US Air Force Capt Earl Carlyle Brown, Vietnam Veteran, Native of Stanley, NC.
US Air Force Capt Earl Carlyle Brown was Missing in Action(MIA) on 24 Nov 1969. As a member of the Air Force, CPT Brown served our country until January 7th, 1974 in Laos. He was 30 years old and was married. It was reported that Earl died when his plane crashed. His body was not recovered. CPT Brown is on panel 16W, line 114 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC.
I was just a child when I first started wearing your bracelet. I wore it for several years, and still have it to this day. Though it is now scuffed, somewhat mishapen, and barely retains any of the black paint that highlighted the letters of your name, I have never forgotten you or ceased to wonder if you were ever found. I had always held out the hope that you were found alive and living a peaceful life back here in the USA. Alas, I've found you are now resting peacefully with our nations heroes, your brothers in arms, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Thank you for your sacrifice. You will not be forgotten. My family will always treasure the bracelet bearing your name. I have two young sons, who already know your story. Hopefully, they will have children someday who will also be able to hold your bracelet, listen to your story, and remember and honor your sacrifice for our great country. God Bless, F.B.Short, [email protected].
I AM THE YOUNGEST SIBLING OF EARL "CARLYLE" BROWN. WE HAD A LARGE LOVING FAMILY AND "CARLYLE" WAS BY FAR THE MOST AMBITIOUS. HE LOVED TO FLY AIRPLANES AND STARTED WHILE IN AFROTC AT NCA&TSU IN GREENSBORO NC. MY MOTHER (NOW DECEASED) ALWAYS FEARED FOR HIS LIFE WHILE HE WAS STATE SIDE AND EVEN MORE WHEN HE WAS STATIONED IN OKINAWA, JAPAN FLYING MISSIONS TO VIETNAM. HE TOLD HER WHILE HE WAS FLYING HE FELT LIKE HE COULD REALLY REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE FACE OF GOD. EVEN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS MY HEART IS HEAVY WHEN I THINK OF HIS DEATH ON FOREIGN SOIL WITH NO ONE THERE TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE HIS LIFE. GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES AND OUR FAMILY REMAINS STRONG. MY MOTHER NEVER GAVE UP HOPE OF HIS BEING ALIVE EVEN TO THE END OF HER LIFE. NOW I AM SURE THEY ARE REUNITED IN HEAVEN.
Dear Capt. Brown, You don't know me, but I feel as if I've known you for more than half my life. You see, I wore your POW/MIA bracelet through Jr. High and High School. I was only 12 years old when I got it. It was too big for my arm so my grandfather cut it down a little and reshaped it so it wouldn't fall off. I prayed for you and your family daily. I still have your bracelet. I keep it in my jewelry box, with all my "good" jewelry. Who would have thought, when I was twelve, and handing out POW/MIA bracelets and bumper stickers, that I would end up married to a Vietnam Vet? My husband served in the infantry in the Army in 1970, 101st Airborne, 3/506th, Delta Company. In 1999 we went to Vietnam with a group that helps vets make peace with their past by helping the people of Vietnam. I still pray for you and your family and I just wanted to say thank you for serving our country. God bless you. God bless your family. Cindy Pratt.
On 24 November 1969, Captain Earl C. Brown, pilot; First Lieutenant Peter R. Matthes, co-pilot; Captain Richard O. Ganley, navigator; Major Michael D. Balamoti, navigator; Staff Sergeant. Donald L. Wright, flight engineer; Sgergerant Rexford J. DeWispelaere, loadmaster; Staff Sergeant Larry I. Grewell, Loadmaster; and Staff Sergeant Charles R. Fellenz, non crew member comprised the crew of a C130A that departed Ubon Airfield, Thailand on an operational mission over Laos.
At 1907 hours, while operating over the rugged, jungle covered mountains near the city of Ban Bac, Savannakhet Province, Laos; the C130A was observed as several rounds of 37mm anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) fire hit it. Other pilots saw the aircraft burst into flames, crash to the ground and explode on impact in an area laced with primary and secondary roads, along with rivers of various sizes. The crash site was also located approximately 29 miles west of the Lao/Vietnamese border, 67 miles west-northwest of Kham Duc and 90 miles west-southwest of DaNang, South Vietnam.
