Vescelius, Milton James Jr.
Navy Captain

Milton James Jr. Vescelius, age 32, from Hartland, Michigan, Livingston county.

Parents: June Ritchey and Milton Sr. (1916-87)
Spouse: Jeanene (1937-2014)
Children: Two sons, one daughter

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Hartland High (1953), Michigan State University

Date of death: Thursday, September 21, 1967
Death details: On October 21, 1986, the Central Identification Laboratory-Hawaii (CILH, now DPAA) identified the remains of Captain Milton James Vescelius Jr., missing from the Vietnam War. Captain Vescelius joined the U.S. Navy from Michigan and was a member of Light Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 63, embarked aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43). On September 21, 1967, he piloted a RF-8G Crusader (bureau number 144623) on a photo reconnaissance mission over Hai Phong, Vietnam. Captain Vescelius’ aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire over Hai Phong Harbor, and he was forced to bail out. He parachuted to the ground and was last seen surrounded by North Vietnamese troops. Captain Vescelius died at some point after being taken prisoner by the enemy. In August 1985, the Vietnamese government returned a set of remains to U.S. custody that were identified as those of CAPT Vescelius.
Cemetery: Hartland Village

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com, Livingston County Daily Press and Argus (1999, 1987)