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Remains of long lost soldier possibly found

Posted August 29, 2008 22:00:00
Updated August 29, 2008 23:53:00

The Federal Government says it appears the remains of the last Australian soldier unaccounted for in the Vietnam War have been found.

Private David Fisher died when he fell from a rope suspended from a helicopter while being rescued from a jungle in 1969 in Southern Vietnam.

A search of the area never found him.

Defence Minister Warren Snowdon says a team of archaeologists has found remains along with an identification tag with Private Fisher's details.

"We don't want to be too presumptive, we need to carry out the scientific work, the forensic work, to make sure we've done it," he said.

"The remains we believe will be released to our Government, for repatriation to Australia, and as I say we'll be able to finally give Private Fisher's family the opportunity to say an appropriate good bye to a fallen hero," he said.

The remains will travel to Hanoi for forensic assessment before they are released.

Tags: community-and-society, history, unrest-conflict-and-war, australia, vietnam

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