Birth 02AUG50 Rank A1C Date of Death 07JAN72 P. of birth   Service Air Force Place Quang Nam, S. Vietnam Town of Record Seattle Unit 366TH SEP SQ Death Code Non-Hostile Died Illness/Injury; Ground Casualty; Accidental Self-Destruction Hometown   service # 532522411 Panel 02WEST - 95   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 19MAY71 Comment   Cemetery

Edward Eugene TAYLOR

Birth 21AUG26 Rank SSGT Date of Death 27JAN72 P. of birth   Service Army Place Long Khanh S. Vietnam Town of Record Middletown OH Unit 1st Cav Div (AMBL) Death Code Non-Hostile; Ground Casualty; Malaria Hometown   service # 299144956   Panel 02WEST - 101   married married MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 06JUL71 Comment Tacoma   Cemetery

Paul Denis KREGER

Birth 05APR52 Rank PFC Date of Death 17FEB72 P. of birth   Service Army Place Long Khanh, S. Vietnam Town of Record Eatonville Unit 1st Cav Div, 1st Bn, 7th Cav Death Code Non-Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Other Accident Hometown   service # 214563504 Panel 02WEST - 108   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 15DEC71 Comment www.ranger25.com Cemetery

Douglas Allen HOWARD

Birth 07FEB51 Rank SP4 Date of Death 25FEB72 P. of birth   Service Army Place Quang Nam, S. Vietnam Town of Record Spokane Unit 196th LIB E Co 2nd Bn 1st Inf Death Code Hostile, Died; Ground Casualty; Gun, Small Arms Fire Hometown   service # 535563530 Panel 02WEST - 110   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 30JUL71 Comment   Cemetery

Larry James WOODS

Birth 03SEP51 Rank CWO Date of Death 27MAR72 P. of birth   Service Army Place Kontum S. Vietnam Town of Record Rancho Cordova CA Unit 1st AVN BDE Death Code Hostile, Helicopter - Pilot; Air Loss, Crash on Land Hometown   service # 568943245   Panel 02WEST - 120  : married single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 03JUL71 Comment Tacoma   Cemetery

Ronald Page PASCHALL

Birth 01NOV50 Rank SP5 Date of Death 02APR72 P. of birth Lynnwood WA Service Army Place Quang Tri, S. Vietnam Town of Record Alderwood Manor Unit 8th Cav, 196th Inf Bde Death Code Hostile,died missing; Helicopter Crew - Air Loss, Crash on Land Hometown   service # 534543632 Panel 02WEST - 128   married Single MIA - buried 02Apr94 Medals Bronze Star, Purple Heart Tour Date   Comment Rescue of BAT 21, Whitcomb, Darrel D. Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery, VA

(MIA report extracted from P.O.W. Network). Ronald Page Paschall was born 1 Nov 1950 in Lynnwood WA. He was a crew chief on a 4 person helicopter with F Troop, 8th Cavalry 196th Brigade. On 2 Apr 1972, they were on a rescue mission to recover members from a EB66 aircraft (Bat 21 (of movie fame)). Two of the rescue helicopters were shot down. According to an eyewitness, Pascall had safely exited the downed helicopter but had turned back to help a pinned man and enemy fire blew the helicopter up killing three men. The survivor met the family in 1994 when the Paschall's remains were interred in the Arlington Cemetery VA. Among Paschall's medals are the Purple Heart, A special medal made for those who were missing in the war and a Bronze Star. He was a short-timer only 6 days away from finishing his tour and heading home.
More details available at P.O.W.Network.org

Larry Allen TRIMBLE

Washington State UniversityWA Pullman WA 1969

Birth 06MAR47 Rank CAPT Date of Death 15APR72 P. of birth   Service Air Force (Reserve) Place N. Vietnam Town of Record Farmington Unit 421 TAC FTR SQ Death Code Hostile, Died Missing; Fixed Wing - Pilot; Air Loss, Crash - Land Hometown   service # 538420360 Panel 01WEST - 01   married Married MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 10JUL71 Comment Remains Returned 21JUL89 ID'd OCT 1989 Cemetery

