By Alabama Public Radio
Huntsville, AL – Army Chief Warrant Officer Randy Ard spent 34 years listed as missing in action since the Vietnam War. But his remains were finally identified in December, and they returned to Huntsville Thursday. Soldiers at Redstone Arsenal paid tribute to Ard, who was a 20-year-old helicopter pilot when he died. He was shot down over Loas in March of 1971. A special motorcade transported his casket through the Army base while more than 600 soldiers stood at attention. Ard's remains were scheduled to be buried Saturday with full military honors at the Marshall Memorial Gardens in Albertville.