PERSONALIZED TRIBUTES TO THE
USAFA
FACs
KILLED IN
ACTION
* webmasters note: clicking on the FACs' name will take you to the
approximate
location of the downed FAC
Park George
Bunker
*
Missing
In Action 30 December 1970
Captain Park George Bunker was
from Homewood, Illinois and born on 10 December 1940. He
was 30 and married when he was lost. Captain Bunker was a Raven Forward Air
Controller assigned to the Ambassador to Laos
as part of the Steve
Canyon Project. He was
supporting General Vang Pao in the Barrel Roll part of Northern
Laos as a civilian. Most of the fighting took place in
an area known as the Plain of Jars. His body was not recovered and his
name is located at 05W 014 on the Vietnam Memorial.
Douglas Holma
Butterfield
Killed
In Action 5 June 1967
Captain Douglas Holma
Butterfield was from Vista,
California and born on 30 October
1940. He was 26 and married when he died. He was a Rash Forward Air Controller
assigned to the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Da Nang supporting the 1st
Air Cavalry Division at An Khe. Captain Butterfield was flying a visual
reconnaissance mission when his O-1G S/N 50-1640 was hit by ground fire about 5
miles from An Khe and crashed. He had four years of service and served 304 days
in combat. Captain Butterfield had been an F-100 pilot and graduated from Polmar College.
His body was recovered and his name is located at 21E 057 on the Vietnam
Memorial.
Robert Marion
Carn Jr.
Crashed
29 August 1965
First Lieutenant Robert Marion
Carn Jr. was from Claysburg,
Pennsylvania and born on 13
February 1940. He was 25 and single when he died. Lieutenant Carn was a Red
Marker Forward Air Controller assigned to the 19th Tactical Air
Support Squadron at Bien Hoa. He was an Air Force Academy graduate and was an Interceptor
pilot prior to his FAC assignment. He was supporting the Vietnamese Airborne
Brigade when his O-1F S/N 56-2539 collided with another FAC aircraft and
crashed. Lieutenant Carn had three years of service and served 57 days in
combat. His body was recovered and his name is located at 02E 069 on the Vietnam
Memorial.
John Leonard
Carroll
Missing
In Action 7 November 1972
Major John Leonard Carroll was
from Decatur, Georgia and born on 6 May 1940. He
was 32 and married when he was lost. Major Carroll was a Raven Forward Air
Controller assigned as a civilian to the Ambassador to Laos. His work was done in the
Barrel Roll area of northern Laos
supporting General Vang Pao in the war against the Pathet Lao Communist forces.
A lot of the flying in the Raven O-1 aircraft was done over the Plain of Jars.
Major Carroll’s body was not recovered and he was declared dead. His name is
located at 01W 090 on the Vietnam
Memorial.
Richard Neil
Christy II
Killed
In Action 17 February 1972
First Lieutenant Richard Neil
Christy II was from Marietta,
Ohio and born on 26 April 1946.
He was 25 and single when he died. He was a Sundog Forward Air Controller
assigned to the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron at Cam Ranh Bay South Vietnam.
He was flying an O-2A aircraft out of Tan
Son Nhut
Airport at Saigon over Cambodia
when he was shot down. The aircraft crashed and Lt. Christy was killed while
his observer, Staff Sergeant W. E. Silva, survived and was rescued. His body
was recovered and his name is located at 02W 107 on the Vietnam Memorial.
Daniel Richard Davis
Missing
In Action 18 August 1969
Captain Daniel Richard Davis was
from Atlanta, Georgia and born on 10 August 1943.
He was 30 and married when he died. He was a Raven Forward Air Controller
assigned to the Ambassador to Laos
as a civilian. Captain Davis flew in support of General Vang Pao in the Barrel
Roll area of northern Laos
against the Pathet Lao Communist forces. Most of the fighting took
place in an area known as the Plain of Jars. His O-1 aircraft was
lost and his body was not recovered. He was declared dead on 30 March 1974. His
name is located at 19W 059 on the Vietnam Memorial.
John Everett
Duffy
Missing
In Action 4 April 1970
Captain John Everett Duffy was
from Portland, Maine and born on 23 January 1946. He was 32
and single when he was lost. He was a Jake Forward Air Controller assigned to
the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Da Nang. Captain Duffy was returning O-2A S/N
68-11058 to Quang Ngai and was flying Visual Reconnaissance when he reported
weather problems. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft and a three-day
search found nothing. The aircraft was possibly shot down near the village of Ba To 20 miles south of Quang Ngai.
Captain Duffy was declared dead on 29 June 1978. His remains were eventually
returned. His name is located at 12W 092 on the Vietnam Memorial.
Charles Stephen
Franco
Killed
In Action 7 June 1966
Captain Charles Stephen Franco
was from New York, New York and born on 12 June 1940. He was 25
and single when he died. Captain Franco was a Jade Forward Air Controller
assigned to the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Bien Hoa. He
was flying a Visual Reconnaissance mission with Captain John Charles Jacobs in
O-1E S/N 55-4736 when they were lost to possible enemy action seven miles north
of Vung Tau in Phuoc Tuy Province South Vietnam. He had 4 years of service and
had served 112 days in combat. His body was recovered and his name is located
at 08E 016 on the Vietnam
Memorial.
James Robson
Gilmore Jr.
Killed
In Action 2 June 1969
First
Lieutenant James Robson Gilmore Jr. was from Columbia, South Carolina
and born on 8 April 1945. He was 24 and single when he died. Lieutenant Gilmore
was a Jake Forward Air Controller assigned to the 20th Tactical Air
Support Squadron at Da Nang.
He was flying O-2A S/N 67-21316 on a Visual Reconnaissance Mission near Tam Ky
in Quang Tin Province South Vietnam when the aircraft was hit by small arms
fire and crashed in flames. Lieutenant Gilmore had one year of service and had
served 97 days in combat. He grew up in an Air Force family and was initially
declared missing but his body was eventually recovered. His name is located at
23W 044 on the Vietnam
Memorial.
Richard Tenney
Gray
Killed
In Action 5 June 1973
First Lieutenant Richard Tenney
Gray was from Alexandria, Virginia and born on 9 February 1950. He was
23 and single when he died. Lieutenant Gray was a Nail Forward Air Controller
assigned to the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron at Nakhon Phanom
RTAFB Thailand.
He was shot down over Cambodia
in an OV-10A S/N unknown, which was the last OV-10 lost in the war. His body
was recovered and his name is located at 01W 118 on the Vietnam Memorial.
Charles Farrell
Griffin
Killed
in Action 13 December 1968
Captain Charles Ferrell Griffin
was from Grand Rapids, Michigan and born on 17 January 1940. He was
28 and married when he died. He was an Issue Forward Air Controller assigned to
the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Bien Hoa. He and Captain
Bruce Briant Greene were flying OV-10A S/N 67-14627 supporting the 24th
Infantry Division when they collided with an AC-47 dropping flares from 3500
feet. They were trying to break off a night attack by Viet Cong on an
outpost six miles southeast of Truc Giang in Hua Nghia
Province South Vietnam
in the Mekong Delta. The OV-10 may have been
hit by small arms fire but it could not be positively determined. Both aircraft
tried to return to Bien Hoa but the OV-10 crashed killing both pilots and the
AC-47 was scrapped after being badly damaged on landing. Captain Griffin had
six years of service. His body was recovered and his name is located at 36W 016
on the Vietnam
Memorial.
Harlow Kenneth
Halbower
Killed
In Action 2 January 1966
Captain Harlow Kenneth Halbower
was from Anthony, Kansas and born on 24 December 1936. He was
29 and married when he died. Captain Halbower was a Python Forward Air
Controller assigned to the 19th Tactical Support Squadron at Bien
Hoa. He was flying O-1F S/N 57-2889 when he was shot down by ground fire near Moc Hoa *
18 miles west of Tan Son Nhut Airport in Hua
Nghia Province South Vietnam.