(POW NETWORK MIA REPORT...extracted) Larry Allen Trimble was born 6 Mar 1947 and died 15 Apr 1972 about 20 miles northwest of the city of Vinh Binh. He was the pilot of a Phantom, F4, a multiple tasked fighter-bomber capable of photo and electronic surveillance. His crewmate ejected safely and was captured by the North Vietnamese. Both men were listed as MIA's. In the summer of 1989 the Vietnamese found and released the remains of Trimble. These remains were positively identified as belonging to Capt Larry Trimble (promoted while missing.)
For more information visit P.O.W. Network

Wilbur Herbert CHILDRESS

Birth 14JAN30 Rank SMAJ Date of Death 20APR72 P. of birth   Service Army Place Bien Hoa, S. Vietnam Town of Record Tacoma Unit USARV UITG Death Code Non-Hostile Died Other Ground Casualty Accidental Self-Destruction Hometown   service # 531286736 Panel 01WEST - 04   married Married MIA -   Medals The Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, The Army Commendation Medal with two oak Leaf clusters, the Purple Heart Medal Tour Date 23OCT71 Comment   Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery

Thomas Eugene WOOD

Birth 16AUG53 Rank PFC Date of Death 10MAY72 P. of birth   Service Army Place Bien Hoa, S. Vietnam Town of Record Tacoma Unit 1st Cav Div D Co 2nd Bn 8th Cav Death Code Non-Hostile Died; Helicopter - NonCrew; Air Loss Crash - Land Hometown   service # 539549074 Panel 01WEST - 22   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 05JAN72 Comment http://virtualwall.org/dh/HallHH01a.htm   Cemetery

James Fay HOLLIS

Birth 30AUG37 Rank CAPT Date of Death 05JUN72 P. of birth   Service Army Place Pleiku, S. Vietnam Town of Record Bremerton Unit MACV HHC STDAT # 10 Death Code Non-Hostile, died missing; Fixed Wing noncrew; Air Loss Crash on Land Hometown   service # 538323332 Panel 01WEST - 36   married Married MIA -   Medals   Tour Date 28JUN70 Comment   Cemetery

James Russell MCQUADE

Birth 03JUN49 Rank 1LT Date of Death 11JUN72 P. of birth Pasco WA Service Army (Reserve) Place Thua Thien, S. Vietnam Town of Record Hoquiam Unit pilot- OH-6A - # 67-16275; Troop F. 8th Cav, 11th Aviation Group Death Code Hostile Died Missing; Helicopter - Pilot; Air Loss Crash - Land Hometown   service # 533525140 Panel 01WEST - 40   married Single MIA - id 7 Oct 1999 Medals Distinguished Service Cross Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery Sunset Memorial Park

In Vietnam: Harbor Pilot lost in action. The horror and heartbreak of war came home to Grays Harbor yesterday when a young helicopter pilot from Hoquiam, First Lt. James R. McQuade, was reported missing in action in Vietnam. The 23 year old Army pilot, who was recently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, is the son of Mrs. Patricia McQuade, 406 M St., Hoquiam, and Wayne "Mac' McQuade of Tacoma. The Army reported that McQuade's helicopter crashed during a combat sortie. A 1967 graduate of Hoquiam High School, the Lieutenant had been in Vietnam since September. McQuade attended Grays Harbor College, then entered the Army and was selected for Officer's Candidate School, followed by helicopter pilot training. His brother Jack is a Marine lance corporal presently stationed at Camp Pendleton CA. The Red Cross has helped him make arrangements for an emergency leave, and he is expected home Friday.(The Daily World, Aberdeen WA, 15 Jun 1972)

