Birth 21MAY46 Rank LT Date of Event 04FEB72 P. of birth   Service Navy Place NY S.Vietnam Town of Record Medford Unit 3RD MAF VA-22 TF 77 USS CORAL SEA Death Code Non Hostile, Died Other; Air Loss, Crash - Sea Fixed Wing - Pilot Hometown   service # 540481564 Panel 02WEST - 104 Married Married Declared Dead 04FEB72 Medals   MIA BNR Comment   Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery

VALLEY FLIER, NAVY LT. DANIEL COOPER, KILLED IN AIR CRASH OFF VIETNAM COAST
    Navy Lt. Daniel D. Cooper, 25, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Cooper Jr., 2749 Lawrence Ave., Medford, died 4 Feb (1972) in an air crash while stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea off the coast of Vietnam.
    Lt. Cooper was born 21 May 1946 in Ashland and attended Talent schools, graduating from Phoenix High School. He attended Southern Oregon College and the University of Oregon, receiving his bachelor of science degree from the latter in 1968. He received his master of science degree from the University of Florida.
    While in college he entered the Navy flight training program. The USS Coral Sea was his first tour of duty the ship leaving the United States last November. As a pilot he had flown more then 30 missions at the time of his death.
    In high school he participated in basketball and football. He was a Boy Scout, earning the God and Country Award, and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a member of Talent Methodist Church.
    Survivors in addition to his parents include his wife, Carol Cooper, Lemoore CA; one son, Michael David Cooper, Talent; two sisters, Miss Diana Cooper, a student at the University of Oregon, and Mrs. Suzie Okuloff, San Mateo CA; and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Fenton and Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Cooper, all Talent.
    Local arrangements are entrusted to Siskiyou Funeral Service directors of Chapel in the Trees Mortuary. Memorial services will be held Tuesday at the Lemoore Naval Air Station, the base of Lt. Cooper's squadron.
(Medford Mail Tribune, Medford OR, 6 Feb 1972)

    ROBERT EDWIN PRYOR

Birth 19MAR50 Rank SN Date of Death 13FEB72 P. of birth   Service Navy Place Gia Dinh S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit NAVSUPPACT Death Code Non Hostile, Died Other; Heart Attack Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 543202636 Panel 02WEST 107  Married Single  In Service   Medals   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery

    RONALD STANLEY ANDERSON

Birth 20OCT51 Rank A1C Date of Death 23MAR72 P. of birth   Service Air Force Place Quang Nam S. Vietnam Town of Record Astoria Unit 600TH PHOTO SQ Death Code Non Hostile, Died Other; Drowned, Suffocated Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 539528880 Panel 02WEST - 118  Married Single  In Service   Medals   Tour Date 29MAR71  Comment   Cemetery

    MASON IRWIN BURNHAM

Birth 19SEP43 Rank CPT Date of Event 20APR72 P. of birth Okmulge OK Service Air Force (Reserve) Place Quang Tri S.Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit 421ST TACTICAL FIGTHER SQUADRON Death Code Hostile, Died Missing; Air Loss, Crash - Land Fixed Wing - Crew Hometown   service # 542420279 Panel 01WEST - 04 Married Married  Declared Dead 27MAR75 Medals Purple Heart  Panel 01WEST - 04 Comment ret07JUN94/id01OCT99  Cemetery Arlington National Cem. & Restlawn Mem. Gardens, Salem

(MIA information extracted from POWNetWork.org)
  Mason Irwin Burnham was born 19 Sep 1943, in Okmulge OK. He lived in Salem, Vancouver WA, and Roseburg before moving to Eugene in 1964. He received a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Oregon in 1968.
  On 20 Apr 1972 he was sitting backseat on a F-4D Phantom jet that was escorting an AC-130 gunship on a bombing run near the Vietnam border. As another aircrew marked a target, The pilot of the aircraft radioed that he was lining up his F-4D Phantom aircraft for the ordnance run. Shortly thereafter, the crew of the AC-130 reported seeing a large fireball on the ground. A radio and physical search found no evidence of the lost men until 1993 when a team of researchers found two villagers who had found the plane.
  Burnham's remains were recovered 07 Jun 1994 and id'd 01 Oct 1999. In 2000 he received two funeral ceremonies, the first at Arlington National Cem. and a later funeral at Salem OR. More information available at PowNetWork.org

