BURIAL IS BITTERSWEET AFTER FAMILY'S LONG WAIT

After 21 years of separation underscored by worry and uncertainty, Lance Stephensen finally got to say: "Welcome home, Dad."

Lance met his father, Col. Mark L. Stephensen, this week in California, but the reunion was bittersweet."It was the toughest thing I've ever done in my life," said Lance, as he, family members and friends buried Col. Stephensen's remains Friday afternoon in Riverton City Cemetery.

The graveside services, conducted in the same neighborhood where Col. Stephensen was born and reared, came more than two decades after he disappeared during a Vietnam War reconnaissance flight in 1967, with his status and whereabouts unknown until just a few weeks ago.

Combining the solemnity of full military rites with the sacredness of religious services among friends, the burial ceremonies were belated but a welcome relief to a family that had wondered and worried for 21 years.

"The finality of this is very important to us all," said Lance. "It leaves nothing to guesswork. It has been our answer."

Col. Stephensen (then a major) was returning to his Thailand base shortly before midnight on April 27, 1967, after poor weather forced the cancellation of his 93rd reconnaissance mission.

The 36-year-old aircraft commander of the RF-4C Phantom jet and two-tour veteran was flying low to the ground to stay under the night's low cloud cover and avoid radar detection by several surface-to-air missile sites. Lt. Gary Sigler, the navigator and electronic weapons operator, reported that the Phantom was being detected on SAM radar, then glanced up to see an imminent collision with trees.

After a fruitless effort to pull the nose up and the subsequent initial impact, Sigler noticed instrument panels had burst into flames. Before ejecting, Sigler glanced over and noticed Col. Stephensen still in his cockpit seat.

Sigler became conscious some six hours later and eluded his captors for 36 hours before being taken as a prisoner-of-war. Before being released six years later, Sigler made repeated unsuccessful inquires of fellow prisoners about Col. Stephensen.

Sigler spoke during Friday's services, and his remarks were among the most moving of the service. After offering his tribute, Sigler consoled Col. Stephensen's widow, Vicki, in a lengthy embrace at the foot of the casket and grave.