Capt. John W. Held was the pilot of an A37A operating on a combat mission in
Phuoc Long Province, South Vietnam on April 17, 1968. About 10 miles east of
the city of Bo Duc, Held's aircraft was hit by ground fire and he was forced
to eject.
According to Held's father, Held's wingman reported good chutes and John
reached the ground safely. The second seater, if there was one, is unknown.
Held is the only man missing on April 17. It is possible that the second
seater was rescued, or that he was an ARVN and not maintained on U.S.
Casualty lists.
When search and rescue arrived 20 minutes later, they could see Held's empty
parachute and his emergency radio beeper. However, heavy enemy ground
fire prevented rescue. A later search indicated no blood in the area where
the chute was seen.
Because there was no clear evidence that Held was captured or killed, he was
listed missing in Action. Since that day, there has been no word of his
fate. The Vietnamese deny any knowledge of him.
Held was not among the prisoners of war that were released in 1973.
High-ranking U.S. officials admit their dismay that "hundreds" of Americans
known or suspected to be prisoners of war did not return.
Phuoc Long Province, South Vietnam on April 17, 1968. About 10 miles east of
the city of Bo Duc, Held's aircraft was hit by ground fire and he was forced
to eject.
According to Held's father, Held's wingman reported good chutes and John
reached the ground safely. The second seater, if there was one, is unknown.
Held is the only man missing on April 17. It is possible that the second
seater was rescued, or that he was an ARVN and not maintained on U.S.
Casualty lists.
When search and rescue arrived 20 minutes later, they could see Held's empty
parachute and his emergency radio beeper. However, heavy enemy ground
fire prevented rescue. A later search indicated no blood in the area where
the chute was seen.
Because there was no clear evidence that Held was captured or killed, he was
listed missing in Action. Since that day, there has been no word of his
fate. The Vietnamese deny any knowledge of him.
Held was not among the prisoners of war that were released in 1973.
High-ranking U.S. officials admit their dismay that "hundreds" of Americans
known or suspected to be prisoners of war did not return.
Capt. John W. Held was the pilot of an A37A operating on a combat mission in
Phuoc Long Province, South Vietnam on April 17, 1968. About 10 miles east of
the city of Bo Duc, Held's aircraft was hit by ground fire and he was forced
to eject.
According to Held's father, Held's wingman reported good chutes and John
reached the ground safely. The second seater, if there was one, is unknown.
Held is the only man missing on April 17. It is possible that the second
seater was rescued, or that he was an ARVN and not maintained on U.S.
Casualty lists.
When search and rescue arrived 20 minutes later, they could see Held's empty
parachute and his emergency radio beeper. However, heavy enemy ground
fire prevented rescue. A later search indicated no blood in the area where
the chute was seen.
Because there was no clear evidence that Held was captured or killed, he was
listed missing in Action. Since that day, there has been no word of his
fate. The Vietnamese deny any knowledge of him.
Held was not among the prisoners of war that were released in 1973.
High-ranking U.S. officials admit their dismay that "hundreds" of Americans
known or suspected to be prisoners of war did not return.
Phuoc Long Province, South Vietnam on April 17, 1968. About 10 miles east of
the city of Bo Duc, Held's aircraft was hit by ground fire and he was forced
to eject.
According to Held's father, Held's wingman reported good chutes and John
reached the ground safely. The second seater, if there was one, is unknown.
Held is the only man missing on April 17. It is possible that the second
seater was rescued, or that he was an ARVN and not maintained on U.S.
Casualty lists.
When search and rescue arrived 20 minutes later, they could see Held's empty
parachute and his emergency radio beeper. However, heavy enemy ground
fire prevented rescue. A later search indicated no blood in the area where
the chute was seen.
Because there was no clear evidence that Held was captured or killed, he was
listed missing in Action. Since that day, there has been no word of his
fate. The Vietnamese deny any knowledge of him.
Held was not among the prisoners of war that were released in 1973.
High-ranking U.S. officials admit their dismay that "hundreds" of Americans
known or suspected to be prisoners of war did not return.
Bio by: Find a Grave
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