay our respects to 2 American Heroes.

All my envisions of the beauty and hope of the day were completely fulfilled.  Rest in Peace with such a glorious Honor.
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Honor Their Memory and Celebrate Their Lives.

All gave some - Some gave all.