Family Honors hometown soldier who died trying to save his leader
James McQuade, shot down in Vietnam in 1972, is laid to rest in Hoquiam
    Family, friends and Army comrades gathered Saturday to remember a hometown soldier killed 28 years ago in an attempt to rescue the crew of a downed aircraft in Vietnam.
    Army 1st Lt. James McQuade was shot down over South Vietnam on 11 Jun 1972 in a mission to rescue a missing member of F Troop.
   At Sunset Memorial Park Saturday, five CH-53 Army helicopters whirred overhead, then one veered away and vanished in the "missing man" formation. McQuade's remains were identified and returned to the United States last year, along with those of his gunner specialist James Hackett of Bradenton FL and the remains of nine others.
   " In 25 years and two tours of Vietnam, I've never met a braver man that Jim McQuade," said Col. Jack Kennedy, McQuade's commander.
    That fateful day in 1972 was supposed to be a day off for McQuade, but he was the first to volunteer for a rescue mission when his platoon leader was shot down.
  "There are a couple of versions of what he said, but I was right there," Kennedy recalled. "He said, 'Let's go get him.'"
    Despite knowing the danger, McQuade and Hackett headed into heavy fire, including surface-to-air missiles.
    He was right above his leader's downed chopper when he was shot down himself.
    "he pressed on even though the fire was incredible," Kennedy said
    "All the witness said it was the worst they'd ever seen and they'd seen a lot.:
    At the end of the day, five air crew members from F Troop were dead or missing and presumed lost, including McQuade.
    McQuade's sister, Judi, brother Jeff and other relatives attended the service. His father, Wayne, died in 1997. (Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma WA)

Wayne Gordon BROWN II

Birth 29APR43 Rank MAJ Date of Event 17JUL72 P. of birth   Service Air Force Place Thua Thien, S. Vietnam Town of Record Tacoma Unit ... Death Code Hostile, Died Missing; Fixed Wing - Crew; Air Loss, Crash - Land Hometown   service # 533388693 Panel 01WEST - 56   married Married MIA - BNR Medals   Tour Date   Comment Nigel Cawthorne's BAMBOO CAGE Cemetery

(MIA report is extracted from the POWNETWORK.org) Wayne Gordon BROWN II was born 29 Apr 1943. On 17 Jul 1972. He was flying as a backseater on an F4D aircraft. About 30 miles west south west of the city of Hue, there was problem with the aircraft and the two man crew ejected. Backseater Brown ejected first... and as usual, there was considerable distance between the crew when they reached the ground. The pilot was rescued... Wayne Brown disappeared... He is mentioned in Nigel Cawthorne's book, BAMBOO CAGE. He was promoted to Major after his disappearance. For much more information visit Pownetwork.org

Patrick T. MATHEWS

Birth 10DEC44 Rank CAPT Date of Death 11AUG72 P. of birth   Service Air Force Place Thailand Town of Record Seattle Unit 7th AF, 8th TFW, 497th TFS Death Code Non-Hostile Died Other Hometown   service # 535425055 Panel 01WEST - 62   married ... MIA -   Medals   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery

Ray Edwin TANNEHILL

Birth 3MAY33 Rank MSGT Date of Death 12AUG72 P. of birth   Service Air Force Place Ba Xugen S. Vietnam Town of Record Elsberry MO Unit ...... Death Code Hostile, Fixed Wing - Crew; Air Loss, Crash on Land Hometown   service # 498349239   Panel 01WEST - 65   married Single MIA -   Medals   Tour Date   Comment Tacoma   Cemetery

Roderick Barnum LESTER

Birth 19JUN46 Rank LCDR Date of Event 20AUG72 P. of birth   Service Navy Place N. Vietnam Town of Record Morton Unit VA 52, USS KITTY HAWK CVA 63 Death Code Hostile, Fixed Wing Pilot - Air Loss, Crash on Land, died while missing Hometown   service # 53342369 Panel 01WEST - 68   married Single MIA crash site found 1997 dog tags found 2002 Medals   Link Virtual Wall Comment   Cemetery

