Tag: MIA

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Speicher, Michael Scott
Navy Captain

Michael Scott Speicher, age 33, from Kansas City, Missouri. Their last known residence was in Jacksonville, Florida.

Spouse: Joanne Speicher
Children: Two children

Service era: Operation Desert Storm
Schools: Florida State University (1980)

Date of death: Thursday, January 17, 1991
Death details: Shot down flying a combat mission in an F/A-18 Hornet over west-central Iraq. Acting on information from an Iraqi citizen in July 2009, Marines went to the crash site and were led to a burial site. He was the only American missing in action from that war. Reports over years led some to believe he was alive.
Cemetery: Jacsonville Memory Gardens

Source: Department of Defense, New York Times, Fox News, Associated Press

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Manning, Ronald James
Navy Hospital man

Ronald James Manning from Toronto, Ohio, Jefferson county. Their last known residence was in Toronto.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, May 15, 1975
Death details: Hostile, body not recovered, Cambodia; Marine Corps Pfc. Daniel A. Benedett of Seattle, Wash., was buried May 15, 2013 at Arlington National Cemetery, along with Air Force 2nd Lt. Richard Vandegeer of Cleveland, Ohio; Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Bernard Gause Jr., of Birmingham, Ala.; Hospitalman Ronald J. Manning of Steubenville, Ohio; Marine Corps servicemen Lance Cpl. Gregory S. Copenhaver of Lewistown, Pa.; Lance Cpl. Andres Garcia of Carlsbad, N.M.; Pfc. Lynn Blessing of Lancaster, Pa.; Pfc. Walter Boyd of Portsmouth, Va.; Pfc. James J. Jacques of La Junta, Colo.; Pfc. James R. Maxwell of Memphis, Tenn.; Pfc. Richard W. Rivernburgh of Schenectady, N.Y.; Pfc. Antonio R. Sandoval of San Antonio, Texas; and Pfc. Kelton R. Turner of St. Louis, Mo. On May 12, 1975, Khmer Rouge gunboats captured the S.S. Mayaguez in the Gulf of Thailand, approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of Cambodia. After the vessel was taken to Koh Tang Island, U.S. aircraft began surveillance flights around the island. When efforts to secure the release of the ship and its crew failed, U.S. military forces began a rescue mission. Three days after the Mayaguez seizure, the Air Force dispatched six helicopters to the island. One of the helicopters came under heavy enemy fire and crashed into the surf with 26 men on board. Thirteen of the men were rescued at sea, leaving Benedett and 12 other service members unaccounted-for from the crash. Between 1991 and 2008, investigators conducted more than 10 investigations and excavations, led by Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC). On three occasions, Cambodian authorities turned over remains believed to be those of American servicemen. In 1995, U.S. and Cambodian specialists conducted an underwater recovery of the helicopter crash site where they located remains, personal effects and aircraft debris associated with the loss. Between 2000 and 2004, all of the missing service members from this helicopter, except Benedett, were accounted-for. On January 30, 2013, Benedett was accounted-for. Scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and DNA process of elimination to account for his remains.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Department of Defense

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Rumbaugh, Elwood Eugene
Air Force Staff Sergeant

Elwood Eugene Rumbaugh, age 31, from Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, Cambria county.

Spouse: Married

Service era: Vietnam
Military history: Staff sergeant.

Date of death: Saturday, May 15, 1975
Death details:  On May 15, 1975, a CH-53A Super Stallion (tail number 926) with a crew of four took part in a rescue of the U.S. merchant ship SS Mayaguez, located off the coast of Koh Tang Island, Cambodia. The Super Stallion was damaged by hostile ground fire during the mission, causing it to crash into the water off the island’s coast, in the vicinity of (GC) TS 940 400. A rescue team was able to locate and recover three members of the Super Stallion’s crew immediately after the crash; however, the flight engineer could not be found. Further searches of the crash site could not be conducted due to heavy enemy presence in the area. The remains of the Super Stallion’s flight engineer are still unaccounted for.

Staff Sergeant Elwood Eugene Rumbaugh, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Pennsylvania, was a member of the 21st Special Operations Squadron. He was the flight engineer aboard the Super Stallion when it went down, and was the crew member who was not located following the crash. His remains were not recovered, and he is still unaccounted for. Today, Staff Sergeant Rumbaugh is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Department of Defense.

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Smallwood, John Jackie
Air Force Captain

John Jackie Smallwood, age 25, from Marietta, Georgia, Cobb county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Saturday, June 16, 1973.

On June 16, 1973, an F-4E Phantom II (tail number: 67-00374; call sign “Wolf 07”) conducted a forward air controller (FAC) mission over Cambodia. It was the lead aircraft in a flight of two on the mission, and was responsible for marking targets for the other aircraft. This Phantom’s pilot spotted an enemy-controlled bridge and maneuvered to mark it for the other aircraft, but while attempting this, crashed for unknown reasons. The wingman’s crew observed the crash and reported seeing no ejections and receiving no rescue beeper signals. Immediate search and rescue forces failed to locate the downed Phantom or either crew member. Due to enemy forces in the area, no ground search was conducted, and the two crew members remain unaccounted-for.