Those aircraft already on site conducted an immediate electronic and visual search, but none of the other aircrews heard any emergency beeper signals, saw any parachutes or located the aircraft wreckage. Because of the heavy enemy presence in the area, no ground search for the crew was possible. According to the Air Force, due to the circumstances surrounding this incident, it could not be determined whether the crew died or survived the crash of the aircraft. All crewmen were immediately listed Missing in Action.
In 1992, after a great deal of pressure was applied to the United States Government to establish the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs to officially investigate all aspects of the LIVE POW issue, the committee was instituted. During a hearing held specifically to receive sworn testimony from independent imagery experts hired as consultants for the US Government to examine these photographs generated by US intelligence, one noted consultant testified that the June 1992 satellite photographs of the Dong Mang (Dong Vai) prison camp near Hanoi indicated large numbers and letters appearing in nearby fields that matched the distress codes and surnames of known POW/MIAs. Further, that independent imagery consultant told the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs in his sworn testimony that he had detected, with "100% confidence," a faint "GX2527" in a satellite photograph of that prison camp in Vietnam.
These letters and numbers correlate to the secret primary and backup distress symbols and authenticator number for Peter Matthes. Other satellite photographs revealed more names and authenticator numbers that are confirmed to belong to other POW/MIAs, but none are fellow crewmen of First Lieutenant Matthes'. The Senate Select Committee recommended in 1993 that the Executive Branch investigate these cases by name with Vietnam. To date that has not happened.
In January 1993, a joint US/Lao team from the Joint Task Force for Full Accounting visited the C130 crash site for the first time. During that survey/excavation operation, no bone fragments or teeth were found. A full-scale crash site field excavation was conducted nearly 11 months later, from 21 October to 8 November 1993, during which time only 649 unidentifiable bone fragments and 5 teeth were recovered.
Interestingly, during the time in between these two trips to this crash site, the Deputy Director of Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) POW/MIA Special Office answered a Minnesota Congressman's questions about Peter Matthes by writing: "In January 1993, a joint US/Lao investigation team visited the crash site of this aircraft and found personal items of the crew in the wreckage. This site has been recommended as a high priority excavation site for one of the joint recovery teams operating throughout Southeast Asia under the authority of Joint Task Force-Full Accounting. This excavation should conclusively resolve the fate of the missing Air Force Officer."
On 23 October 1995, nearly two years later, that handful of remains recovered in October/November 1993 were accepted by the United States Government as "positively identified group remains" of all 8 American POW/MIAs from this loss incident, including Peter Matthes.
In preparation for anticipated questions from both the public and the media, DIA prepared the following message, dated 9 November 1995: "Group remains represent human biological evidence which can be associated with a specific incident, but which cannot be individualized by any currently available, scientifically accepted technique." In other words, none of the teeth or bone fragments was - nor could they be - identified as belonging to any member of that missing aircrew, or to Peter Matthes.
Did the crew of this C130 Hercules have their remains recovered and identified or are they still among nearly 600 Americans who disappeared in Laos and remain unaccounted for? Many of these men were known to be alive on the ground. The Laotians admitted holding "tens of tens" of American Prisoners of War, but these men were never negotiated for either by direct negotiation between our countries or through the Paris Peace Accords which ended the War in Vietnam since Laos was not a party to that agreement. Declared KIA 7 Jan 1974.
I wore his bracelet during the war. just found out about this web site and I had your bracelet all these years. I was sorry to hear the outcome. but I wore your bracelet with pride and thought of you. May God Bless. April Sarosy, [email protected], Franklin Square, NY 11010.
I have your braclet and would like your family to have it. It has been through a fire but you can still read it and I would like for one of his family members to have it. In 2004 I went to the Wall in Washington, and rub his name I also have said a great many prayers for the Captain and his family. I now have a son in the Air Force, recently back from Iraq. Please contact me and I will gladly send you the bracelet.I am now and have always been very proud of all of our service members. God Bless you all. Sue Nicholas, [email protected], 22440 Samuel Taylor, MI 48180.
Captain Brown has another Memorial marker for him in the Springfield Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery in Gaston County, NC.
Close personal friend and comrade. Memories to Earl's Family. We remember with great fondness Earl and Shirley and Libby from our time togethe in Okinawa especily at All Souls' Episcopal Church. Earl and Shirley stood in for family relatives as godparents at the baptism of our son Peter (now 38 in SJ, CA). When Earl went MIA and Shirley and Libby returned to the States, we lost track of them. We often think of their wherabouts and of Earl especially when we visit the memorial Wall in D.C. or the Wall South (1/2 replica) here in Pensacola. All love and prayers to them. Peter and Molly Delevett, 160 East Texar Drive Pensacola, FL, 32503, [email protected].
