This is not a listing of all shipmates who died in the line of duty while serving on the Oriskany, but a listing of only those MIA/POWs. Please also note the special page with an update on five of our now repatriated men.  A memorial board with names and pins is on display at the museum, as well as a memorial book with biographies of the following shipmates:

ALDERN, DONALD DEAN, lost on a night bombing mission in southern Laos June 29, 1970, MIA.

AVORE, MALCOLM ARTHUR, Attack Squadron 163, lost July 18, 1965 in a catapult launch, body not recovered.

BARR, JOHN FREDERICK, lost Oct. 18, 1967, body not recovered.

BEENE, JAMES A., lost Oct. 5, 1966, flight leader and pilot, missing, declared killed in action, body not recovered.

ADJ2 BIDWELL, BARRY A., lost at sea June 18, 1971, body not recovered.

BISZ, RALPH CAMPION, Attack Squadron 163, lost August 4, 1967.

BLEKICKI, LT W.C., VA-153, lost at sea December 14, 1973.

BORAH, DANIEL, Attack Squadron 155, MIA, disputed, remains identified 1997.

BORTHICK, SA J.A., lost at sea November 3, 1973.

BOWLING, ROY, lost Nov. 17, 1965, remains returned 1977.

BULLARD, WILLIAM HENRY, Attack Squadron 164. lost Aug. 25, 1966 over water near N. Vietnam, body not recovered.

CASSELL, ROBIN BERN, Attack Squadron 152, lost July 15, 1967 over water near N. Vietnam, body not recovered.

CHAN, PETER, lost at sea Sept. 25, 1972, body not recovered.

DAVIS, DONALD VANCE, VA 163 Saints, lost July 25, 1967 in N. Vietnam, remains returned 1997, identified April 1, 1998, buried at Arlington National Cemetery May 19, 1998.

LTJG DE BLASIO, RAYMOND V., VAQ 130, lost at sea on June 18, 1971 , body not recovered.

LCDR DENNISON, JAMES RICHARD, lost Jan.1, 1968 over water near N. Vietnam, MIA.

DENNISON, TERRY ARDEN, lost July 19, 1966, remains returned to US control March 1974.

DOLAN, SN JIMMY M., lost June 18, 1971

DOOLEY, JAMES E., Attack Squadron 163, lost Oct. 22, 1967 flying an A4E Skyhawk, MIA.

ELKINS, FRANK CALLIHAN, lost Oct. 12, 1966, remains returned 1990, wife made his journal while aboard the Oriskany into a book, HEART OF A MAN, and we have a copy of this book in the museum.

FELDHAUS, JOHN ANTHONY, lost Oct. 8, 1966 while flying an A-1H Skyraider, remains identified Oct. 30, 2001.

FOULKS, RALPH E. JR., lost Jan. 5, 1968, Attack Squadron 163 flying an A4E Skyhawk, remains identified Jan. 12, 1993.

FRYE, DONALD PATRICK, lost July 19, 1967, remains returned Oct. 14, 1982.

GUERRA, RAUL ANTONIO, E3 Early Warning Squadron 111, lost oct. 8, 1967 in S. Vietnam, body not recovered.

HAAS, LEON FREDERICK, Attack Squadron 155, lost July 17, 1972 while flying a night surveillance mission, killed, body not recovered.

HARDIE, CHARLES DAVID, lost July 27, 1967 flying A3 Skywarrior, body not recovered.

HARTMAN, RICHARD DANNER, lost July 18, 1967 in N. Vietnam, remains returned March 5, 1974.

HERRIN, HENRY HOWARD JR., lost January 1, 1968, lost at sea, body not recovered.

HODGES, DAVID LAWTON, lost October 7, 1967, remains returned in 1999.

JACKSON, WILLIAM BRAXTON, lost July 19, 1967, remains returned October 14, 1982.

KLUGG, JOSEPH RUSSELL, lost November 14, 1970, killed during a catapult launch over the end of the carrier, body not recovered.

KNAPP, FREDERIC WOODROW VA- 164, lost November 2, 1967, no remains recovered.

KROMMENHOEK, JEFFREY MARTIN VA-163, lost October 25, 1967 flying an A4E Skyhawk, MIA.

MARTIN, JOHN BERNARD II LT-03-NAVY RESERVE, lost on Oct. 6, 1970 in offshore N. Vietnam crash at sea, body not recovered

MCGRANE, DONALD PAUL, lost July 19, 1967, remains returned October 14, 1982.

METZLER, CDR CHARLES DAVID, lost at sea in an accident in an F-8 around the ship in 1971.

MINNICH, R.W. - lost January 4, 1968, remains repatriated in mid 1980s.

LT PAINTER, JOHN R, lost at sea June 18, 1971, body not recovered.

PATTERSON, BRUCE MERLE, lost July 27, 1967, body not recovered.

PERRY, RICHARD CLARK VA-164, lost August 1, 1967, remains returned February 1987.

PETERSON, DENNIS WILLIAM, lost July 19, 1967, pilot of a rescue helicopter, body not recovered, MIA.

PINEAU, ROLAND ROBERT, lost October 8, 1967, killed, body not recovered.

PONTHAN, LTJG S.H., VA-153, lost at sea March 19, 1974.

POWERS, TRENT RICHARD VA-164, lost October 31, 1965, remains returned September 25, 1987, buried in MN April 15, 1988.

PROST, LT. LEE ALLEN VA-162, died at sea May 6, 1967.