Navy pilots honor pair killed in Vietnam
Lieutenant Rod Lester Flew Low-flying A6 Gruman planes on bombing missions in Vietnam. He had trained at the Whidbey Air base where he was part of the Navy Squadron VA52. His navigator was Harry Mossman. They were members of the Knight Riders flying from the Kitty Hawk and had flown over144 missions in 6 months. On 20 Aug 1972 they disappeared during a bombing mission near Can Pha, North Vietnam At the time of his disappearance, Rod had been engaged for 6 weeks. A crash site was located in 1997 following a search for their plane. His dog tags were eventually found at the site the Fall of 2002. He was a the 1964 class salutatorian at Morton High School. He graduated 1968 from the UW with an engineering degree. In November 2002, He and Mossman were honored by A6 Veterans by having their names printed on the side of a restored A6. (Extraction from 9 Nov 2002 PI News Article and 11 Nov 2000 PI news article )

(Extracted MIA report from P.O.W. Network) Roderick Barnum Lester was born 19 Jun 1946. He was a veteran pilot of a A6 Intruder assigned to the Attack Squadron 42, USS KITTY HAWK (CVA 63). On 20 Aug 1972 LTJG Lester and his Bombarier/Navigator were launched on a night, low-level, armed reconnaissance mission in the general vicinity of Cam Pha, North Vietnam. The weather was poor, with numerous thunderstorms. Lester disappeared on his 144th mission. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander while he was missing
More information at P.O.W. Network

Picture and more biographical information available at Virtual Wall

Edward Harvey JOHNSON

Birth 27APR32 Rank COL Date of Event 21DEC72 P. of birth   Service Air Force Place S. Vietnam Town of Record Newburg OR Unit .....  Death Code Hostile, died while missing; Fixed Wing - Crew; Air Loss, Crash on Land Hometown   service #   Panel 01WEST - 100   married married MIA - remains ret. 1988 Declared Dead 17APR79 Tour Date ... Comment Spokane   Cemetery

(Extracted MIA report from P.O.W. Network) Edward Harvey Johnson was born 27 Apr 1932. The Christmas pinpoint bombing of North Vietnam was very sucessful. Planes were called in. On 21 Dec 1972 a B52G normally stationed on Guam participated in a bombing run. Edward Johnson was a crewmember. The aircraft had successfully completed its mission and was returning towards Thailand when it was hit in the tailsection by a SAM (surface to air missile). The Pilot Lt. Col. Nagahiro ordered the crew to eject. Nagahiro's capture was not reported to the US authorities. 2 others of the 7 men crew were captured. One died in prison. The two POW's were released in 1973; the remains of the third POW were returned 1974; and in Oct 1988 the remains of the other 4 including Edward Johnson were discovered and returned to the US. More information about this event at POWNetWork.org

Philip Spratt CLARK Jr.

Birth 06JAN46 Rank LCDR Date of Event 24DEC72 P. of birth Phoenix AZ Service Navy Place N. Vietnam Town of Record Fairchild AFB Unit VA 113 USS RANGER CVA 61 Death Code Hostile Died Missing; Fixed Wing - Crew; Air Loss Crash - Land Hometown   service # 554726922 Panel 01WEST - 104   married Single MIA - returned 03NOV89 Medals   Tour Date   Comment 1968 grad. U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery

(MiA extraction from P.O.W.Net Work. Org Phillip Spratt Clark Jr. was born 6 Jan 1946 at Phoenix AZ. On 30 Jun 1968 he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. His Unit was Attack Squadron 113, USS RANGER. On 24 Dec 1972 Lt. Cdr. Clark launched in his A7E "Corsair" with 2 other planes to mine the Chateau Renaud Channel, Quang Ninh Province, North Vietnam. The target area was heavily defended and the weather was extremely poor with low ceilings anf reduced visibility. The three planes ran individual attacks. As the third plane was making his run he saw a parachute floating down through the clouds and heard an emergency radio beeper just prior to bomb release. Clark used his emergency radio to say he was in the water. There were 2 or 3 more transmissions and then the one-way radio contact was lost. Search and Rescue attempts were hampered because of weather and darkness. One month later the Paris agreement was signed. 21 Sep 1978 Lt. Cdr. was declared KIA/BNR. On 3 Nov 1989 his remains were returned to his family. More information is available at pownetwork.org

Birth 23DEC37 Rank CAPT Date of Event 27JAN73 P. of birth   Service Navy Place Quang Tri, S. Vietnam Town of Record Vancouver Unit VF 143 ENTERPRISE CVAN 65 Death Code Hostile, Air Loss, Crash on Land - Fixed Wing - Pilot Hometown   service # 549503460 Panel 01WEST - 112   married Married MIA - Remains ret. wife refused id Medals   Link Virtual Wall Comment   Cemetery

(MIA information extracted from PowNetWork.Org) CDR Harley Hall was the commanding officer of Fighter Squadron 143 onboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. On 27 Jan 1973 he and his co-pilot Philip A. Kinzler were launched on an attack mission against North Vietnamese supplies vehicles. On his last pass his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Hall attempted to fly his plane back towards the safety of the Ocean but the plane caught fire and he and his co-pilot were forced to eject extremely close to a Vietnamese Village. The co-pilot was wounded by ground fire and was captured. Harley Hall disappeared. Harley Hall, a career Air Force man, had been the leader of the Blue Angels. He was shot down on the "last day of the war" and was the last Navy air casualty of the Vietnam War. He was the last American to be classified Prisoner of War. Three of Harley Hall's front teeth were returned as evidence of his death. In 1993, his wife refused to acknowledge them as proof of his death. Lots more information about Harley Hall at Pownetwork.org

Picture and more biographical information at Virtual Wall

Gary Bede SIMKINS

Birth 03JUL42 Rank LT Date of Death 03APR73 P. of birth   Service Navy Place S. Vietnam Town of Record Port Angeles Unit VA-22 TF 77 USS CORAL SEA Death Code Hostile Died; Fixed Wing - Pilot; Air Loss Crash - Sea Hometown   service # 535389788 Panel 01WEST - 123   married Married MIA -   Medals   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery

Postscript: Brother's Name added to 'Nam memorial
By Bob Partlow, Gannett News Service
    Gary Simkins was a naval aviator with more than 200 combat missions in Vietnam who "died doing what he wanted to do," according to his brother, Larry Simkins of Bellingham
    Gary's name will be one of four from Washington state added to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D. C. Ceremonies honoring the four state men were held today at the state capital in Olympia, led by Gov. Booth Gardner and Secretary of State Ralph Munro.
    Gary was killed in the South China Sea on 3 Apr 1973. His plane had just catapulted off the USS Coral Sea when it exploded, according to his mother, Beth Simkins, of Port Angeles.
    Because he wasn't in a combat zone, he wasn't listed on the memorial wall in the nation's capital. But the U. S. government has now expanded the definition of what constitutes a combat casualty, and Gary's name will be included.
    "It means a lot to me," said his brother, who does maintenance work for the Whatcom County Park and Recreation Department and was manager at Hovander Park for 14 years. "I'm happy for my parents' sake. It's been a real long, grueling affair. It's been a difficult thing to live with."
    Gary was five years older than his brother and they were "pretty close," according to Larry. Gary attended the U. S. Naval Academy and then began flying, his brother said.
    "He always wanted to be a flyboy; that's why he went into the Navy," said Larry.
    His parents did not lead the effort to get the additional names included on the memorial wall, but they supported it. Beth Simkins helped locate the family of one of the Washington state men. and Gary's father, Glen, will take part in Memorial Day ceremonies in Washington, D. C., reading 17 of the names that will be added to the wall.
    Beth Simkins said she is proud to have her name's son (sic) among them. "I feel it's such an honor after 13 years," she said. More than an honor is involved, however: both she and Larry hope it will contributed to the healing process. "They say it's a real healing process to have it included in the wall," Larry said.
    Added his mother: "It is a healing process and we need it." The ceremonies were held in Olympia today at the site of a proposed memorial wall for the more than 1,000 state residents who died in Vietnam."