    CLYDE CURTIS LOVE

Birth 26NOV47 Rank CPT Date of Death 18MAY72 P. of birth   Service Army (Draft) Place Kien Giang S. Vietnam Town of Record Keating Unit 1st Avn Bde 18th Avn Co 164th Avn Grp Death Code Hostile, Died; Air Loss, Crash - Land Helicopter - Crew Hometown   service # 540548618 Panel 01WEST - 28  Married Married  In Service   Medals Purple Heart  Tour Date 28SEP71  Comment   Cemetery Willamette National Cemetery

Distinguished Flying Cross Earned By Clyde Love for Valorous Action       Warrant Officer Clyde C. Love, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Love of Keating recently received the Distinguished Flying Cross award for valorous action as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam action.       Already the recipient of a bronze star, Clyde, who is a Baker High graduate where he was active in the Future Farmer Chapter, had been in action since last Feb. and is due home February 21 for leave prior to reporting to Ft. Lewis for reassignment. The most recent citation is for action on August 1968       Brother's Tom, an army helicopter crew chief in Vietnam, and Bill, who has been discharged after his tour of duty, have also seen much action. Bill holds two purple hearts, two distinguished flying crosses, two bronze stars and two air medals and the army commendation medal.       Clyde's DFC citation reads:       "For heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actions above, and beyond the call of duty: Warrant Officer Love distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as aircraft commander of a CH-47 helicopter on an emergency ammunition resupply mission to the Special Forces camp at Due Lap.       Navigating through extremely adverse weather, and well within range of enemy small arms and antiaircraft fire, Warrant Officer Love approached the landing zone several minutes behind the lead aircraft. The lead aircraft was twice driven off by intensive rocket mortar and small arms fire, barely escaping destruction on the third and successful try. Strongly advised by the lead aircraft not to attempt a landing due to the extreme danger, Warrant Officer Love elected to continue his descent into the area.       "Upon touching down in the hostile area, three rockets exploded in close proximity, spraying the aircraft with deadly fragments and wounding one crew member. With the precious cargo unloaded, he skillfully departed the area. Through his courageous determination and expert judgement. Warrant Officer Love helped save the camp and it's brave defenders from certain annihilation.       "His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.       By Direction of the President." (The Record - Courier, Baker OR)

CAPT. CLYDE LOVE KILLED IN VIETNAM ACTION THURSDAY
Army Pilot Was Son Of Keating Couple and Was Scheduled Home
      Captain Clyde C. Love, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Love and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Love, was killed in action in Vietnam Thursday, 18 May (1972), word received by the family, all of Lower Powder, late last week indicated.
      The brief message from Verne L. Bowers, Major General, USA, the adjutant general, merely stated: "The Secretary of the Army has asked me to express his deepest regret that your son Capt. Clyde C. Love was killed in action in Vietnam on 18 May 1972.
      He was the aircraft commander on a military aircraft on a military mission when the aircraft was fired upon by a hostile ground force. The aircraft did not crash or burn.
      "Please accept my deepest sympathy. this confirms personal notification by a representative of the Secretary of the Army.
      Captain Love's wife and infant daughter were living during his absence near her people in Florida. He was on his second tour of duty in the Vietnam action and was within a few weeks of returning to a station on the West Coast, the family said.
      Interment service will be in the Willamette National Cemetery at Portland, Tuesday, 30 May at 1:30 p.m. from the Mt. Scott Funeral Home.
      Captain Love had written home often and only recently commented upon the load they were being asked to take care on in the war zone, flying 16 to 18 hours with little protection. He had been a pilot of a large cargo helicopter and was apparently shot from ground rifle fire and no one else was hit and the co-pilot took cover.
      Clyde was a leading FFA member while attending Baker high from which he was graduated and had been active in club work. (The Record - Courier, Baker OR, Thursday, 25 May 1972)

