Recovering service members lost in an Alaskan glacier

For the past decade a multi-disciplinary team based at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage has been engaged in what is perhaps the longest-running recovery effort in the history of the U.S. Air Force: locating 52 servicemen lost when their C-124 Globemaster crashed on a glacier in Alaska, their remains and personal effects hidden in the ice since 1952. Correspondent Lee Cowan talks with relatives who hope summer periods of melting ice will reveal secrets long buried.
#usaf #fallen
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[@mathbrown9099]

So proud of all these volunteers, and for the granddaughter’s tenacity. This is what American justice requires: Tenacity, on all parts.

[@shootfirst2097]

Tenacity had nothing to do with it. A lucky sighting of debris is what made it possible.

[@dave8599]

No justice in taxpayers wasting money on this. They were buried where they died. leave it be, spend the money on the living, not bits of dead people.

[@donnabradshaw5200]

I totally agree!

[@Thenotfunnyperson]

@@dave8599 thanks Russian bot

[@MikeBarbarossa]

Very hard mission. The plane broke into thousands of pieces with the crash , and the ice and rock have been grinding and seperating everything for 70 years. Very small pieces are what is mostly left

[@dondon6655]

Amazing story. I started to tear up seeing how meaningful remains, no matter how small, give a sense of closure to the family members generations later.

[@arcdestriumph586]

"Ever Faithful" .. it's the Marines motto "Semper Fidelis".. Though these were not Marines.. When I saw grown adults combing through dirt with tweezers on a cold glacier in the middle of nowhere - 70 years after the fact. Knowing they'd be doing that tedious work for months.. I said "Oh... that's what Ever Faithful means" Rest well Winged Warriors and thank you Recovery Crew.

[@terrysaunders2026]

@@arcdestriumph586 Actually, the narrator said one passenger was a Marine Officer.

[@joedance14]

Served in Alaska, trained on glaciers. Flying in Alaska is very dangerous, very high accident rate. “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change.” And it changes very quickly. My condolences to the families. God bless!

[@laurencaulton103]

With everything melting, remains of people lost for decades and longer, are coming to light.

[@22lyric]

*So many sad stories involving our precious military members. Thank you to all the searchers!* *My dad's cousin was killed in a volcano during WWII. He was based at a listening post in the Aleutian Islands. He went out on patrol and when he didn't come back, they went out to find him. They found his footprints stopped where the lava ended.* Love to all our military and their families! ❤️🙏🇺🇲

[@jbman413]

Wow! Amazing I am sorry for your loss. The battles in Alaska were real. The terrain something else. The ocean like liquid ice. Been to Adak a few times. It used to be a major ASW location P-3’s. We used to fly the chain, 14 miles off the Russian and Chinese coast lines I guess. It was cold. I have friends still out on patrol, many thanks to your family.

[@22lyric]

@@jbman413 Thank you, and thank YOU for your service from the bottom of my heart! Once you start reading about ANY aspect of our military, ANY period of time, you come across SO many HUGE and vinyl things you've never even heard of. My husband was on submarines during the cold war. We watch all the documentaries that are shown on TV. ALL the people that play a part in our freedom...

[@triciac1019]

My father served in the Aleutian Islands also. I didn't know there was a volcano. I need to do more research. I am sorry for the loss of your father's cousin.

[@kristenkaz3080]

God bless you Servicemen. Thank you for your service to our country. Godspeed.

[@snydedon9636]

@Patrick Baptist go away troll.

[@thomasopdahl1873]

Years ago my father was in Minneapolis and decided to call my brother. He looked up his number and called him from a phone booth. There was an answer and my father said "hi David, this is dad!.' There was a pause and a aged voice responded. "That can't be, my father died in world war 2." It was another David . I can imagine that man had never heard anyone say those words to him. This segment, in light of my thoughts about that phone call, gives me insight into the feelings of these "kids". Having any kind of connection with something tangible from someone so real but also always physically absent can make the world spin in a different way for these people.

[@marthakrumboltz2710]

Excellent post.

