Col Gerald W. Alley
Pocatello Idaho
Reported Missing In Action: December 1972
Status: Repatriated June 1989
Interned: Inkom Cemetery - Bonner County
On December 22, 1972, he piloted a B-52D Stratofortress (tail number 550061) on a night strike mission over Hanoi, Vietnam. The B-52D was downed by a surface-to-air missile during the mission, and Col Alley was killed in the incident. Heavy enemy presence in the area precluded search and recovery efforts.
Colonel Alley joined the U.S. Air Force from Idaho and was a member of the 22nd Bombardment Squadron.
In December 1988, the Vietnamese government returned a set of unidentified remains to U.S. custody that were later identified as those of Col Alley.
Major Jon Keith Bodahl
Boise Idaho
Incident Date: November 1969
Status: Missing In Action
On November 12, 1969, an F-4E Phantom II (tail number 67-0219) with a crew of two took off from Korat Air Base as the lead aircraft in a two-plane strike mission. As the flight proceeded to its target, it was diverted to assist in search and rescue efforts for a downed forward air controller (FAC) aircraft. The on-scene commander directed the Phantoms to destroy enemy helicopters around the FAC aircraft's crash site. Witnesses reported see-ng a large explosion where the lead Phantom was making a gun run against enemy helicopters. Radio contact with the Phantom was lost, and search efforts for the aircraft and its crew were unsuccessful.
Captain John Keith Bodahl, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Idaho, was a member of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron. He was the pilot of this Phantom when it went down, and was lost with the aircraft. His remains have not been recovered. Subsequent to the incident, and while carried in the status of missing in action (MIA), the U.S. Air Force promoted Captain Bodahl to the rank of Major (Maj). Today, Major Bodahl is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Captain Curtis R. Bohlscheid
Pocatello, Idaho
Incident Date: June 1967
Status: Missing In Action
On June 11, 1967, a CH-46 Sea Knight (bureau number 150270) took off as lead helicopter in a flight of four (one other CH-46 and two UH-1 Iroquois) on an insertion mission to land a patrol of Marines in hostile territory north of Cam Lo, Quang Tri Province. Twelve miles west of Dong Ha, Quang Tri Province, the CH-46 took enemy small arms fire while at low altitude, causing it to crash and burn. Personnel in other helicopters in the flight believed that there could have been no survivors. Searchers repeatedly attempted to reach the crash site over the next two weeks but enemy forces prevented them from doing so until June 30, when they found no evidence of survivors and no remains.
Captain Curtis Richard Bohlscheid, who joined the U.S. Marine Corps from Idaho, served with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, Marine Air Group 16, 1st Marine Air Wing. He was the pilot of the CH-46 when it crashed on June 11, 1967, and attempts to locate and recover his remains following the incident have been unsuccessful. Today, Captain Bohlscheid is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Captain Gregg N. Hollinger
Pocatello, Idaho
Incident Date: December 1971
Status: Missing In Action
On December 14, 1971, a U-21A aircraft (tail number: 66-18041; call sign: Longtrip 041) with two crew members and four passengers took off from Phu Bai, Republic of (South) Vietnam, on an administrative mission to Da Nang. During the flight, the aircraft experienced an in-flight emergency, and the pilot radioed that he had lost an engine and had a fire. Within minutes of this transmission, all radio and radar contact with "Longtrip 041" was lost. They immediately launched search and rescue aircraft, but bad weather soon forced to return to base. Searches continued for the next three days but failed to locate any of the crew or its passengers.
Captain (CPT) Gregg Neyman Hollinger joined the U.S. Army from Idaho and served with Quartermaster School, Training Directorate, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. He was a passenger aboard "Longtrip 041" when it went missing off the coast northeast of Da Nang, Republic of (South) Vietnam and his remains have not been recovered. Today, CPT Hollinger is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Ensign Hal T. Hollingsworth
Grace, Idaho
Incident Date: January 1966
Status: Missing In Action
On January 16, 1966, an RA-5C Vigilante (bureau number 149312) with two crew members attempted a night landing on the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CVA 61) in the South China Sea. As the Vigilante touched down, a shower of sparks from its aft portion was observed. The aircraft then continued off the deck, failed to climb, and impacted the water. No ejections or at-tempts by the crew to exit the aircraft were observed before it sank. Search and rescue units responded im-mediately but were unable to recover either crew member.
Ensign Hal T. Hollingsworth, who entered the U.S. Navy from Idaho, served with Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron 9. He was a crew member on this Vigilante at the time of its loss. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Ensign Hollingsworth is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pac
Staff Sergeant William B. Hunt
Sandpoint, Idaho
Incident Date: November 1966
Status: Missing In Action
On November 4, 1966, he was a passenger aboard a helicopter on a resupply and medical evacuation mission for a U.S. led Mobile Strike Force company that was under attack by enemy forces in Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam. When the helicopter reached the company's location, SSgt Hunt departed to make room for the wounded. He then voluntarily participated in the Mobile Strike Force company's defense. The next day, the company's defensive position was overrun, and SSgt Hunt became severely wounded. Staff Sergeant Hunt, along with one American and two South Vietnamese, were able to evade capture for several hours, until SSgt Hunt indicated that he would be unable to continue. The other three men continued on without him, and a helicopter extracted them from a nearby landing zone. They were unable to relocate SSgt Hunt, who remains unaccounted for. After the incident, the Army promoted SSgt Hunt to the rank of Master Sergeant (MSgt).
