Then came closure

Tooth found in Vietnam ends years of doubt for missing Md. man's family

The IO in Spectre 13 was Jimmy Caniford.

Hours later, Felty's crew heard over the radio that an AC-130 had gone down about 3 a.m. Only after landing did Felty learn which one.

March 1972

"Inspector Caniford," boomed a voice over the intercom at Hoffman's, a Hagerstown slaughterhouse, "please report to the front office."

Jim Caniford, the 47-year-old father of the young airman, thought that was odd. State meat inspectors were rarely summoned in the middle of a shift.

It was late March 1972, and he was on the kill floor, thick with cow carcasses hung from hooks.

Off came his yellow rubber apron, white helmet and the belt he wore to carry the knives he used to slice open fresh-killed beef. He rinsed his boots and scrubbed his hands before heading to the office.

At first he didn't see them, the two Air Force officials in crisp blue uniforms. Before his mind grasped the meaning of their presence, the stilted language of officialese was upon him: "We're here to inform you your son's plane was shot down."

All he felt at first was rage. "Is that all you got to tell me?" he recalls barking. "I wouldn't want to have your damn job for all the cows in Texas."

Just as quickly the anger disappeared. He apologized. He called his boss to send another inspector. Then he set out to find his wife and two daughters.

The official telegram that arrived from a brigadier general was typed in capital letters. "IT IS WITH DEEP PERSONAL CONCERN THAT I OFFICIALLY INFORM YOU THAT YOUR SON STAFF SERGEANT JAMES K. CANIFORD IS MISSING IN ACTION IN SOUTHERN LAOS."

Bleak as it was, the telegram paradoxically raised hopes at the same time as dashing them. "Other aircraft in area observed fireball and crash," it read. But it also said: "Beepers have been heard and extensive search is being conducted."

Jimmy's mother, Janice, did not read any ambiguity into the news. "Your son's gone," she flatly told her husband.

Jim didn't argue with her but also wouldn't accept the finality of her view. Didn't the telegram mention beepers? Maybe some of those boys survived and were sending out distress signals. Maybe Jimmy was one of them.

A second telegram carried a grimmer note. "The organized search has been suspended as all attempts to locate and rescue him have been unsuccessful."

Efforts would continue to determine his status. "Until then he will be listed officially as missing in action."