[@Beth-ie]

The remains of two British pilots lie at the bottom of a lake in New England. Crashed in the 1940's. 300 ft of water. The plane and the pilots are remarkably preserved. The British government asked that the planes NOT be disturbed, as it is considered a burial site or equivalent. So they remain at peace at the bottom of a magnificent, beautiful lake. Every year, when I swim, fish, boat on that lake, I remember them and thank them. Their families know. They are at peace. A tragedy, but at least the mystery was solved a couple decades ago... the old tale WAS true. Don't bother looking. It is OFF LIMITS... even though none of us really knows exactly where it is. Big lake. Sad story. Peaceful ending. Thank you for your sacrifice, 🇬🇧 pilots.

[@DG-zj6sg]

Sebago?

[@22lyric]

As long as the families were ok with it. ❤️🙏 God bless our Allies!

[@ccdogpark]

Yeah like some lake in New England has 300 feet of water

[@marthakrumboltz2710]

I’m sure the British govt wants it left undisturbed. But have the families been asked?

[@Ryan-zv3os]

​@@marthakrumboltz2710 The military is there family now and responsible for what happened to any bodies.

[@sherryzimmerman9220]

After reading all the comments to date…..respectfully from one Veteran’s Family to All Americans…..yes we must acknowledge your/my concern how our taxes are spent…..or misspent at times but this is indeed one area that I honor…..as Americans we try to leave no one behind…..and when we can’t we must find a way with other countries to pay tribute ie the many graveyards across Europe……and Yet as a proud granddaughter of a Grandmother who sent All Three of Her Sons to the European/Pacific Front (addressed in the movie Saving Private Ryan by Spielberg) this is part of family history we are so proud of….as I said earlier as a high school history teacher of 37 years in Washington State this must be shared amongst our young…….as we have know “what goes round could possibly come around again”….life long learning is my blessing for my GrandBabes……Respectfully

[@johnduff3914]

@Karl with a K They could have died on a commercial airline. It happens from time to time, unfortunately.

[@SonyaHudson]

All I could do was smile after 49 of the 52 service men were located, the funeral for her grandfather and the dog tags. I will remain hopeful and prayerful that the other 3 service men will be found to. Thank you for your service and God bless you. 🙌🏾

[@gerry_atric]

I found this very emotional, teared up a bit. Perseverance paying off for alot of loved ones.

[@josephwatts314]

Absolutely Amazing: Thank you so much. This story should bring tears & inner reflection to every American; "Now More than ever"! Well done!

[@larryhack4038]

My mom’s uncle, my great uncle, was on that fateful flight. His remains have been identified. I believe he was one of the first 17 to be found. Yesterday marked the 70th anniversary of the plane crash. To all the souls who were on board that flight. Thank you for your service🇺🇸

[@woodenbeast9337]

Wonderful story Thanks to all our vets for their service

[@steveconn]

How poignant to finally find your granddad like that. Dad and I loved hiking places like Exit Glacier in Seward, but with warming it's practically shale. At least archeological finds and memories are found again.

[@michaelrispulo3377]

God bless the families of the missing.

[@gabriellechilton5902]

Beautiful story. God bless for all, for never giving up😊

[@Vitoandolini13]

God bless the people who both work the sight and those that sponsor them

[@patticake5944]

Wonderful story. Never give up!

[@jbman413]

For what it’s worth we never forget fallen shipmates; we always carry them in our hearts. GOD willing we will see them again. And these guys count as well is this category. There are a lot of sailors who never came home, buried at sea....

[@rdallas81]

They should be carried in the heart. No one actually wins in war or its mechanisms. The faster the world comes to that conclusion the "richer" all people will be.

[@traceysouth1047]

Since I never lost a loved one in this way I cannot begin to imagine the heartbreak or bittersweet mixed feelings this must bring up. God bless them all and may they rest in peace.

[@sooz9433]

CBS is single handedly responsible for keeping my tear ducts in TopNotch condition and working beautifully well into my golden years. Between CBS Sunday Morning and On The Road w/ Steve Hartman, the waterworks seldom fail me!!💦💧💧💙💙 Thank you for another amazing story.