    BENJAMIN LEE TEBAULT

Birth 04DEC42 Rank CPT Date of Death 04JUN72 P. of birth   Service Marines Place Binh Dinh S. Vietnam Town of Record Portland Unit H&S CO 2ND BN 1ST MARS Death Code Hostile, Died; Air Loss, Crash - Land Fixed Wing - Crew Hometown   service # 158326469 Panel 01WEST - 35  Married Married  In Service   Medals Purple Heart  Tour Date 14APR72  Comment   Cemetery

    JAMES E HUDELSON

Birth 07APR33 Rank MAJ Date of Death 30JUL72 P. of birth   Service Air Force * Place Thailand Town of Record Roseburg Unit   Death Code Non Hostile, Died Other; Unknown, Not Reported - Hometown   service # 541347655 Panel 01WEST - 60  Married Married  In Service   Medals   Tour Date   Comment   Cemetery

    DONALD FREDRICK LINDLAND

Birth 22AUG36 Rank CDR Date of Event 06SEP72 P. of birth Lowell Service Navy Place NZ N. Vietnam Town of Record Eugene Unit 7TH FLEET VA-75 TF 77 USS SARATOGA Death Code Hostile, Died Captured; Air Loss, Crash - Land Fixed Wing - Pilot Hometown Oakridge service # 544384099 Panel 01WEST - 71 Married Married Declared Dead 02AUG78 Medals Purple Heart  MIA ret03JUN83 id27JUN83 Link Virtual Wall Cemetery

Thank you Virtual Wall for the use of the picture.

Thank you Oregon Genealogical Society

Want him accounted for
FAMILY SURE PILOT A PRISONER
    Although Defense Dept. officials consider him missing in action in Vietnam, members of the family of Navy pilot Donald Lindland refer to his status as an "unconfirmed prisoner of war."
    Lindland, 36, was born in Lowell and raised in Oakridge and Eugene. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1958 with a degree in accounting and business administration. That same year he entered the Navy.
    His A6A Intruder plane from the aircraft carrier Saratoga, was shot down over Haiphong by a surface-to-air missile on 6 Sep 1972.
    He's Officially listed as missing in action. His family says there are too many discrepancies to reports it has received to assume that he's been killed. The relatives in letters and interviews, say they want more done to determine if Lindland is alive.
    The family says it has reports that after his plane was shot down, Lindland was seen alive by the pilot of another American plane.
    But no one has ever heard of or from him.
    This includes Rodger Lerseth, the bombardier-navigator of the plane when it was shot down.
    Lerseth was among the first of the POWs to be released and according to Karin Pollara, Lindland's sister who lives in Eugene, he "had not heard nothing of Don in Hanoi prisons. "
    The Defense Department, in a number of recent public statements, has claimed that all American prisoners who were alive have been returned.
    Lindland's wife, Bobbe, of Virginia Beach VA and his sister Karin are both adamant in asking that people write to their congressmen. Both women urge that no funds be allotted for the rebuilding of North Vietnam "until every discrepancy and every 'missing in action' is accounted for by name and the cases have reached total completion."
    The Lieutenant commander's disappearance over North Vietnam is the second tragedy with overtones of mystery to have hit the family in three years.
    His mother, Clara Lindland Mickelson of Eugene, was an apparent kidnaping and murder victim two years ago. She mysteriously disappeared from Eugene in March of 1970 and her body was discovered a year later in Idaho.
    Her slaying has never been solved. (Eugene Register Guard, Eugene OR, 8 Jul 1973)