Staff Sergeant (SSgt) William Balt Hunt, who joined the U.S. Army from Idaho, was a member of Detachment A-302, 5th Special Forces Group.
Today, Master Sergeant Hunt is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Incident Date: November 1966
Status: Missing In Action
On November 4, 1966, he was a passenger aboard a helicopter on a resupply and medical evacuation mission for a U.S. led Mobile Strike Force company that was under attack by enemy forces in Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam. When the helicopter reached the company's location, SSgt Hunt departed to make room for the wounded. He then voluntarily participated in the Mobile Strike Force company's defense. The next day, the company's defensive position was overrun, and SSgt Hunt became severely wounded. Staff Sergeant Hunt, along with one American and two South Vietnamese, were able to evade capture for several hours, until SSgt Hunt indicated that he would be unable to continue. The other three men continued on without him, and a helicopter extracted them from a nearby landing zone. They were unable to relocate SSgt Hunt, who remains unaccounted for. After the incident, the Army promoted SSgt Hunt to the rank of Master Sergeant (MSgt).
Staff Sergeant (SSgt) William Balt Hunt, who joined the U.S. Army from Idaho, was a member of Detachment A-302, 5th Special Forces Group.
Today, Master Sergeant Hunt is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Major William E. Lemmons
Pocatello, Idaho
Incident Date: June 1967
Status: Missing In Action
On June 18, 1967, an OH-23 Raven helicopter (tail number 64-15194) took off with three crew members on a visual reconnaissance mission in South Vietnam. The aircraft failed to return from the mission for unknown reasons and was declared missing. Search efforts for the aircraft and its crew were unsuccessful, and all three men remain missing.
First Lieutenant William Ellsworth Lemmons, who joined the U.S. Army from Idaho, was a member of the Headquarters Company, 196th Infantry Brigade. He was the pilot of the Raven when it went missing on June 18, 1967, and was lost along with the aircraft.
After the incident, the Army promoted 1LT Lemmons to the rank of Major (MAJ). Today, Major Lemmons is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Incident Date: June 1967
Status: Missing In Action
On June 18, 1967, an OH-23 Raven helicopter (tail number 64-15194) took off with three crew members on a visual reconnaissance mission in South Vietnam. The aircraft failed to return from the mission for unknown reasons and was declared missing. Search efforts for the aircraft and its crew were unsuccessful, and all three men remain missing.
First Lieutenant William Ellsworth Lemmons, who joined the U.S. Army from Idaho, was a member of the Headquarters Company, 196th Infantry Brigade. He was the pilot of the Raven when it went missing on June 18, 1967, and was lost along with the aircraft.
After the incident, the Army promoted 1LT Lemmons to the rank of Major (MAJ). Today, Major Lemmons is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Commander Roderick L. Mayer
Lewiston, Idaho
Incident Date: October 1965
Status: Missing In Action
On October 17, 1965, an F-4B Phantom II (number: 150631, call sign: "Egg Shell 105") with a crew of two launched from the aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVA 62) to take part in a strike mission against the Thai Nguyen Bridge, North Vietnam. During the mission, his Phantom was hit by enemy anti-aircraft artillery. The aircraft rolled over and crashed, but both crew members were able to eject before it hit the ground. Following the incident, both men were seen on the ground in the vicinity of (GC) 48Q XJ 689 966, but could not be found by the time a rescue helicopter arrived two hours later. The helicopter came under intense ground fire and could not land, and a ground search could not be performed due to the continued enemy presence in the area. The area was kept under radio surveillance for two days but there was no contact with either crew member. It was later discovered that one crew member had been captured by the enemy, and he was subsequently released; the other crew member remains unaccounted for.
Lieutenant Roderick Lewis Mayer entered the U.S. Navy from Idaho and was a member of Fighter Squadron 41. He was the pilot of this Phantom II when it was hit by enemy fire on October 17, 1965, and he was last seen on the ground near the crash site after ejecting prior to the crash. However, he was not be found when the rescue helicopter reached the scene, and he remains unaccounted for. Following the incident, the U.S. Navy promoted LT Mayer to the rank of Commander (CDR). Today, CDR Mayer is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Chief Warrant Officer Jesse D. Phelps
Boise, Idaho
Incident Date: December 1965
Status: Repatriated August 2009
Interned: Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, Boise ID
On December 28, 1965, he was the pilot of a UH-1D Iroquois helicopter that went down during a mission to pick up Special Forces soldiers in Gai Lai Province, Vietnam. All the men aboard the helicopter were killed, and search and rescue efforts failed to locate the crash site at the time. However, in 2006, a joint U.S. and Vietnamese investigative team interviewed a Vietnamese local who was able to escort them to the crash site.
Chief Warrant Officer Phelps joined the U.S. Army from Idaho and was a member of the 7th Special Forces Group.
