Woloszyk, Donald Joseph
Navy Lieutenant commander

Donald Joseph Woloszyk, age 20, from Alpena County Alpena, Michigan .

Parents: Julius Kraniak

Service era: Vietnam
Schools: Alpena High (1965)

Date of death: Tuesday, March 1, 1966
Death details: Lieutenant Junior Grade Donald Joseph Woloszyk, who joined the U.S. Navy from Michigan, served with Attack Squadron 55. On March 1, 1966, he was the pilot of an A-4E Skyhawk (bureau number 152057, call sign “Garfish 401”) when it launched from the USS Ranger (CV 61) as second in a flight of four aircraft on an armed reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. In his last communication and miles inland from the coast, LTJG Woloszyk reported losing sight of his flight leader because of cloud cover, but that he still had visual contact with of one of the other aircraft and would continue to follow it. LTJG Woloszyk’s last known position was (GC) XF 180 143. He failed to arrive at a prearranged rendezvous point and was reported missing. Extensive aerial searches were conducted but a crash site was not found, and he remains unaccounted-for. While carried in the status of missing in action, the U.S. Navy promoted LTJG Woloszyk to the rank of Lieutenant Commander (LCDR); and on May 22, 1978, the U.S. Navy posthumously promoted LCDR Woloszyk to the rank of Commander (CDR). Today, Commander Woloszyk is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/Mia Accunting Agency, Bay City Times (1966)