SMITHVILLE, Texas - The remains of an American soldier who had been missing since the Vietnam War are coming home after being located with help from a former enemy.

Marine 2nd Lt. Donald John Matocha of Smithville was killed in a firefight in April 1968 on Dong Ma mountain in what was then the Republic of South Vietnam, but his body was not recovered.

The Defense Department had essentially given up trying to locate his remains by 1993, said Hattie Johnson, a case officer with the Marine Corps casualty office in Washington. "They had exhausted all means of looking," Johnson told the Austin American-Statesman.

Then in 1996, Nguyen Van Loc, a 58-year-old farmer who had been a squad leader of the 320th Division of the People's Army of Vietnam, appeared at the Army's POW/MIA office in Hanoi. He said he'd found a dead American on Dong Ma mountain in the spring of 1968 and helped bury him in a bomb crater.

Matocha's grave was found in March, and dental records established positive identification. A nephew is scheduled to escort Matocha's remains to Smithville on Sept. 16.

Also found near the gravesite was a dog tag that belonged to Stan "Doc" Sellers. Stan has been in contact wit the Matocha family and plans to attend the burial.

Loretta Eiben, one of Matocha's eight younger siblings, said her family will always appreciate Nguyen Van Loc's help.

"We owe a debt of gratitude to him and his willingness to make a repeat visit to the site," she said.

Please use BACK BUTTON on these links to return to this page.

Corpsman relieved at Matocha's return

Article from Texas A&M on Lt. Matocha

Biography

Matocha Family Website

KXAN News 36 Video

POW / MIA Remains ID List