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On March 21, 1970 Dad was flying an A-1J Skyraider called 777 Jackpot. He was the wingman in a flight of two on a search and rescue mission for two downed F-4 Pilots (Wolf 06) in the Mu Gia Pass area along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. After Dad finished attacking his target, he was hit in the fuselage by ground fire. While Dad was heading for an emergency airstrip, an explosion occurred just forward of the tail section. His Skyraider went out of control and began an inverted spin. His plane crashed in Laos near a village called Ban Nahom. No one saw a parachute or heard a beeper signal. His flight leader stayed as long as possible looking for some sign, but he neither heard nor saw anything. No search and rescue effort was conducted due to the extreme hostile environment and low possible suvivor rate. I had just turned six, six days earlier.
ON March 25, 1995 and excavation of my Dad's crash site occurred by the Joint Task Force - Full Accounting. They recovered ordnance from his 38 caliber pistol and plane as well as pilot related equipment (i.e. harness buckles, zippers). In addition they recovered the back plate of his wristwatch, links from his dog tags and a 1969 dime.
They also recovered part of his skeletal remains.
On February 28, 1996, my Dads remains were returned to the United States of America- almost twenty six years since he last left. |
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