From Apollo to Vietnam to the Stars: The Search For Major James White, Brother of Astronaut Ed White
Join the Explorers Club, on Monday, May 19th for a special Memorial Day presentation describing the multi-year effort to recover the remains of an American hero.
In November 1969, two years after the Apollo 1 tragedy claimed the life of Astronaut Ed White, his brother Major James White disappeared on a mission in Vietnam. At a special Memorial Day 2025 lecture hosted by the Explorers Club, representatives from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) will detail their multi-year effort to locate and recover the remains of Major White. DPAA, the U.S. government agency tasked with accounting for missing military personnel, will share insights into their scientific and humanitarian efforts. The lecture will highlight the 2018 reunion of the White brothers at their alma mater, West Point, in a final act of honor and remembrance.
This in-person event at the Explorers Club Headquarters will include an audience Q&A.
RESERVATIONS
This will be an in-person lecture at Explorers Club Headquarters.
In-person tickets are $20 for Members, and $35 for the General Public.
Check-in will begin at 6:00 pm, with a beer and wine reception from 6:00 – 7:00 pm
John Byrd
Dr. John Byrd is the Laboratory Director at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), where he leads the world’s largest forensic identification laboratory dedicated to recovering and identifying missing U.S. service members from past conflicts. Renowned internationally for his expertise in forensic science, Dr. Byrd oversees advanced DNA analysis and other identification methods, collaborates with partner nations, and frequently briefs officials and families on the agency’s progress. Under his leadership, the DPAA continues to advance its mission of bringing closure to families and honoring the sacrifice of the missing, guided by values of compassion, integrity, and teamwork.