[@Wild_Western]

Congratulations to this young lady for her persistence to pay final respects to these fallen service men and to all the people in the background doing all the excavation, science and logistics etc.. This is truly living up to the American military creed of never leaving anyone behind; either living, injured or unfortunately, deceased.

[@donnacollins1356]

This woman is an American hero in my book keeping this alive to bring those military people home She is right it shouldn't matter if we are at war when lost in fact recent military downed planes were treated with more honor than this was God bless all our military

[@donconners6937]

THIS IS humanity working to preserve humanity! TY for reafirming hope in us, peace to you.

[@Smilodon1985]

May they rest in peace, and thank you to the crew for doing what you do. This old archaeology professor would join you in a heartbeat if the opportunity arose, and if I were about 30 years younger...

[@johannesswillery7855]

Thank God for these boys. Part of why I live free.

[@KarinaTheDreama]

That's so messed up they would just forget about them! I'm so grateful for all these humans. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@dyenastyboy]

She is right, EVERY death in service the military is a result of bravery and deserves to be honored. Regardless of if it is on combat or not. They all raised their hand.

[@tonjac-124globemasteranderson]

Thank you!!!!

[@pjmvdbroek]

What a gem of a granddaughter.

[@sherryzimmerman9220]

This video should be shared with every high school and maybe middle school in the US that are mandated by law to have a Veterans Day Assembly every Fall…..Griffin Elementary in Steamboat, Washington State 98502 for the 2022 year was outstanding and so appreciated by the Zimmerman Family with Army…Army Air Corp….Navy….and Air Force family members acknowledged/represented for my four grandchildren attending the very best in our Public School education has to offer….

[@marthakrumboltz2710]

It should be shared by all, unfortunately there is no hip-hop or contest to keep their attention. If it doesn’t involve reading a phone close up it just wont fly w/ the social justice crowd. You must find a way to incorporate their existence somehow with military service and sacrifice.

[@mychannel3774]

The power of persistence, I just _love_ that black airman’s granddaughter’s energy.

[@chetmacdonald9009]

“Didn’t just vanish..” #TheAmericanPeople Make all of this. Work.

[@m118lr]

May God Bless All the LOST..AND those trying to help put theirs and others’ lives BACK together, Amen.

[@davidmanley9437]

This is a wonderful story to have on veterans day . Love it. 👍

[@guesswhaturit2197]

Thank you sirs for your service.. Being a vet myself I feel this loss like it was today. Thank God families can get closure..

[@jeffreyjohnson9821]

Our great American warriors. Definitely a darn hard place to take on a task like this. Thank you to our military personnel and the recovery team ! 🇺🇸

[@meripederson8379]

So wonderful they are not forgotten and efforts go on .

[@trob0914]

Thanks to Service members, volunteers. This is what America is all about!🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@kcuzz4091]

God bless all these volunteers trying to recover anything and anyone that they can recovery.

[@karenlindley9265]

Incredible! And is part of the healing some people still are seeking in their lives..! 🥺🥺🥺🙏🙏🙏❤️💚🌸💗

[@jonathand.terrell3419]

So glad they found these families loved ones, even though it is simply the remnants of these brave servicemen.

[@ProDem717]

70 years ago!! Thanks for the up to date news overage!!!

[@shwngbr]

Thank you for your service Gentlemen.

[@updownstate]

I've always mourned for the families whose sons are MIA in Viet Nam, my generation's war. Seeing this comforts me. After 80 years these men are returned to receive the honor due them.

[@rdallas81]

Sharp looking young man! Rest in peace brother. And Its good news they were able to properly secure these loose ends.

[@davidrader1856]

The seven victims that they still can't find the remains for... They survived the crash and set out on an expedition across the glacier to find civilization. An epic journey ensued with them dying one by one. Polar bears, crevasses, etc. Someone go make the movie now, damnit.

[@texasflood3165]

Prayers to the members lost..but not forgotten..!

[@michaeltudda8462]

God Bless them all.

[@davidschlickbernd1560]

Captain Jerome Henry Goebel was a cousin of my grandfather, William Schlickbernd, Sr. Jerome was born 30 Nov 1918 at Snyder, Dodge County, Nebraska, son of Henry & Mary (Weiss) Goebel. Jerome was married to Anna Schlaffer 16 July 1949 in Chicago, IL.

[@daveblackburn5393]

May all those serviceman rest in peace. Thank God the families are getting closure. I pray the rest are found and identified and remain come home.

[@joenop3393]

May God Bless the Souls of all those that flew on that C-124 in 1952!!

[@richardkeilig4062]

Amazing effort. God bless the crew.

[@ak9989]

There is a magazine called "After the Battle" that shows recoveries of missing soldiers and airmen from crashes during ww2. In one issue they found a US Army Infantryman that was missing in action on Attu 1943 in the 1990s, He was killed in action and his body was found alongside a boulder where he had died.

[@antoniograncino3506]

4:27 The camera is an Argus C-3, 35 mm range-finder. My Dad had one just like it at the same time, early 50's. Many family memories and all his worldwide TDY (Temporary Duty) excursions for the US Air Force recorded on it.

[@nc4tn]

How inspiring. There is still some good in humanity.

[@tinabenavidez1903]

It is a amazing, I know there's several people missing up there and hopefully they find them.

[@fougee1]

As a Vietnam era veteran I understand the anguish of these people. There are over 1,200 Mia's American soldiers from that war. One of them was my uncle . He was a pilot that fought in WW-2 and Korea as well as Vietnam. He piloted a F-105 Thunderchief his plane was hit by a SAM missile in August 1966. He never came home to his wife and children. Never forget our MIA Never God Bless them.

[@johnneedy3164]

I'm speechless, may OUR SERVICEMEN REST IN PEACE

[@Lawomenshoops]

Whether in a pond in the jungles of Vietnam or on a glacier in Alaska, any American servicemen and women should be brought home! A few years ago they drained a pond in Vietnam and found the remains of a US servicemen. His family finally got to bury their father.

[@lindagardenlady]

God bless the servicemen who were lost and God bless the relatives who have and will have closure 🙏 🙏♥️♥️ 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@stevencampbell6677]

Way to go please keep it up

[@afvet5075]

Stationed at Elmendorf AFB in 1984 some of the guys got lost on the Kenai. Lost and hungry the were able to build a fire and one of our helicopters found them. They were lucky. RIP to our fallen soldiers lost there in Alaska.

[@donnabradshaw5200]

Thank God for the findings. I pray for the next to be found. If it wasn't for the granddaughter searching and pestering government officials these families may not have been found.

[@romstar]

Wow 😲 you can see the effects of global warming on this 'glacier' which looks like a pile of rocks now...🥺but it will make it easier for recovering their lost loved ones...👍👍👍🖤🖤

[@jackkeyhoe7072]

GID BLESS THEM

[@bruceburch8301]

Wow what a story.we have teams that look for lost service members now.great vid .

[@mortalclown3812]

I remember reading about this - all except the part about not recovering the men's remains. It's hard to imagine how their families felt for all of this time. Extra angels of comfort to their kin and rest in peace to our soldiers.

[@Darton-ok5xt]

love the story

[@thekamotodragon]

honestly those volunteers dedicating their time to rummaging through miles of glacier and small rocks just to find tiny evidence of the crash are the real heroes, i mean that's just completely self-less because they're dedicating so much time and comfort for TBH so little benefit to themselves... unless they didn't volunteer and were put there by the military, then i'd just say that's the worst job to be stationed at in the entire service lol, well not the absolute worst, like janitor at an even colder base would be worse but clearing debris by hand on a freezing glacier is definitely up there.

[@tcoylesq1]

Great story!

[@mckinneyguy]

Nice to see a meaningful story that doesn't involve politics.

[@rbir675]

RIP 🙏

[@bmcc12]

I am a Marine, and once a Marine always a Marine. I am sickened that we have abandoned all of those men for so many years, I believe there should be an all out effort to retrieve every one of them. As a Marine, we don’t leave our men behind!

[@patminard2015]

I am the daughter of a ww2 Marine. I understand your feelings about not pursuing recovery as vigorously as we are able. My concern is risking more Marines, or other service members, to find the deceased bodies under exceptionally high risk conditions. I can't imagine any Marine accepting the abandonment of a brother even at the cost of their own death. That's why I think it's good to have clear heads and hearts making the final call. Thank you for your loyalty to these deceased heroes and thank you for your life of service and passion for our country!

