Ben Danielson was raised in Kenyon, Minnesota. 

Danielson played football at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. 

While also attending St. Olaf, Danielson was in the Air Force ROTC and was presented his diploma and commission from U.S. Sen. Hubert Humphrey. 

Upon completion of college, Danielson married his high school sweetheart, Mary Gates, and they had their first and only child, Brian.

After completing flight training, Capt. Danielson was assigned to fly the F-4 Phantom as a fighter pilot.  He left for Cam Rahn Air Base, Vietnam for a one-year tour of duty. 

On Dec. 5, 1969, Captain Danielson was shot down over Laos during a combat mission.  He was seen and heard on the ground and commenced with the effort to rescue himself as well as his back seater, 1st Lt. Woody Bergeron. 

The subsequent search and rescue effort for "Boxer 22" (Capt. Danielson's call sign) was one of the largest airborne search and rescue missions in military history.

On the third day, after 15 separate attempts, one of which cost the life of a pararescueman, Ben Danielson's back seater, 1st Lt. Woody Bergeron, was successfully rescued.

Ben Danielson was not rescued. He was classified as "last known alive" and "Missing in Action," but his family and community held out hope that someone would find what happened to him someday.  

Through the efforts of many concerned supporters, organizations were created to resolve the cases of our missing men from wars.  Their ethos is "Until they are home."  Men and women from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency still deploy around the world to resolve the fate of our missing servicemen.

For 38 years, the family of Ben Danielson waited and wondered his fate.  And the towns of Kenyon and Wanamingo held out hope and remembered his sacrifice. 

In April of 2006, Capt. Danielson's son, then Lt. Cmdr. Brian Danielson, a Naval Aviator out of Washington was allowed to attend a "dig" for Maj. Ben Danielson's remains. Some basic information was discovered about a potential grave site. 

It was the first and only time a family member of an active MIA serviceman was allowed to participate in such an excavation. For 45 days, Lt. Cmdr. Danielson and 15 members from DPAA dug with their hands and searched for the remains of Ben Danielson, who was posthumously promoted to Major.

They braved unexploded bombs, and poisonous animals.

Unfortunately, nothing was found on the trip.  But the team completed various humanitarian functions, made friends, and came to a mutual respect and healing from a painful time.

Following the trip to Laos, Lt. Cmdr. Danielson was immediately ordered to Iraq for one of seven total tours. 

Upon return from his deployment, Brian Danielson was greeted with the news that a bone fragment and dog tags had been turned over to the DPAA organization. Through DNA analysis, the remains were found to match the DNA of Maj. Ben Danielson.

Maj. Danielson was brought home to the awaiting and loving arms of the family and communities that meant so much to him in a moving ceremony that has not been forgotten.

His memory is still alive through this great country and state because of the efforts of great people who never let us forget.

Attending Bud Grant's garage sale was a highlight of Brian Danielson's life! Bud, who is a Navy veteran, and Danielson "talked shop" for 30 minutes with Ben Danielson III.

The Danielson family members are life time Vikings fans. CDR Danielson participated in the flyby for the Vikings-Packers game.

Brian Danielson credits his support for the Vikings to be one of the key aspects of his life to help him through the tough years and is thankful for the purple pride. 

Cmdr. Brian Danielson urges others to remember those who are still missing or unaccounted for because "their sacrifice is the most hallowed of sacrifices," leaving a void that cannot be filled. The number of missing and unaccounted for totals are staggering — WWII: 73,113; Korea: 7,805; Vietnam: 1,618 — these service members are not forgotten.

Cmdr. Brian Danielson was joined by cousins, Lt. Nick Overby and Lt. Col. Steve Watson, as well as Meshell Herrick, niece of Capt. Jim Herrick, who is unaccounted for.