In Memory of….. Col. Keith Russell Heggen.
*** Keith Heggen was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on December 21, 1972 and was held until his death in captivity on or about December 26, 1972. His remains were recovered and returned on March 13, 1974.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
KEITH RUSSELL HEGGEN - Air Force - COL - O6
Age: 41
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Sep 1, 1931
From: RENWICK, IA
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Married - Beverly Jane Graham Heggen (1937 - ____)and Son, Kirt R. Heggen, both of Blytheville,AR. Parents: Father, Melvin J Heggen (1901 - 1966) and Mother, Bonita Elsie Gray Heggen (1908 - 1969).
***** ( Newspaper Clippings ) - Dear Eddie,
I am happy to say, I have found Col. Keith Randall Heggen, and have done a lot of research since reading your email yesterday. I was very concerned that I may have missed his headstone. Col. Keith R. Heggen's parents are buried at Vernon Township Cemetery.
I Would Like to Thank You, first of all for allowing me, to be a small part of our American Hero's lives, and most of all for you and your comrades for honoring such a wonderful man.
All of my best, Kim Haukoos
***** 10/7/2013-I just wanted to let you know, I was contacted by a former classmate, and friend of Col. Keith Heggen. They went to school together, and joined the service together. Thanks to your memorial, I was contacted, and able to provide as much information as possible to Mr. James White as he was heading to Washington D.C on the Veterans memorial flight, and wanted to memorialize his buddy. See below.
Thank you again for allowing me to help in this honorable venture.
As you can see, it is important.
My Best, Kim Haukoos, Renwick, Iowa
COL - O6 - Air Force - Regular
Casualty was on Dec 26, 1972
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died captured, FIXED WING - CREW
Loss Coordinates: 210200N 1054500E (WJ779258)
Status (in 1973): Killed in Captivity
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 01W - Line 100
Other Personnel In Incident: The crew of this B52 consisted of James Y. Nagahiro, pilot; Donovan K. Walters, co-pilot; Robert R. Lynn, electronic warfare officer; Charles J. Bebus, gunner; and crewmembers Lynn R. Beens; Edward H. Johnson and Keith R. Heggen.
On December 21, 1972, a B52G bomber stationed on Guam was ordered to take part in the Christmas bombings.
LtCol. Nagahiro's aircraft successfully completed its mission, but was hit by a surface to air missile in the tail section shortly after turning toward the safety of Thailand. Nagahiro gave the order for the crew to eject.
The fate of the crew is varied. Nagahiro, Beens and Heggen were captured, and Heggen died in captivity. Hegger was captured alive, but died in captivity.
Although the Vietnamese returned the remains of Keith Heggen in March 1974, they have consistently denied knowledge of any of the rest of the crew.
In October 1988, the Vietnamese "discovered" the remains of Bebus, Johnson, Lynn and Walters and returned them to U.S. control. For 16 years, they were political prisoners.
*******************************
.
*** Keith Heggen was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on December 21, 1972 and was held until his death in captivity on or about December 26, 1972. His remains were recovered and returned on March 13, 1974.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
KEITH RUSSELL HEGGEN - Air Force - COL - O6
Age: 41
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Sep 1, 1931
From: RENWICK, IA
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Married - Beverly Jane Graham Heggen (1937 - ____)and Son, Kirt R. Heggen, both of Blytheville,AR. Parents: Father, Melvin J Heggen (1901 - 1966) and Mother, Bonita Elsie Gray Heggen (1908 - 1969).
***** ( Newspaper Clippings ) - Dear Eddie,
I am happy to say, I have found Col. Keith Randall Heggen, and have done a lot of research since reading your email yesterday. I was very concerned that I may have missed his headstone. Col. Keith R. Heggen's parents are buried at Vernon Township Cemetery.
I Would Like to Thank You, first of all for allowing me, to be a small part of our American Hero's lives, and most of all for you and your comrades for honoring such a wonderful man.
All of my best, Kim Haukoos
***** 10/7/2013-I just wanted to let you know, I was contacted by a former classmate, and friend of Col. Keith Heggen. They went to school together, and joined the service together. Thanks to your memorial, I was contacted, and able to provide as much information as possible to Mr. James White as he was heading to Washington D.C on the Veterans memorial flight, and wanted to memorialize his buddy. See below.
Thank you again for allowing me to help in this honorable venture.
As you can see, it is important.
My Best, Kim Haukoos, Renwick, Iowa
COL - O6 - Air Force - Regular
Casualty was on Dec 26, 1972
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died captured, FIXED WING - CREW
Loss Coordinates: 210200N 1054500E (WJ779258)
Status (in 1973): Killed in Captivity
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 01W - Line 100
Other Personnel In Incident: The crew of this B52 consisted of James Y. Nagahiro, pilot; Donovan K. Walters, co-pilot; Robert R. Lynn, electronic warfare officer; Charles J. Bebus, gunner; and crewmembers Lynn R. Beens; Edward H. Johnson and Keith R. Heggen.
On December 21, 1972, a B52G bomber stationed on Guam was ordered to take part in the Christmas bombings.
LtCol. Nagahiro's aircraft successfully completed its mission, but was hit by a surface to air missile in the tail section shortly after turning toward the safety of Thailand. Nagahiro gave the order for the crew to eject.
The fate of the crew is varied. Nagahiro, Beens and Heggen were captured, and Heggen died in captivity. Hegger was captured alive, but died in captivity.
Although the Vietnamese returned the remains of Keith Heggen in March 1974, they have consistently denied knowledge of any of the rest of the crew.
In October 1988, the Vietnamese "discovered" the remains of Bebus, Johnson, Lynn and Walters and returned them to U.S. control. For 16 years, they were political prisoners.
*******************************
.
In Memory of….. Col. Keith Russell Heggen.
