FACES FROM THE WALL

OREGON and the VIETNAM WAR

October - 1966


    ANDREWS WILLIAM RICHARD

Birth 1937-06-09 Rank LTC Date of Event 10-5-66
P. of birth   Service US Air Force Place North Vietnam
Town of
Record
 Eugene Unit  433 Tactical Fighter Sq.
Known as "Satan's Angels"
Ubon Airfield, Thailand
Death Code Hostile, Died Missing-Air Loss, Crash - Land-Fixed Wing - Crew
Hometown  Eugene service # 543386123 Panel 11E - Row 048
Married Single Declared Dead 1974-09-06 Medals  Purple Heart
MIA POW/MIA Comment  POW/MIA Network Cemetery  Phoenix, Arizona

On 5 October 1966, then Capt. William R. Andrews was the pilot of an F4C Phantom on a strike mission over North Vietnam. His aircraft was #3 in a flight of four. After the mission, the flight was directed to fly escort for a flight of two B-66s. A MiG alert was issued after which it was noticed the number three aircraft was not in the formation. No radio contact was received from the missing aircrew, but a short time later, a beeper was heard. Radio contact was subsequently made with Bill Andrews and he reported he was uninjured. Because North Vietnamese forces were approaching his position and search and rescue (SAR) personnel were receiving heavy ground fire, he could not be recovered. According to one report, as the enemy closed in on the downed pilot, Bill Andrews was supposed to have "started shooting it out with ground forces," and "one of his last transmissions was 'I have taken a hit'." The co-pilot had landed far enough away from enemy fortifications that he eventually was rescued. The location of loss was in the extremely rugged jungle covered mountains approximately 115 miles northwest of Hanoi and 20 miles east-northeast of the city of Na San, Nghia Lo Province, North Vietnam. A later coordination of records showed that Bill Andrews was listed Missing in Action, not Prisoner of War by Defense Intelligence Agency and the Air Force, while the Joint Casualty Resolution Center (JCRC), Bangkok, Thailand carried him as a prisoner, not missing. JCRC was ordered to "delete any references pertaining to POW status" in Capt. Andrews' case. The reasons behind that order were never made unclear. On 13 September 1990, Bill Andrews remains were returned to the United States. According the US Army Central Identification Laboratory - Hawaii, his remains were identified "by comparison of teeth root canals in the jawbone." He was buried with full military honors in Phoenix, Arizona on 14 February 1991.

  • Bio Source: http://www.taskforceomegainc.org/a018.htm

         LARRY DALE KNIGHT

    Birth 24AUG39 Rank MAJ Date of Event 07OCT66
    P. of birth   Service Air Force (Reserve) Place Off Shore Military Reg 1 S.Vietnam
    Town of
    Record
    Albany Unit 12TH TACTICAL RECON SQUADRON
    Tan Son Nhut Airbase, South Vietnam
    Death Code Hostile, Died Missing; Air Loss, Crash - Sea Fixed Wing - Pilot
    Hometown   service # 540402480 Panel 11EAST - 57
    Married MarriedDeclared Dead 22OCT74 Medals Purple Heart  
    MIA BNR Comment  Cemetery  

    On 7 October 1966, Capt. James A Treece, pilot, and then 1st Lt. Larry D. Knight, co-pilot, comprised the crew of an RF4C (tail #65-0885) which departed Tan Son Nhut Airbase on a single aircraft night photo reconnaissance mission. Their target is described as being "3 specified strips" in the vicinity of the major South Vietnamese port city of Hue, Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam.
    Their assigned flight path took the RF4C from Tan Son Nhut Airbase to Ban Me Thuot, to Plieku, to the target area, and return to Tan Son Nhut. The weather conditions during this mission ranged from rain showers to scattered thunderstorms.

  • Photo & Bio Source: http://www.taskforceomegainc.org/k033.htm

         DENNIS DAY HARRIS

    Birth 15OCT44 Rank SGT Date of Death 13OCT66
    P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Tri S. Vietnam
    Town of
    Record
    Mulino Unit CO F 2 BN 5TH MAR 1ST MAR DIV Death Code Hostile, Died; Guns, Small Arms Fire; Ground Casualty
    Hometown   service # 2049279 Panel 11EAST - 71
    Married Single In Service   Medals Purple Heart 
    Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cem., Portland OR

         DAREL LEE SILLS

    Birth 01SEP41 Rank SP4 Date of Death 13OCT66
    P. of birth   Service Army Place S. Vietnam
    Town of
    Record
    Salem Unit USARV 246th Psy Opns Co 571st Military Intelligence Grp Death Code Hostile, Died; Multiple Fragmentation Wounds Ground Casualty
    Hometown   service # 19817666 Panel 11EAST - 72
    Married Single In Service   Medals Purple Heart  
    Tour Date 27JUN66 Comment   Cemetery  

         DON EDWARD DARNALL

    Birth 09MAY46 Rank LCPL Date of Death 22OCT66
    P. of birth   Service Marines (Draft) Place Quang Tri S. Vietnam
    Town of
    Record
    Bend Unit G CO 2/5TH MAR 1ST MAR DIV Death Code Hostile, Died Wounds; Multiple Fragmentation Wounds Ground Casualty
    Hometown   service # 2231193 Panel 11EAST - 97
    Married Married In Service   Medals Purple Heart 
    Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery  

         TIMOTHY JAMES MEEKER

    Birth 21DEC46 Rank CPL Date of Death 29OCT66
    P. of birth   Service Marines Place Quang Nam S. Vietnam
    Town of
    Record
    Redmond Unit 3rd Marine Div B Co 1st Bn 9th Mars Death Code Hostile, Died Wounds; Other Explosive Devices Ground Casualty
    Hometown   service # 2139035 Panel 11EAST - 127
    Married Single In Service   Medals Purple Heart  
    Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery  

    THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!


    Oregon
    Index
    3rd St Books
    home page
    September 1966 November 1966

    This site is done by Volunteers...We are making every attempt to place correct information online.
    Mistakes happen if you do find a error Please contact Steve Jacobson
    or if you wish to add more information or a remembrance... or A PICTURE!!!!
    All Research is done by: Darilee Bednar and items will be added as she finds them.

    this page supported by 3rd St Book Exchange, 1615 3rd St, Marysville WA
    all rights reserved @2003