He had six years of service and was a graduate of the first Air Force Academy class in 1959. Captain Halbower
was also the first member of his class to die in Southeast
Asia. His body was recovered and his name is located at 04E 050 of
the Vietnam
Memorial.
* an update to the FACHBCD
Ted B.
Hallenbeck
Crashed
5 February 1973
Captain Ted B. Hallenbeck was
from Arlington, Virginia and born on 10 March 1946. He was
26 and single when he died. He was assigned to Nakhon Phanom RTAFB Thailand.
Captain Hallenbeck was flying an AU-23 on a training mission, which was a
piloted version of the QU-23 drone used to gather data from the sensors used in
the Igloo White program on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. He and possibly a Thai Air
Force pilot were killed in the crash in Thailand. His body was recovered
and his name is located at 01W 115 on the Vietnam Memorial.
Arthur Hans
Hardy
Killed
In Action 14 March 1972
Captain Arthur Hans Hardy was
from Ipswich, Massachusetts and born on 7 November 1948.
He was 28 and married when he died. Captain Hardy was a Covey Forward Air
Controller assigned to the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron at
Nakhon Phanom RTAFB Thailand.
His OV-10A S/N unknown was shot down by anti aircraft fire in Laos 20 miles northeast of Saravan.
He was an Air Force Academy
graduate. Captain Hardy’s body was recovered and his name is located at 02W 114
on the Vietnam
Memorial.
Hal Kent
Henderson
Crashed
2 August 1969
First Lieutenant Hal Kent
Henderson was from Bozeman,
Montana and born on 5 September
1944. He was 24 and married when he died. Lieutenant Henderson was a Forward
Air Controller assigned to the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron at
Da Nang. He was
supporting the 101st Airborne Division in Quang Tin Province South
Vietnam when he collided with an Army Ch-47
Chinook helicopter and both aircraft crashed killing the crews from both
aircraft. Lt. Henderson served 110 days in combat. His body was recovered and
his name is located at 20W 086 on the Vietnam Memorial.
John Herbert
Haselton
Killed
In Action 11 May 1972
First Lieutenant John Herbert
Haselton was from Newport, Vermont and born on 6 March 1948. He was 24
and single when he died. Lt. Haselton was a Sundog Forward Air Controller
assigned to the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron at Tan
Son Nhut
Airport in Saigon.
He was flying O-2A S/N 68-11004 in the battle of An Loc in Binh Long Province
South Vietnam and he was one of three aircraft lost to ground fire in the
battle. Lt. Haselton was first listed as missing but his body was eventually
recovered. He served 173 days in combat and his name is located at 01W 023 on
the Vietnam
Memorial.
Paul Vernon Jackson
III
Missing
In Action 24 December 1972
Captain Paul Vernon
Jackson III was from Hampton,
Virginia and born on 2 September
1946. He was 26 and single when he was lost. Captain Jackson was a Raven
Forward Air Controller assigned as a civilian to the Ambassador to Laos.
He supported General Vang Pao in northern Laos. On Christmas Eve Captain
Jackson was controlling A-7 aircraft directing them onto a gun position 10
miles southwest of the Ban
Ban Valley
when he pulled his O-1 up sharply in front of an A-7 and they collided. It
appears he was either hit by ground fire or lost track of the fighter during
the battle. Captain Jackson crashed and was reported dead by another Raven FAC.
The A-7 pilot ejected safely and was imprisoned in Hanoi until the prisoners were released in
1973. His body was not recovered and his name is located at 01W 105 on the Vietnam
Memorial.
Alva Ray Krogman
Killed
In Action 17 January 1967
First Lieutenant Alva Ray
Krogman was from Worland, Wyoming and born on 12 April 1941. He was 25
and single when he died. Lieutenant Krogman was a Nail Forward Air Controller
assigned to the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron at Nakhon Phanom
RTAFB Thailand.
