In Honor Of
Capt. Donald B. Bloodworth
Least We Never Forget....
Name: Donald B. Bloodworth
Rank/Branch: O3/US Air Force
Unit:555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Ubon AF TH
D.O.B.:28 December 1944
Home City of Record: San Diago CA
Date of Loss: 24 July 1970
Country of Loss:Laos
Loss Coordinates: 193031N 1031928E (UG 241578)
Status:Missing In Action
Acft/Vehicle/Ground:F4D
Other Personal In Icident:Maj. James W. Reed (Missing)
Synopsis:Maj. James W. Reed was a pilot assigned to the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ubon Airfield, Thailand. On July 24th 1970 he and his navigator Capt. Donald B. Bloodworth were assigned an operrational mission over Laos in thier F4D Phantom Fighter/Bomber
Thier mission that day took them over the Plaine des Jarres(Plain of Jars) region of Northern Laos in the Xiangkhoang Province. As the aircraft was making a strafing run over a communist truck convoy, it took enemy fire. The crew of a C123 observed the Phantom crash after it had made a pass over the target, but no one saw parachutes befor seeing the huge explosion, and no recognizable aircraft parts were found. No emergancy radio beeper signals were heard. Nevertheless, there remained the possibility that men ejected safley
Bloodworth was listed Missing In Action, Catorgory 1, which means that the U.S. is certain the enemy knows what happened to him. As backseater, he would have been first to eject from the crippled plane, so he would not necessarily land close to his pilot. Reed is Missing In Action, Catogory 2, meaning there is a Strong reason to suspect the enemy knos his fate.
Donald B. Bloodworth was promoted to the rank of Captian and James W. Reed was prometed to the rank of Major during the period they were mainted missing
Since the war's end in 1973, thousands of reports have been received by the US Government regarding Americans in Laos, where nearly 600 Americans went missing, and none released. As Laos did not take part in the agreements that ended Americian involvment in Indochina, no prisoner release was ever negotiated with Laos. Although the Pathet Lao stated on severial occasions the they held " tens of tens" of American Prisoners not one man held in Laos has ever been released, and no agreement has been reached to free them.
Henry Kissinger predicted in the 50's that future "limited political engagments" would result, unfortunatly, in nonrecoverable prisoners of war.
We have seen this prediction fulfilled in Korea and Vietnam where thousands of men and women reamin missing, and where ample evidence exists that many of them (from both wars) are still alive today. For Americans the "unfortunate" abandonment of military personal IS NOT ACCEPTABLE and the policy that allows it must be changed befor another generation is left behind in some faraway war.
And remember please pray everyday that God protects these men, and all other's that have not come home, and to keep them safe from harm, and give peace to the families of all of our soldiers either active, inactive, or POW/MIA.
PLEASE WRITE OR CONTACT YOU LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND TELL THEM HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS PRACTICE AND TELL THEM TO:
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