POW/MIA's of Vietnam

Name: CICHON, WALTER ALAN
Married Caucasian Male
Rank: SP/4 E4
Serial # 148384410 MOS: 11B40
Unit: A Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 08/28/46 (New York, NY)
Age at Time of Loss: 21
Home of Record: Farmingdale, NJ
Date of Loss: 03/30/68
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 142321N 1074322E (YA936924)
Status: Prisoner of War
Official Government Status: "Died while missing"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 47E Row: 009

SP/4 Walter A. Cichon was assigned to Company A, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam. On March 30, 1968, SP/4 Cichon was serving as a rifleman in a rifle company in Kontum Province, South Vietnam. His company came under enemy fire while attempting to seize a hill about 15 miles southwest of the city of Dak To. SP/4 Cichon received a head wound, was examined and left for dead as his unit was forced to withdraw under enemy pressure. A later body-recovery team located and extracted the bodies of the dead, but was unable to locate the body of Walter Cichon. On April 20, 1968, two NVA ralliers stated that they had heard from friends that their battalion had captured an American with a head wound on or about March 26. The ralliers gave a detailed description of the POW which closely matched SP/4 Cichon. The ralliers stated that the prisoner was taken to a hospital in the vicinity of the South Vietnam/Cambodia border area. During the period he was maintained prisoner of war, Walter Cichon was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

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Name: CLINE, CURTIS ROY
Single Caucasian Male
Rank: PFC E3
Serial # 378527855
MOS: 11B40
Unit: Company D, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 07/29/49 (Coldwater MI)
Age at Time of Loss: 20
Home of Record: Burlington, MI
Date of Loss: 09/18/69
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 142527N 1074950E (ZA048697)
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Died while missing"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 18W Row: 108

On September 18, 1969, PFC Cline was serving as a rifleman in company D, when his unit was attempting to make a river crossing in South Vietnam. (Note: State Department records list this loss in Pleiku Province as do JCRC records; however, Defense Department coordinates place the location on the Se San River in Kontum Province, about 15 miles north of Pleiku Province.) PFC Cline was the second man with combat gear to cross. When he reached a point about midstream, he got water in his mouth, and released the vine being used as a handhold. The swift current carried him a few meters downstream, where he caught hold of a safety line. In his attempt to release his rucksack and equipment, he began to splash vigorously, and seemed to be in a state of panic. Two members of the Platoon immediately entered the water in an attempt to reach him, but were unsuccessful. One of the men got caught in a whirlpool, and the other was within 10 meters of him when PFC. Cline went under water and was never seen again. Other members of the unit went downstream along the banks of the river, but lost sight of PFC. Cline. An extensive search was begun, including the use of observation helicopters and infantry troops. After one week, the search was terminated with no success.

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Name: CZERWIEC, RAYMOND GEORGE
Single Caucasian Male
Rank: SGT E5
Serial # 325367898 MOS: 11B40
Unit: Company A, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 02/21/44
Age at Time of Loss: 25
Home of Record: Chicago, IL
Date of Loss: 03/27/69
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 141913N 1073733E (YA826811)
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Died while missing"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 28W Row: 059

On March 27, 1969, Raymond Czerwiec and Gail Kerns were riflemen with A Company, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry and on a reconnaissance mission in Kontum Province, South Vietnam when their Platoon came under hostile weapons fire and were forced to withdraw with a number of people missing. An attempt to reenter the area that afternoon was unsuccessful. Another attempt was made on the 28th but it was also unsuccessful. Air strikes and artillery fire were placed into the enemy area for two days. On March 30, Company A attacked the enemy again, and was again forced to withdraw leaving people behind. Two Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRP) were sent back into the area a week later to recover the bodies of the missing. Sweeps were made of the area for two days, but no remains were found. On March 3, 1973, several 4th Infantry Division POWs were released by the North Vietnamese. One of these was Gail Kerns who was captured during this action. Kerns was not conscious when he was captured, and did not know the fate of Ray Czerwiec.

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Name: DELONG, JOE LYNN
Single Caucasian Male
Rank: PFC E3
Serial # 409847790
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 06/18/47
Age at Time of Loss: 19
Home of Record: McMinnville, TN
Date of Loss: 05/18/67
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 135013N 1073039E (YA713310)
Status: Prisoner of War
Official Government Status: "Died while captured"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 20E Row: 020

In the Spring of 1973, 591 American POWs were released from prisons and camps in Vietnam. Among them were six of a group of nine U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division personnel captured in and near Pleiku Province, South Vietnam during the year of 1967 whose lives had been intertwined for the past six years. All had belonged to that part of the IVY Division which was assigned to Task Force Oregon conducting border operations called Operation Sam Houston (Jan 1-Apr 5 '67) and Operation Francis Marion (Apr 5-Oct 12 '67). On February 17, 1967 WO1 David W. Sooter was the only man captured from a OH23 helicopter downed at the southeastern edge of Kontum Province near the edge of Pleiku Province, and near the Cambodian border. PFC Joe Lynn Delong was the machine gunner for his company, on a company sized patrol in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia on May 18, 1967. (Note: Most records list this loss as in SVN, and coordinates place it in the Ia Drang Valley, Pleiku Province near the Cambodian border, but U.S. Army casualty reports state that the loss was in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia.) While on patrol, his unit was hit by a Viet Cong force of unknown size and cut off from the rest of the company. Delong's Platoon formed a defensive perimeter and attempted to hold their position. Later that day, at about 1830 hours, Delong's Platoon position was overrun. The next morning, another unit reached his position, and was able to account for all platoon members except for Delong. It was later learned that Delong had been captured. Nearly two months later, on July 12, 1967, SP4 Martin S. Frank, PFC Nathan B. Henry, Sgt. Cordine McMurray, PFC Stanley A. Newell, PFC Richard R. Perricone, SP4 James F. Schiele and SP4 James L. Van Bendegom, all members of Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division were conducting a search and destroy mission along the Cambodian border when their position was overrun by the Viet Cong. With the exception of Schiele, all of the men were captured. The U.S. Army notes that Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by the North Vietnamese, while the others, apparently, were captured by Viet Cong. PFC Schiele was seen by his platoon leader as his unit was forced to withdraw, leaving him behind. He had been hit a number of times by automatic weapons fire in the legs and chest and was thought to be dead. PFC Perricone stated in his debrief upon return to the U.S. that the enemy camp commander of Camp 102 told him that SP4 Schiele had died of wounds received in the fire fight. However, since there was no positive proof of death, the U.S. Government placed Schiele in a MIA category. Classified information given to the Vietnamese by Gen. John Vessey in 1987, however, states that both Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by North Vietnamese. SP4 Van Bendegom was also wounded in the engagement, and was seen alive by other Americans Captured in the same battle about one week after his capture in a communist field hospital in Cambodia, not far from his capture location. One of the released Americans was later told by the North Vietnamese commanding officer at his prison camp in Cambodia that SP4 Van Bendegom had died of his wounds. Van Bendegom was categorized as a POW. The other seven Americans were held in prison camps on the Vietnam/Cambodia border for several months. Sooter, Perricone and Delong had attempted to escape from a border camp in Cambodia on 11/6/67 but were recaptured the same day. Two days later Sooter and Perricone were shown Delongs bullet riddled and blood soaked trousers and were told that Delong had been killed resisting recapture. Sooter, Frank, Henry, Perricone, McMurray, and Newell were all eleased in 1973.