Excavations at the site in 2009 recovered human remains, and modern forensic techniques were able to individually identify CWO Phelps among them. On August 24, 2009, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC, now DPAA) identified the remains of Chief Warrant Officer Jesse Donald Phelps, missing from the Vietnam War.
Specialist 4 John L. Powers
Mackay, Idaho
Incident Date:
February 1971
Status: Repatriated December 2000
Interned: Arlington National Cemetery
On February 15, 1971, he was the flight engineer aboard a CH-47C Chinook (tail number 18506, call sign "Regard 25") on a combat support/resupply mission over Laos. During the flight, "Regard 25" caught fire, exploded in midair, and crashed near the Pon River in Savannakhet Province, Laos. Specialist 4 Powers was killed in the crash and his remains could not be recovered at the time. After the war, a series of joint U.S. Laotian investigative teams located the crash site and recovered human remains, some of which were forensically identified as those of SP4 Powers.
Specialist 4 Powers entered the U.S. Army from Illinois and served with the 159th Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Division.
On November 12, 2000, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Specialist 4 John Lynn Powers, missing from the Vietnam War.
Incident Date:
February 1971
Status: Repatriated December 2000
Interned: Arlington National Cemetery
On February 15, 1971, he was the flight engineer aboard a CH-47C Chinook (tail number 18506, call sign "Regard 25") on a combat support/resupply mission over Laos. During the flight, "Regard 25" caught fire, exploded in midair, and crashed near the Pon River in Savannakhet Province, Laos. Specialist 4 Powers was killed in the crash and his remains could not be recovered at the time. After the war, a series of joint U.S. Laotian investigative teams located the crash site and recovered human remains, some of which were forensically identified as those of SP4 Powers.
Specialist 4 Powers entered the U.S. Army from Illinois and served with the 159th Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Division.
On November 12, 2000, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Specialist 4 John Lynn Powers, missing from the Vietnam War.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jon M. Sparks
Carey, Idaho
Incident Date: March 1971
Status: Missing In Action
On March 19, 1971, a UH-1C Iroquois helicopter (tail number 65-9489) with a crew of four served as the tail ship in a flight of two helicopters on an armed escort mission over Savannakhet Province, Laos. During its second pass over the pickup zone, the Iroquois was hit by enemy ground fire. The pilot radioed the flight leader that he was making an emergency landing. The flight leader's helicopter was then also hit and forced to leave the area. A search and rescue helicopter was dispatched to the pick-up zone and rescued two South Vietnamese soldiers, but was forced to leave the area due to enemy fire before it could recover any Americans. The downed Iroquois tail gunner survived to return to U.S. custody; he reported that he left the helicopter under heavy fire, joined a unit of South Vietnamese soldiers and eventually made it back to friendly positions. When he left the Iroquois, the other three crew members were alive but taking heavy fire. Enemy presence prevented any further rescue attempts, and the remaining three crew men were not recovered.
Warrant Officer 1 Jon Michael Sparks, who joined the U.S. Army from Idaho, served with the 48th Assault Helicopter Company, 223rd Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. He was the co-pilot of the Iroquois when it was forced down in the pickup zone, and his fate is unknown. Subsequent to the incident, and while carried in the status of missing in action (MIA), the U.S. Army promoted Warrant Officer 1 Sparks to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CW2).
Today, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Sparks is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Chief Master Sergeant Larry C. Thormton
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Incident Date, Missing in Action:
December 1965
Status: Repatriated April 2012
Interned: Arlington National Cemetery
On December 24, 1965, he was a crew member aboard an AC-47D Spooky gunship carrying five other crew members on an armed reconnaissance mission against enemy targets in southern Laos. The aircraft crashed during the mission in Savannakhet Province and CMSgt Thornton was killed in the incident along with the other crew members. In 1995, a joint U.S./Laotian team investigated a reported location in Savannakhet Province that led the team to the Spooky’s crash site and recovery of aircraft wreckage. The team revisited the site from 1999 to 2001, and again in 2010 and 2011, and recovered human remains, personal items, and military equipment. Modern forensic techniques were able to identify CMSgt Thornton among the remains recovered.
Chief Master Sergeant Thornton entered the U.S. Air Force from Idaho and was a member of the 4th Air Commando Squadron.
On April 10, 2012, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC, now DPAA) identified the remains of Chief Master Sergeant Larry C. Thornton, missing from the Vietnam War.
Idaho Prisoners Of War Returned After the Vietnam War
Returned “Operation Home Coming”, December 2nd 1973
Lt Col Larry J Chesley, U.S. Air Force - Burley, Id
POW: April 1966 North Vietnam
Returned “Operation Home Coming”, March 29th 1973
Captain Frederick C. Mc Murray, U.S. Air Force - Coeur d’Alene, Id
POW: December 12th 1972 North Vietnam
Col Donald G. Waltman, U.S. Air Force - Kellogg, Id
POW: September 19th 1966 North Vietnam
Charles E. Willis, Civilian - Pocatello
POW: January 31st 1968 South Vietnam
Col Rudolph V. Zuberbuhler, U.S. Air Force - Lowman, Id
POW: September 12th 1972 North Vietnam