Thank you Oregon Genealogical Society

Although husband's remains finally to come home
WIDOW OF MIA CAN'T BURY QUESTIONS
Lisa Strycker of the Register-Guard
    After 11 years Bobbe Lindland soon may be able to bury the remains of her husband's body.
    But she says she may never bury the anger, unanswered questions and bitterness she has lived with since her husband, Donald, a 36-year-old U.S. Navy pilot who was born in Lowell and reared in Oakridge and Eugene, was shot down over Vietnam on 6 Sep 1972.
    In a telephone interview Tuesday from her home in Norfolk VA, Bobbe Lindland, 45, said she was told earlier this week that remains released to the United States have been identified as those of her husband.
    The remains of eight other military pilots -- one of which has yet to be identified -- shot down during the Vietnam War also were released by Vietnam authorities to U.S. envoys in Hanoi on 3 Jun 1983)
    The remains were identified after forensic tests at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii and will be flown Thursday to Travis Air Force Base near Sacramento CA said Capt. Mike Cox, public affairs officer at the base.
    Bobbe Lindland, however, remains skeptical that the remains identified as those of her husband really belong to the man she met on a diving board and later married in November 1961.
    "They are bringing the forensic records to me, and then I will know what their findings are," she said. "All of my questions will be answered before I do anything with the remains."
    If the test-results convince her the remains are those of her husband, who entered the Navy after graduating from the University of Oregon in 1958 with a business degree, she said she plans to have them cremated and the ashes spread over the Pacific Ocean.
    Once that's done she said it may be easier for her to end one part of her life and begin the next.
    "it does help," she said. "It's difficult when you're in that 'not-knowing' situation. You're in and out of limbo. That person still lives with you, and you don't ever feel any finality.
    "I'm someone who has always dealt in facts, and I don't like being in this limbo situation."
    Besides the body of Lindland, who was shot down while flying an A6A aircraft, forensics experts have identified the remains of those of Air Force Col. Larry William Biediger of La Costa TX; Air Force Col. John Francis Dudash of Manville NJ; Air Force Col. Farrell Junior Sullivan of Caddo Mills TX; Air Force Lt. Col. Merwin Lamphrey Morrill of San Carlos CA; Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charles Richard Lee of Costa Mesa CA; Navy Cmdr. James Thomas Ruffin of Dealsville AL; and Air Force Capt. Lynn Kesler Powell of Provo UT.
    The men were shot down in action between 1966 and 1972 . They were not in the same military unit, nor do they seem to be related in any way ...(the rest of this long article isn't really readable) (Eugene Register-Guard, Eugene OR, 29 Jun 1983)

Thank you Oregon Genealogical Society

    GEORGE ERNEST GILLILAND

Birth 03AUG36 Rank SGT Date of Death 14SEP72 P. of birth   Service Army Place Unknown S. Vietnam Town of Record Scio Unit 196th LIB G Co 2nd Bn 1st Inf Death Code Non Hostile, Died Illness, Disease; Heart Attack Ground Casualty Hometown   service # 539305228 Panel 01WEST - 72  Married Married  In Service   Medals   Tour Date 15JAN72  Comment   Cemetery

    ROBERT ARTHUR BRETT Jr

Birth 16APR48 Rank CAPT Date of Event 29SEP72 P. of birth   Service Air Force (Reserve) Place NZ N.Vietnam Town of Record Corvallis Unit 474TH TACTICAL FIGHTER WING, NELLIS AFB NV Death Code Hostile, Died Missing; Air Loss, Crash - Land Fixed Wing - Crew Hometown   service # 541548274 Panel 01WEST - 75 Married Married Declared Dead 24JUL79 Medals Purple Heart  MIA ret 20NOV00/id 05MAR02 Comment   Cemetery

    EDWARD HARVEY JOHNSON

Birth 27APR32 Rank COL Date of Event 21DEC72 P. of birth   Service Air Force Place NZ N. Vietnam Town of Record Newberg Unit 325 BOMB SQD TDY TO 43 STRAT WG Death Code Hostile, Died Missing; Air Loss, Crash - Land Fixed Wing - Crew Hometown   service # 540348703 Panel 01WEST - 100 Married Married Declared Dead 17APR79 Medals Purple Heart  MIA ret15DEC88/id23MAY89 Comment   Cemetery