tail number 63-38557

Hagen, Craig Louis
Army Sergeant

Craig Louis Hagen from Sacramento, California, Sacramento county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, June 10, 1965
Death details: On June 10, 1965, a UH-1B Iroquois (tail number 63-38557) with a crew of four and three passengers took off from Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, on a mission to extract personnel from the Dong Xoai Special Forces Camp, South Vietnam. The camp was under attack, and as the helicopter was disembarking its three passengers at the landing zone, it came under heavy mortar and small arms fire from enemy forces in the area. The helicopter took off and began climbing, but crashed shortly thereafter near Thuan Loi Airfield. One of the passengers radioed that everyone else on board was killed in the crash, and that he was taking heavy mortar and small-arms fire. The crew of another helicopter flying the same mission saw mortar rounds exploding in the area from where the passenger was last heard. Because of enemy activity in the area, a search and rescue mission could not be conducted. The four crew members and three passengers remain unaccounted for.

Sergeant Craig Louis Hagen entered the U.S. Army from California and was a member of 118th Aviation Company, 145th Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was the gunner aboard the UH-1B when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. Today, Sergeant Hagen is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

Compa, Joseph James Jr.
Army Staff sergeant

Joseph James Compa Jr.,, age 34, from East Liverpool, Ohio, Columbiana county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, June 10, 1965
Death details: On June 10, 1965, a UH-1B Iroquois (tail number 63-38557) with a crew of four and three passengers took off from Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, on a mission to extract personnel from the Dong Xoai Special Forces Camp, South Vietnam. The camp was under attack, and as the helicopter was disembarking its three passengers at the landing zone, it came under heavy mortar and small arms fire from enemy forces in the area. The helicopter took off and began climbing, but crashed shortly thereafter near Thuan Loi Airfield. One of the passengers radioed that everyone else on board was killed in the crash, and that he was taking heavy mortar and small-arms fire. The crew of another helicopter flying the same mission saw mortar rounds exploding in the area from where the passenger was last heard. Because of enemy activity in the area, a search and rescue mission could not be conducted. The four crew members and three passengers remain unaccounted for. Staff Sergeant Joseph James Compa Jr. entered the U.S. Army from Ohio and was a member of 118th Aviation Company, 145th Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was the crew chief aboard the UH-1B when it crashed on June 10, 1965, and his remains were not recovered. Today, Staff Sergeant Compa is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Curlee, Robert Lee Jr.
Army Staff sergeant

Robert Lee Jr. Curlee, age 24, from Monroe, North Carolina, Union county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, June 10, 1965
Death details: On June 10, 1965, a UH-1B Iroquois (tail number 63-38557) with a crew of four and three passengers took off from Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, on a mission to extract personnel from the Dong Xoai Special Forces Camp, South Vietnam. The camp was under attack, and as the helicopter was disembarking its three passengers at the landing zone, it came under heavy mortar and small arms fire from enemy forces in the area. The helicopter took off and began climbing, but crashed shortly thereafter near Thuan Loi Airfield. One of the passengers radioed that everyone else on board was killed in the crash, and that he was taking heavy mortar and small-arms fire. The crew of another helicopter flying the same mission saw mortar rounds exploding in the area from where the passenger was last heard. Because of enemy activity in the area, a search and rescue mission could not be conducted. The four crew members and three passengers remain unaccounted for. Staff Sergeant Robert Lee Curlee Jr. entered the U.S. Army from North Carolina and was a member of Detachment SD5891, Headquarters, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. He was a passenger aboard the UH-1B when it crashed on June 10, 1965, and his remains were not recovered. Today, Staff Sergeant Curlee is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Hall, Walter Louis
Army Captain

Walter Louis Hall, age 25, from Old Town, Maine, Penobscot county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, June 10, 1965
Death details: On June 10, 1965, a UH-1B Iroquois (tail number 63-38557) with a crew of four and three passengers took off from Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, on a mission to extract personnel from the Dong Xoai Special Forces Camp, South Vietnam. The camp was under attack, and as the helicopter was disembarking its three passengers at the landing zone, it came under heavy mortar and small arms fire from enemy forces in the area. The helicopter took off and began climbing, but crashed shortly thereafter near Thuan Loi Airfield. One of the passengers radioed that everyone else on board was killed in the crash, and that he was taking heavy mortar and small-arms fire. The crew of another helicopter flying the same mission saw mortar rounds exploding in the area from where the passenger was last heard. Because of enemy activity in the area, a search and rescue mission could not be conducted. The four crew members and three passengers remain unaccounted for. First Lieutenant Walter Louis Hall entered the U.S. Army from Maine and was a member of 118th Aviation Company, 145th Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was the pilot of the UH-1B when it crashed on June 10, 1965, and his remains were not recovered. After the incident, the U.S. Army promoted 1LT Hall to the rank of Captain (CPT). Today, Captain Hall is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Johnson, Bruce Gardner
Army Lieutenant colonel

Bruce Gardner Johnson, age 27, from Harbor Beach, Michigan, Huron county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, June 10, 1965
Death details: On June 10, 1965, a UH-1B Iroquois (tail number 63-38557) with a crew of four and three passengers took off from Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, on a mission to extract personnel from the Dong Xoai Special Forces Camp, South Vietnam. The camp was under attack, and as the helicopter was disembarking its three passengers at the landing zone, it came under heavy mortar and small arms fire from enemy forces in the area. The helicopter took off and began climbing, but crashed shortly thereafter near Thuan Loi Airfield. One of the passengers radioed that everyone else on board was killed in the crash, and that he was taking heavy mortar and small-arms fire. The crew of another helicopter flying the same mission saw mortar rounds exploding in the area from where the passenger was last heard. Because of enemy activity in the area, a search and rescue mission could not be conducted. The four crew members and three passengers remain unaccounted for. Captain Bruce Gardner Johnson entered the U.S. Army from Michigan and was a member of Detachment SD5891, Headquarters, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. He was a passenger on board the UH-1B when it crashed, and his remains were not recovered. After the incident, the U.S. Army promoted Captain Johnson to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Today, Lieutenant Colonel Johnson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Owens, Fred Monroe
Army Sergeant 1st class

Fred Monroe Owens, age 31, from Picher, Oklahoma, Ottawa county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, June 10, 1965
Death details: On June 10, 1965, a UH-1B Iroquois (tail number 63-38557) with a crew of four and three passengers took off from Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, on a mission to extract personnel from the Dong Xoai Special Forces Camp, South Vietnam. The camp was under attack, and as the helicopter was disembarking its three passengers at the landing zone, it came under heavy mortar and small arms fire from enemy forces in the area. The helicopter took off and began climbing, but crashed shortly thereafter near Thuan Loi Airfield. One of the passengers radioed that everyone else on board was killed in the crash, and that he was taking heavy mortar and small-arms fire. The crew of another helicopter flying the same mission saw mortar rounds exploding in the area from where the passenger was last heard. Because of enemy activity in the area, a search and rescue mission could not be conducted. The four crew members and three passengers remain unaccounted for. Sergeant First Class Fred Monroe Owens entered the U.S. Army from Oklahoma and was a member of Detachment SD5891, Headquarters, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. He was a passenger aboard the UH-1B when it crashed on June 10, 1965, and his remains were not recovered. Today, Sergeant First Class Owens is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Saegaert, Donald Russell
Army Warrant officer

Donald Russell Saegaert, age 25, from Berlin, Connecticut.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Thursday, June 10, 1965
Death details: On June 10, 1965, a UH-1B Iroquois (tail number 63-38557) with a crew of four and three passengers took off from Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon, on a mission to extract personnel from the Dong Xoai Special Forces Camp, South Vietnam. The camp was under attack, and as the helicopter was disembarking its three passengers at the landing zone, it came under heavy mortar and small arms fire from enemy forces in the area. The helicopter took off and began climbing, but crashed shortly thereafter near Thuan Loi Airfield. One of the passengers radioed that everyone else on board was killed in the crash, and that he was taking heavy mortar and small-arms fire. The crew of another helicopter flying the same mission saw mortar rounds exploding in the area from where the passenger was last heard. Because of enemy activity in the area, a search and rescue mission could not be conducted. The four crew members and three passengers remain unaccounted for. Warrant Officer 1 Donald Russell Saegaert entered the U.S. Army from Connecticut and was a member of 118th Aviation Company, 145th Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was the copilot of the UH-1B when it crashed on June 10, 1965, and his remains were not recovered. Today, Warrant Officer 1 Saegaert is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

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