November 27, 2003 - New York Post: Charlie Dean was on his was to join Peace Corps when executed in Laos in 1974

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2003: November 2003 Peace Corps Headlines: November 27, 2003 - New York Post: Charlie Dean was on his was to join Peace Corps when executed in Laos in 1974

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-177-60.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.177.60) on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 2:08 pm: Edit Post

Charlie Dean was on his was to join Peace Corps when executed in Laos in 1974



Charlie Dean was on his was to join Peace Corps when executed in Laos in 1974

DEAN'S SAD MISSION

By BRIAN BLOMQUIST
FINALLY COMING HOME: A military color guard honors the remains believed to be of slain civilian Charlie Dean in Hawaii yesterday.
- AP

November 27, 2003 -- WASHINGTON - Howard Dean took a break from the presidential campaign yesterday to go to Hawaii for a repatriation ceremony of the remains of his younger brother, Charlie, who was murdered in Laos 30 years ago.

"My brother was an extraordinary person. He was a person of deep principle who lived his life the way he believed it ought to be lived," Dean said yesterday at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.

The Democratic presidential hopeful said he was "going to miss" his brother every day, but added, "We're deeply comforted by the fact that this operation has allowed us to repatriate what we believe are his remains and ultimately take them back home."

Dean was joined at the ceremony by his mother and brothers Jim and Bill.

Charlie's remains were recently discovered in a bomb crater in central Laos by an Army MIA recovery team during its seventh investigation of the whereabouts of Dean and his traveling companion, Australian journalist Neil Sharman.

Charlie Dean was a civilian right out of college, on his way to join the Peace Corps in Nepal, when he and Sharman were arrested by Pathet Lao communist forces on the Mekong River, jailed and then executed in December 1974.

They were accused of spying, and Howard Dean recently acknowledged in his book that his parents also "believed [that Charlie was working for the CIA]."

Intelligence and defense officials say there are no records that Charlie Dean ever worked for them, and Howard Dean says he doesn't believe it either.

Howard Dean himself has had to deal with questions about his lack of military service during Vietnam. A bad back gave Dean a medical excuse to stay out of the war, but after getting his deferment, he moved to Aspen, Colo., and skied for a year.

Dean said he and his family would spend time with the military team from the Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command, which found the remains and is now verifying them with forensic tests.



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Story Source: New York Post

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Laos

PCOL8660
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By Anonymous (205.127.246.165) on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 5:40 pm: Edit Post

Its amazing this news comes out right around debates, etc.

By Daniel (0-1pool136-81.nas12.somerville1.ma.us.da.qwest.net - 63.159.136.81) on Sunday, November 30, 2003 - 7:30 pm: Edit Post

I am glad Governor Dean and family has been able to get some closure on an ordeal that has gone on for long time for them.

Governor Dean fondly recollects that his brother had a real interest in serving with Peace Corps.

I just came back from helping in New Hampshire. His campaign office was filled with volunteers giving him a real grassroots effort. His campaign efforts are truly remarkable.

By Anonymous (168.179.167.160) on Monday, December 01, 2003 - 4:25 pm: Edit Post

It would be nice to get more information from something like a daily report. Alot of articles say people thought he was working for CIA.


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