WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- The remains of the first American shot down in the 1991 Persian Gulf War have been uncovered , the U.S. Department of Defense announced Sunday . Navy Capt . Michael Speicher 's remains have been identified , the U.S. military announced Sunday . U.S. Navy Capt . Michael `` Scott '' Speicher was shot down in an F/A-18 Hornet on January 17 , 1991 , the first night of the war . The announcement early Sunday of the discovery of Speicher 's remains ends more than 18 years of speculation about whether Speicher may have survived the crash and been held captive , or died in captivity in the ensuing years . `` The news that Captain Speicher 's remains have been recovered is a reminder of the selfless service that led him to make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom , '' President Obama said in a statement . Watch : Naval aviator 's remains found » . `` I am grateful to the [ U.S. ] Marines who pursued the information that led to Captain Speicher 's recovery so that he can now come home . My thoughts and prayers are with his family , and I hope that the recovery of his remains will bring them a needed sense of closure , '' Obama said . Speicher 's family thanked the military in a statement Sunday , saying Speicher `` was a brave and wonderful father , husband , and naval officer who responded without hesitation when his country needed him . ... We thank the active duty men and women whose diligence has made this happen , and hope that this process has prevented another of our service men and women from being left behind . `` We will miss him , and will never forget . Thank you for your thoughts and prayers . '' An Iraqi civilian told U.S. forces in Iraq in early July about the location of the crash that killed Speicher , according to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus . U.S. Marines in Anbar province went to the site and spoke to another Iraqi who told them he witnessed Bedouins burying Speicher 's remains in the desert after the crash , the statement said . A search uncovered the remains , which were flown to Dover Air Base last week and positively identified as Speicher 's by the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology , the statement said . The remains included bones and skeletal fragments , and positive identification was made by comparing Speicher 's dental records with a jawbone recovered at the site , the statement said . `` We send our deepest condolences to the Speicher family for the sacrifice Captain Speicher made in the service of his country , '' the top U.S. commander in Iraq , Gen. Ray Odierno , said in a statement . `` Although we can not fully understand the sense of loss , or the pain his family has shouldered throughout the years of waiting , we hope they can find solace in his dignified and honorable return home . '' Speicher was a lieutenant commander when shot down , but because his status remained uncertain , he received promotions during the past 18 years , reaching the rank of captain . He was originally listed as `` Killed-in-Action/Body-Not-Recovered '' in May 1991 . That status changed in 2001 to `` Missing in Action , '' and then to `` Missing/Captured '' in 2002 , based on sighting reports in Iraq . Those sightings have since been discredited . His status was changed back to MIA earlier this year . `` All the evidence that we were getting seemed to suggest that Scott was alive and being held against his will , '' Nels Jensen of Little Rock , Arkansas , a high school friend of Speicher 's , told CNN . `` And you know , we never sent out a search and rescue party , and if we had ... none of this mess would probably have been necessary . '' In the six years that the United States has been in Iraq for its second war , all of the many leads and alleged sightings of Speicher have been investigated and found to be false . The Speicher family has worked closely with the Navy to ensure the hunt for him would not stop . `` We reiterate our commitment to find and account for all military members and civilians who have gone missing in the service of our nation , '' Odierno said in Sunday 's statement . `` We will not stop until all are found . '' CNN 's Barbara Starr contributed to this report .
Michael ` ` Scott '' Speicher was the first American shot down in Gulf war . Iraqis remembered seeing Bedouins bury his body in the desert . Comment: