POW-MIA bracelets, timeless reminders of a Vietnam War hero

BUTTE, Mont. — It's been almost 50-years since the war in Vietnam officially ended.

In 1973, there were 22 Montana service people listed as Missing in Action in Vietnam.

The remains of six of those MIA's have been identified and repatriated back to Montana.

One was a fighter pilot from Butte.

Captain Robert Holton was shot down over Laos in 1969.

It would be 48 years before his remains were finally brought home to Butte.

In the early 1970's, supporters of our MIA and POW military service members began wearing bracelets to remember them.

A Los Angeles based student organization produced and distributed the bracelets during the Vietnam War.

Recently, NBC Montana met Sue MacPherson, who wore such a bracelet.

"I started wearing a bracelet in early 1972 with the name of Captain Robert Holton," said Sue. "He was my childhood friend."

Robert Holton's brother Bill Holton wore also wore a bracelet.

“Everybody I saw with a bracelet I asked if I could see whose name was on it," said Bill. "Lots of times, especially in the Butte area it was Bob’s name.”

“He was my only sibling," said Bill. "He (Bob) was three years older than me to the day. He was always there for me, and I was always there for him.”

Bill said before he was reported Missing in Action, Bob had been recommended for promotion,

“He absolutely loved flying," he said. "He was very well thought of. One of the remarks was how cool he was under fire."

Bill said Bob had only about a week left of his tour of duty.

“He had over 100 missions, what they call sorties over the enemy territory," he said. "He was due to come home within a week when he was shot down.”

But it wasn't until 2017 that Captain Holton's remains would finally come home.

All of Butte, and much of Montana turned out for his homecoming.

“It was not the homecoming we had all hoped and prayed for," said Sue. "But good old Butte. We welcomed him home with honors.”

For years, both Bill, his wife Judy, and Sue have worked to bring attention to Montana's MIA's.

The parents and siblings of Vietnam veterans are growing older.

“These families are going through the same thing we went through for 48 years," said Bill. "You’re never ever sure, and after all this time it’s getting more difficult.”

In 1973, Sue helped spearhead a memorial tree and plaque at the State Capital in Helena.

A few years ago, she worked with veterans' groups to raise money to improve the Memorial Garden.

Improvements include decorative bricks, a seating area, and a new plaque that was donated by the Helena American Legion

"Every MIA in Montana is listed on the plaque," said Sue. "And the ones that have been repatriated have an asterisk.”

"I'm working with a Marine veteran to bring the Traveling Vietnam Wall to Butte hopefully next summer," said Sue. "It's a huge undertaking."

She is lobbying hard to bring that wall to Bob Holton's hometown.

Sue first met Bob when she was about 12, and he was a freshman in high school.

Sue brought us to some of the spots where she and her friends hung out as youngsters.

“This is the old Bernie’s Pharmacy," she said of a building in her old neighborhood.

It's not Bernie's anymore.

But Sue's memories of the place are strong.

"This is where Bob Holton worked when he was a teenager," she said. "This is where we used to come in and hang out. He worked in the soda fountain.”

Then she brought us to the Emerson School neighborhood.

Bob attended Emerson and grew up near that school.

“Bob was really a talented musician," said Bill. "He played piano and saxophone and clarinet.”

“He played in a band called the Aces of Rhythm," said Sue of her friend. "We used to have jam sessions in his parents’ yard.”

The Aces of Rhythm used to play at the old Miners Union Hall uptown.

Kids called it the Youth Center.

“The Aces of Rhythm played here often," said Sue. "One of my favorite songs they played was ‘In the Mood.’

Bob and Sue double-dated.

But they didn't date each other.

“I was dating one of the other guys in the band, The Aces of Rhythm," said Sue. "And he was dating one of my girlfriends.”

Bob wasn't a boyfriend.

He was a friend.

“Boyfriends come and go," said Sue. "But friends can last forever. That’s how my friendship and my relationship was with Bob.”

The last time Sue saw Bob was when he and his wife came to see Sue, her husband and their new baby.

“That would have been 1963," she said. " I never saw him again. He became a fighter pilot and was sent to Viet Nam.”

Bill said the last time he saw his brother was on April 8th, 1968.

It was Bob, Bill and Judy's birthday.

The Holton family lived without knowing what happened to Bob for more than 48 years.

Bill and his mother had supplied their DNA in hopes of a match.

Bill remembers the day they received a phone call from the Air Force.

They confirmed the remains they found were Bob's.

In all those years, both Bill and Sue continued to wear Bob Holton's bracelet.

"Sue wore his bracelet all the time," said Bill." I told her why don’t you just put that on Bob’s coffin?"

Sue said Bob's wife made the same suggestion.

“And so I did," said Sue. "And that was perfect. That’s where it belonged.”

On a snowy day in November Sue took us to see Bob's grave.

Standing before his headstone she thinks back on the good times.

“Sure," she said. " Aces of Rhythm. Bernie's. The Youth Center. Holton’s front yard. All kinds of wonderful memories.”

Then looking up from the snow covered marker Sue said of her childhood friend.

“He’s home. He’s home.”