RIKER, ENS A.W., lost November 4, 1952.

ROGGOW, NORMAN LEE SQUADRON 111, lost October 8, 1967, body not recovered.

RUDOLPH, ROBERT DAVID, lost September 8, 1965, killed, remains returned December 15, 1988.

SMILEY, STANLEY KUTZ, lost July 20, 1969, Attack Squadron 23 flying an A4F Skyhawk, body not recovered.

TAYLOR, JESSE JR. VA-163, lost November 17, 1965, remains returned 1975.

WOLFE, DONALD FINDLING, EARLY WARNING SQUADRON 111, lost October 8, 1967, no recovery possible.

ZISSU, ANDREW GILBERT, EARLY WARNING SQUADRON 111, lost October 8, 1967 in S. Vietnam, killed, no recovery possible.

BRACELETS

Lt. Richard Minnich Jr., MIA

By Kimberly Skach

14102 NE 40th Street

Vancouver, WA  98682

Kcole98662@aol.com

 During the early 1970’s, I experienced the intrigue and pride of wearing a Vietnam Veteran’s POW/MIA steel wrist bracelet bearing the name of Lt. Richard Minnich, Jr., 1-4-68.  My bracelet carried the white sticker stamped with a blue star, which meant Lt. Minnich had been classified MIA.

 I was about 15 when I answered an ad to contribute to a Vietnam Veteran’s fundraiser, thus receiving the bracelet.  This was not a neutral act for me. I attended high school in Silverton, Oregon, with hundreds of young boys who knew their time in Vietnam could one day come. My two brothers were then 22 and 24 and had carried the fear of service in Vietnam throughout their teenage years (graduated in ’66 and ’68).  I always knew that I could lose them, like the boys I saw on the television news every night as we ate our evening meal.

 As I understand it, my older brother had a physical malady that kept him from being drafted. My younger brother was a gifted mathematician with a high grade point average in college, thus earning him a deferment.  It is only now, as the parent of teenagers myself, that I can fully appreciate the relief my parents must have felt at having their boys safely at home.  But, I wondered, was Lt. Minnich safe?  Was he being tortured or starved?  Was he being held in isolation as if the world had ceased and he had been left alive to suffer alone?  To this day, I can’t watch movies about Vietnam because every torture scene, to me, stars Lt. Minnich.

 My older brother went on to become a celebrated police detective who gave thirty years to his community. Even in retirement, he is still working to solve the unsolved.  My younger brother taught and coached students and was often referred to as, “the best of the best.”  How would Lt. Minnich have bettered the world?  What gifts and talents would he have shared that would make his parents proud? The world will never know.

 I did not expect to ever learn details about the life of this man whose name I repeated so often in my prayers. I did not know if I would ever learn if he was lost or found. To my great surprise, in early 1986, I picked up the San Diego Union and saw the headline, Vietnam War Pilot Remains Returned.  To my astonishment, it was Lt. Richard Minnich, Jr.  I was to learn that Lt. Minnich was the pilot of an F8E conducting a combat mission over North Vietnam on January 4, 1968.  His aircraft was shot down about 5 miles north of the city of Uong Bi in Quang Ninh Province.  Since there was no proof that Minnich died in the crash of his aircraft, he was declared MIA.  The Defense Intelligence Agency further expanded Minnich’s classification to include an enemy knowledge ranking of 2.  Category 2 indicates “suspect knowledge” and includes personnel who may have been involved in loss incidents with individuals reported in Category 1 (confirmed knowledge), or who were lost in areas or under conditions that they may reasonably be expected to be known by the enemy, who were connected with an incident which was discussed but not identified by names in enemy news media or who were identified through analysis of all-source intelligence.

 On December 4, 1985, the Vietnamese “discovered” and returned the remains of Richard W. Minnich, Jr.  His hometown was listed somewhere in Pennsylvania.

 At the time I read the article, I considered trying to locate family members in the Pennsylvania town of his childhood.  I have since lost the article, and have no way of knowing who they might be.  It was my intention to send them the bracelet as a reminder that other Americans cared about their son.  Some 35 years later, he is still significant to me.

Dear Ms. Jacobson,

  While doing my usual weekend routine of looking thru one of the local antique stores here in Temecula , CA., looking for a bargain, I noticed a bracelet containing a name and a year. The year 1965 caught my eye. That's the year I was born. I thought the type of bracelet looked familiar; it's the same type of bracelet my mother wore when I was young. It was a MIA/POW bracelet which was common during my childhood. Except it was marked solely as an ID bracelet. I knew that this description was completely wrong. It was more than just an ID bracelet.

  I took note of the name and date on the bracelet, came home and entered it on to my computer, lo and behold, I came across the of the website of the USS Oriskany. And on this website, I learned of the fate of the person named on the bracelet that I had seen in an antique store. After reading the information on the website, I returned to the store the very next day, in order to purchase this bracelet. Being the son of a Vietnam veteran, being a brother of a serviceman currently serving in the US Navy, being the grandson of a veteran, being the nephew of a veteran, and being a Navy veteran myself, I would like to find a better home for this bracelet that better represents the greatest sacrifice that any US serviceman or US servicewoman could ever give for their country, their life. I am sending the museum three things: the bracelet , a poem by Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC , and the only story I know of CDR. Trent R. Powers, provided by your website, to you, in the hopes that should ever a family member of CDR. Powers ever want the bracelet to have as a memorial, that the museum will see that they shall have it. Until then I am sure the museum will take care of this national treasure that I have found. (The bracelet is now in the museum.)

LCDR TRENT RICHARD POWERS

Rank/Branch: O4/US Navy

Unit: Attack Squadron 164, USS Oriskany (CVA 34)

Date of Birth: 24 August 1930 (Erie PA)

Home City of Record: Minneapolis MN

Date of Loss: 31 October 1965

Country of Loss: North Vietnam

REMARKS: EJECTED SAFELY

Prisoner of War

Acft/Vehicle/Ground: A-4E

Other Personnel In Incident: (none missing)

Lieutenant Commander T. R. Powers of VA-164 in A-4E BuNo. 151173 side number AH 466 was shot down by triple A, over North Vietnam on 10-31-1965. Lieutenant Commander Powers survived the ejection and was captured by the North Vietnamese and was murdered by the North Vietnamese while in captivity.

  On October 31, 1965, LCdr. Trent R. Powers was the lead aircraft of eight U.S. Air Force F-105s on a combat assault mission over North Vietnam. LCdr. Powers was flying an A-4E aircraft, and launched from the USS Oriskany (CVA 34). The flight progressed smoothly until the planes entered the target area, where they encountered anti-aircraft artillery fire and surface to air missiles (SAM).

LCdr. Powers was observed making a level bombing run at an altitude of about 200 feet. As the second aircraft pulled off the target, the pilot observed LCdr. Powers' plane flash as if on fire. The aircraft then turned and crashed into a karat bridge near or on Ca mountain in Ha Bac Province, Vietnam. Powers was seen parachuting from the plane, waving to indicate that he was ok. The area into which Powers parachuted was a heavily populated valley about 35 miles north of Hanoi and about 1100 meters north of Ngoc Trac. Although electronic beeper signals were heard for about 30 seconds, no radio contact was ever established with Lt. Powers. Search and rescue efforts were called off due to heavy ground fire.

  The U.S. Government first placed Trent R. Powers in a Missing in Action status on October 31, 1965, then January 17, 1967, changed his status to that of Prisoner of War. By late 1973, the U.S. Government had declared him administratively dead, for lack of information that he was alive. Whether he was alive any or all of those years is unknown.

The Vietnamese knew what happened to Trent Powers on the day his plane was shot down. He was alive and uninjured on the ground in a populous area of North Vietnam. Villagers had instructions to turn over any prisoners or information to the central  government, yet the Vietnamese denied any knowledge of Powers. The U.S. had placed Powers in Prisoner of War status, indicating that they had certain knowledge that he was captured. Even though the U.S. has repeatedly asked the Vietnamese for information concerning LCdr. Powers, for years there was been no new information regarding his fate.

  In May 1987, remains were returned to U.S. control by the Vietnamese.  Co-mingled with these remains were three teeth that were positively identified as being those of Trent Powers.  In late November 1987, the Vietnamese returned remains they said were those of Trent R. Powers. The remains were subsequently examined and it was announced on February 8, 1988 that the remains were indeed those of Powers. He was buried in Chan Hassen, Minnesota on April 15, 1988.

  The U.S. Government first placed Trent R. Powers in a Missing in Action status on October 31, 1965, then January 17, 1967, changed his status to that of Prisoner of War. By late 1973, the U.S. Government had declared him administratively dead, for lack of information that he was alive. Whether he was alive any or all of those years is unknown.

The Vietnamese knew what happened to Trent Powers on the day his plane was shot down. He was alive and uninjured on the ground in a populous area of North Vietnam. Villagers had instructions to turn over any prisoners or information to the central  government, yet the Vietnamese denied any knowledge of Powers. The U.S. had placed Powers in Prisoner of War status, indicating that they had certain knowledge that he was captured. Even though the U.S. has repeatedly asked the Vietnamese for information concerning LCdr. Powers, for years there was been no new information regarding his fate.

  In May 1987, remains were returned to U.S. control by the Vietnamese.  Co-mingled with these remains were three teeth that were positively identified as being those of Trent Powers.  In late November 1987, the Vietnamese returned remains they said were those of Trent R. Powers. The remains were subsequently examined and it was announced on February 8, 1988 that the remains were indeed those of Powers. He was buried in Chan Hassen, Minnesota on April 15, 1988.

Dear Ms. Jacobson,

  While doing my usual weekend routine of looking thru one of the local antique stores here in Temecula , CA., looking for a bargain, I noticed a bracelet containing a name and a year. The year 1965 caught my eye. That's the year I was born. I thought the type of bracelet looked familiar; it's the same type of bracelet my mother wore when I was young. It was a MIA/POW bracelet which was common during my childhood. Except it was marked solely as an ID bracelet. I knew that this description was completely wrong. It was more than just an ID bracelet.

  I took note of the name and date on the bracelet, came home and entered it on to my computer, lo and behold, I came across the of the website of the USS Oriskany. And on this website, I learned of the fate of the person named on the bracelet that I had seen in an antique store. After reading the information on the website, I returned to the store the very next day, in order to purchase this bracelet. Being the son of a Vietnam veteran, being a brother of a serviceman currently serving in the US Navy, being the grandson of a veteran, being the nephew of a veteran, and being a Navy veteran myself, I would like to find a better home for this bracelet that better represents the greatest sacrifice that any US serviceman or US servicewoman could ever give for their country, their life. I am sending the museum three things: the bracelet , a poem by Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC , and the only story I know of CDR. Trent R. Powers, provided by your website, to you, in the hopes that should ever a family member of CDR. Powers ever want the bracelet to have as a memorial, that the museum will see that they shall have it. Until then I am sure the museum will take care of this national treasure that I have found. (The bracelet is now in the museum.)

LCDR TRENT RICHARD POWERS

Rank/Branch: O4/US Navy

Unit: Attack Squadron 164, USS Oriskany (CVA 34)

Date of Birth: 24 August 1930 (Erie PA)

Home City of Record: Minneapolis MN

Date of Loss: 31 October 1965

Country of Loss: North Vietnam

REMARKS: EJECTED SAFELY

Prisoner of War

Acft/Vehicle/Ground: A-4E

Other Personnel In Incident: (none missing)

Lieutenant Commander T. R. Powers of VA-164 in A-4E BuNo. 151173 side number AH 466 was shot down by triple A, over North Vietnam on 10-31-1965. Lieutenant Commander Powers survived the ejection and was captured by the North Vietnamese and was murdered by the North Vietnamese while in captivity.

  On October 31, 1965, LCdr. Trent R. Powers was the lead aircraft of eight U.S. Air Force F-105s on a combat assault mission over North Vietnam. LCdr. Powers was flying an A-4E aircraft, and launched from the USS Oriskany (CVA 34). The flight progressed smoothly until the planes entered the target area, where they encountered anti-aircraft artillery fire and surface to air missiles (SAM).

LCdr. Powers was observed making a level bombing run at an altitude of about 200 feet. As the second aircraft pulled off the target, the pilot observed LCdr. Powers' plane flash as if on fire. The aircraft then turned and crashed into a karat bridge near or on Ca mountain in Ha Bac Province, Vietnam. Powers was seen parachuting from the plane, waving to indicate that he was ok. The area into which Powers parachuted was a heavily populated valley about 35 miles north of Hanoi and about 1100 meters north of Ngoc Trac. Although electronic beeper signals were heard for about 30 seconds, no radio contact was ever established with Lt. Powers. Search and rescue efforts were called off due to heavy ground fire.

  The U.S. Government first placed Trent R. Powers in a Missing in Action status on October 31, 1965, then January 17, 1967, changed his status to that of Prisoner of War. By late 1973, the U.S. Government had declared him administratively dead, for lack of information that he was alive. Whether he was alive any or all of those years is unknown.

The Vietnamese knew what happened to Trent Powers on the day his plane was shot down. He was alive and uninjured on the ground in a populous area of North Vietnam. Villagers had instructions to turn over any prisoners or information to the central  government, yet the Vietnamese denied any knowledge of Powers. The U.S. had placed Powers in Prisoner of War status, indicating that they had certain knowledge that he was captured. Even though the U.S. has repeatedly asked the Vietnamese for information concerning LCdr. Powers, for years there was been no new information regarding his fate.

  In May 1987, remains were returned to U.S. control by the Vietnamese.  Co-mingled with these remains were three teeth that were positively identified as being those of Trent Powers.  In late November 1987, the Vietnamese returned remains they said were those of Trent R. Powers. The remains were subsequently examined and it was announced on February 8, 1988 that the remains were indeed those of Powers. He was buried in Chan Hassen, Minnesota on April 15, 1988.

  The U.S. Government first placed Trent R. Powers in a Missing in Action status on October 31, 1965, then January 17, 1967, changed his status to that of Prisoner of War. By late 1973, the U.S. Government had declared him administratively dead, for lack of information that he was alive. Whether he was alive any or all of those years is unknown.

The Vietnamese knew what happened to Trent Powers on the day his plane was shot down. He was alive and uninjured on the ground in a populous area of North Vietnam. Villagers had instructions to turn over any prisoners or information to the central  government, yet the Vietnamese denied any knowledge of Powers. The U.S. had placed Powers in Prisoner of War status, indicating that they had certain knowledge that he was captured. Even though the U.S. has repeatedly asked the Vietnamese for information concerning LCdr. Powers, for years there was been no new information regarding his fate.

  In May 1987, remains were returned to U.S. control by the Vietnamese.  Co-mingled with these remains were three teeth that were positively identified as being those of Trent Powers.  In late November 1987, the Vietnamese returned remains they said were those of Trent R. Powers. The remains were subsequently examined and it was announced on February 8, 1988 that the remains were indeed those of Powers. He was buried in Chan Hassen, Minnesota on April 15, 1988.

 My older brother went on to become a celebrated police detective who gave thirty years to his community. Even in retirement, he is still working to solve the unsolved.  My younger brother taught and coached students and was often referred to as, “the best of the best.”  How would Lt. Minnich have bettered the world?  What gifts and talents would he have shared that would make his parents proud? The world will never know.

 I did not expect to ever learn details about the life of this man whose name I repeated so often in my prayers. I did not know if I would ever learn if he was lost or found. To my great surprise, in early 1986, I picked up the San Diego Union and saw the headline, Vietnam War Pilot Remains Returned.  To my astonishment, it was Lt. Richard Minnich, Jr.  I was to learn that Lt. Minnich was the pilot of an F8E conducting a combat mission over North Vietnam on January 4, 1968.  His aircraft was shot down about 5 miles north of the city of Uong Bi in Quang Ninh Province.  Since there was no proof that Minnich died in the crash of his aircraft, he was declared MIA.  The Defense Intelligence Agency further expanded Minnich’s classification to include an enemy knowledge ranking of 2.  Category 2 indicates “suspect knowledge” and includes personnel who may have been involved in loss incidents with individuals reported in Category 1 (confirmed knowledge), or who were lost in areas or under conditions that they may reasonably be expected to be known by the enemy, who were connected with an incident which was discussed but not identified by names in enemy news media or who were identified through analysis of all-source intelligence.