He was flying O-1F S/N 57-2789 and controlling an air strike against a gun
position near Ban Muang Angkhan in southern Laos west of the DMZ. The aircraft
was hit by 37 MM anti aircraft fire and crashed a few miles away near Ban
Loumpoum. He was caught in a crossfire in an area known to FACs as "The
Chokes". His body was not recovered and his name is located at 14E 045 on
the Vietnam
Memorial.
Harreld Pirtle
Martin
Killed
In Action 23 August 1968
Captain Harreld Pirtle Martin
was from Cromwell, Kentucky and born on 8 March 1941. He was 27
and single when he died. Captain Martin was a Lopez Forward Air Controller
assigned to the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Da Nang. He was an O-2A
FAC who was killed on the ground in Quang
Nam Province South Vietnam.
Although many FACs were subject to rocket, mortar or artillery fire on a
regular basis few lost their lives because of it. Captain Martin had six years
of service and served in combat 207 days. His body was recovered and his name
is located at 47W 048.
Mark Allan
Peterson
Missing
In Action 27 January 1973
Captain Mark Allan Peterson was
from Canton, Ohio and born on 14 May 1949. He was 30 and
single when he died, Captain Peterson was a Nail Forward Air Controller
assigned to the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB Thailand.
He and Captain George William Morris Jr. were flying OV-10A S/N 68-3806 when
they were diverted to a Search and Rescue mission for an F-4 that went down
near Quang Tri. As they approached the site at 6,000 feet they were hit by an
SA-7 missile and ejected safely. Observers saw two good parachutes and one of
the F-4 crew that survived as a POW reported that he saw about 30 Viet Cong
firing at the parachutes as they came down. Lt. Peterson made contact on his
survival radio but Captain Morris was never contacted. The continuing rescue
attempt failed and they were listed as missing. Their bodies were not recovered
and they were the last combat loss in South Vietnam before the final
cease-fire. Captain Peterson was an Air
Force Academy
graduate. He was declared dead and his name is located at 01W 112 on the Vietnam
Memorial.
Robert F. Rex
Missing
In Action 9 March 1969
Captain Robert F. Rex was from Odebolt, Iowa
and born on 28 November 1941. He was 27 and single when he died. Captain Rex
was a Nail Forward Air Controller assigned to the 23rd Tactical Air
Support Squadron at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB Thailand. He and Staff Sergeant Tim
Leroy Walters US Army were flying O-2A S/N 67-21425 on a Prairie Fire mission
supporting a reconnaissance team near Ban Nathon 10 miles west of the DMZ when
they were shot down by ground fire. A ground team inspected the wreckage but
was unable to recover the bodies due to enemy action. Sgt. Walters’ remains
were eventually returned but not those of Captain Rex. He had four years of
service and his name is located at 30W 095 on the Vietnam Memorial.
Robert Edward
Ryan Jr.
Killed
In Action 30 October 1971
First Lieutenant Robert Edward
Ryan Jr. was from Hingham, Massachusetts and born on 5 August 1947. He
was 24 and married when he died. 1st Lt. Ryan was a Nail Forward Air
Controller assigned to the 23rd Tactical Air Support Squadron at
Nakhon Phanom RTAFB Thailand.
He was flying O-2A S/N 67-21439 near Savannakhet in southern Laos when he was hit by ground fire
and crashed. His body was recovered and he served 260 days in combat. His name
is located at 02W 056 on the Vietnam
Memorial.
John Leslie
Ryder
Missing
In Action 9 June 1970
Captain John Leslie Ryder was
from Chisholm, Minnesota and born on 5 July 1946. He was 29
and married when he was declared dead on 2 June 1976. Captain Ryder was a Mike
Forward Air Controller assigned to the 21st Tactical Air Support
Squadron at Cam Ranh Bay. He and Captain Barry Wayne Hilbrick US Army Special
Forces took off from Pleiku for Ben Het in O-1F S/N 57-2890. The plan was to
fly a Visual Reconnaissance mission and eventually land at Dak Seng Camp.