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Name: FINLEY, DICKIE WAINE
Married Caucasian Male
Rank: PFC E3
Serial # 490506378
Unit: Headquarters & Headquarters Company 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 06/29/47
Age at Time of Loss: 21
Home of Record: Sweet Springs, MO
Date of Loss: 10/21/68
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 124615N 1075719E (ZV207135)
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Died while missing"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 40W Row: 011

On October 21, 1968, PFC Dickie Finley was the team leader of a 5 man Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) team operating in the vicinity of Ban Me Thuot in Darlac Province, South Vietnam. The unit was based at Kontum in South Vietnam. During the evening, PFC Finley reported enemy contact and after expending their ammunition, the team withdrew to a pickup zone to await a helicopter. The enemy had previously given a false report on their position and marked their location with red smoke. Finley radioed again for a pickup. The extraction helicopter hovered over a shallow pond and began loading the team members. Finley threw his rifle onboard and was helping three team members board the aircraft when it took off prematurely, leaving Finley behind. SP4 Ghahate was clinging to the skids until he fell off. In the darkness, it was not immediately known that all the team members were not aboard. One team member looked out and saw a man hanging on the helicopter landing skid. He signaled the pilot, but when he looked again, the man was gone. The pilot circled the area in search of the 2 missing men. The search was terminated after 30 minutes because of darkness. The following day a 3 day search was initiated by ground forces and helicopter units. The body of Ghahate was recovered. He had been wounded and it was believed that it was he who fell from the helicopter. No sign was found of Finley. The family was told by friends of Finley's that during the searches his Lieutenant went back and found a Bible and flashlight in the fork of a tree, indicating that some sort of marker had been placed for search teams. The Army reports no evidence of this in their files. Another account, given by Finley's wife states that Finley's strobe light was found wedged in the branch of a tree. Dickie W. Finley was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant during the period he was maintained as Missing in Action.

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Name: FRANK, MARTIN STANLEY
Rank: SGT E5
Serial #
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB:
Age at Time of Loss:
Home of Record:
Date of Loss: 07/12/67
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 134026N 1073809E (YA850131)
Status: Released Prisoner of War
Official Government Status: N/A

In the Spring of 1973, 591 American POWs were released from prisons and camps in Vietnam. Among them were six of a group of nine U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division personnel captured in and near Pleiku Province, South Vietnam during the year of 1967 whose lives had been intertwined for the past six years. All had belonged to that part of the IVY Division which was assigned to Task Force Oregon conducting border operations called Operation Sam Houston (Jan 1-Apr 5 '67) and Operation Francis Marion (Apr 5-Oct 12 '67). On February 17, 1967 WO1 David W. Sooter was the only man captured from a OH23 helicopter downed at the southeastern edge of Kontum Province near the edge of Pleiku Province, and near the Cambodian border. PFC Joe Lynn Delong was the machine gunner for his company, on a company sized patrol in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia on May 18, 1967. (Note: Most records list this loss as in SVN, and coordinates place it in the Ia Drang Valley, Pleiku Province near the Cambodian border, but U.S. Army casualty reports state that the loss was in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia.) While on patrol, his unit was hit by a Viet Cong force of unknown size and cut off from the rest of the company. Delong's Platoon formed a defensive perimeter and attempted to hold their position. Later that day, at about 1830 hours, Delong's Platoon position was overrun. The next morning, another unit reached his position, and was able to account for all platoon members except for Delong. It was later learned that Delong had been captured. Nearly two months later, on July 12, 1967, SP4 Martin S. Frank, PFC Nathan B. Henry, Sgt. Cordine McMurray, PFC Stanley A. Newell, PFC Richard R. Perricone, SP4 James F. Schiele and SP4 James L. Van Bendegom, all members of Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division were conducting a search and destroy mission along the Cambodian border when their position was overrun by the Viet Cong. With the exception of Schiele, all of the men were captured. The U.S. Army notes that Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by the North Vietnamese, while the others, apparently, were captured by Viet Cong. SP4 Schiele was seen by his platoon leader as his unit was forced to withdraw, leaving him behind. He had been hit a number of times by automatic weapons fire in the legs and chest and was thought to be dead. PFC Perricone stated in his debrief upon return to the U.S. that the enemy camp commander of Camp 102 told him that SP4 Schiele had died of wounds received in the fire fight. However, since there was no positive proof of death, the U.S. Government placed Schiele in a MIA category. Classified information given to the Vietnamese by Gen. John Vessey in 1987, however, states that both Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by North Vietnamese. SP4 Van Bendegom was also wounded in the engagement, and was seen alive by other Americans Captured in the same battle about one week after his capture in a communist field hospital in Cambodia, not far from his capture location. One of the released Americans was later told by the North Vietnamese commanding officer at his prison camp in Cambodia that SP4 Van Bendegom had died of his wounds. Van Bendegom was categorized as a POW. The other seven Americans were held in prison camps on the Vietnam/Cambodia border for several months. Sooter, Perricone and Delong had attempted to escape from a border camp in Cambodia on 11/6/67 but were recaptured the same day. Two days later Sooter and Perricone were shown Delongs bullet riddled and blood soaked trousers and were told that Delong had been killed resisting recapture. Sooter, Frank, Henry, Perricone, McMurray, and Newell were all released in 1973.