 On December 4, 1985, the Vietnamese “discovered” and returned the remains of Richard W. Minnich, Jr.  His hometown was listed somewhere in Pennsylvania.

 At the time I read the article, I considered trying to locate family members in the Pennsylvania town of his childhood.  I have since lost the article, and have no way of knowing who they might be.  It was my intention to send them the bracelet as a reminder that other Americans cared about their son.  Some 35 years later, he is still significant to me.

Dear Ms. Jacobson,

  While doing my usual weekend routine of looking thru one of the local antique stores here in Temecula , CA., looking for a bargain, I noticed a bracelet containing a name and a year. The year 1965 caught my eye. That's the year I was born. I thought the type of bracelet looked familiar; it's the same type of bracelet my mother wore when I was young. It was a MIA/POW bracelet which was common during my childhood. Except it was marked solely as an ID bracelet. I knew that this description was completely wrong. It was more than just an ID bracelet.

  I took note of the name and date on the bracelet, came home and entered it on to my computer, lo and behold, I came across the of the website of the USS Oriskany. And on this website, I learned of the fate of the person named on the bracelet that I had seen in an antique store. After reading the information on the website, I returned to the store the very next day, in order to purchase this bracelet. Being the son of a Vietnam veteran, being a brother of a serviceman currently serving in the US Navy, being the grandson of a veteran, being the nephew of a veteran, and being a Navy veteran myself, I would like to find a better home for this bracelet that better represents the greatest sacrifice that any US serviceman or US servicewoman could ever give for their country, their life. I am sending the museum three things: the bracelet , a poem by Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC , and the only story I know of CDR. Trent R. Powers, provided by your website, to you, in the hopes that should ever a family member of CDR. Powers ever want the bracelet to have as a memorial, that the museum will see that they shall have it. Until then I am sure the museum will take care of this national treasure that I have found. (The bracelet is now in the museum.)

LCDR TRENT RICHARD POWERS

Rank/Branch: O4/US Navy

Unit: Attack Squadron 164, USS Oriskany (CVA 34)

Date of Birth: 24 August 1930 (Erie PA)

Home City of Record: Minneapolis MN

Date of Loss: 31 October 1965

Country of Loss: North Vietnam

REMARKS: EJECTED SAFELY

Prisoner of War

Acft/Vehicle/Ground: A-4E

Other Personnel In Incident: (none missing)

Lieutenant Commander T. R. Powers of VA-164 in A-4E BuNo. 151173 side number AH 466 was shot down by triple A, over North Vietnam on 10-31-1965. Lieutenant Commander Powers survived the ejection and was captured by the North Vietnamese and was murdered by the North Vietnamese while in captivity.

  On October 31, 1965, LCdr. Trent R. Powers was the lead aircraft of eight U.S. Air Force F-105s on a combat assault mission over North Vietnam. LCdr. Powers was flying an A-4E aircraft, and launched from the USS Oriskany (CVA 34). The flight progressed smoothly until the planes entered the target area, where they encountered anti-aircraft artillery fire and surface to air missiles (SAM).

LCdr. Powers was observed making a level bombing run at an altitude of about 200 feet. As the second aircraft pulled off the target, the pilot observed LCdr. Powers' plane flash as if on fire. The aircraft then turned and crashed into a karat bridge near or on Ca mountain in Ha Bac Province, Vietnam. Powers was seen parachuting from the plane, waving to indicate that he was ok. The area into which Powers parachuted was a heavily populated valley about 35 miles north of Hanoi and about 1100 meters north of Ngoc Trac. Although electronic beeper signals were heard for about 30 seconds, no radio contact was ever established with Lt. Powers. Search and rescue efforts were called off due to heavy ground fire.

  The U.S. Government first placed Trent R. Powers in a Missing in Action status on October 31, 1965, then January 17, 1967, changed his status to that of Prisoner of War. By late 1973, the U.S. Government had declared him administratively dead, for lack of information that he was alive. Whether he was alive any or all of those years is unknown.

The Vietnamese knew what happened to Trent Powers on the day his plane was shot down. He was alive and uninjured on the ground in a populous area of North Vietnam. Villagers had instructions to turn over any prisoners or information to the central  government, yet the Vietnamese denied any knowledge of Powers. The U.S. had placed Powers in Prisoner of War status, indicating that they had certain knowledge that he was captured. Even though the U.S. has repeatedly asked the Vietnamese for information concerning LCdr. Powers, for years there was been no new information regarding his fate.

  In May 1987, remains were returned to U.S. control by the Vietnamese.  Co-mingled with these remains were three teeth that were positively identified as being those of Trent Powers.  In late November 1987, the Vietnamese returned remains they said were those of Trent R. Powers. The remains were subsequently examined and it was announced on February 8, 1988 that the remains were indeed those of Powers. He was buried in Chan Hassen, Minnesota on April 15, 1988.

  The U.S. Government first placed Trent R. Powers in a Missing in Action status on October 31, 1965, then January 17, 1967, changed his status to that of Prisoner of War. By late 1973, the U.S. Government had declared him administratively dead, for lack of information that he was alive. Whether he was alive any or all of those years is unknown.