However the weather was poor and they failed to maintain radio contact. A
search could not be conducted until the next day. Their bodies were not
recovered. He was promoted while missing and his name is located at 09W 035 on
the Vietnam
Memorial.
John Michael
Rydlewicz
Killed
In Action 12 August 1971
First Lieutenant John Michael
Rydlewicz was from Milwaukee,
Wisconsin and born on 19 April
1947. He was 24 and married when he died. Lt. Rydlewicz was a Rash Forward Air
Controller assigned to the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron at
Bien Hoa. He was flying OV-10A S/N 67-14662 when he was shot down 15 miles
northwest of Xa Phan Thiet in Binh Thuy Province South Vietnam. He earned the
Purple Heart and the Air Medal. His body was recovered and his name is located
at 03W 130.
Thomas Andrew
Sanders
Crashed
7 July 1965
First Lieutenant Thomas Andrew Sanders was from Massapequa,
New York and born on 10 February
1939. He was 26 and married when he died. 1st Lt. Sanders was
assigned to the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Bien Hoa. He
was flying O-1F S/N 57-2944 and crashed on take off in Khanh Hoa Province South
Vietnam. Lt. Sanders was killed but the
other crewman survived. His body was recovered and his name is located at 02E
030 on the Vietnam
Memorial.
James Leonard
Smith
Killed
In Action 28 December 1970
Captain James Leonard Smith was
from Larsen, Wisconsin and born on 11 February 1944. He
was 26 and single when he died. Captain Smith was a Covey Forward Air
Controller assigned to the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Da Nang. He and his
Observer, Staff Sergeant Roger Lynn Teeter US
Army Special Forces, were flying OV-10A S/N 67-14661 in the Steel Tiger area of
southern Laos
supporting a reconnaissance team. The aircraft was thought to have been hit by
anti aircraft fire near Ban Bamran just west of the DMZ and they died in the
crash. Captain Smith was serving his second Vietnam tour and had served 176
days in combat on his second tour. Their bodies were recovered and Captain
Smith’s name is located at 05W 013 on the Vietnam Memorial.
Kennard Errol
Svanoe
Killed
In Action 2 June 1969
First Lieutenant Kennard Errol
Svanoe was from Fremont, Ohio and born on 29 March 1945. He was 24
and single when he died. He was a Covey Forward Air Controller assigned to the
20th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Da Nang. He was further assigned to Chu Lai at LZ Bayonet. He was flying O-2A S/N 67-21319
with Captain Jackie L. Dickens when it was shot down 20 miles northwest of Da
Nang in Thua Thien Province South Vietnam. They were supporting the 101st
Airborne Division. Lt. Svanoe had 1 year of service and served 49 days in
combat. His body was recovered and his name is located at 23W 048 on the Vietnam
Memorial.
George Henry
Tousley III
Crashed
8 February 1972
Captain George Henry Tousley III
was from Florissant, Missouri and born on 9 August 1947. He was
24 and single when he died. Captain Tousley was a Raven Forward Air Controller
assigned to the Ambassador to Laos
as a civilian. He flew the O-1 aircraft in the Barrel Roll area of northern Laos
in support of General Vang Pao against the Pathet Lao and NVA forces. Most of
the fighting took place in an area known as the Plain of Jars. Captain
Tousley had served 263 days in combat when he crashed. His body was recovered
and his name is located at 02W 105 on the Vietnam Memorial.
Willis Grant Uhls
Killed
In Action 11 February 1971
Captain Willis Grant Uhls was
from Spear Fish, South Dakota
and born on 26 November 1946. He was 24 and single when he died. Captain Uhls
was a Raven Forward Air Controller assigned to the Ambassador to Laos
as a civilian. He flew the O-1 aircraft in the Barrel Roll area of northern Laos
in support of General Vang Pao against the Pathet Lao and NVA forces. Most of
the fighting took place in an area known as the Plain of Jars.
Captain Uhls had served 79 days in combat when he was killed. His body was
recovered and his name is located at 05W 098 on the Vietnam Memorial.