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Name: GAUTHIER, DENNIS LEE
Single Caucasian Male
Rank: PFC E3
Serial # 373548696
Unit: Company C, 3RD Battalion, 12TH Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 08/08/49
Age at Time of Loss:20
Home of Record: ROCHESTER, MI
Date of Loss: 10/31/69
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 140656N 1074341E
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Missing in Action"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 16W Row: 008

PFC Dennis L. Gauthier was with Army ground forces operating in Plekiu, South Vietnam on October 31, 1969. He was serving as a rifleman when his company was attempting to withdraw from an ambush. PFC Gauthier's platoon was sent up the hill to provide covering fire for the withdrawing company. The platoon began receiving fire and engaged in a firefight with the enemy. PFC Gauthier was wounded in the leg, and another platoon member was also hit. Neither man could be immediately evacuated. PFC Gauthier hid behind a log while the other members of his platoon advanced. Not until November 2nd was a reconnaissance platoon able to search the area. This platoon found and recovered the body of the other soldier who had been hit, but found no trace of PFC Gauthier nor any of his personal effects.

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Name: GIAMMERINO, VINCENT FRANK
Single Caucasian Male
Rank: PFC E3
Serial # 101367835
Unit: Company C, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 04/13/47
Age at Time of Loss: 21
Home of Record: New York, NY
Date of Loss: 06/27/68
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 135131N 1081926E
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Died while missing"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 54W Row: 007

PFC Vincent Giammerino was a rifleman on a Bomb Damage Assessment (BDA) patrol in the Pleiku area of South Vietnam. Giammerino had departed on patrol and the unit was going to an area where they had previously encountered enemy contact. Shortly after the patrol began, it was discovered that Giammerino was not with his unit, nor could he be located. No enemy contact had been made during the patrol, but the possibility he was killed by a concealed enemy was considered, as was the possibility of his capture, and also that he simply was lost. Thorough searches were made of the area for the next 2 days without results. On the second day, an aircraft was employed using a loud speaker system, but Giammerino (nor any body) was ever found. Giammerino was classified Missing in Action.

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Name: GOFF JR., KENNETH BRADFORD

Rank: 1LT/02
Serial # 101367835
Unit: 4th Replacement Detachment 4th Infantry Division I field Force
DOB: 03/09/43
Age at Time of Loss:
Home of Record: Providence, RI
Date of Loss: 08/24/67
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 141813N 1075140E (ZA087831)
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status:
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 25E, Row 038

Note: Although lost on August 24, 1967, Kenneth Bradford Goff Jr. was declared a Non-hostile casualty, died missing, body not recovered, on March 13, 1978 by the United States Government. His name is posted on The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in our nation's Capitol, as CPT Kenneth B Goff Jr, on Panel 25E, Row 038. At some point he was "administratively promoted" to this rank.

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Name: HENRY, NATHAN BARNEY
Serial #
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB:
Age at Time of Loss:
Home of Record: Franklin, NC
Date of Loss: 07/12/67
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 134026N 1073809E (YA850131)
Status: Released Prisoner of War
Official Government Status: N/A

In the Spring of 1973, 591 American POWs were released from prisons and camps in Vietnam. Among them were six of a group of nine U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division personnel captured in and near Pleiku Province, South Vietnam during the year of 1967 whose lives had been intertwined for the past six years. All had belonged to that part of the IVY Division which was assigned to Task Force Oregon conducting border operations called Operation Sam Houston (Jan 1-Apr 5 '67) and Operation Francis Marion (Apr 5-Oct 12 '67). On February 17, 1967 WO1 David W. Sooter was the only man captured from a OH23 helicopter downed at the southeastern edge of Kontum Province near the edge of Pleiku Province, and near the Cambodian border. PFC Joe Lynn Delong was the machine gunner for his company, on a company sized patrol in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia on May 18, 1967. (Note: Most records list this loss as in SVN, and coordinates place it in the Ia Drang Valley, Pleiku Province near the Cambodian border, but U.S. Army casualty reports state that the loss was in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia.) While on patrol, his unit was hit by a Viet Cong force of unknown size and cut off from the rest of the company. Delong's Platoon formed a defensive perimeter and attempted to hold their position. Later that day, at about 1830 hours, Delong's Platoon position was overrun. The next morning, another unit reached his position, and was able to account for all platoon members except for Delong. It was later learned that Delong had been captured. Nearly two months later, on July 12, 1967, SP4 Martin S. Frank, PFC Nathan B. Henry, Sgt. Cordine McMurray, PFC Stanley A. Newell, PFC Richard R. Perricone, SP4 James F. Schiele and SP4 James L. Van Bendegom, all members of Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division were conducting a search and destroy mission along the Cambodian border when their position was overrun by the Viet Cong. With the exception of Schiele, all of the men were captured. The U.S. Army notes that Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by the North Vietnamese, while the others, apparently, were captured by Viet Cong. SP4 Schiele was seen by his platoon leader as his unit was forced to withdraw, leaving him behind. He had been hit a number of times by automatic weapons fire in the legs and chest and was thought to be dead. PFC Perricone stated in his debrief upon return to the U.S. that the enemy camp commander of Camp 102 told him that SP4 Schiele had died of wounds received in the fire fight. However, since there was no positive proof of death, the U.S. Government placed Schiele in a MIA category. Classified information given to the Vietnamese by Gen. John Vessey in 1987, however, states that both Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by North Vietnamese. SP4 Van Bendegom was also wounded in the engagement, and was seen alive by other Americans Captured in the same battle about one week after his capture in a communist field hospital in Cambodia, not far from his capture location. One of the released Americans was later told by the North Vietnamese commanding officer at his prison camp in Cambodia that SP4 Van Bendegom had died of his wounds. Van Bendegom was categorized as a POW. The other seven Americans were held in prison camps on the Vietnam/Cambodia border for several months. Sooter, Perricone and Delong had attempted to escape from a border camp in Cambodia on 11/6/67 but were recaptured the same day. Two days later Sooter and Perricone were shown Delongs bullet riddled and blood soaked trousers and were told that Delong had been killed resisting recapture. Sooter, Frank, Henry, Perricone, McMurray, and Newell were all released in 1973.

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Name: HERRERA, FREDERICK DANIEL
Single Caucasian Male
Rank: PFC E3
Serial # 585320923
MOS:
Unit: B Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 08/07/49
Age at Time of Loss: 19
Home of Record: Albuquerque, NM
Date of Loss: 03/25/69
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 144018N 1073621E (YB805235)
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Died while missing"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 28W Row: 036

On March 25, 1969, PFC Prentice W. Hicks, PFC Frederick D. Herrera and PFC Richard D. Roberts were riflemen on a road interdiction mission northwest of the city of Kontum, South Vietnam. On March 24, their unit had been in contact with an unknown sized enemy force, and at that time, PFC Hicks had been wounded several times. The unit was ordered to pull back, and PFC Hicks was placed on a litter and carried out of the area for evacuation. As the unit was moving toward high ground, they again came in contact with the enemy. At that time, PFC Roberts was the point man. During the contact, the unit began to move in a disorderly fashion back down the hill, and during that period, PFCs Hicks, Herrera and Roberts were separated from the main element. It is believed that PFC Herrera and Roberts had stayed behind with PFC Hicks. This was the last time they were seen. At that time, neither Herrera or Roberts were injured. During a search of the area on April 5, a reconnaissance team found some letters belonging to PFC HIcks, along with the cover from a Bible belonging to PFC Herrera, but there was no sign of the three missing men. The three men had disappeared, and , given the enemy situation in the area, it is entirely possible that they were captured. They were declared Missing in Action. Later hearings were held to declare them dead, although no evidence was ever received that the three died.

