Alva Review-Courier -

MCALESTER, Okla. (AP) — Mike Land thought his friend Larry Van Ness died 48 years ago.

Land, a machine gunner during the Vietnam War, took leave in the spring of 1969 and said his goodbyes to his fellow soldiers serving alongside him, the McAlester News-Capital (http://bit.ly/2sNecPq ) reported. Van Ness was one of his closest friends during his first tour of duty. He was Land's section leader, often camped in a foxhole right next to Land and at the elder Van Ness was a role model to the 18-year-old Land.

"He was an old man already," Land said. "He was 22."

The pair hit it off immediately.

"We...