John Hartley Robertson, presumed dead after a fiery helicopter crash 44 years ago, is apparently alive and well living in Vietnam according to a recently released Canadian documentary. The film, "Unclaimed," by Michael Jorgensen, follows Vietnam vet Tom Faunce as he attempts to find and identify Robertson.
Robertson's helicopter was shot down on a mission over Laos in 1968 and presumed dead. Today Robertson's name can be found on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, D.C., a remarkable feat for a man who is very much alive.
Faunce had heard a rumor about Robertson being alive and decided to track him down. Eventually Faunce succeeded and located Robertson in a remote village in Vietnam. According to a review of the film in The Globe and Mail Robertson no longer spoke English, only Vietnamese. His memory was also ravaged leaving him unable to remember simple facts such as his birthday or the names of his children, according to The Globe and Mail.
At first Jorgensen was reluctant to make a film about the story but was convinced that the story of Faunce was worth telling.
"The MIA story was pretty unbelievable, pretty grandiose," Jorgensen said. "I was very skeptical." What did intrigue Jorgensen was Faunce's desire to "go all the way in helping someone he didn't even know."
Eventually the filmmaker was able to set up a reunion between Robertson and his only remaining sibling, Jean Robertson-Holly.
"Jean says 'There's no question. I was certain it was him in the video, but when I held his head in my hands and looked in his eyes, there was no question that was my brother,'" Jorgensen told the Toronto Star.
Robertson has a wife and family that he has been with for the past 40 years in Vietnam and has chosen to remain there.
"At this point he is happier being back there, taking care of his wife, to whom he feels an incredible amount of loyalty, and their kids," Jorgensen said.
The trailer for "Unclaimed" can be seen below.