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Name: HICKS, PRENTICE WAYNE
Single Caucasian Male
Rank: PFC E3
Serial # 416623614
MOS:
Unit: B Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 10/11/47
Age at Time of Loss: 21
Home of Record: Huntsville, AL
Date of Loss: 03/25/69
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 144018N 1073621E (YB805235)
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Died while missing"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 28W Row: 037

On March 25, 1969, PFC Prentice W. Hicks, PFC Frederick D. Herrera and PFC Richard D. Roberts were riflemen on a road interdiction mission northwest of the city of Kontum, South Vietnam. On March 24, their unit had been in contact with an unknown sized enemy force, and at that time, PFC Hicks had been wounded several times. The unit was ordered to pull back, and PFC Hicks was placed on a litter and carried out of the area for evacuation. As the unit was moving toward high ground, they again came in contact with the enemy. At that time, PFC Roberts was the point man. During the contact, the unit began to move in a disorderly fashion back down the hill, and during that period, PFCs Hicks, Herrera and Roberts were separated from the main element. It is believed that PFC Herrera and Roberts had stayed behind with PFC Hicks. This was the last time they were seen. At that time, neither Herrera or Roberts were injured. During a search of the area on April 5, a reconnaissance team found some letters belonging to PFC HIcks, along with the cover from a Bible belonging to PFC Herrera, but there was no sign of the three missing men. The three men had disappeared, and , given the enemy situation in the area, it is entirely possible that they were captured. They were declared Missing in Action. Later hearings were held to declare them dead, although no evidence was ever received that the three died.

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Name: JOHNSON, WILLIAM DARRELL
Single Caucasian Male
Rank: PFC E3
Serial # 240744647
MOS:
Unit: 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 12/24/46
Age at Time of Loss: 21
Home of Record: Rocky Mount, NC
Date of Loss: 01/19/68
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 144324N 1074020E (YB876293)
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Died while missing"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 34E Row: 077

The last time anyone saw PFC Darrell Johnson was on January 19, 1968, in the tri border area of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. He was about 10 miles west of Dak To in Kontum Province, South Vietnam. His company sized group was ambushed by North Vietnamese regulars and nearly overrun. During the withdrawal, Darrell's platoon was assigned cover. While working their way back to their firebase, Darrell, as a pointman, went into a ravine to investigate an English speaking voice and never returned. Five other members of his platoon also disappeared during the withdrawal. A subsequent search of the battle area turned up the bodies of the five men, but no trace of Darrell was found. Nothing has been heard from him since that day.

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Name: KERNS, GAIL MASON
Rank: Sgt E5
Serial # 325367898 MOS: 11B40
Unit: Company A, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB:
Age at Time of Loss:
Home of Record:
Date of Loss: 03/27/69
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 141913N 1073733E (YA826811)
Status: Released Prisoner of War
Official Government Status: N/A

On March 27, 1969, Raymond Czerwiec and Gail Kerns were riflemen with A Company, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry and on a reconnaissance mission in Kontum Province, South Vietnam when their Platoon came under hostile weapons fire and were forced to withdraw with a number of people missing. An attempt to reenter the area that afternoon was unsuccessful. Another attempt was made on the 28th but it was also unsuccessful. Air strikes and artillery fire were placed into the enemy area for two days. On March 30, Company A attacked the enemy again, and was again forced to withdraw leaving people behind, including SP4 Clarence A. Latimer, who was a rifleman with the company and had been severely wounded during the attempt. Two Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRP) were sent back into the area a week later to recover the bodies of the missing. Sweeps were made of the area for two days, but no remains were found. On March 3, 1973, Gail Kerns was released by the North Vietnamese. He had been held in South Vietnam, and moved to Hanoi prior to his release. No word had ever gotten out to the U.S. that Gail had been captured. Kerns was not conscious when he was captured, and did not know the fate of Ray Czerwiec, nor did he have any information regarding Clarence Latimer.

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Name: LATIMER, CLARENCE ALBERT
Rank: SP4 E4
Serial #298677077
MOS:
Unit: Company A, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 08/27/47
Age at Time of Loss: 21
Home of Record: Due West, SC
Date of Loss: 03/30/69
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 141725N 1073715E (YA826811)
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Died while missing"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 28W Row: 091

On March 27, 1969, Raymond Czerwiec and Gail Kerns were riflemen with A Company, 3rd Battalion, 12th Infantry and on a reconnaissance mission in Kontum Province, South Vietnam when their Platoon came under hostile weapons fire and were forced to withdraw with a number of people missing. An attempt to reenter the area that afternoon was unsuccessful. Another attempt was made on the 28th but it was also unsuccessful. Air strikes and artillery fire were placed into the enemy area for two days. On March 30, Company A attacked the enemy again, and was again forced to withdraw leaving people behind, including SP4 Clarence A. Latimer, who was a rifleman with the company and had been severely wounded during the attempt. Two Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRP) were sent back into the area a week later to recover the bodies of the missing. Sweeps were made of the area for two days, but no remains were found. On March 3, 1973, Gail Kerns was released by the North Vietnamese. He had been held in South Vietnam, and moved to Hanoi prior to his release. No word had ever gotten out to the U.S. that Gail had been captured. Kerns was not conscious when he was captured, and did not know the fate of Ray Czerwiec, nor did he have any information regarding Clarence Latimer.

