Florida's MIA's

MIA's from vietnam and southeast Asia:

RM3 Bruce Timmons

Radioman Third Class Petty Officer Bruce Allen Timmons entered the U.S. Navy from Florida and was a member of Coastal Squadron 1, Patrol Craft Fast Division 102. On November 15, 1966, he was a crew member aboard PCF 77 on a rescue mission at the mouth of the Hue River in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q YD 793 330 in South Vietnam.

While attempting to recover a man who had gone overboard on another vessel, Petty Officer Timmons' boat overturned. An extensive search of the area did not locate him and his remains were not recovered.

Today, Petty Officer Timmons is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Ft. Lauderdale, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

SGT Jimmy Garbett

On October 9, 1969, a UH-1D Iroquois (tail number 63-8826) with nine men aboard was taking off after a troop extraction when its rotor blades struck some trees along the Dong Na River bank. In an attempt to regain altitude and airspeed, the pilot headed over the river, but the helicopter soon struck the water and sank within seconds.

Other aircraft in the area surveyed the crash site and observed personnel and debris in the water, but they were soon swept under by the swift current. Only two men were able to survive the crash and swim to shore to be rescued. The remains of two other individuals who were aboard the helicopter were eventually recovered and identified, but the remaining five men are still unaccounted for.

Specialist 4 Jimmy Ray Garbett entered the U.S. Army from Florida and served in Company A, 5th Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 199th Light Infantry Brigade. He was a passenger on board this helicopter at the time of its crash and could not be located following the incident. Attempts to recover his remains were unsuccessful. The Army promoted Specialist 4 Garbett to the rank of sergeant after the incident.

Today, SGT Garbett is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Lake City, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

LTJG Norman Bundy

Lieutenant Junior Grade Norman Lee Bundy entered the U.S. Navy from Florida and served with Light Photographic Squadron 62, embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42). On September 6, 1966, he piloted a single-seat RF-8G Crusader (bureau number 144624) on a photographic reconnaissance mission.

While maneuvering at low altitude before overflying the target area, the aircraft crashed into the water in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q XG 152 840. Lieutenant Junior Grade Bundy's wingman, who observed the crash, saw no ejection and believed that there was no chance of LTJG Bundy surviving. Extensive search efforts were carried out but failed to recover LTJG Bundy or his remains. He is still unaccounted for.

Today, Lieutenant Junior Grade Bundy is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Miami, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

1 Lt Jan Nelson

First Lieutenant Jan Houston Nelson entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Florida and served in Marine Attack Squadron 311, Marine Air Group 13, 1st Marine Air Wing. On April 11, 1970, he piloted a single-seat A-4E Skyhawk (bureau number 15-2099) as the second of two aircraft on a mission against enemy targets southeast of Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam.

Once at the target area, the flight leader made a run on the target, followed by First Lieutenant Nelson. As the flight leader circled back to check his hits, he saw a fireball near the target in the vicinity of grid coordinates AT 821 661. The flight leader immediately tried to establish radio contact with First Lieutenant Nelson but was unsuccessful. He saw no parachute and detected no rescue beepers. A rescue team was inserted at the crash site and found some personal gear belonging to First Lieutenant Nelson, but no remains. He is still unaccounted for.

Today, First Lieutenant Nelson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Clearwater, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

WO1 Michael McAndrews

On December 23, 1970, a U-1A Otter (tail number: 55-3298; call sign: Reliable 298) with a crew of three embarked on a courier mission over the Republic of (South) Vietnam. Witnesses on the ground saw the aircraft break into two pieces in mid-air approximately ten miles south of Tuy Hoa Air Base.

The aircraft was said to be on fire when it split apart (vicinity of 49P CQ 285 350). Two rescue helicopters arrived on the scene within minutes and conducted an extensive aerial search for survivors along the coastline. Ground searches were also conducted, but were unsuccessful in finding any remains. The three men aboard the Otter are still unaccounted for.

Warrant Officer One (WO1) Michael William McAndrews, who joined the U.S. Army from Florida, served with the 18th Aviation Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was the aircraft commander aboard the Otter when it went down, and his remains were not recovered.

Today, WO McAndrews is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Ft. Lauderdale, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

LT Gary Hopps

Lieutenant Gary Douglas Hopps, who joined the U.S. Navy from Florida, was a member of Attack Squadron 145, embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CVA 61). On February 10, 1966, he piloted a single-seat A-1H Skyraider (bureau number 137627, call sign "Electron 506") as part of a three-plane armed reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam.

After the formation made its attack on the target in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q XE 683 040, the flight leader noticed that "Electron 506" was nowhere to be found. An immediate search located the aircraft’s wreckage near the target, but found no sign of LT Hopps. He remains unaccounted for following the incident.

Today, Lieutenant Hopps is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Coral Gables, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Deferred.

SSGT Edward Williams

On April 3, 1972, a UH-1H Iroquois (tail number 68-16330, call sign "Cavalier 70") with a crew of four departed Marble Mountain, Da Nang, South Vietnam, on a combat support mission to Quang Tri City, South Vietnam. During the flight, the pilot told a Hue/Phu Bai Ground Control Approach (GCA) controller that he was lost, but he believed that the helicopter was near Quang Tri.

Following the transmission, the GCA controller could not locate the helicopter on the radar, and reported the helicopter missing in the vicinity of (GC) YD 330 530. When the helicopter failed to appear at any of the air bases in South Vietnam, an aerial search was initiated but found no sign of the missing aircraft or crew.

Specialist 4 (SP4) Edward Wayne Williams, who joined the U.S. Army from Florida, served with the 37th Signal Battalion, 1st Signal Brigade. He was the gunner aboard "Cavalier 70" when it disappeared, and his remains were not recovered. After the incident, the Army promoted SP4 Williams to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

Today, Staff Sergeant Williams is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Clearwater, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

TSGT James Thomas

On November 25, 1971, an HH-53C Jolly Green Giant (tail number 68-10366, call sign "Jolly Green 70") with six crew members participated in a rescue mission for survivors of a helicopter crash in South Vietnam. While picking up the survivors, the helicopter took some battle damage, but soon dropped off the survivors and determined the damage to be superficial and non-critical.

"Jolly Green 70" then took off with another helicopter to return to base. The aircraft soon encountered a very heavy rain shower, and after flying in the downpour for several minutes "Jolly Green 70" began to descend and crashed into the Song Nha Be River. The helicopter flipped over and broke apart on impact, sinking near several Vietnamese fishing boats.

Two men survived the crash and were picked up a short time after. Divers recovered the remains of three other crew members who died in the crash during searches in the following days. The sixth crew member, however, could not be located following the incident.

Staff Sergeant (SSgt) James Richard Thomas entered the U.S. Air Force from Florida and served in the 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. He was a pararescueman aboard "Jolly Green 70" and is the crew member whose remains were not recovered following the incident. Further attempts to locate them were unsuccessful. After the incident, the Air Force promoted SSgt Thomas to Technical Sergeant.

Today, Technical Sergeant Thomas is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Ft. Walton Beach, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

LTJG Geoffrey Osborn

Lieutenant Junior Grade Geoffrey Holmes Osborn, who joined the U.S. Navy from Florida, was a member of Fighter Squadron 194, embarked aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31). On September 24, 1965, he piloted a single-seat F-8E Crusader (bureau number 150668) that was making a night catapult launch from the Bon Homme Richard.

Soon after the launch, LTJG Osborn’s Crusader lost altitude and crashed for unknown reasons in the South China Sea in the vicinity of (GC) 49Q BU 418 848, exploding on impact. Lieutenant Junior Grade Osborn did not eject from the aircraft before it went down, and searches of the area found no sign of LTJG Osborn or his remains.

Today, Lieutenant Junior Grade Osborn is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Winter Park, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

CDR Robert Frosio

Commander Robert Clarence Frosio entered the U.S. Navy from Florida and was a member of Attack Squadron 12, embarked aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42). On November 12, 1966, he was piloting a single-seat A-4E Skyhawk (bureau number 150051, call sign "Clincher 408") in a flight of two returning from a night reconnaissance mission of enemy targets over North Vietnam.

On their approach to the carrier, using a ground control approach due to a navigation systems failure, operators observed CDR Frosio and the other aircraft flying close together. After a failed attempt to divert the other aircraft, the two appeared to merge on radar astern of the ship. From the ship's deck, two fires were observed falling into the ocean. Immediate search and rescue efforts failed to locate CDR Frosio, and further attempts to recover his remains were unsuccessful.

Today, Commander Frosio is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Warrington, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

MAJ Horace Fleming III

First Lieutenant (1stLt) Horace Higley Fleming III entered the U.S. Marine Corps from Florida and served with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, Marine Air Group 16, 1st Marine Air Wing. On May 10, 1968, he piloted a CH-46A Sea Knight (bureau number 151907) on an insertion mission to an artillery outpost in South Vietnam.

After the helicopter landed, it came under enemy fire and was badly damaged, grounding it. The crew left their aircraft and awaited rescue. When rescue helicopters arrived, they also came under enemy fire and were forced to depart before 1stLt Fleming could get aboard. As one of the rescue helicopters took off, he managed to grab onto its landing skid and was lifted into the air, but soon lost his grip and fell back to the ground.

Attempts to rescue him at the time were unsuccessful and he remains unaccounted for. Following the incident, the Marine Corps promoted 1stLt Fleming to the rank of major.

Today, Major Fleming is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Pensacola, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

1 LT Orie Dubbeld

On March 3, 1971, two members of Advisory Team 21 were operating alongside the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) 22nd Ranger Battalion on a reinforcement mission in Kontum Province, South Vietnam, when their unit came under enemy fire. The two men took cover in a foxhole that then received a direct hit from a mortar round, both men were killed. Surviving members of the unit attempted to recover the remains of those killed in the fighting, but the enemy presence forced them to bury the bodies nearby before withdrawing. Both men remain unaccounted for. 1LT Dubbeld is from Cocoa Beach.

First Lieutenant Orie John Dubbeld Jr., who joined the U.S. Army from Florida, was a member of Advisory Team 21, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. He was one of the two men killed when the mortar shell struck their position, and his remains have not been recovered.

Today, First Lieutenant Dubbeld is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Cocoa Beach, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

1 LT Stephen Scrivener

On March 16, 1971, an 0-2A Skymaster (tail number 68-6860, call sign "Hammer 244") with a crew of two departed its base on a Forward Air Controller (FAC) mission over Laos. The Skymaster was hit by enemy fire during the mission, and crew members aboard other aircraft nearby saw it explode in the air and crash. Witnesses saw no parachutes leave the aircraft, and no rescue beeper signals were received after the crash. A search and rescue attempt was unable to locate any wreckage or signs of survivors.

First Lieutenant Stephen R. Scrivener, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Florida, served with the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron. He was the pilot of the Skymaster when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered.

Today, First Lieutenant Scrivener is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Tampa, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

Capt Jack Harvey

On November 28, 1972, an F-4D Phantom II (tail number 66-7678, call sign Hunter 11) with a pilot and passenger aboard departed Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base on a ferry mission to Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam. While it was northwest of Da Nang, the aircraft disappeared from the radar screen and was not heard from again. Search and rescue efforts were initiated and continued for four days but were unsuccessful. Two rescue beeper signals were received from near the Phantom's last known location, but a crash site could not be located.

First Lieutenant Jack Rockwood Harvey, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Florida, served with the 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron. He was the aircraft commander of the F-4D when it disappeared, and his remains have not been recovered. After the incident, the Air Force promoted 1st Lt Harvey to the rank of Captain.

Today, Captain Harvey is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Lakeworth, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

Col Constantine Bogiages Jr

Major Christos Constantine Bogiages Jr. joined the U.S. Air Force from Florida, and served with the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron. On March 2, 1969, he piloted an F-105D Thunderchief (tail number 61-0109, call sign "Barracuda 1") as the lead aircraft on a strike mission of two over Laos.

While en route to their original assigned target, the flight was diverted to work with a forward air controller (FAC) against another target. After dropping its bombs, Maj Bogiages' aircraft made strafing passes against the target.

On his second pass, the FAC saw Maj Bogiages make a normal recovery before his aircraft suddenly made a steep right turn and crashed on a hill in the vicinity of (GC) UG 056 443. The FAC believed that hostile ground fire had struck the plane, causing the crash. Immediate search efforts were driven off by enemy small arms fire, and later search efforts failed to locate the pilot's remains. Subsequent to the incident, and while carried in the status of missing in action (MIA), the U.S. Air Force promoted Major Bogiages to the rank of Colonel.

Today, Colonel Bogiages is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Clearwater, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

Col Hubert Nichols Jr

Major Hubert Campbell Nichols Jr., who joined the U.S. Air Force from Florida, was a member of the 14th Air Commando Wing. On September 1, 1966, he piloted an A-1E Skyraider (tail number 52-132648) as the flight leader on a two-plane nighttime search and rescue mission over North Vietnam.

His aircraft went missing at some point during the mission, and was not seen or heard from again. His wingman did not observe the circumstances surrounding Maj Nichols's disappearance. Major Nichols is still unaccounted for, and his remains have not been recovered or identified. After the incident, the Air Force promoted Major Nichols to the rank of Colonel.

Today, Colonel Nichols is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Pensacola, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

Maj Arthur Sprott Jr

Major Arthur Roy Sprott Jr. entered the U.S. Air Force from Florida and was a member of the 6th Special Operations Squadron. On January 10, 1969, he was the pilot of a single-seat A-1H Skyraider (tail number 52-137559) that took off from at Pleiku Air Base, South Vietnam, on a search and rescue mission southwest of Da Nang, Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam.

His aircraft crashed for unknown reasons in the vicinity of grid coordinates ZC 182 690. Two pararescue specialists were inserted into the crash site and located the body of Maj Sprott, still in his ejection seat. His parachute had apparently failed to inflate properly.

The rescue personnel recovered Maj Sprott's dog tags and blood chit, and placed the body in a body bag. They placed the body on a jungle penetrateor in order to hoist it to the helicopter, but the body fell 175 feet and the mission had to be aborted due to weather, darkness and difficult terrain.

Today, Major Sprott is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Del Ray Beach, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

SP5 Barry Murphy

Specialist Five (SP5) Barry Daniel Murphy entered the U.S. Army from Florida and was a member of Command and Control Detachment South, 5th Special Forces Group. On March 18, 1969, he was the assistant team leader of a ten-member team inserted by helicopter on a reconnaissance mission into Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia.

The team left the helicopter and was moving toward its objective when it was ambushed by enemy forces at (GC) XT 441 912. During the ensuing combat, SP5 Murphy was hit several times by small arms fire and fell; his team leader and another team member who both survived the incident reportedly checked on SP5 Murphy when he fell and believed he had died from his wounds.

Because of enemy fire, surviving team members were unable to recover SP5 Murphy's body at the time of his loss, and subsequent efforts to recover him or his remains were unsuccessful.

Today, Specialist Five Murphy is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Cutler Ridge, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

Maj George Carter

On April 24, 1972, a UH-1H Iroquois (tail number 69-15715) with a crew of four left Dak To II airstrip carrying a six-man military advisory team. The helicopter encountered heavy enemy fire shortly after take-off to the northwest of Dak To II, crashing and burning on a small island on the west side of the Dak Poko River.

Five of the personnel on board were killed in the crash. Of the five survivors, only two were fit enough to try to get to friendly territory and seek help. When these two survivors reached friendly positions nine days after the crash, they informed authorities of the other survivors awaiting recovery, and a rescue team was able to reach the three survivors and extract them from the area on 6 May, 1972.

Two of the dead were buried by the survivors near the crash site while the other three dead could not be buried due to the situation on the ground. The bodies of the five men who died in the crash could not be recovered because of enemy forces in the area, and subsequent searches for their remains have been unsuccessful.

Major George Williams Carter, who joined the U.S. Army from Florida, served with Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) Advisory Team 22. He was a passenger on the Iroquois when it crashed, and he was thrown from the aircraft and killed. His remains could not be recovered.

Today, Major Carter is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Apopka, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

Maj James Jackson

On March 23, 1972, an F-4D Phantom II (tail number 65-8792, call sign "Oxteam 01") with a crew of two took part in a combat mission over Laos. As the formation left the target area, "Oxteam 01" rolled over and crashed near the target. No parachutes emerged from the aircraft before it went down, and a low-level flight over the crash site revealed no signs of life.

Hostile forces in the area prevented ground searches of the crash site, and both members of the crew remain unaccounted for. Captain James Terry Jackson, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Florida, was a member of the 25th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was the weapons systems officer aboard "Oxteam 01" when it went down, and was lost with the aircraft.

His remains were not recovered following the crash. Subsequent to the incident, the U.S. Air Force posthumously promoted Captain Jackson to the rank of Major (Maj).

Today, Major Jackson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Hialeah, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

SGT Fred Gassman

On October 5, 1970, a reconnaissance patrol made up of mixed U.S. and indigenous personnel was operating in Laos and had established a night position west of Ta Bat when the group was attacked by a hostile force. The assistant team leader requested air support from a friendly aircraft in the area, but inclement weather hindered the pilot's attempts.

According to surviving patrol members, the two American soldiers were killed during the attack. Their remains could not be evacuated when the other team members were extracted. Shortly after the incident, a search team attempted to recover the two missing men, but was unsuccessful. Further attempts were prevented by hostile forces in the loss area, and the two patrol members remain missing.

Sergeant Fred Allen Gassman entered the U.S. Army from Florida and was a member of Special Operations Augmentation, Command and Control North, 5th Special Forces Group. He was a member of this patrol and was reportedly killed in action against the enemy.

He was heard on the radio stating that he'd been hit, and the surviving indigenous patrol members said that they last saw Sergeant Gassman lying motionless on the ground with a wound to the back. His remains were not recovered.

Today, Sergeant Gassman is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Ft. Walton Beach, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

LT John Parker

Lieutenant (LT) John Jackson Parker entered the U.S. Navy from Florida and was a member of Attack Squadron 86 embarked aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43). On March 4, 1970, he piloted a single-seat A-7A Corsair II (bureau number: 153136; call sign: Sidewinder 400) and took off from the Coral Sea, radioed that he was airborne, but shortly thereafter crashed for unknown reasons into the South China Sea a few miles ahead of the carrier.

Witnesses on the flight deck saw a small white flash immediately followed by a large explosion when the aircraft impacted the water. There was no transmission from "Sidewinder 400" following LT Parker's initial report. His remains were not recovered following the incident.

Today, LT Parker is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Tallahassee, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

SPEC6 Jack DeCaire

Specialist 6 Jack Leonard DeCaire, who joined the U.S. Army from Florida, was a member of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Transportation Battalion. On the night of November 3, 1971, he and a companion were returned to the USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1) from Vung Tau, South Vietnam.

The two men decided to talk on the aircraft flight deck. While there, SP6 DeCaire walked to the starboard side of the ship and fell overboard. His companion saw him fall, and search teams were immediately launched; however, they were unable to locate SP6 DeCaire. His remains were never recovered, and he is still unaccounted for.

Today, Specialist 6 DeCaire is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from St. Petersburg, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

LtCol Guy Collins

On March 13, 1968, an A-1E Skyraider (tail number 52-133888, call sign "Hobo 11") with two crew members conducted a combat mission over enemy targets in Savannakhet Province, Laos.

While attacking a ground target, it is believed that the aircraft was hit by automatic weapons fire. It crashed and burst into flames. No parachutes were observed before the plane hit the ground, and neither crew member was recovered following the crash.

Lieutenant Colonel Guy Fletcher Collins, who entered the U.S. Air Force from Florida, served with the 1st Air Commando Squadron, 56th Air Commando Wing, and was the pilot of this Skyraider at the time of its loss. He remains unaccounted for.

Today, Lieutenant Colonel Collins is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Miami, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Michael Sargent Bixel entered the U.S. Navy from Florida and was a member of Attack Squadron 115, embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CVA-41).

On October 25, 1972, he was the bombardier/navigator on an A-6A Intruder (bureau number unknown) on a single-plane "seeding" mission over North Vietnam.

Following the mission and while attempting to land on the carrier, an unknown mechanical failure caused the plane to crash into another aircraft parked on the flight deck. Lieutenant Junior Grade Bixel either ejected himself from the aircraft or the ejection seat fired itself during the crash landing, sending him over the side of the ship and into the water, in the vicinity of (Grid Coordinate) 49Q DU 300 800.

An air and sea search effort was launched immediately, but could not recover LTJG Bixel. He remains unaccounted for.

Today, Lieutenant Junior Grade Bixel is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Ft. Walton Beach, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

MAJ Dennis Neal

On July 31, 1969, a reconnaissance patrol comprising two American and four indigenous team members had just completed its mission in Laos and was awaiting extraction in the vicinity of (GC) YD 003 191.

While waiting, the team came under attack from enemy forces. An enemy rocket hit the team's position, killing four of them, including both the Americans. The two surviving team members reported that they checked the American soldiers and determined that they were dead, then held the position for five more minutes before withdrawing from the area.

Captain Dennis Paul Neal entered the U.S. Army from Florida and was a member of Command and Control North, 5th Special Forces Group. He was the team leader on this reconnaissance patrol when it was attacked, and he was reportedly killed during the incident. His remains were not recovered.

Subsequent to the incident, and while carried in the status of missing in action (MIA), the U.S. Army promoted Captain Neal to the rank of Major. Today, Major Neal is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Tarpon Springs, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

CMSgt Samuel Adams

On October 31, 1965, four U.S. service members were returning from a rest and relaxation break in Vung Tau, South Vietnam, in a truck with a Vietnamese driver. En-route to Saigon, the truck was stopped by local communist guerilla forces and the four were captured.

On November 2, while being moved towards an enemy prisoner of war camp, two of the men attempted to escape. One was wounded and recaptured by the guards, but the other successfully escaped and returned to U.S. control two days later. Upon his return, an extensive air and ground search effort was launched for the other three men, but without success. The names of the three men who did not escape appeared on the died-in-captivity list released by the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam in January 1973. Their remains have not been returned.

Staff Sergeant Samuel Adams entered the U.S. Air Force from Florida and served with the 6250th Support Squadron. He was one of the three men who did not escape during this incident and was reportedly killed by the local communist guerilla guards. He remains unaccounted for. Following the incident, the Air Force promoted Staff Sergeant Adams to the rank of chief master sergeant.

Today, Chief Master Sergeant Adams is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. He is from Goldenrod, and based on all information available, DPAA assessed his case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.