He served with the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron, Ubon Airfield, Thailand.
He was awarded The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Good Conduct Medal, The Air Medal with Multiple Oak Leaf Clusters, the Achievement Medal, The Commendation Medal.
∼MIA - Vietnam
SYNOPSIS: On November 24, 1969, a C130A departed Ubon Airfield, Thailand on an operational mission over Laos. The crew aboard the aircraft included Maj. Michael D. Balamonti (the navigator); Capt. Earl C. Brown; Capt. Richard O. Ganley; 1Lt. Peter R. Matthes (the copilot); and Sgts. Donald L. Wright; Larry I. Grewell; Charles R. Fellenz; and Rexford J. DeWispelaere.
While on the mission, near Ban Bac, Savannakhet Province, Laos, the C130 was observed to be struck by several rounds of 37mm anti-aircraft fire, burst into flames, crash to the ground, and explode on impact. All the crew was
declared Missing in Action, but due to enemy presence in the area, it was strongly felt that the enemy could account for them. It was not determined whether the crew died or survived the crash of the aircraft.
The crew of the C130 are among nearly 600 Americans who were lost in Laos.
When Dr. Henry Kissinger negotiated President Nixon's Peace Agreements in Paris in 1973, ending American involvement in the Vietnam War, the Americans
lost in Laos were forgotten. Kissinger did not negotiate for them, even though several were known to be Prisoners of War, and some 125 of them were known to have survived their loss incidents. Furthermore, the Pathet Lao
stated on several occasions that they held "tens of tens" of American prisoners.
The nearly 600 Americans lost in Laos have never been negotiated for, and not one American held in Laos was released at the end of the war.
Since the end of the war, nearly 10,000 reports have been received by the U.S. relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia. Many authorities believe that hundreds remain alive today, held captive. Whether the crew of
the C130 could be among them is not known, but it seems certain that there are compelling questions that need answers. Among them - why did we abandon the men who served our country? What are we doing to bring them home?
US Air Force Capt Earl Carlyle Brown was Missing in Action(MIA) on 24 Nov 1969. As a member of the Air Force, CPT Brown served our country until January 7th, 1974 in Laos. He was 30 years old and was married. It was reported that Earl died when his plane crashed. His body was not recovered. CPT Brown is on panel 16W, line 114 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC.
I was just a child when I first started wearing your bracelet. I wore it for several years, and still have it to this day. Though it is now scuffed, somewhat mishapen, and barely retains any of the black paint that highlighted the letters of your name, I have never forgotten you or ceased to wonder if you were ever found. I had always held out the hope that you were found alive and living a peaceful life back here in the USA. Alas, I've found you are now resting peacefully with our nations heroes, your brothers in arms, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Thank you for your sacrifice. You will not be forgotten. My family will always treasure the bracelet bearing your name. I have two young sons, who already know your story. Hopefully, they will have children someday who will also be able to hold your bracelet, listen to your story, and remember and honor your sacrifice for our great country. God Bless, F.B.Short, [email protected].
I AM THE YOUNGEST SIBLING OF EARL "CARLYLE" BROWN. WE HAD A LARGE LOVING FAMILY AND "CARLYLE" WAS BY FAR THE MOST AMBITIOUS. HE LOVED TO FLY AIRPLANES AND STARTED WHILE IN AFROTC AT NCA&TSU IN GREENSBORO NC. MY MOTHER (NOW DECEASED) ALWAYS FEARED FOR HIS LIFE WHILE HE WAS STATE SIDE AND EVEN MORE WHEN HE WAS STATIONED IN OKINAWA, JAPAN FLYING MISSIONS TO VIETNAM. HE TOLD HER WHILE HE WAS FLYING HE FELT LIKE HE COULD REALLY REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE FACE OF GOD. EVEN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS MY HEART IS HEAVY WHEN I THINK OF HIS DEATH ON FOREIGN SOIL WITH NO ONE THERE TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE HIS LIFE. GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES AND OUR FAMILY REMAINS STRONG. MY MOTHER NEVER GAVE UP HOPE OF HIS BEING ALIVE EVEN TO THE END OF HER LIFE. NOW I AM SURE THEY ARE REUNITED IN HEAVEN.
