Other Personnel in Incident:
( None Missing )
SYNOPSIS:
PFC Robert J. Wells was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry,
3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam. On July 22, 1966, he and
his unit were conducting a mission in Pleiku Province, Republic of Vietnam
when they crossed a swift stream near the Ia Drang River.
During the crossing, the safety line Wells was using
broke and he was swept away. Witnesses tried to save him, but he disappeared
under the water. At the time, Wells was undoubtedly weighted down by ammunition
and other gear.
Searches along the banks of the river were conducted,
but no trace of Wells was ever found. He was listed Killed in Action /
Body Not Recovered. There is little likelihood that his body will ever
be found.
Wells is listed among the missing because he was never
found. Others who are missing do not have such clear-cut cases. Some were
known captives; some were photographed as they were led by their guards.
Some were in radio contact with search teams, while others simply disappeared.
Since the war ended, over 250,000 interviews have been
conducted with those who claim to know about Americans still alive in Southeast
Asia, and several million documents have been studied. U.S. Government
experts cannot seem to agree whether Americans are there alive or not.
Detractors say it would be far too politically difficult to bring the men
they believe to be alive home, and the U.S. is content to negotiate for
remains.
Well over 1000 first-hand, eyewitness reports of American
prisoners still alive in Southeast Asia have been received by 1990. Most
of them are still classified. If, as the U.S. seems to believe, the men
are all dead, why the secrecy after so many years? If the men are alive,
why are they not home ?
No One Is Free
It is the Soldier, not the press, that has given
us
It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us
It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who
has given us
It is the Soldier, not the lawyer, who has given
us
It is the Soldier who salutes the flag,
Until
They're All Home . . .
Big Lou's Other Adopted POW/MIAs
Victor
J. Apodaca, Jr.
Edward
J. Rykoskey
Henry
M. Serex The Hurt of One is the Hurt of
All . . .
The Honor of One is the Honor
of All . . .
When One American
is not worth the effort to be found,
then we as Americans
have lost our National Honor . . .
Thanks for Visiting
. . .
Now go make a Difference !
Pennsylvania's POW/MIAs - Roll Call - All
POW/MIAs
Pennsylvania's POW/MIAs - Roll Call - POW/MIA's
Returned Alive
Pennsylvania's POW/MIAs - Roll Call - POW/MIA's
Remains Returned
"All Biographical and loss information on POWs provided
by Operation Just Cause have been supplied by Chuck and Mary Schantag of
POWNET. Please check with POWNET
regularly for updates."
Last Update 06/08/2000
Rank/Branch:
E3 / US Army
Unit: 1st
Battalion, 14th Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
Date of Birth:
26 December 1943
Home City of Record:
Philadelphia PA
Loss Date:
22 July 1966
Country of Loss:
South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates:
133735N 1073704E ( YA832078 )
Status (in 1973):
Killed / Body Not Recovered
Category: 4
Acft/Vehicle/Ground:
Ground
When Others Are Oppressed
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freedom of speech.
the freedom to demonstrate.
the right to a fair trial.
serves under the flag,
and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Then I'll Leave It Alone . . .
(Native American Brother)
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