Bellingham Herald, Bellingham WA, 17 May 1986)

Birth 27APR36 Rank LTC Date of Death 12NOV74 P. of birth   Service Air Force Place Thailand Town of Record Ossining NY Unit 4TH TFG SQ Death Code Non-Hostile Hometown   service # 512895548   Panel 01WEST - 120   married ... Memorial Washington State Vietnam War Memorial, Olympia WA Medals   Tour Date   Comment Everett   Cemetery Evergreen Cem., Everett WA

Birth 05MAY55 Rank SGT Date of Death 13MAY75 P. of birth   Service Air Force Place Thailand Town of Record Spokane Unit "56th SEP Sqdn, Nakhon Phanom, Royal Thai Air Force Base Death Code Non-Hostile, Died Other Hometown   service # 539589275 Panel 01WEST - 126   married   Link Mayaguez and Call sign Knife Medals Bronze Star Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery

Picture submitted by Dale Higgs, brother

(Researcher Notes) David Higgs was one of 23 men who died in a crash of a H-53-Super Jolly Green Helicopter in the operation to rescue the crewmembers of the USS Mayaguez... More see Daniel Benedett bio below or click on the links provided

Daniel Andrew BENEDETT

Birth 30OCT55 Rank PFC Date of Event 15MAY75 P. of birth   Service Marines Place off the coast of Koh Tang Island Gulf of Siam Town of Record Auburn Unit Co G, 2d Bn, 9th Mar, 3d Mar Div Death Code Hostile: Helicopter Non Crew; Air Loss, Crash at Sea Hometown   service # 535662236 Panel 01WEST - 129   married Single MIA - 15 May 75 Medals   Link Mayaguez and Call sign Knife Comment   Cemetery

(MIA extracted records from POW Network.org) Daniel Andrew Benedett was born 30 October 1955. He was a Marine Private serving in G/2nd Bn, 9th Mars, 3rd Mar Div. On the 29 Apr 1969 President Ford announced the Vietnam was finished. No one told the Cambodians. On 12 May 1975, the US merchant ship MAYAGUEZ was seized by the Khmer Rouge in the Gulf of Siam about 60 miles from the Cambodian coastline. Cambodia were claiming territorial waters 90 miles from the Coast of Cambodia. The captain and 39 seamen were taken as prisoners. An all out effort to rescue the men began. A battle group consisting of the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea, the guided missile destroyer, USS Henry B. Wilson and the USS Holt were ordered in as were 1100 Marines. The Mayaguez was spotted off the coast of Koh Tang. Plans were made to attack the island and find and rescue the crew, while the USS Holt retrieved the ship and the USS Coral Sea as to make 4 air strikes at mainland military installations. Daniel Andrew Benedett was aboard a CH53A helicopter that crashed as it was coming in to the landing zone on Koh Tang. The helicopter was caught in a cross fire and crashed into the sea. Of the 23 Marines, pilot and co-pilot, and 2 corpsmen... 12 survived by swimming out to sea. 18 men died during the attack on Koh Tang Island. 23 men died in a plane crash on their way to ships. According to reports 3 marines had been left behind. The USS Holt recaptured a deserted ship and the crew of the MAYAGUEZ had been taken to the mainland and released before the attack on Koh Tang commenced. A lot more information at Benedett and Hargrove