James R. Jr. Merz, age 20, from Royal Oak, Michigan, Oakland county.
Parents: James R. Merz Sr.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: Thursday, July 2, 1970
Death details: Hostile, killed, South Vietnam
Source: National Archives, 35th Infantry Regiment Association, UPI (1970)
George Edward Tyler, age 38, from Royal Oak, Michigan, Oakland county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: October 24, 1968
Death details: On October 24, 1968, an F-4D Phantom II (tail number 66-0264) with a crew of two took part in a three-plane nighttime armed reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. Enemy ground fire struck the plane as it passed over the target area, causing it to crash. The Phantom’s rear-seat pilot parachuted from the aircraft before it went down, and was retrieved by search and rescue (SAR) units. The aircraft commander was never seen to bail out of the plane, and is thought to have died in the crash.
Major George Edward Tyler, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Michigan, was a member of the 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 366th Tactical Fighter Wing. He was the aircraft commander aboard the F-4D when it went down. He was unable to bail out and was lost with the aircraft. He was not seen or heard from again following the incident, and attempts to locate his remains were unsuccessful. He was promoted to Colonel after his disappearance. Today, Colonel Tyler is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Martin John Massucci, age 25, from Royal Oak, Michigan, Oakland county.
Service era: Vietnam
Date of death: October 1, 1965
Death details: On October 1, 1965, an F-4 Phantom II (tail number: 63-7712, call sign “Gator 3”) with two crew members participated in a flight of three aircraft on a strike and armed road reconnaissance mission against the Ban Tang staging area on Route 155 in North Vietnam. Near the target, the flight encountered anti-aircraft fire, and one of the other air crews noticed that “Gator 3” was on fire and warned the crew to bail out. The other two aircraft in the flight saw one parachute leave “Gator 3” and land near (GC) 48Q VJ 635 388 before the aircraft crashed into the side of Suong Mountain, in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q VJ 730 340. The flight circled the crash site for ten minutes but could not establish radio communication with either of the crew members of “Gator 3.” Subsequent search and rescue teams saw no signs that any crew members survived the crash.
First Lieutenant (1st Lt) Martin John Massucci, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Michigan, served with the 43rd Tactical Fighter Wing. He was the pilot of the Phantom when it crashed, and his remains have not been recovered. Following the incident, the U.S. Air Force promoted 1st Lt Massucci to the rank of Major (Maj). Today, Major Massucci 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
Hester Scott Webb, age 21, from Royal Oak, Michigan, Oakland county.
Parents: Margaret Webb
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Sunday, November 21, 1943
Death details: From November 20 through 23, 1943, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy conducted a large-scale amphibious assault on the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa as part of Operation Galvanic, the Allied capture of the Gilbert Islands. Located 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, Tarawa was a crucial stepping stone in the planned U.S. offensive across the central Pacific toward Japan. The Japanese garrison on Tarawa’s main island of Betio was well-entrenched with hundreds of bunkers and gun positions behind formidable beach obstacles. The first wave of Marines approaching the shore encountered lower-than-expected tides, forcing them to leave their landing craft on the reef and wade the hundreds of yards to the beach under intense enemy fire. The heaviest number of U.S. casualties were suffered during this phase of the landing. Eventually, rising tides allowed U.S. warships to maneuver closer to shore and support the troops with effective naval gunfire. More Marines landed on the second day, launching attacks inland from the beaches and seizing the Japanese airfield on the island. However, the enemy launched vicious counterattacks and two more days of intense fighting were needed to secure Betio. The last enemy strongpoints were taken on the morning of November 23. The fighting on Betio cost the Marines nearly 3,000 casualties but enabled U.S. forces to press further across the Pacific and yielded valuable tactical lessons that reduced U.S. losses in future amphibious landings. Corporal Hester Scott Webb joined the U.S. Marine Corps from Michigan and was a member of Company C, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, which took part in the Battle of Tarawa. On November 21, 1943, he was killed in action on the atoll. He was buried in Cemetery #33, but after the war his remains were not located, and he remains unaccounted-for. Today, Corporal Webb is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
Matthew Jr. Getson, age 21, from Royal Oak, Michigan, Oakland county.
Parents: B. K. Johnson
Service era: World War II
Date of death: Saturday, November 20, 1943
Death details: From November 20 through 23, 1943, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy conducted a large-scale amphibious assault on the Japanese-held atoll of Tarawa as part of Operation Galvanic, the Allied capture of the Gilbert Islands. Located 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii, Tarawa was a crucial stepping stone in the planned U.S. offensive across the central Pacific toward Japan. The Japanese garrison on Tarawa’s main island of Betio was well-entrenched with hundreds of bunkers and gun positions behind formidable beach obstacles. The first wave of Marines approaching the shore encountered lower-than-expected tides, forcing them to leave their landing craft on the reef and wade the hundreds of yards to the beach under intense enemy fire. The heaviest number of U.S. casualties were suffered during this phase of the landing. Eventually, rising tides allowed U.S. warships to maneuver closer to shore and support the troops with effective naval gunfire. More Marines landed on the second day, launching attacks inland from the beaches and seizing the Japanese airfield on the island. However, the enemy launched vicious counterattacks and two more days of intense fighting were needed to secure Betio. The last enemy strongpoints were taken on the morning of November 23. The fighting on Betio cost the Marines nearly 3,000 casualties but enabled U.S. forces to press further across the Pacific and yielded valuable tactical lessons that reduced U.S. losses in future amphibious landings. Private First Class Matthew Getson Jr., who joined the U.S. Marine Corps from Michigan, was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division. PFC Getson was killed in action on November 20, 1943, during the Battle of Tarawa and was buried in the Main Marine Cemetery on Betio Island. However, after the war, his remains could not be identified. Today, Private First Class Getson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency