Eight statuses to be changed, honored on Mother’s Day

May 2, 2014 by VVMF

Each spring, VVMF works with the Department of Defense (DOD) to ensure that The Wall is accurate. When MIAs are recovered in Vietnam or when an appeal has been approved for addition to The Wall, VVMF makes the appropriate changes.

The statuses of eight men, whose names are listed on The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, will be changed and honored during the Name Additions on Mother’s Day Ceremony  on May 11, 2014. Once Missing in Action (MIA), all eight of these men were accounted for in the past year. We will change the symbols beside their names to indicate this. Each name on The Wall  includes a symbol designating status. The diamond symbol denotes that the service member’s death was confirmed. A cross means the individual is missing or a prisoner at the end of the war and remains unaccounted for. In the event a serviceman’s remains are returned or he is accounted for, the diamond is superimposed  over the cross.

The following men have been accounted for:

 

Howard Vincent Andre, Jr.

Major, O4

Date of Birth: 18 March 1935

Home of Record: Memphis, Tenn.

Date of Death: 8 July 1969

Panel 21W Line 80

Howard Vincent Andre, Jr., a U.S. Air Force Major, was on a night armed reconnaissance mission with Maj. James E. Sizemore, on July 8, 1969, when their A-26A Invader aircraft crashed in Xiangkhoang Province, Laos. Remembered by Nolan, a fellow serviceman, Andre was “a top graduate in his Air Force navigator training class,” and “well liked towards everyone.” He remained unaccounted for until April 2013 and was buried at Arlington National Ceremony with full military honors on Sept. 23, 2013.

 

John Lawrence Burgess

Specialist 5, SP5

Date of Birth: 5 April 1949

Home of Record: Kingsley, Mich.

Date of Death: 30 June 1970

Panel 9W Line 104

John Lawrence Burgess was the crew chief of a UH-1H Iroquois helicopter during a command and control mission on June 30, 1970 when it crashed in the Binh Phuoc Province, South Vietnam. He was 21. Three others were also killed in the crash, but were identified shortly after. Burgess was identified in June of 2013. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in a group burial with full military honors on July 2, 2013.

 

Thomas Wayne Dugan

Colonel, O6

Date of Birth: 31 May 1933

Home of Record: Reading, Pa.

Date of Death: 13 December 1968

Panel 36W Line 14

According to the Berks County Vietnam Memorial dedication booklet, Thomas Wayne Dugan “was born in Reading, PA and graduated from Reading High School in 1951. An active member of the Civil Air Patrol, he joined the Air Force soon after graduation and served as an enlisted man before being selected to attend flight school, where he received his commission and pilot’s wings…Tom was flying a night mission over Laos when radio contact with him was lost. Air Force officials felt he was one of two planes involved in a mid-air collision.” Dugan was also the holder of a Distinguished Flying Cross, and served in Vietnam only four months before his death. He was 35 years old at the time of his disappearance.

 

Louis Fulda Guillermin

Major, O4

Date of Birth: 6 January 1943

Home of Record: West Chester, Pa.

Date of Death: 30 April 1968

Panel 53E Line 14

Louis Fulda Guillermin, who was 25 years old on April 30, 1968, was flying an A26A aircraft during an armed-reconnaissance mission with Robert Edward Pietsch when their aircraft crashed in Savannakhet Province, Laos. Guillermin served in the U.S. Air Force, 609th Air Commando Squadron. Anthony, the owner of his MIA bracelet stated, “I now feel a little closer to his soul, and hope that one day I can meet someone from his family and tell them that he is never forgotten.”

 

 

Michael Barry Judd

Hospital Corpsman, Third Class, E3

Date of Birth: 22 August 1945

Home of Record: Cleveland, Ohio

Date of Death: 30 June 1967

Panel 22E Line 88

Michael Barry Judd,  a Navy Hospital Corpsman, 3rd Class was aboard a CH-46A Sea Knight helicopter that was attempting to insert a U.S. Marine Corps reconnaissance team into hostile territory in Thua Thien-Hue Province, Vietnam. Approaching the landing zone, the helicopter crashed after coming under enemy fire. Judd, who was 21, and four other crew members, died in the crash. Thomas M. Teleha, HMC(SS/FMF) USN, Ret. has worn Judd’s bracelet since 1990 saying, “I am so thankful that his remains have been found, many years later, but finally found…and if I get back to the wall place it there in his remembrance. Welcome home brother.” Judd was accounted for in July of 2013 and buried on July 15, at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

Robert Edward Pietsch

Lieutenant, O5

Date of Birth: 24 December 1936

Home of Record: Cleveland, Ohio

Date of Death: 30 April 1968

Panel 53E Line 21

Robert Edward Pietsch, who was 31 years old on April 30, 1968, was flying an A26A aircraft during an armed-reconnaissance mission with Major Louis Fulda Guillermin when their aircraft crashed in Savannakhet Province, Laos. Pietsch is remembered by Tammy, who wore his MIA bracelet, “In the early 70’s, I was able to send his wife a letter and she wrote me back. I believe she told me he had five children. I am looking for the letter. I want them to know that I have never quit thinking of him or them.” Pietsch’s remains were recovered in September of 2013.

 

James Elmo Sizemore

Major, O4

Date of Birth: 11 October 1930

Home of Record: San Diego, Calif.

Date of Death: 8 July 1969

Panel 21W Line 86

James Elmo Sizemore, a Major for the U.S. Air Force Reserve, was lost on July 8, 1969, near Xiangkhoang Province, Laos on a night armed reconnaissance mission with Howard Vincent Andre, Jr. Both men were accounted for in April 2013 and buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on Sept. 23, 2013. Sizemore currently has a military marker in his memory at Lawrenceville City Cemetery, Lawrenceville, Ill.

 

Lawrence Woods

Staff Sergeant, E6

Date of Birth: 18 March 1925

Home of Record: Clarksville, Tenn.

Date of Death: 24 October 1964

Panel 1E Line 68

Sergeant Lawrence Woods and an Air Force and Army crew were on a plane that was shot down over Vietnam on Oct. 24, 1964. The plane was struck by enemy fire while resupplying the U.S. Special Forces camp at Bu Prang, Vietnam. Woods was 36. Seven others were shot down with Woods, but were later identified. Woods was accounted for in March 2014 and was buried on March 21, 2014 at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

VVMF says ‘Welcome Home’.

For information about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, including adding names to The Wall, click here. To find information on someone whose name is on The Wall, visit our online database.

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