It was mid-January when I received an email from Leslie. She briefly explained to me that she was looking for a photographer to photograph her grandfather’s funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. As I read the story behind this ceremony, goosebumps overtook me. Lt. Col. William L. Kieffer Jr. (Leslie’s grandfather) has been MIA since his plane was shot down over Vietnam on February 11, 1970. He served our country in WWII and then left the military to raise his only daughter, Becky. Years later he re-enlisted and was sent to to Vietnam where his plane was shot down over Laos. His body nor his plane was discovered so he was listed as MIA (for a more in depth account see this article). Fast forward to 2007 when the US Defense Department discovered remnants of the plane and Lt. Col. William L. Kieffer Jr. Last April DNA tests were done and it was confirmed that it was in fact Kieffer’s plane. For 41 years this family had no closure, but on March 17th they got it. To be a part of this story was such an honor. My own father was a Vietnam veteran and with the 3rd anniversary of his passing just two days before Lt. Col. Kieffer’s ceremony, I did this to honor both men.
To Lt. Col. Kieffer’s family – Thank you for allowing me to come alongside of you at such a special time. I pray that these images honor Lt. Col. Kieffer’s legacy.
The full Air Force band was there!
The fighter pilots in a “missing man formation” – this was so neat!
Twenty-one gun salute
Louise, Lt. Col. Kieffer’s wife, is the sweetest woman 🙂
After the ceremony the family had a reception for all who had come. During this time I learned of the story of Keith Balts. Here is exterpt from a article in the Santa Maria Times (read the whole article):
On the day Keith Balts was born, an Air Force lieutenant colonel’s plane crashed in Laos, the first of several times the two lives would intersect during the next four decades.
In 1988, their stories converged again when Balts, an ROTC freshman, chose to don the POW/MIA bracelet bearing the name of Lt. Col. William L. Kieffer Jr.
This month, Balts, who has worn the silver bracelet remembering the Vietnam War-era officer for more than two decades, will escort home Kieffer’s recently identified remains.
“I was honored, humbled and honored,” said Balts, now a colonel serving as the vice commander of the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
“I’ve been wearing him on my wrist for over half my life. To be asked to do that is the honor of my career.”
Balts first learned about Kieffer while an ROTC cadet at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Trying to choose whose POW/MIA bracelet to wear, Balts pored through large binders, looking for some type of personal connection.
His search led him to Kieffer, an A1-E Skyraider pilot who went missing the exact day that Balts was born, Feb. 11, 1970.
“It was odd to have someone so senior (ranking). I went and ordered the bracelet back in fall 1988 and have worn it ever since,” said Balts, who grew up in Wisconsin.
How cool is this!!! In the below picture Keith took off the bracelet that he has been wearing all these years to give to Louise. He had already ordered a replacement for himself though 🙂