The Vietnamese knew what happened to Trent Powers on the day his plane was shot down. He was alive and uninjured on the ground in a populous area of North Vietnam. Villagers had instructions to turn over any prisoners or information to the central  government, yet the Vietnamese denied any knowledge of Powers. The U.S. had placed Powers in Prisoner of War status, indicating that they had certain knowledge that he was captured. Even though the U.S. has repeatedly asked the Vietnamese for information concerning LCdr. Powers, for years there was been no new information regarding his fate.

  In May 1987, remains were returned to U.S. control by the Vietnamese.  Co-mingled with these remains were three teeth that were positively identified as being those of Trent Powers.  In late November 1987, the Vietnamese returned remains they said were those of Trent R. Powers. The remains were subsequently examined and it was announced on February 8, 1988 that the remains were indeed those of Powers. He was buried in Chan Hassen, Minnesota on April 15, 1988.

Dear Ms. Jacobson,

  While doing my usual weekend routine of looking thru one of the local antique stores here in Temecula , CA., looking for a bargain, I noticed a bracelet containing a name and a year. The year 1965 caught my eye. That's the year I was born. I thought the type of bracelet looked familiar; it's the same type of bracelet my mother wore when I was young. It was a MIA/POW bracelet which was common during my childhood. Except it was marked solely as an ID bracelet. I knew that this description was completely wrong. It was more than just an ID bracelet.

  I took note of the name and date on the bracelet, came home and entered it on to my computer, lo and behold, I came across the of the website of the USS Oriskany. And on this website, I learned of the fate of the person named on the bracelet that I had seen in an antique store. After reading the information on the website, I returned to the store the very next day, in order to purchase this bracelet. Being the son of a Vietnam veteran, being a brother of a serviceman currently serving in the US Navy, being the grandson of a veteran, being the nephew of a veteran, and being a Navy veteran myself, I would like to find a better home for this bracelet that better represents the greatest sacrifice that any US serviceman or US servicewoman could ever give for their country, their life. I am sending the museum three things: the bracelet , a poem by Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC , and the only story I know of CDR. Trent R. Powers, provided by your website, to you, in the hopes that should ever a family member of CDR. Powers ever want the bracelet to have as a memorial, that the museum will see that they shall have it. Until then I am sure the museum will take care of this national treasure that I have found. (The bracelet is now in the museum.)

LCDR TRENT RICHARD POWERS

Rank/Branch: O4/US Navy

Unit: Attack Squadron 164, USS Oriskany (CVA 34)

Date of Birth: 24 August 1930 (Erie PA)

Home City of Record: Minneapolis MN

Date of Loss: 31 October 1965

Country of Loss: North Vietnam

REMARKS: EJECTED SAFELY

Prisoner of War

Acft/Vehicle/Ground: A-4E

Other Personnel In Incident: (none missing)

Lieutenant Commander T. R. Powers of VA-164 in A-4E BuNo. 151173 side number AH 466 was shot down by triple A, over North Vietnam on 10-31-1965. Lieutenant Commander Powers survived the ejection and was captured by the North Vietnamese and was murdered by the North Vietnamese while in captivity.

  On October 31, 1965, LCdr. Trent R. Powers was the lead aircraft of eight U.S. Air Force F-105s on a combat assault mission over North Vietnam. LCdr. Powers was flying an A-4E aircraft, and launched from the USS Oriskany (CVA 34). The flight progressed smoothly until the planes entered the target area, where they encountered anti-aircraft artillery fire and surface to air missiles (SAM).

LCdr. Powers was observed making a level bombing run at an altitude of about 200 feet. As the second aircraft pulled off the target, the pilot observed LCdr. Powers' plane flash as if on fire. The aircraft then turned and crashed into a karat bridge near or on Ca mountain in Ha Bac Province, Vietnam. Powers was seen parachuting from the plane, waving to indicate that he was ok. The area into which Powers parachuted was a heavily populated valley about 35 miles north of Hanoi and about 1100 meters north of Ngoc Trac. Although electronic beeper signals were heard for about 30 seconds, no radio contact was ever established with Lt. Powers. Search and rescue efforts were called off due to heavy ground fire.

  The U.S. Government first placed Trent R. Powers in a Missing in Action status on October 31, 1965, then January 17, 1967, changed his status to that of Prisoner of War. By late 1973, the U.S. Government had declared him administratively dead, for lack of information that he was alive. Whether he was alive any or all of those years is unknown.

The Vietnamese knew what happened to Trent Powers on the day his plane was shot down. He was alive and uninjured on the ground in a populous area of North Vietnam. Villagers had instructions to turn over any prisoners or information to the central  government, yet the Vietnamese denied any knowledge of Powers. The U.S. had placed Powers in Prisoner of War status, indicating that they had certain knowledge that he was captured. Even though the U.S. has repeatedly asked the Vietnamese for information concerning LCdr. Powers, for years there was been no new information regarding his fate.

  In May 1987, remains were returned to U.S. control by the Vietnamese.  Co-mingled with these remains were three teeth that were positively identified as being those of Trent Powers.  In late November 1987, the Vietnamese returned remains they said were those of Trent R. Powers. The remains were subsequently examined and it was announced on February 8, 1988 that the remains were indeed those of Powers. He was buried in Chan Hassen, Minnesota on April 15, 1988.

  The U.S. Government first placed Trent R. Powers in a Missing in Action status on October 31, 1965, then January 17, 1967, changed his status to that of Prisoner of War. By late 1973, the U.S. Government had declared him administratively dead, for lack of information that he was alive. Whether he was alive any or all of those years is unknown.

