Name: Edward Ray Dodge
Rank/Branch: E7/US Army Special Forces
Unit: Detachment C-1, 5th Special Forces Group
Date of Birth: 16 December 1933
Home City of Record: Norfolk VA
Loss Date: 31 December 1964
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 160631N 1075320E (ZC090830)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 4
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: O1F
Other Personnel In Incident:
WO1 George B. Mundis (on another O1 in same
flight -not lost); Kurt C. McDonald (missing)
REMARKS:
LAST SEEN TURNING AC IN VALLEY
SYNOPSIS:
SFC Edward Dodge was based at Da Nang with Detachment C-1 of the 5th
Special Forces Group. On December 31, 1964, Dodge served as observer on an O1F
aircraft flown by U.S. Air Force Capt. Kurt C. McDonald. Dodge and McDonald
were one of two O1's launched that day on similar flight paths. The other
aircraft was flown by WO1 George B. Mundis.
The two aircraft took off at about 0815 hours in marginal weather conditions. Their flight would take them to Camp A Shau, a Special Forces camp in the lower end of the A Shau Valley garrisoned by Detachment A-102. McDonald's flight was intended for a delivery to the camp.
Camp A Shau was a triangular shaped camp located in triple canopy jungle, and surrounded by elephant grass twice as high as a man. In just over a year from the day Dodge and McDonald were due to fly over the camp, it would be overrun by the enemy.
Mundis and McDonald flew together until they reached Hill 3350, whereupon both aircraft made a 180 degree turn. WO1 Mundis lost sight of McDonald's plane, which entered some bad weather, with clouds completely obscuring the ridge to the north and extending down to make a ragged roof above the triple canopy jungle. Mundis never saw the aircraft again.
Although returned POWs did not see Dodge or McDonald in captivity, one source selected the photographs of both men as those who were held captive by the communists in Southeast Asia.
Studies of declassified documents indicate that there was more than one POW prison "system" in place during the Vietnam war, and that POWs tended to be moved within one "system" with the same prisoners. It appears possible that a number of prisoners were held without the knowledge of other prisoners.
Refugees fleeing Southeast Asia have come with reports of Americans still held in captivity. There are many such reports that withstand the closest scrutiny the U.S. Government can give, yet official policy admits only to the "possibility" that Americans remain as captives in Southeast Asia.
Until serious negotiations begin on Americans held in Southeast Asia, the families of nearly 2500 Americans will wonder, "Where are they?"