*** Keith Heggen was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on December 21, 1972 and was held until his death in captivity on or about December 26, 1972. His remains were recovered and returned on March 13, 1974.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
KEITH RUSSELL HEGGEN - Air Force - COL - O6
Age: 41
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Sep 1, 1931
From: RENWICK, IA
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Married - Beverly Jane Graham Heggen (1937 - ____)and Son, Kirt R. Heggen, both of Blytheville,AR. Parents: Father, Melvin J Heggen (1901 - 1966) and Mother, Bonita Elsie Gray Heggen (1908 - 1969).
***** ( Newspaper Clippings ) - Dear Eddie,
I am happy to say, I have found Col. Keith Randall Heggen, and have done a lot of research since reading your email yesterday. I was very concerned that I may have missed his headstone. Col. Keith R. Heggen's parents are buried at Vernon Township Cemetery.
I Would Like to Thank You, first of all for allowing me, to be a small part of our American Hero's lives, and most of all for you and your comrades for honoring such a wonderful man.
All of my best, Kim Haukoos
***** 10/7/2013-I just wanted to let you know, I was contacted by a former classmate, and friend of Col. Keith Heggen. They went to school together, and joined the service together. Thanks to your memorial, I was contacted, and able to provide as much information as possible to Mr. James White as he was heading to Washington D.C on the Veterans memorial flight, and wanted to memorialize his buddy. See below.
Thank you again for allowing me to help in this honorable venture.
As you can see, it is important.
My Best, Kim Haukoos, Renwick, Iowa
COL - O6 - Air Force - Regular
Casualty was on Dec 26, 1972
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died captured, FIXED WING - CREW
Loss Coordinates: 210200N 1054500E (WJ779258)
Status (in 1973): Killed in Captivity
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 01W - Line 100
Other Personnel In Incident: The crew of this B52 consisted of James Y. Nagahiro, pilot; Donovan K. Walters, co-pilot; Robert R. Lynn, electronic warfare officer; Charles J. Bebus, gunner; and crewmembers Lynn R. Beens; Edward H. Johnson and Keith R. Heggen.
On December 21, 1972, a B52G bomber stationed on Guam was ordered to take part in the Christmas bombings.
LtCol. Nagahiro's aircraft successfully completed its mission, but was hit by a surface to air missile in the tail section shortly after turning toward the safety of Thailand. Nagahiro gave the order for the crew to eject.
The fate of the crew is varied. Nagahiro, Beens and Heggen were captured, and Heggen died in captivity. Hegger was captured alive, but died in captivity.
Although the Vietnamese returned the remains of Keith Heggen in March 1974, they have consistently denied knowledge of any of the rest of the crew.
In October 1988, the Vietnamese "discovered" the remains of Bebus, Johnson, Lynn and Walters and returned them to U.S. control. For 16 years, they were political prisoners.
*******************************
.
*** Keith Heggen was interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam after he was shot down on December 21, 1972 and was held until his death in captivity on or about December 26, 1972. His remains were recovered and returned on March 13, 1974.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
KEITH RUSSELL HEGGEN - Air Force - COL - O6
Age: 41
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Sep 1, 1931
From: RENWICK, IA
Religion: BAPTIST
Marital Status: Married - Beverly Jane Graham Heggen (1937 - ____)and Son, Kirt R. Heggen, both of Blytheville,AR. Parents: Father, Melvin J Heggen (1901 - 1966) and Mother, Bonita Elsie Gray Heggen (1908 - 1969).
***** ( Newspaper Clippings ) - Dear Eddie,
I am happy to say, I have found Col. Keith Randall Heggen, and have done a lot of research since reading your email yesterday. I was very concerned that I may have missed his headstone. Col. Keith R. Heggen's parents are buried at Vernon Township Cemetery.
I Would Like to Thank You, first of all for allowing me, to be a small part of our American Hero's lives, and most of all for you and your comrades for honoring such a wonderful man.
All of my best, Kim Haukoos
***** 10/7/2013-I just wanted to let you know, I was contacted by a former classmate, and friend of Col. Keith Heggen. They went to school together, and joined the service together. Thanks to your memorial, I was contacted, and able to provide as much information as possible to Mr. James White as he was heading to Washington D.C on the Veterans memorial flight, and wanted to memorialize his buddy. See below.
Thank you again for allowing me to help in this honorable venture.
As you can see, it is important.
My Best, Kim Haukoos, Renwick, Iowa
COL - O6 - Air Force - Regular
Casualty was on Dec 26, 1972
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died captured, FIXED WING - CREW
Loss Coordinates: 210200N 1054500E (WJ779258)
Status (in 1973): Killed in Captivity
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
Panel 01W - Line 100
Other Personnel In Incident: The crew of this B52 consisted of James Y. Nagahiro, pilot; Donovan K. Walters, co-pilot; Robert R. Lynn, electronic warfare officer; Charles J. Bebus, gunner; and crewmembers Lynn R. Beens; Edward H. Johnson and Keith R. Heggen.
On December 21, 1972, a B52G bomber stationed on Guam was ordered to take part in the Christmas bombings.
LtCol. Nagahiro's aircraft successfully completed its mission, but was hit by a surface to air missile in the tail section shortly after turning toward the safety of Thailand. Nagahiro gave the order for the crew to eject.
The fate of the crew is varied. Nagahiro, Beens and Heggen were captured, and Heggen died in captivity. Hegger was captured alive, but died in captivity.
Although the Vietnamese returned the remains of Keith Heggen in March 1974, they have consistently denied knowledge of any of the rest of the crew.
In October 1988, the Vietnamese "discovered" the remains of Bebus, Johnson, Lynn and Walters and returned them to U.S. control. For 16 years, they were political prisoners.
*******************************
.