The Vietnamese knew what happened to Trent Powers on the day his plane was shot down. He was alive and uninjured on the ground in a populous area of North Vietnam. Villagers had instructions to turn over any prisoners or information to the central  government, yet the Vietnamese denied any knowledge of Powers. The U.S. had placed Powers in Prisoner of War status, indicating that they had certain knowledge that he was captured. Even though the U.S. has repeatedly asked the Vietnamese for information concerning LCdr. Powers, for years there was been no new information regarding his fate.

  In May 1987, remains were returned to U.S. control by the Vietnamese.  Co-mingled with these remains were three teeth that were positively identified as being those of Trent Powers.  In late November 1987, the Vietnamese returned remains they said were those of Trent R. Powers. The remains were subsequently examined and it was announced on February 8, 1988 that the remains were indeed those of Powers. He was buried in Chan Hassen, Minnesota on April 15, 1988.

Lt. Richard Minnich Jr., MIA

By Kimberly Skach

14102 NE 40th Street

Vancouver, WA  98682

Kcole98662@aol.com

 During the early 1970’s, I experienced the intrigue and pride of wearing a Vietnam Veteran’s POW/MIA steel wrist bracelet bearing the name of Lt. Richard Minnich, Jr., 1-4-68.  My bracelet carried the white sticker stamped with a blue star, which meant Lt. Minnich had been classified MIA.

 I was about 15 when I answered an ad to contribute to a Vietnam Veteran’s fundraiser, thus receiving the bracelet.  This was not a neutral act for me. I attended high school in Silverton, Oregon, with hundreds of young boys who knew their time in Vietnam could one day come. My two brothers were then 22 and 24 and had carried the fear of service in Vietnam throughout their teenage years (graduated in ’66 and ’68).  I always knew that I could lose them, like the boys I saw on the television news every night as we ate our evening meal.

 As I understand it, my older brother had a physical malady that kept him from being drafted. My younger brother was a gifted mathematician with a high grade point average in college, thus earning him a deferment.  It is only now, as the parent of teenagers myself, that I can fully appreciate the relief my parents must have felt at having their boys safely at home.  But, I wondered, was Lt. Minnich safe?  Was he being tortured or starved?  Was he being held in isolation as if the world had ceased and he had been left alive to suffer alone?  To this day, I can’t watch movies about Vietnam because every torture scene, to me, stars Lt. Minnich.

 My older brother went on to become a celebrated police detective who gave thirty years to his community. Even in retirement, he is still working to solve the unsolved.  My younger brother taught and coached students and was often referred to as, “the best of the best.”  How would Lt. Minnich have bettered the world?  What gifts and talents would he have shared that would make his parents proud? The world will never know.

 I did not expect to ever learn details about the life of this man whose name I repeated so often in my prayers. I did not know if I would ever learn if he was lost or found. To my great surprise, in early 1986, I picked up the San Diego Union and saw the headline, Vietnam War Pilot Remains Returned.  To my astonishment, it was Lt. Richard Minnich, Jr.  I was to learn that Lt. Minnich was the pilot of an F8E conducting a combat mission over North Vietnam on January 4, 1968.  His aircraft was shot down about 5 miles north of the city of Uong Bi in Quang Ninh Province.  Since there was no proof that Minnich died in the crash of his aircraft, he was declared MIA.  The Defense Intelligence Agency further expanded Minnich’s classification to include an enemy knowledge ranking of 2.  Category 2 indicates “suspect knowledge” and includes personnel who may have been involved in loss incidents with individuals reported in Category 1 (confirmed knowledge), or who were lost in areas or under conditions that they may reasonably be expected to be known by the enemy, who were connected with an incident which was discussed but not identified by names in enemy news media or who were identified through analysis of all-source intelligence.

 On December 4, 1985, the Vietnamese “discovered” and returned the remains of Richard W. Minnich, Jr.  His hometown was listed somewhere in Pennsylvania.

 At the time I read the article, I considered trying to locate family members in the Pennsylvania town of his childhood.  I have since lost the article, and have no way of knowing who they might be.  It was my intention to send them the bracelet as a reminder that other Americans cared about their son.  Some 35 years later, he is still significant to me.

Dear Ms. Jacobson,

  While doing my usual weekend routine of looking thru one of the local antique stores here in Temecula , CA., looking for a bargain, I noticed a bracelet containing a name and a year. The year 1965 caught my eye. That's the year I was born. I thought the type of bracelet looked familiar; it's the same type of bracelet my mother wore when I was young. It was a MIA/POW bracelet which was common during my childhood. Except it was marked solely as an ID bracelet. I knew that this description was completely wrong. It was more than just an ID bracelet.

  I took note of the name and date on the bracelet, came home and entered it on to my computer, lo and behold, I came across the of the website of the USS Oriskany. And on this website, I learned of the fate of the person named on the bracelet that I had seen in an antique store. After reading the information on the website, I returned to the store the very next day, in order to purchase this bracelet. Being the son of a Vietnam veteran, being a brother of a serviceman currently serving in the US Navy, being the grandson of a veteran, being the nephew of a veteran, and being a Navy veteran myself, I would like to find a better home for this bracelet that better represents the greatest sacrifice that any US serviceman or US servicewoman could ever give for their country, their life. I am sending the museum three things: the bracelet , a poem by Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC , and the only story I know of CDR. Trent R. Powers, provided by your website, to you, in the hopes that should ever a family member of CDR. Powers ever want the bracelet to have as a memorial, that the museum will see that they shall have it. Until then I am sure the museum will take care of this national treasure that I have found. (The bracelet is now in the museum.)

LCDR TRENT RICHARD POWERS

Rank/Branch: O4/US Navy

Unit: Attack Squadron 164, USS Oriskany (CVA 34)

Date of Birth: 24 August 1930 (Erie PA)

Home City of Record: Minneapolis MN

Date of Loss: 31 October 1965

Country of Loss: North Vietnam

REMARKS: EJECTED SAFELY

Prisoner of War

Acft/Vehicle/Ground: A-4E

Other Personnel In Incident: (none missing)

Lieutenant Commander T. R. Powers of VA-164 in A-4E BuNo. 151173 side number AH 466 was shot down by triple A, over North Vietnam on 10-31-1965. Lieutenant Commander Powers survived the ejection and was captured by the North Vietnamese and was murdered by the North Vietnamese while in captivity.

  On October 31, 1965, LCdr. Trent R. Powers was the lead aircraft of eight U.S. Air Force F-105s on a combat assault mission over North Vietnam. LCdr. Powers was flying an A-4E aircraft, and launched from the USS Oriskany (CVA 34). The flight progressed smoothly until the planes entered the target area, where they encountered anti-aircraft artillery fire and surface to air missiles (SAM).

LCdr. Powers was observed making a level bombing run at an altitude of about 200 feet. As the second aircraft pulled off the target, the pilot observed LCdr. Powers' plane flash as if on fire. The aircraft then turned and crashed into a karat bridge near or on Ca mountain in Ha Bac Province, Vietnam. Powers was seen parachuting from the plane, waving to indicate that he was ok. The area into which Powers parachuted was a heavily populated valley about 35 miles north of Hanoi and about 1100 meters north of Ngoc Trac. Although electronic beeper signals were heard for about 30 seconds, no radio contact was ever established with Lt. Powers. Search and rescue efforts were called off due to heavy ground fire.

  The U.S. Government first placed Trent R. Powers in a Missing in Action status on October 31, 1965, then January 17, 1967, changed his status to that of Prisoner of War. By late 1973, the U.S. Government had declared him administratively dead, for lack of information that he was alive. Whether he was alive any or all of those years is unknown.

The Vietnamese knew what happened to Trent Powers on the day his plane was shot down. He was alive and uninjured on the ground in a populous area of North Vietnam. Villagers had instructions to turn over any prisoners or information to the central  government, yet the Vietnamese denied any knowledge of Powers. The U.S. had placed Powers in Prisoner of War status, indicating that they had certain knowledge that he was captured. Even though the U.S. has repeatedly asked the Vietnamese for information concerning LCdr. Powers, for years there was been no new information regarding his fate.

  In May 1987, remains were returned to U.S. control by the Vietnamese.  Co-mingled with these remains were three teeth that were positively identified as being those of Trent Powers.  In late November 1987, the Vietnamese returned remains they said were those of Trent R. Powers. The remains were subsequently examined and it was announced on February 8, 1988 that the remains were indeed those of Powers. He was buried in Chan Hassen, Minnesota on April 15, 1988.

  The U.S. Government first placed Trent R. Powers in a Missing in Action status on October 31, 1965, then January 17, 1967, changed his status to that of Prisoner of War. By late 1973, the U.S. Government had declared him administratively dead, for lack of information that he was alive. Whether he was alive any or all of those years is unknown.

The Vietnamese knew what happened to Trent Powers on the day his plane was shot down. He was alive and uninjured on the ground in a populous area of North Vietnam. Villagers had instructions to turn over any prisoners or information to the central  government, yet the Vietnamese denied any knowledge of Powers. The U.S. had placed Powers in Prisoner of War status, indicating that they had certain knowledge that he was captured. Even though the U.S. has repeatedly asked the Vietnamese for information concerning LCdr. Powers, for years there was been no new information regarding his fate.

  In May 1987, remains were returned to U.S. control by the Vietnamese.  Co-mingled with these remains were three teeth that were positively identified as being those of Trent Powers.  In late November 1987, the Vietnamese returned remains they said were those of Trent R. Powers. The remains were subsequently examined and it was announced on February 8, 1988 that the remains were indeed those of Powers. He was buried in Chan Hassen, Minnesota on April 15, 1988.

Dear Ms. Jacobson,

  While doing my usual weekend routine of looking thru one of the local antique stores here in Temecula , CA., looking for a bargain, I noticed a bracelet containing a name and a year. The year 1965 caught my eye. That's the year I was born. I thought the type of bracelet looked familiar; it's the same type of bracelet my mother wore when I was young. It was a MIA/POW bracelet which was common during my childhood. Except it was marked solely as an ID bracelet. I knew that this description was completely wrong. It was more than just an ID bracelet.

  I took note of the name and date on the bracelet, came home and entered it on to my computer, lo and behold, I came across the of the website of the USS Oriskany. And on this website, I learned of the fate of the person named on the bracelet that I had seen in an antique store. After reading the information on the website, I returned to the store the very next day, in order to purchase this bracelet. Being the son of a Vietnam veteran, being a brother of a serviceman currently serving in the US Navy, being the grandson of a veteran, being the nephew of a veteran, and being a Navy veteran myself, I would like to find a better home for this bracelet that better r