Family clings to missing son's memory

Published Sept. 20, 2012
By Kiley Swopes
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT, N.D -- In the fall of 1971, David D. Berdahl, a local Minot resident, took an oath to protect his country when he enlisted in the U.S. Army during a time of war.

At the age of 17, David begged his parents for their consent to enlist, but due to the dangers of the Vietnam War, his parents quickly denied his every request.

However, when he turned 18, David took on the responsibility to sign for himself.

"He came to us as soon as he turned 18 and said, 'I am ready. You don't have to sign for me now. It's not your responsibility anymore,'" said Arlene Berdahl, David's mother.

His parents' decision came from the fear of never knowing if they would ever see their son again if they allowed him to leave.

When he signed for himself, Arlene replayed David's words, "Oh don't get shook Ma, I'll be back," continuously as comfort.

Following his initial training, he received leave for a few days from Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash., before deploying to Vietnam.

David's mission in life was to save the world. Enlisting provided him the opportunity to defend his country, as well as others.

"He never really showed any emotion toward going to war," Arlene said. "I guess it was one of his dreams to go. I don't know where he ever decided it, but he did it."

The constant thought of her son being in danger and at war left Arlene worried for a long time until she began receiving letters which eased her mind.

Arlene learned in the letters that her son had become a helicopter tail gunner for rescue missions instead of a mechanic like she believed he would be before he deployed.

"I thought 'oh my gosh, how did he get himself into that,'" Arlene said. "But that was David, you couldn't tell him different."

On Jan. 20, 1972, David set out on a mission to rescue injured soldiers, but his helicopter came too close to enemy fire and was shot down. Another helicopter was there to assist with his rescue, but due to enemy fire and since the helicopter was engulfed in flames, they could not get close enough to provide assistance.

Two days after the helicopter went down, Donald Berdahl, David's father, told Arlene to come downstairs as a soldier and a Casualty Assistance Officer were walking toward the house.

"I knew right away," Arlene said. "I thought 'oh my.' All they told me was he was missing in action."

The Berdahl family received updates from the government on the search for David through letters, but it was never confirmed that anything was found or that anyone was rescued.

"It took a long time for me to find out that his remains would not be returning home," Arlene said.

Nearly three months later, in April 1972, the Berdahl family held a memorial service on behalf of David.

"It's hard to go to the cemetery-- and it's just the marker," Arlene said. "That's that hardest."

As a young man, David was known throughout the Minot community for always willing to assist others when needed. His disappearance during the Vietnam conflict affected everyone he surrounded himself with.

"It still very much affects me," Linda Seaman, David's sister said. "I never got over it and I never will, but I still want to bring him home."

Nearly 40 years later, the Berdahl family clings to the letters they exchanged, as well as a cassette tape he recorded while he was deployed.

"I thought maybe one day he would just come walking through the door," Arlene said. "I thought maybe he was just a prisoner and he would come walking through the door, but it's never happened."

The last dig at the coordinates where David's helicopter went down was conducted in 1997. Although pieces of the aircraft were discovered, no signs of David have been identified.

"I think somebody someday will find something," Seaman said. "It may be his remains or his dog tags, something so we can bring him home."

Family clings to missing son’s memory