Dear Capt. Brown, You don't know me, but I feel as if I've known you for more than half my life. You see, I wore your POW/MIA bracelet through Jr. High and High School. I was only 12 years old when I got it. It was too big for my arm so my grandfather cut it down a little and reshaped it so it wouldn't fall off. I prayed for you and your family daily. I still have your bracelet. I keep it in my jewelry box, with all my "good" jewelry. Who would have thought, when I was twelve, and handing out POW/MIA bracelets and bumper stickers, that I would end up married to a Vietnam Vet? My husband served in the infantry in the Army in 1970, 101st Airborne, 3/506th, Delta Company. In 1999 we went to Vietnam with a group that helps vets make peace with their past by helping the people of Vietnam. I still pray for you and your family and I just wanted to say thank you for serving our country. God bless you. God bless your family. Cindy Pratt.
On 24 November 1969, Captain Earl C. Brown, pilot; First Lieutenant Peter R. Matthes, co-pilot; Captain Richard O. Ganley, navigator; Major Michael D. Balamoti, navigator; Staff Sergeant. Donald L. Wright, flight engineer; Sgergerant Rexford J. DeWispelaere, loadmaster; Staff Sergeant Larry I. Grewell, Loadmaster; and Staff Sergeant Charles R. Fellenz, non crew member comprised the crew of a C130A that departed Ubon Airfield, Thailand on an operational mission over Laos.
At 1907 hours, while operating over the rugged, jungle covered mountains near the city of Ban Bac, Savannakhet Province, Laos; the C130A was observed as several rounds of 37mm anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) fire hit it. Other pilots saw the aircraft burst into flames, crash to the ground and explode on impact in an area laced with primary and secondary roads, along with rivers of various sizes. The crash site was also located approximately 29 miles west of the Lao/Vietnamese border, 67 miles west-northwest of Kham Duc and 90 miles west-southwest of DaNang, South Vietnam.
Those aircraft already on site conducted an immediate electronic and visual search, but none of the other aircrews heard any emergency beeper signals, saw any parachutes or located the aircraft wreckage. Because of the heavy enemy presence in the area, no ground search for the crew was possible. According to the Air Force, due to the circumstances surrounding this incident, it could not be determined whether the crew died or survived the crash of the aircraft. All crewmen were immediately listed Missing in Action.
In 1992, after a great deal of pressure was applied to the United States Government to establish the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs to officially investigate all aspects of the LIVE POW issue, the committee was instituted. During a hearing held specifically to receive sworn testimony from independent imagery experts hired as consultants for the US Government to examine these photographs generated by US intelligence, one noted consultant testified that the June 1992 satellite photographs of the Dong Mang (Dong Vai) prison camp near Hanoi indicated large numbers and letters appearing in nearby fields that matched the distress codes and surnames of known POW/MIAs. Further, that independent imagery consultant told the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs in his sworn testimony that he had detected, with "100% confidence," a faint "GX2527" in a satellite photograph of that prison camp in Vietnam.
These letters and numbers correlate to the secret primary and backup distress symbols and authenticator number for Peter Matthes. Other satellite photographs revealed more names and authenticator numbers that are confirmed to belong to other POW/MIAs, but none are fellow crewmen of First Lieutenant Matthes'. The Senate Select Committee recommended in 1993 that the Executive Branch investigate these cases by name with Vietnam. To date that has not happened.
In January 1993, a joint US/Lao team from the Joint Task Force for Full Accounting visited the C130 crash site for the first time. During that survey/excavation operation, no bone fragments or teeth were found. A full-scale crash site field excavation was conducted nearly 11 months later, from 21 October to 8 November 1993, during which time only 649 unidentifiable bone fragments and 5 teeth were recovered.
Interestingly, during the time in between these two trips to this crash site, the Deputy Director of Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) POW/MIA Special Office answered a Minnesota Congressman's questions about Peter Matthes by writing: "In January 1993, a joint US/Lao investigation team visited the crash site of this aircraft and found personal items of the crew in the wreckage. This site has been recommended as a high priority excavation site for one of the joint recovery teams operating throughout Southeast Asia under the authority of Joint Task Force-Full Accounting. This excavation should conclusively resolve the fate of the missing Air Force Officer."
On 23 October 1995, nearly two years later, that handful of remains recovered in October/November 1993 were accepted by the United States Government as "positively identified group remains" of all 8 American POW/MIAs from this loss incident, including Peter Matthes.
In preparation for anticipated questions from both the public and the media, DIA prepared the following message, dated 9 November 1995: "Group remains represent human biological evidence which can be associated with a specific incident, but which cannot be individualized by any currently available, scientifically accepted technique." In other words, none of the teeth or bone fragments was - nor could they be - identified as belonging to any member of that missing aircrew, or to Peter Matthes.
Did the crew of this C130 Hercules have their remains recovered and identified or are they still among nearly 600 Americans who disappeared in Laos and remain unaccounted for? Many of these men were known to be alive on the ground. The Laotians admitted holding "tens of tens" of American Prisoners of War, but these men were never negotiated for either by direct negotiation between our countries or through the Paris Peace Accords which ended the War in Vietnam since Laos was not a party to that agreement. Declared KIA 7 Jan 1974.
I wore his bracelet during the war. just found out about this web site and I had your bracelet all these years. I was sorry to hear the outcome. but I wore your bracelet with pride and thought of you. May God Bless. April Sarosy, [email protected], Franklin Square, NY 11010.
I have your braclet and would like your family to have it. It has been through a fire but you can still read it and I would like for one of his family members to have it. In 2004 I went to the Wall in Washington, and rub his name I also have said a great many prayers for the Captain and his family. I now have a son in the Air Force, recently back from Iraq. Please contact me and I will gladly send you the bracelet.I am now and have always been very proud of all of our service members. God Bless you all. Sue Nicholas, [email protected], 22440 Samuel Taylor, MI 48180.
Captain Brown has another Memorial marker for him in the Springfield Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery in Gaston County, NC.
Close personal friend and comrade. Memories to Earl's Family. We remember with great fondness Earl and Shirley and Libby from our time togethe in Okinawa especily at All Souls' Episcopal Church. Earl and Shirley stood in for family relatives as godparents at the baptism of our son Peter (now 38 in SJ, CA). When Earl went MIA and Shirley and Libby returned to the States, we lost track of them. We often think of their wherabouts and of Earl especially when we visit the memorial Wall in D.C. or the Wall South (1/2 replica) here in Pensacola. All love and prayers to them. Peter and Molly Delevett, 160 East Texar Drive Pensacola, FL, 32503, [email protected].
He served with the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron, Ubon Airfield, Thailand.
He was awarded The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Good Conduct Medal, The Air Medal with Multiple Oak Leaf Clusters, the Achievement Medal, The Commendation Medal.
∼MIA - Vietnam
SYNOPSIS: On November 24, 1969, a C130A departed Ubon Airfield, Thailand on an operational mission over Laos. The crew aboard the aircraft included Maj. Michael D. Balamonti (the navigator); Capt. Earl C. Brown; Capt. Richard O. Ganley; 1Lt. Peter R. Matthes (the copilot); and Sgts. Donald L. Wright; Larry I. Grewell; Charles R. Fellenz; and Rexford J. DeWispelaere.
While on the mission, near Ban Bac, Savannakhet Province, Laos, the C130 was observed to be struck by several rounds of 37mm anti-aircraft fire, burst into flames, crash to the ground, and explode on impact. All the crew was
declared Missing in Action, but due to enemy presence in the area, it was strongly felt that the enemy could account for them. It was not determined whether the crew died or survived the crash of the aircraft.
The crew of the C130 are among nearly 600 Americans who were lost in Laos.
When Dr. Henry Kissinger negotiated President Nixon's Peace Agreements in Paris in 1973, ending American involvement in the Vietnam War, the Americans
lost in Laos were forgotten. Kissinger did not negotiate for them, even though several were known to be Prisoners of War, and some 125 of them were known to have survived their loss incidents. Furthermore, the Pathet Lao
stated on several occasions that they held "tens of tens" of American prisoners.
The nearly 600 Americans lost in Laos have never been negotiated for, and not one American held in Laos was released at the end of the war.
Since the end of the war, nearly 10,000 reports have been received by the U.S. relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia. Many authorities believe that hundreds remain alive today, held captive. Whether the crew of
the C130 could be among them is not known, but it seems certain that there are compelling questions that need answers. Among them - why did we abandon the men who served our country? What are we doing to bring them home?
US Air Force Capt Earl Carlyle Brown, Vietnam Veteran, Native of Stanley, NC.
US Air Force Capt Earl Carlyle Brown was Missing in Action(MIA) on 24 Nov 1969. As a member of the Air Force, CPT Brown served our country until January 7th, 1974 in Laos. He was 30 years old and was married. It was reported that Earl died when his plane crashed. His body was not recovered. CPT Brown is on panel 16W, line 114 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC.
I was just a child when I first started wearing your bracelet. I wore it for several years, and still have it to this day. Though it is now scuffed, somewhat mishapen, and barely retains any of the black paint that highlighted the letters of your name, I have never forgotten you or ceased to wonder if you were ever found. I had always held out the hope that you were found alive and living a peaceful life back here in the USA. Alas, I've found you are now resting peacefully with our nations heroes, your brothers in arms, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Thank you for your sacrifice. You will not be forgotten. My family will always treasure the bracelet bearing your name. I have two young sons, who already know your story. Hopefully, they will have children someday who will also be able to hold your bracelet, listen to your story, and remember and honor your sacrifice for our great country. God Bless, F.B.Short, [email protected].
I AM THE YOUNGEST SIBLING OF EARL "CARLYLE" BROWN. WE HAD A LARGE LOVING FAMILY AND "CARLYLE" WAS BY FAR THE MOST AMBITIOUS. HE LOVED TO FLY AIRPLANES AND STARTED WHILE IN AFROTC AT NCA&TSU IN GREENSBORO NC. MY MOTHER (NOW DECEASED) ALWAYS FEARED FOR HIS LIFE WHILE HE WAS STATE SIDE AND EVEN MORE WHEN HE WAS STATIONED IN OKINAWA, JAPAN FLYING MISSIONS TO VIETNAM. HE TOLD HER WHILE HE WAS FLYING HE FELT LIKE HE COULD REALLY REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE FACE OF GOD. EVEN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS MY HEART IS HEAVY WHEN I THINK OF HIS DEATH ON FOREIGN SOIL WITH NO ONE THERE TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE HIS LIFE. GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES AND OUR FAMILY REMAINS STRONG. MY MOTHER NEVER GAVE UP HOPE OF HIS BEING ALIVE EVEN TO THE END OF HER LIFE. NOW I AM SURE THEY ARE REUNITED IN HEAVEN.
Dear Capt. Brown, You don't know me, but I feel as if I've known you for more than half my life. You see, I wore your POW/MIA bracelet through Jr. High and High School. I was only 12 years old when I got it. It was too big for my arm so my grandfather cut it down a little and reshaped it so it wouldn't fall off. I prayed for you and your family daily. I still have your bracelet. I keep it in my jewelry box, with all my "good" jewelry. Who would have thought, when I was twelve, and handing out POW/MIA bracelets and bumper stickers, that I would end up married to a Vietnam Vet? My husband served in the infantry in the Army in 1970, 101st Airborne, 3/506th, Delta Company. In 1999 we went to Vietnam with a group that helps vets make peace with their past by helping the people of Vietnam. I still pray for you and your family and I just wanted to say thank you for serving our country. God bless you. God bless your family. Cindy Pratt.
On 24 November 1969, Captain Earl C. Brown, pilot; First Lieutenant Peter R. Matthes, co-pilot; Captain Richard O. Ganley, navigator; Major Michael D. Balamoti, navigator; Staff Sergeant. Donald L. Wright, flight engineer; Sgergerant Rexford J. DeWispelaere, loadmaster; Staff Sergeant Larry I. Grewell, Loadmaster; and Staff Sergeant Charles R. Fellenz, non crew member comprised the crew of a C130A that departed Ubon Airfield, Thailand on an operational mission over Laos.
At 1907 hours, while operating over the rugged, jungle covered mountains near the city of Ban Bac, Savannakhet Province, Laos; the C130A was observed as several rounds of 37mm anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) fire hit it. Other pilots saw the aircraft burst into flames, crash to the ground and explode on impact in an area laced with primary and secondary roads, along with rivers of various sizes. The crash site was also located approximately 29 miles west of the Lao/Vietnamese border, 67 miles west-northwest of Kham Duc and 90 miles west-southwest of DaNang, South Vietnam.
Those aircraft already on site conducted an immediate electronic and visual search, but none of the other aircrews heard any emergency beeper signals, saw any parachutes or located the aircraft wreckage. Because of the heavy enemy presence in the area, no ground search for the crew was possible. According to the Air Force, due to the circumstances surrounding this incident, it could not be determined whether the crew died or survived the crash of the aircraft. All crewmen were immediately listed Missing in Action.