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Name: MCMURRAY, CORDINE
Rank: SGT E5
Serial #
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB:
Age at Time:
Home of Record:
Date of Loss: 07/12/67
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 134026N 1073809E (YA850131)
Status: Released Prisoner of War
Official Government Status: N/A

In the Spring of 1973, 591 American POWs were released from prisons and camps in Vietnam. Among them were six of a group of nine U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division personnel captured in and near Pleiku Province, South Vietnam during the year of 1967 whose lives had been intertwined for the past six years. All had belonged to that part of the IVY Division which was assigned to Task Force Oregon conducting border operations called Operation Sam Houston (Jan 1-Apr 5 '67) and Operation Francis Marion (Apr 5-Oct 12 '67). On February 17, 1967 WO1 David W. Sooter was the only man captured from a OH23 helicopter downed at the southeastern edge of Kontum Province near the edge of Pleiku Province, and near the Cambodian border. PFC Joe Lynn Delong was the machine gunner for his company, on a company sized patrol in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia on May 18, 1967. (Note: Most records list this loss as in SVN, and coordinates place it in the Ia Drang Valley, Pleiku Province near the Cambodian border, but U.S. Army casualty reports state that the loss was in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia.) While on patrol, his unit was hit by a Viet Cong force of unknown size and cut off from the rest of the company. Delong's Platoon formed a defensive perimeter and attempted to hold their position. Later that day, at about 1830 hours, Delong's Platoon position was overrun. The next morning, another unit reached his position, and was able to account for all platoon members except for Delong. It was later learned that Delong had been captured. Nearly two months later, on July 12, 1967, SP4 Martin S. Frank, PFC Nathan B. Henry, Sgt. Cordine McMurray, PFC Stanley A. Newell, PFC Richard R. Perricone, SP4 James F. Schiele and SP4 James L. Van Bendegom, all members of Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division were conducting a search and destroy mission along the Cambodian border when their position was overrun by the Viet Cong. With the exception of Schiele, all of the men were captured. The U.S. Army notes that Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by the North Vietnamese, while the others, apparently, were captured by Viet Cong. SP4 Schiele was seen by his platoon leader as his unit was forced to withdraw, leaving him behind. He had been hit a number of times by automatic weapons fire in the legs and chest and was thought to be dead. PFC Perricone stated in his debrief upon return to the U.S. that the enemy camp commander of Camp 102 told him that SP4 Schiele had died of wounds received in the fire fight. However, since there was no positive proof of death, the U.S. Government placed Schiele in a MIA category. Classified information given to the Vietnamese by Gen. John Vessey in 1987, however, states that both Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by North Vietnamese. SP4 Van Bendegom was also wounded in the engagement, and was seen alive by other Americans Captured in the same battle about one week after his capture in a communist field hospital in Cambodia, not far from his capture location. One of the released Americans was later told by the North Vietnamese commanding officer at his prison camp in Cambodia that SP4 Van Bendegom had died of his wounds. Van Bendegom was categorized as a POW. The other seven Americans were held in prison camps on the Vietnam/Cambodia border for several months. Sooter, Perricone and Delong had attempted to escape from a border camp in Cambodia on 11/6/67 but were recaptured the same day. Two days later Sooter and Perricone were shown Delongs bullet riddled and blood soaked trousers and were told that Delong had been killed resisting recapture. Sooter, Frank, Henry, Perricone, McMurray, and Newell were all released in 1973.

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Name: NEWELL, STANLEY ARTHUR
Rank: PFC E3
Serial #
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB:
Age at Time of Loss:
Home of Record: Pekin, IL
Date of Loss: 07/12/67
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 134026N 1073809E (YA850131)
Status: Released Prisoner of War
Official Government Status: N/A

In the Spring of 1973, 591 American POWs were released from prisons and camps in Vietnam. Among them were six of a group of nine U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division personnel captured in and near Pleiku Province, South Vietnam during the year of 1967 whose lives had been intertwined for the past six years. All had belonged to that part of the IVY Division which was assigned to Task Force Oregon conducting border operations called Operation Sam Houston (Jan 1-Apr 5 '67) and Operation Francis Marion (Apr 5-Oct 12 '67). On February 17, 1967 WO1 David W. Sooter was the only man captured from a OH23 helicopter downed at the southeastern edge of Kontum Province near the edge of Pleiku Province, and near the Cambodian border. PFC Joe Lynn Delong was the machine gunner for his company, on a company sized patrol in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia on May 18, 1967. (Note: Most records list this loss as in SVN, and coordinates place it in the Ia Drang Valley, Pleiku Province near the Cambodian border, but U.S. Army casualty reports state that the loss was in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia.) While on patrol, his unit was hit by a Viet Cong force of unknown size and cut off from the rest of the company. Delong's Platoon formed a defensive perimeter and attempted to hold their position. Later that day, at about 1830 hours, Delong's Platoon position was overrun. The next morning, another unit reached his position, and was able to account for all platoon members except for Delong. It was later learned that Delong had been captured. Nearly two months later, on July 12, 1967, SP4 Martin S. Frank, PFC Nathan B. Henry, Sgt. Cordine McMurray, PFC Stanley A. Newell, PFC Richard R. Perricone, SP4 James F. Schiele and SP4 James L. Van Bendegom, all members of Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division were conducting a search and destroy mission along the Cambodian border when their position was overrun by the Viet Cong. With the exception of Schiele, all of the men were captured. The U.S. Army notes that Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by the North Vietnamese, while the others, apparently, were captured by Viet Cong. SP4 Schiele was seen by his platoon leader as his unit was forced to withdraw, leaving him behind. He had been hit a number of times by automatic weapons fire in the legs and chest and was thought to be dead. PFC Perricone stated in his debrief upon return to the U.S. that the enemy camp commander of Camp 102 told him that SP4 Schiele had died of wounds received in the fire fight. However, since there was no positive proof of death, the U.S. Government placed Schiele in a MIA category. Classified information given to the Vietnamese by Gen. John Vessey in 1987, however, states that both Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by North Vietnamese. SP4 Van Bendegom was also wounded in the engagement, and was seen alive by other Americans Captured in the same battle about one week after his capture in a communist field hospital in Cambodia, not far from his capture location. One of the released Americans was later told by the North Vietnamese commanding officer at his prison camp in Cambodia that SP4 Van Bendegom had died of his wounds. Van Bendegom was categorized as a POW. The other seven Americans were held in prison camps on the Vietnam/Cambodia border for several months. Sooter, Perricone and Delong had attempted to escape from a border camp in Cambodia on 11/6/67 but were recaptured the same day. Two days later Sooter and Perricone were shown Delongs bullet riddled and blood soaked trousers and were told that Delong had been killed resisting recapture. Sooter, Frank, Henry, Perricone, McMurray, and Newell were all released in 1973.

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Name: PERRICONE, RICHARD ROBERT
Rank: PFC E3
Serial #
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB:
Age at Time of Loss:
Home of Record: Uniondale, NY
Date of Loss: 07/12/67
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 134026N 1073809E (YA850131)
Status: Released Prisoner of War
Official Government Status: N/A

In the Spring of 1973, 591 American POWs were released from prisons and camps in Vietnam. Among them were six of a group of nine U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division personnel captured in and near Pleiku Province, South Vietnam during the year of 1967 whose lives had been intertwined for the past six years. All had belonged to that part of the IVY Division which was assigned to Task Force Oregon conducting border operations called Operation Sam Houston (Jan 1-Apr 5 '67) and Operation Francis Marion (Apr 5-Oct 12 '67). On February 17, 1967 WO1 David W. Sooter was the only man captured from a OH23 helicopter downed at the southeastern edge of Kontum Province near the edge of Pleiku Province, and near the Cambodian border. PFC Joe Lynn Delong was the machine gunner for his company, on a company sized patrol in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia on May 18, 1967. (Note: Most records list this loss as in SVN, and coordinates place it in the Ia Drang Valley, Pleiku Province near the Cambodian border, but U.S. Army casualty reports state that the loss was in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia.) While on patrol, his unit was hit by a Viet Cong force of unknown size and cut off from the rest of the company. Delong's Platoon formed a defensive perimeter and attempted to hold their position. Later that day, at about 1830 hours, Delong's Platoon position was overrun. The next morning, another unit reached his position, and was able to account for all platoon members except for Delong. It was later learned that Delong had been captured. Nearly two months later, on July 12, 1967, SP4 Martin S. Frank, PFC Nathan B. Henry, Sgt. Cordine McMurray, PFC Stanley A. Newell, PFC Richard R. Perricone, SP4 James F. Schiele and SP4 James L. Van Bendegom, all members of Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division were conducting a search and destroy mission along the Cambodian border when their position was overrun by the Viet Cong. With the exception of Schiele, all of the men were captured. The U.S. Army notes that Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by the North Vietnamese, while the others, apparently, were captured by Viet Cong. SP4 Schiele was seen by his platoon leader as his unit was forced to withdraw, leaving him behind. He had been hit a number of times by automatic weapons fire in the legs and chest and was thought to be dead. PFC Perricone stated in his debrief upon return to the U.S. that the enemy camp commander of Camp 102 told him that SP4 Schiele had died of wounds received in the fire fight. However, since there was no positive proof of death, the U.S. Government placed Schiele in a MIA category. Classified information given to the Vietnamese by Gen. John Vessey in 1987, however, states that both Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by North Vietnamese. SP4 Van Bendegom was also wounded in the engagement, and was seen alive by other Americans Captured in the same battle about one week after his capture in a communist field hospital in Cambodia, not far from his capture location. One of the released Americans was later told by the North Vietnamese commanding officer at his prison camp in Cambodia that SP4 Van Bendegom had died of his wounds. Van Bendegom was categorized as a POW. The other seven Americans were held in prison camps on the Vietnam/Cambodia border for several months. Sooter, Perricone and Delong had attempted to escape from a border camp in Cambodia on 11/6/67 but were recaptured the same day. Two days later Sooter and Perricone were shown Delongs bullet riddled and blood soaked trousers and were told that Delong had been killed resisting recapture. Sooter, Frank, Henry, Perricone, McMurray, and Newell were all released in 1973.

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Name: ROBERTS, RICHARD DEAN
Married Caucasian Male
Rank: PFC E3
Serial # 585320923
MOS:
Unit: B Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 04/30/48
Age at Time of Loss: 20
Home of Record: Albuquerque, NM
Date of Loss: 03/25/69
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 144018N 1073621E (YB805235)
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Died while missing"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 28W Row: 040

On March 25, 1969, PFC Prentice W. Hicks, PFC Frederick D. Herrera and PFC Richard D. Roberts were riflemen on a road interdiction mission northwest of the city of Kontum, South Vietnam. On March 24, their unit had been in contact with an unknown sized enemy force, and at that time, PFC Hicks had been wounded several times. The unit was ordered to pull back, and PFC Hicks was placed on a litter and carried out of the area for evacuation. As the unit was moving toward high ground, they again came in contact with the enemy. At that time, PFC Roberts was the point man. During the contact, the unit began to move in a disorderly fashion back down the hill, and during that period, PFCs Hicks, Herrera and Roberts were separated from the main element. It is believed that PFC Herrera and Roberts had stayed behind with PFC Hicks. This was the last time they were seen. At that time, neither Herrera or Roberts were injured. During a search of the area on April 5, a reconnaissance team found some letters belonging to PFC HIcks, along with the cover from a Bible belonging to PFC Herrera, but there was no sign of the three missing men. The three men had disappeared, and , given the enemy situation in the area, it is entirely possible that they were captured. They were declared Missing in Action. Later hearings were held to declare them dead, although no evidence was ever received that the three died.

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Name: ROBINSON, FLOYD HENRY
Single Caucasian Male
Rank: SGT E5
Serial # 509466564 MOS: 11B40
Unit: E Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 01/28/49
Age at Time of Loss: 20
Home of Record: Burlington, KS
Date of Loss: 03/12/69
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 143822N 1073903E
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Died while missing"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 29W Row: 023

On March 12, 1969, Sgt. Floyd H. Robinson was serving as pointman for a 5-man reconnaissance team of a rifle company. The team was operating in Kontum Province, South Vietnam, about 10 miles west-northwest of the city of Dak To. During the mission, the team became engaged in a heavy fire fight in the late afternoon. At that time, Robinson and two other team members were separated from the team leader and his assistant. The three men began to escape and evade in a heavily congested area. They continued to evade until 1700 hours. On March 14, they had crossed a stream and had moved south where they were ambushed by a squad sized element of communist soldiers. The three men returned fire and were able to break contact. Robinson proceeded north on a trail, while the other men sought to find cover in the thick brush. That was the last time Robinson was seen alive. The two other men continued to evade and were eventually returned to friendly forces. Company sized operations were conducted in the area in which Robinson was last seen for two weeks after the loss without a sign of Robinson. He was classified as Missing in Action.

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Name:  SCHELL, RICHARD JOHN

Rank: O3/US Army
Serial #
Unit: HHC, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 08/26/44
Age at Time of Loss:
Home of Record: Wabasha, MN
Date of Loss: 08/24/67
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 141813N 1075140E (ZA087831)
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Non-hostile casualty"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 25E, Row 040

Note: Although lost on August 24, 1967, Richard John Schell was declared a Non-hostile casualty, died missing, body not recovered, on July 5, 1977 by the United States Government. His name is posted on The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in our nation's Capitol, as MAJ Richard John Schell, on Panel 25E, Row 040. At some point he was "administratively promoted" to this rank.

