World politics were probably not on Lt. Col. Darel Leetun's mind before he was shot down in his F-105D "Thunderchief" and killed in Vietnam nearly 39 years ago.

According to his wingman, Tom Carlson, Leetun, who grew up in Hettinger, was probably not thinking about being a hero either. He was just doing his job.

Carlson said servicemen involved in war do have fear and misgivings about going to battle, but their world gets smaller during war and they focus on their comrades who depend on them.

"The thought of not going on a mission was unacceptable because if you didn't, one of your friends would have to go,"Carlson said.

Leetun, whose remains weren't recovered until 1995 and positively identified until earlier this year, was honored in a large ceremony at the Capitol grounds on Friday.

He was shot down on Sept. 17, 1966, while leading a bombing raid over the Lang Son Province in North Vietnam where his aircraft was hit by ground fire. Other pilots saw the jet crash, but they did not see a parachute or receive an emergency beeper signal.

His remains were buried in Arlington National Cemetery on July 8, a day which made his family proud.

"We're smiling again,"Leetun's son, Keith, said. "It's been a time of rejoice and celebration for the family."

Keith Leetun said the family has been treated like royalty by the government and National Guard.

Friday's events included a prayer and moment of silence on the front steps of the Capitol, followed by a flyover of F-16 fighter jets by the North Dakota Air National Guard's 119th Fighter Wing. The fighters flew in the missing man formation.

The event was later moved to the Heritage Center, where Leetun was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the highest military award the state can give a member of the military.

Leetun also has been awarded the Air Force Cross for extraordinary heroism.

According to the Arlington National Cemetery's Web Site, during the bomb run, Leetun's aircraft was hit by hostile fire, becoming a flaming torch and nearly uncontrollable, but he remained in formation and delivered his high-explosive ordnance directly on target.

Dozens of people attended the ceremony, including Ardelle Forthun, who lived across the street from Leetun in Hettinger.

Forthun remembers the day when Leetun told her he would be going to Vietnam as a pilot with the Air Force.

Forthun, who said the Leetuns' door was always open, said she immediately imaged how great it would be when Leetun returned and the families would get back together again.

"It's taken a long time, but I'm very happy to say Darel has come back and we're all back together again," Forthun said.

Gov. John Hoeven said all of those who have been killed or missing in action should be honored and remembered.

"With service members now in harm's way around the world, it is particularity important that we demonstrate that neither time nor circumstance can diminish our gratitude and respect for our fallen heroes,"Hoeven said.

According to the Department of Defense, there are 10 North Dakota soldiers and airmen who remain missing in action in Vietnam.

(Reach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.rafferty@;bismarcktribune.com.)