Remains found nearly 50 years ago in Arizona identified as a Vietnam veteran from Minnesota
Posted 5/8/24
Human remains found nearly 50 years ago in Arizona have been identified as a Vietnam veteran originally from Minnesota. Coconino County Sheriff’s officials say the remains are those of Gerald …
You must be a member to read this story.
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
Need to set up your free e-Newspaper all-access account? click here.
Non-subscribers
Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Register to comment
Click here create a free account for posting comments.
Note that free accounts do not include access to premium content on this site.
I am anchor
Remains found nearly 50 years ago in Arizona identified as a Vietnam veteran from Minnesota
Posted
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Human remains found nearly 50 years ago in the Flagstaff area have been identified as a Vietnam veteran originally from Minnesota, authorities said Wednesday.
Coconino County Sheriff’s officials said the remains were those of Gerald Francis Long but the cause of death cannot be determined.
Long’s skeletal remains were discovered in April 1975 about 40 miles (60 kilometers) east of Flagstaff by farmers chasing a runaway pig. Despite numerous leads over the years, none resulted in a positive identification.
In August 2023, sheriff’s officials contracted with a Salt Lake City company to identify the remains through a forensic genetic genealogy process. Long was identified early this year, and sheriff’s detectives contacted a surviving family member.
Detectives learned that Long enlisted in the Army in January 1969 and deployed to Vietnam that year. He returned to Minnesota in February 1972 and was discharged a month later.
In October 1972, Long told his family he was leaving Minnesota and heading to the West Coast. That was the last time they saw him.