Captain John Jackie Smallwood, who entered the U.S. Air Force from Georgia, served with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was the radar intercept officer aboard this Phantom when it crashed on June 16, 1973. He was not recovered following the incident. Today, Captain Smallwood is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Stringham, William Sterlin
Navy Petty officer 3rd class

William Sterlin Stringham, age 22, from Garden, California, Orange county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Saturday, February 3, 1973
Death details: Aviation Machinists Mate Third Class William Sterling Stringham, who joined the U.S. Navy from California, was a member of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 115, embarked aboard the USS Midway (CVA 41). On February 3, 1973, he failed to report for duty at his assigned work center. A search of his sleeping quarters and a questioning of his acquaintances revealed that he had not been seen since that morning. The entire Midway was searched, but ADR3 Sterling was not seen or heard from following his disappearance, and his remains have not been recovered. Today, Aviation Machinists Mate Third Class Stringham is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Wiehr, Richard Daniel
Navy Aviation electronics technician 2nd class

Richard Daniel Wiehr, age 22, from Mankato, Minnesota, Blue Earth county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, January 21, 1973
Death details: On January 21, 1973, an EKA-3B Skywarrior (bureau number 142634) carrying a crew of three was to make a night catapult launch from the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-61), located in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of North Vietnam. A malfunction occurred during the launch, causing the Skywarrior to run off the carrier deck at a slow speed. It crashed into the water and sank. An extensive search for the aircraft’s crew was unsuccessful in locating them. All three members of the Skywarrior’s crew remain unaccounted for.

Aviation Electronics Technician Second Class Richard Daniel Wiehr, who joined the U.S. Navy from Minnesota, was a member of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 130. He was a crew member aboard this Skywarrior when it crashed, and was lost with the aircraft. His remains were not recovered. Today, Petty Officer Wiehr is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Christophersen, Keith Allen
Navy lieutenant (junior grade)

Keith Allen Christophersen, 26, from South Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, January 21, 1973
Death details: 

On January 21, 1973, an EKA-3B Skywarrior (bureau number 142634) carrying a crew of three was to make a night catapult launch from the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-61), located in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of North Vietnam. A malfunction occurred during the launch, causing the Skywarrior to run off the carrier deck at a slow speed. It crashed into the water and sank. An extensive search for the aircraft’s crew was unsuccessful in locating them. All three members of the Skywarrior’s crew remain unaccounted for.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Keith Allen Christophersen, who joined the U.S. Navy from Minnesota, was a member of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 130. He was a crew member aboard this Skywarrior when it crashed, and was lost with the aircraft. His remains were not recovered. Today, Lieutenant Junior Grade Christophersen is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Parker, Charles Leslie
Navy Lieutenant commander

Charles Leslie Parker, age 33, from San Diego, California, San Diego county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, January 21, 1973
Death details:  On January 21, 1973, an EKA-3B Skywarrior (bureau number 142634) carrying a crew of three was to make a night catapult launch from the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-61), located in the Gulf of Tonkin off the coast of North Vietnam. A malfunction occurred during the launch, causing the Skywarrior to run off the carrier deck at a slow speed. It crashed into the water and sank. An extensive search for the aircraft’s crew was unsuccessful in locating them. All three members of the Skywarrior’s crew remain unaccounted for.

Lieutenant Commander Charles Leslie Parker Jr., who joined the U.S. Navy from California, was a member of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 130. He was the pilot of the Skywarrior when it crashed, and was lost with the aircraft. His remains were not recovered. Today, Lieutenant Commander Parker is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual’s case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Stafford, Ronald Dean
Air Force Captain

Ronald Dean Stafford, age 29, from Oxford, Nebraska, Furnas county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Tuesday, November 21, 1972

Death details: On November 21, 1972, an F-111 Aardvark (tail number 67-092, call sign “Burger 54”) with a crew of two embarked on a combat mission over North Vietnam. The last known contact with the Aardvark occurred when the aircraft was over Laos in the vicinity of (GC)  WD 600 870 and approaching the target, which was located at (GC) XE 429 479. When nothing further was heard from “Burger 54,” search efforts were initiated, but were unsuccessful. Ten days after “Burger 54” disappeared, pieces of the aircraft were found on a beach in South Vietnam in the vicinity of (GC) ZD 060 160. Investigators determined that the aircraft had crashed at sea with the crew aboard, and that the crew had probably not survived the crash.

Captain Ronald Dean Stafford, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Nebraska, served with the 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron. He was the pilot of the Aardvark when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. Today, Captain Stafford is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

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Breuer, Donald Charles
Marines Captain

Donald Charles Breuer from New York City, New York

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: November 20, 1972

Death details: On November 20, 1972, an F-4J Phantom II (bureau number 153849, call sign “Motion 05-2”) with a crew of two took part in a two-plane combat mission over Laos. While pulling up from a bomb pass over the target, the Phantom was hit by anti-aircraft artillery fire. The pilot ejected and, after landing, made radio contact with the Forward Air Controller (FAC) and the flight leader. A search and rescue (SAR) mission extracted the pilot, but the Phantom’s second radar intercept officer could not be located.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency