The remains of an American soldier, who was wounded in one of the bloodiest ambushes of the Vietnam War and later vanished into enemy hands have been returned to his mother and brothers after 47 years.

James Van Bendegom, a staff sergeant, was 19 when he set out on patrol in the Ia Drang Valley, close to the Cambodian border, on July 12, 1967.

(the times of asia)