|
|
 |
 |
|
Remains Recovered 23 Aug. 2000.
| Name: | William Arthur Smith, Jr. |
| Rank/Branch: | W1/US Army |
| Unit: | Company A, 9th Aviation Battalion, 9th Infantry Division |
| Date of Birth (DOB): | 24 June 1945 (Americus, GA) |
| Home City of Record: | Battle Creek, MI |
| Loss Date: | 27 September 1968 |
| Country of Loss: | South Vietnam |
| Loss Coordinates: | 101643N 1062847E (XS608377) |
| Status (in 1973): | Missing In Action |
| Category: | 4 |
| Acft/Vehicle/Ground: | UH1H |
| Refno: | 1291 |
| Other Personnel in Incident: | (none missing) |
| Source: | Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 September 1990 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK 2000. |
| Remarks: | |
| Synopsis: | |
| On September 27, 1968, WO1 William A. Smith, Jr. was the aircraft commander of an UH1H helicopter (tail #67-17164) on a command and control mission in the vicinity of My Tho, Kien Hoa Province, Republic of Vietnam. The pilot onboard the aircraft was LT Quentin F. Hurst, crewchief, PVT Jeffrey C. Niles, and gunner Kevin L. Grain. [NOTE: Several Defense Department listings show Smith's aircraft as an OH6A helicopter, but the Army and Joint Casualty Resolution Center (JCRC) records indicate it was a UH1H.] During the mission, the aircraft was hit by enemy ground fire, burst into flames and exploded on contact with the My Tho River. Several U.S. Navy patrol boats were in the area, and the crash of the aircraft was observed. Boats arrived at the site minutes after the crash. During the aerial search of the crash site, three aviator helmets, aircraft debris, personal items belonging to the aircraft crew and an oil slick were located on the water in the vicinity. However, no evidence of survivors was seen, nor were any bodies located. On 29 September, the bodies of three crew members were found floating in the vicinity of the crash site. The three remains were recovered and subsequently identified as Niles, Hurst and Grain. It was determined that the recovered crew members survived the crash and later died by drowning. Thus it was possible that Smith survived as well and was captured. He was classified Missing in Action. A photo taken on the morning of September 28 of the shoreline in the same general area as the crash was examined by a photo interpreter who stated that it appeared that in the photo something or someone was dragged ashore in the vicinity of the crash site. However, questioning of the local riverside people indicated that a small sampan had been pulled ashore at that location. Leaflets were distributed along the shoreline seeking information from villagers about the fate of WO1 Smith. Also, an indigenous investigator traveled the north bank of the My Tho River searching for information or a body washed ashore. The results of both efforts were negative. In December 1974, remains were recovered that remotely associated with this incident. However, the Identification Laboratory in Thailand identified the remains as Mongoloid, and not those of WO1 Smith. A source reported information on a U.S. helicopter shot down in 1973 or 1974 in the vicinity. Reportedly, the dead pilot was pulled out, stripped, and buried in the vicinity. This was thought to possibly correlate to Smith [even though this incident was some 4-5 years following Smith's loss]. Nearly 2500 Americans were lost in Southeast Asia during our miltary involvement there. Since the war in Southeast Asia ended in 1973, thousands of reports relating to Americans prisoner, missing or unaccounted for have been received by the U.S. Government. The official policy is that no conclusive proof has been obtained that is current enough to act upon. Detractors of this policy say conclusive proof is in hand, but that the willingness or ability to rescue these prisoners does not exist. Smith, if one of those hundreds said to be still alive and in captivity, must be wondering if and when his country will return for him. In America, we say that life is precious, but isn't the life of even one American worth the effort of recovery? When the next war comes, and it is our sons lost, will we then care enough to do everything we can to bring our prisoners home? National League of Families UPDATE LINE: September 8, 2000 Thank you for calling the National League of Families Update Line. This message is being recorded on Friday, September 8th. The number of Americans missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War is now 2,005. Today, the Department of Defense released the names of eight of nine US personnel now accounted for, six previously missing in Laos and three in Vietnam.
Subject: Re: William Arthur Smith, Jr. Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2000 09:57:22 EDT No, there was no article--in fact there wasn't even the usual little folder that we get at most funerals. There were about 35 people there--mostly family. According to the family, his remains were located by a salvage diver very close to where the plane crashed in the river. They found the ID plate for the plane and some bones. Then, came the DNA testing. I hope it has brought some closure and healing for his family. DBS |
|
All Biographical and loss information on POWs provided by OpJC have been supplied by Chuck and Mary Schantag of POWNET. Please check with POWNET regularly for updates. |
|
 |
| WILLIAM ARTHUR SMITH JR CWO - W2 - Army - Reserve 9th Infantry Division 31 year old Single, Caucasian, Male Born on Jun 24, 1945 From BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN His tour of duty began on Sep 27, 1968 Casualty was on Oct 29, 1976 in KIEN HOA, SOUTH VIETNAM Hostile, died while missing HELICOPTER - PILOT AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND Body was not recovered Religion - PROTESTANT Panel 42W - - Line 33 |
Source: The VietNam Veterans' Memorial Wall Page. |
 Next POW/MIA biography |
|
 Home |
 Back |
My TOC |
 E-mail me |
||
 Sign My POW/MIA Guestbook and/or Read My POW/MIA Guestbook |
||
Click here to adopt your own POW/MIA from Operation Just Cause (OpJC or OJC). Click here to go to the OpJC Comm Center for more information. All Biographical and loss information on POWs provided by OpJC have been supplied by Chuck and Mary Schantag of POWNET. Please check with POWNET regularly for updates. |
Anyone without Internet access may adopt a POW/MIA
by sending a SASE along with their state and branch preference to:
Operation Just Cause
P.O. Box 264
Stockholm, NJ 07460
I plan to participate in POW/MIA Internet Blackout Day on February 1, 2003.......What about you? 
Please click on the banner above to learn more about POW/MIA Internet Blackout Day.
| Home | Back | Top | My TOC |