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Name: SCHIELE, JAMES FRANCIS
Single Caucasian Male
Rank: SP4 E4
Serial # 520521563
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 10/11/46
Age at Time of Loss: 20
Home of Record: Granger, UT
Date of Loss: 07/12/67
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 134026N 1073809E (YA850131)
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Died while missing"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 23E Row: 065

In the Spring of 1973, 591 American POWs were released from prisons and camps in Vietnam. Among them were six of a group of nine U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division personnel captured in and near Pleiku Province, South Vietnam during the year of 1967 whose lives had been intertwined for the past six years. All had belonged to that part of the IVY Division which was assigned to Task Force Oregon conducting border operations called Operation Sam Houston (Jan 1-Apr 5 '67) and Operation Francis Marion (Apr 5-Oct 12 '67). On February 17, 1967 WO1 David W. Sooter was the only man captured from a OH23 helicopter downed at the southeastern edge of Kontum Province near the edge of Pleiku Province, and near the Cambodian border. PFC Joe Lynn Delong was the machine gunner for his company, on a company sized patrol in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia on May 18, 1967. (Note: Most records list this loss as in SVN, and coordinates place it in the Ia Drang Valley, Pleiku Province near the Cambodian border, but U.S. Army casualty reports state that the loss was in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia.) While on patrol, his unit was hit by a Viet Cong force of unknown size and cut off from the rest of the company. Delong's Platoon formed a defensive perimeter and attempted to hold their position. Later that day, at about 1830 hours, Delong's Platoon position was overrun. The next morning, another unit reached his position, and was able to account for all platoon members except for Delong. It was later learned that Delong had been captured. Nearly two months later, on July 12, 1967, SP4 Martin S. Frank, PFC Nathan B. Henry, Sgt. Cordine McMurray, PFC Stanley A. Newell, PFC Richard R. Perricone, SP4 James F. Schiele and SP4 James L. Van Bendegom, all members of Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division were conducting a search and destroy mission along the Cambodian border when their position was overrun by the Viet Cong. With the exception of Schiele, all of the men were captured. The U.S. Army notes that Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by the North Vietnamese, while the others, apparently, were captured by Viet Cong. SP4 Schiele was seen by his platoon leader as his unit was forced to withdraw, leaving him behind. He had been hit a number of times by automatic weapons fire in the legs and chest and was thought to be dead. PFC Perricone stated in his debrief upon return to the U.S. that the enemy camp commander of Camp 102 told him that SP4 Schiele had died of wounds received in the fire fight. However, since there was no positive proof of death, the U.S. Government placed Schiele in a MIA category. Classified information given to the Vietnamese by Gen. John Vessey in 1987, however, states that both Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by North Vietnamese. SP4 Van Bendegom was also wounded in the engagement, and was seen alive by other Americans Captured in the same battle about one week after his capture in a communist field hospital in Cambodia, not far from his capture location. One of the released Americans was later told by the North Vietnamese commanding officer at his prison camp in Cambodia that SP4 Van Bendegom had died of his wounds. Van Bendegom was categorized as a POW. The other seven Americans were held in prison camps on the Vietnam/Cambodia border for several months. Sooter, Perricone and Delong had attempted to escape from a border camp in Cambodia on 11/6/67 but were recaptured the same day. Two days later Sooter and Perricone were shown Delongs bullet riddled and blood soaked trousers and were told that Delong had been killed resisting recapture. Sooter, Frank, Henry, Perricone, McMurray, and Newell were all released in 1973.

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Name: SMITH, WILLIAM MARK
Single Caucasian Male
Rank: PFC E3
Serial # 24425114
Unit: Company B, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 04/02/49
Age at Time of Loss: 19
Home of Record: Middleboro, MA
Date of Loss: 03/03/69
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 142028N 1073610E (YA777848)
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Died while captured"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 30W Row: 032

PFC William M. Smith was a rifleman from company B, 3rd Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. On March 3, 1969, his unit was located in Kontum Province, South Vietnam about 25 miles east of the city of Kontum. Elements of the 4th Infantry Division were on their way to rejoin the main body when Smith fell down an embankment. Members of the column in which Smith was located went down to find him, but before they could locate him, someone shouted that PFC Smith had rejoined the head of the column. It was not until later that it was determined that Smith was missing. A patrol doubled back to look for him in the area where he fell down the embankment, but he was not found. Smith was declared Missing in Action. In 1973 591 American Prisoners of War were released from communist prison camps and two of them reported that Smith had been captured by the Vietnamese, and killed on the trail to North Vietnam. Although no Americans witnessed the murder, one of the North Vietnamese medics told the two prisoners that Smith had died on the trail. No information had been received regarding Smith's fate from the time he was missing until the spring of 1973. The Vietnamese also listed Smith as having died in captivity, although they have never returned his remains. Several other returnees reported in their debriefings that Smith was being taken by a Viet Cong prison guard to a latrine. The POWs heard him shout, and were later told by prison guards that he fell and hit his head and died. None of these POWs actually witnessed Smith's death, but the statements were considered sufficient to have concluded the evidence of death.

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Name: SOOTER, DAVID WILLIAM
Rank: Warrant Officer 1
Serial #
Unit: D Troop, 1/10th Cavalry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB:
Age at Time of Loss:
Home of Record: Vallejo, CA
Date of Loss: 02/17/67
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 140522N 1072245E (YA568588)
Status: Released Prisoner of War
Official Government Status: N/A