[@tonjac-124globemasteranderson]

There was 1 Marine on the plane Major Earl Stearns

[@4Score747]

😔 R.I.P.

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

I pray for success. No one should be left behind.

[@ajetmech2002]

Great story

[@cdp200442]

She doesn’t understand just how dangerous these glaciers are. My father was a loadmaster on a C-124 .. that’s their cemetery and should be left

[@sammybaugues1260]

Persevering over time

[@suzannebenz8928]

How sad!

[@johnluckie5048]

God bless you all

[@Cockeyed_Den8213]

It's about time and as an ex service member I am a shame of my country for not caring about the brave men and women that server it. Bring our brothers and sisters home to their families as soon as you can not 70 years later. They need closure not the run around. To the Volunteers my hat's off to you all and you are Hero's and I am sure others feel the same way. God bless you all.

[@ZedsD3adBaby]

The plane was covered up by snow and ice for 70 years. Also, the military did not know where the plane went down. It was discovered only because the glacier ice has been melting all these years.

[@twwtjohns]

Never give up hope. They will be found.

[@heefie8659]

There seems to be some misconceptions when reading some of these comments. I was part of the recovery team for this mission. To dispel something right off the bat these members were never forgotten as CBS stated. Glaciers are not as simple as many people might tend to think. When the site resurfaced it was a race against time (and still is) as the glacier is pushing into Lake George. Also what's not mentioned is the things we found that can be traced to families. Weddings rings and the like that we have been able to reunite with families.

[@blucheer8743]

Why soldiers fight: kith and kin… God bless her, her grandfather and the young men who died on that flight… gone but never forgotten

[@rogerringer7066]

She is now trying to get Gamble Chalk One. 18 families are still waiting.

[@carlabroderick5508]

I agree with the principle of no one left behind. I don’t share the sense, however, that recovery of remains in difficult areas is worth the expense. Give the money to support living veterans.

[@robertphillips6296]

The Titanic broke into rather large sections and was more visible laying on the bottom of the ocean than embedded in Ice and Snow. Also I believe that the Aircraft was carrying the Bases Payroll in cash at the time of the Crash.

[@chadachwilliam5515]

Why did it take so long? Because it was under SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET of snow, on a GLACIER. Loosing more service members isn’t worth the continuing search without knowing it’s exact location. As soon as it was discovered it was recovered, that’s how the military works. Semper fi earthlings

[@keylimedp]

Good morning, certainly a awesome story. if it's never ending who pays for it all?

[@stuartb3609]

I have no idea, but just a few thoughts. The military transport is there and crew need to fly, so getting to the site keeps there hours up and actually serves a purpose. I’ve been to Anchorage and see no reason why it’s citizens wouldn’t want to be involved as volunteers, as would any city have people interested in a opportunity to return remains to family members. Edit. Just read that it is volunteer’s both active military and civilian.

[@merlin6625]

The Great Spirit gave her a gift, those dog tags that belonged to her Grandfather.

[@MeMeDaVinci]

This is truly God's work. There are no words.

[@MichiganFan70]

Wow

[@hopehealthhappiness465]

❤

[@paulbriggs3072]

People imagine some giant bashed up aircraft sitting on the ice, where you pry open the battered door, and go in pluck the skeletons off the seats. They get irritated at the Defense Department as to why they have not brought them home before. But this thing was splattered in 10,000 little pieces against a hard glacier against a steep rock slope that has been eroding stone for 70 years. The Airforce was right back when it located them the first time.

[@michaelwhisman]

They afre not lost. They are buried in the glacier.

[@richstex4736]

These are the very types of people, the best of us, whom some would demonize for their faith in science/medicine/engineering over religion.

[@WRMRanch]

Many Alaskans lost forever as well. My Great Uncle Kenneth Staley was never found. Likely he crashed in the Cook Inlet.

[@jamesconwayjr6640]

May god bless these pateriots

[@jeffatkinson3288]

Kinda amazed nobody was using metal detectors.