MISSING SOLDIER BRINGS HOME SUFFERING OF THE VIETNAM WAR

Nearly twenty-two years after he was shot down while taking part in a reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam, the remains of Lt. Col. Robert R. Gregory were finally laid to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Gregory was 34 at the time he was declared missing on Dec. 2, 1966, and was pronounced dead by military officials in 1973. Gregory's RF-4C Phantom II reconnaissance jet was shot down on its 66th mission.

In June 1988, remains of servicemen turned over by Vietnamese officials were identified to include the Cape Girardeau native.

On Sept. 20, 1988, Gregory's remains were buried with full military honors. The ceremony included a fly over of four jets like the one in which he was shot down and a 21-gun salute.

Word that Gregory's remains had been identified, brought to an end a long ordeal for the pilot's family and friends.

Gregory's wife, Marjorie, a native of Bell City, recalled how she had packed her bags in December 1966 for a Christmas reunion with her husband in Hawaii, only to learn before leaving from an Air Force officer that her husband was missing.

A chair at the meeting place of VFW Post 3838, which had Gregory's name on it and had sat empty at all meetings since he was reported missing, was donated to the Air Force ROTC at Southeast Missouri State University, which had renamed its national honor society squadron after Gregory. The squadron was named Roth-Gregory, also in honor of Lt. Col. Arnold Roth, a Cape Girardeau native who died in 1973 after serving as a pilot in World War I and a navigator in World War II.

Calvin Vogelsang, a member of the post and past state commander and national council member, explained at the time that the empty chair was a reminder of Gregory and others missing in action. "This lad was from our hometown here, and we took it on ourselves to put that chair there until we found out whether his remains were found or he was found alive."

Gregory was a 1950 graduate of Central High School. During his career, Gregory served as a flight instructor as well as a pilot, and received three Purple Hearts, a Distinguished Flying Cross, an Air Medal, and a Silver Star.

A citation issued with his final commendation said that on Nov. 23, 1966 -- just days before he was shot down -- Gregory had distinguished himself by gallantry in connection with military operations near Hanoi, North Vietnam.