In the Spring of 1973, 591 American POWs were released from prisons and camps in Vietnam. Among them were six of a group of nine U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division personnel captured in and near Pleiku Province, South Vietnam during the year of 1967 whose lives had been intertwined for the past six years. All had belonged to that part of the IVY Division which was assigned to Task Force Oregon conducting border operations called Operation Sam Houston (Jan 1-Apr 5 '67) and Operation Francis Marion (Apr 5-Oct 12 '67). On February 17, 1967 WO1 David W. Sooter was the only man captured from a OH23 helicopter downed at the southeastern edge of Kontum Province near the edge of Pleiku Province, and near the Cambodian border. PFC Joe Lynn Delong was the machine gunner for his company, on a company sized patrol in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia on May 18, 1967. (Note: Most records list this loss as in SVN, and coordinates place it in the Ia Drang Valley, Pleiku Province near the Cambodian border, but U.S. Army casualty reports state that the loss was in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia.) While on patrol, his unit was hit by a Viet Cong force of unknown size and cut off from the rest of the company. Delong's Platoon formed a defensive perimeter and attempted to hold their position. Later that day, at about 1830 hours, Delong's Platoon position was overrun. The next morning, another unit reached his position, and was able to account for all platoon members except for Delong. It was later learned that Delong had been captured. Nearly two months later, on July 12, 1967, SP4 Martin S. Frank, PFC Nathan B. Henry, Sgt. Cordine McMurray, PFC Stanley A. Newell, PFC Richard R. Perricone, SP4 James F. Schiele and SP4 James L. Van Bendegom, all members of Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division were conducting a search and destroy mission along the Cambodian border when their position was overrun by the Viet Cong. With the exception of Schiele, all of the men were captured. The U.S. Army notes that Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by the North Vietnamese, while the others, apparently, were captured by Viet Cong. SP4 Schiele was seen by his platoon leader as his unit was forced to withdraw, leaving him behind. He had been hit a number of times by automatic weapons fire in the legs and chest and was thought to be dead. PFC Perricone stated in his debrief upon return to the U.S. that the enemy camp commander of Camp 102 told him that SP4 Schiele had died of wounds received in the fire fight. However, since there was no positive proof of death, the U.S. Government placed Schiele in a MIA category. Classified information given to the Vietnamese by Gen. John Vessey in 1987, however, states that both Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by North Vietnamese. SP4 Van Bendegom was also wounded in the engagement, and was seen alive by other Americans Captured in the same battle about one week after his capture in a communist field hospital in Cambodia, not far from his capture location. One of the released Americans was later told by the North Vietnamese commanding officer at his prison camp in Cambodia that SP4 Van Bendegom had died of his wounds. Van Bendegom was categorized as a POW. The other seven Americans were held in prison camps on the Vietnam/Cambodia border for several months. Sooter, Perricone and Delong had attempted to escape from a border camp in Cambodia on 11/6/67 but were recaptured the same day. Two days later Sooter and Perricone were shown Delongs bullet ridden and blood soaked trousers and were told that Delong had been killed resisting recapture. Sooter, Frank, Henry, Perricone, McMurray, and Newell were all released in 1973.

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Name: TRAMPSKI, DONALD JOSEPH
Single Caucasian Male
Rank: PFC E3
Serial # 309548598
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 08/16/48
Age at Time of Loss: 21
Home of Record: Chesterton, IN
Date of Loss: 09/16/69
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 134039N 1080718E (AR888138)
Status: Missing in Action
Official Government Status: "Died while missing"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 18W Row: 098

PFC Donald J. Trampski was serving as a rifleman with his unit on an operation in central Pleiku Province, South Vietnam when the unit was required to cross a Montagnard bridge. Trampski lost his footing and fell into the river below. At the time, there was a severe rain storm in progress and the river was swollen with a fast current. PFC Trampski was last seen in the water, swimming about 30 yards from the bridge. Searches were immediately conducted 300 meters along the banks and searches continued for 3 weeks with no success. Because no body was ever found for Trampski, it was never known for certain that he died. The possibility existed that he was captured, and he was classified as Missing in Action.

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Name: VAN BENDEGOM, JAMES LEE
Single Caucasian Male
Rank: SP4 E4
Serial # 294500350
Unit: Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division
DOB: 11/28/48
Age at Time of Loss: 18
Home of Record: Kenosha, WI
Date of Loss: 07/12/67
Country: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 134026N 1073809E (YA850131)
Status: Prisoner of War
Official Government Status: "Died while captured"
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Panel 23E Row: 065

In the Spring of 1973, 591 American POWs were released from prisons and camps in Vietnam. Among them were six of a group of nine U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division personnel captured in and near Pleiku Province, South Vietnam during the year of 1967 whose lives had been intertwined for the past six years. All had belonged to that part of the IVY Division which was assigned to Task Force Oregon conducting border operations called Operation Sam Houston (Jan 1-Apr 5 '67) and Operation Francis Marion (Apr 5-Oct 12 '67). On February 17, 1967 WO1 David W. Sooter was the only man captured from a OH23 helicopter downed at the southeastern edge of Kontum Province near the edge of Pleiku Province, and near the Cambodian border. PFC Joe Lynn Delong was the machine gunner for his company, on a company sized patrol in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia on May 18, 1967. (Note: Most records list this loss as in SVN, and coordinates place it in the Ia Drang Valley, Pleiku Province near the Cambodian border, but U.S. Army casualty reports state that the loss was in Kotanokiri Province, Cambodia.) While on patrol, his unit was hit by a Viet Cong force of unknown size and cut off from the rest of the company. Delong's Platoon formed a defensive perimeter and attempted to hold their position. Later that day, at about 1830 hours, Delong's Platoon position was overrun. The next morning, another unit reached his position, and was able to account for all platoon members except for Delong. It was later learned that Delong had been captured. Nearly two months later, on July 12, 1967, SP4 Martin S. Frank, PFC Nathan B. Henry, Sgt. Cordine McMurray, PFC Stanley A. Newell, PFC Richard R. Perricone, SP4 James F. Schiele and SP4C James L. Van Bendegom, all members of Company B, 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division were conducting a search and destroy mission along the Cambodian border when their position was overrun by the Viet Cong. With the exception of Schiele, all of the men were captured. The U.S. Army notes that Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by the North Vietnamese, while the others, apparently, were captured by Viet Cong. SP4 Schiele was seen by his platoon leader as his unit was forced to withdraw, leaving him behind. He had been hit a number of times by automatic weapons fire in the legs and chest and was thought to be dead. PFC Perricone stated in his debrief upon return to the U.S. that the enemy camp commander of Camp 102 told him that SP4 Schiele had died of wounds received in the fire fight. However, since there was no positive proof of death, the U.S. Government placed Schiele in a MIA category. Classified information given to the Vietnamese by Gen. John Vessey in 1987, however, states that both Schiele and Van Bendegom were captured by North Vietnamese. SP4 Van Bendegom was also wounded in the engagement, and was seen alive by other Americans Captured in the same battle about one week after his capture in a communist field hospital in Cambodia, not far from his capture location. One of the released Americans was later told by the North Vietnamese commanding officer at his prison camp in Cambodia that SP4 Van Bendegom had died of his wounds. Van Bendegom was categorized as a POW. The other seven Americans were held in prison camps on the Vietnam/Cambodia border for several months. Sooter, Perricone and Delong had attempted to escape from a border camp in Cambodia on 11/6/67 but were recaptured the same day. Two days later Sooter and Perricone were shown Delongs bullet riddled and blood soaked trousers and were told that Delong had been killed resisting recapture. Sooter, Frank, Henry, Perricone, McMurray, and Newell were all released in 1973.

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