SP6 John T. Strawn

On March 4,1971 Capt. Micheal W. Marker, pilot of a JU21-A twin engine turbo prop (serial number 18065, call sign Vanguard 216) departed Phu Bai, Republic of Vietnam on an early morning combat support mission in the vicinity of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).His crew that morning consisted of WO1 Harold L. Algaard, co-pilot; SP5 Rodney D. Osborne, technical observer; SP5 Richard J. Hentz, crewman; and SP6 John T. Strawn, crewman. The pilot and crew were assigned to the 138th Aviation Company, 224th Aviation Battalion, 509th RR (Radio Research) Group, a cover designation for their real unit in USASA.

"Radio Research"was actually a secret cover designation for certain units operating under the direction of the US Army Security Group, Vietnam. All missions of this agency were highly classified. The 224th Aviation Battalion was referred to as an aviation battalion in Vietnam for security reasons only. The JU21A aircrew's actual unit designation was 138th ASA Company, 224th ASA Battalion (Aviation), U.S. Army Security Agency Group, Vietnam.

Two hours into the mission, at 0840 hours, radio and radar communication was lost. When the aircraft failed to return from the mission at the appointed time, search efforts were initiated and continued for 2 days over a 300 mile area, but proved negative. A reliable source indicated that an aerial detonation in the vicinity of the DMZ occurred on March 4, 1971 at the same flight altitude and pattern flown by Vanguard 216. Hostile threat in the area precluded any visits to the suspected area of the crash. No trace was ever found of the aircraft or the crew.

While the missing crew members were initially listed as Missing In Action, a change in status to Killed In Action, Body Not Recovered (KIA/BNR) occurred within 90 days of the incident. Regarding the status change, the families were told that all information pertinent to the incident was classified and would remain classified for 10 years.

Since that date, the families have been told that the aircraft was involved in electronic surveillance, and their mission was top secret. The aircraft was hit by enemy artillery and was downed over North Vietnam. A "classified source" stated that the crew was killed. The rest is classified.

Efforts through numerous inquiries, including a Congressional inquiry in 1982, to reveal what information was contained in the "classified source" have been fruitless. Through the Congressional inquiry it was learned that information regarding the loss of of Vanguard 216 would be classified until the year 2010 A.D.

Since American involvement in Southeast Asia ended in 1975, nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing in Vietnam have been received by the US Government. Most non-government authorities believe there are hundreds of Americans still alive in the communist prisons of Southeast Asia. The US Government remains nebulous in their statements, saying only that the "possibility" exists, but cannot be confirmed.

The crew of Vanguard 216 has been missing for 30 years. The families of the men aboard hold little hope that they are still alive. But they would like to know-and deserve to know-what happened on that day. If as the US Government seems to believe, all the men are now dead, why the cover of secrecy regarding their fates? It's time we got answers, and it's time those who remain alive are brought home.