In 1992, after a great deal of pressure was applied to the United States Government to establish the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs to officially investigate all aspects of the LIVE POW issue, the committee was instituted. During a hearing held specifically to receive sworn testimony from independent imagery experts hired as consultants for the US Government to examine these photographs generated by US intelligence, one noted consultant testified that the June 1992 satellite photographs of the Dong Mang (Dong Vai) prison camp near Hanoi indicated large numbers and letters appearing in nearby fields that matched the distress codes and surnames of known POW/MIAs. Further, that independent imagery consultant told the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs in his sworn testimony that he had detected, with "100% confidence," a faint "GX2527" in a satellite photograph of that prison camp in Vietnam.
These letters and numbers correlate to the secret primary and backup distress symbols and authenticator number for Peter Matthes. Other satellite photographs revealed more names and authenticator numbers that are confirmed to belong to other POW/MIAs, but none are fellow crewmen of First Lieutenant Matthes'. The Senate Select Committee recommended in 1993 that the Executive Branch investigate these cases by name with Vietnam. To date that has not happened.
In January 1993, a joint US/Lao team from the Joint Task Force for Full Accounting visited the C130 crash site for the first time. During that survey/excavation operation, no bone fragments or teeth were found. A full-scale crash site field excavation was conducted nearly 11 months later, from 21 October to 8 November 1993, during which time only 649 unidentifiable bone fragments and 5 teeth were recovered.
Interestingly, during the time in between these two trips to this crash site, the Deputy Director of Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) POW/MIA Special Office answered a Minnesota Congressman's questions about Peter Matthes by writing: "In January 1993, a joint US/Lao investigation team visited the crash site of this aircraft and found personal items of the crew in the wreckage. This site has been recommended as a high priority excavation site for one of the joint recovery teams operating throughout Southeast Asia under the authority of Joint Task Force-Full Accounting. This excavation should conclusively resolve the fate of the missing Air Force Officer."
On 23 October 1995, nearly two years later, that handful of remains recovered in October/November 1993 were accepted by the United States Government as "positively identified group remains" of all 8 American POW/MIAs from this loss incident, including Peter Matthes.
In preparation for anticipated questions from both the public and the media, DIA prepared the following message, dated 9 November 1995: "Group remains represent human biological evidence which can be associated with a specific incident, but which cannot be individualized by any currently available, scientifically accepted technique." In other words, none of the teeth or bone fragments was - nor could they be - identified as belonging to any member of that missing aircrew, or to Peter Matthes.
Did the crew of this C130 Hercules have their remains recovered and identified or are they still among nearly 600 Americans who disappeared in Laos and remain unaccounted for? Many of these men were known to be alive on the ground. The Laotians admitted holding "tens of tens" of American Prisoners of War, but these men were never negotiated for either by direct negotiation between our countries or through the Paris Peace Accords which ended the War in Vietnam since Laos was not a party to that agreement. Declared KIA 7 Jan 1974.
I wore his bracelet during the war. just found out about this web site and I had your bracelet all these years. I was sorry to hear the outcome. but I wore your bracelet with pride and thought of you. May God Bless. April Sarosy, [email protected], Franklin Square, NY 11010.
I have your braclet and would like your family to have it. It has been through a fire but you can still read it and I would like for one of his family members to have it. In 2004 I went to the Wall in Washington, and rub his name I also have said a great many prayers for the Captain and his family. I now have a son in the Air Force, recently back from Iraq. Please contact me and I will gladly send you the bracelet.I am now and have always been very proud of all of our service members. God Bless you all. Sue Nicholas, [email protected], 22440 Samuel Taylor, MI 48180.
Captain Brown has another Memorial marker for him in the Springfield Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery in Gaston County, NC.
Close personal friend and comrade. Memories to Earl's Family. We remember with great fondness Earl and Shirley and Libby from our time togethe in Okinawa especily at All Souls' Episcopal Church. Earl and Shirley stood in for family relatives as godparents at the baptism of our son Peter (now 38 in SJ, CA). When Earl went MIA and Shirley and Libby returned to the States, we lost track of them. We often think of their wherabouts and of Earl especially when we visit the memorial Wall in D.C. or the Wall South (1/2 replica) here in Pensacola. All love and prayers to them. Peter and Molly Delevett, 160 East Texar Drive Pensacola, FL, 32503, [email protected].
He served with the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron, Ubon Airfield, Thailand.
He was awarded The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Good Conduct Medal, The Air Medal with Multiple Oak Leaf Clusters, the Achievement Medal, The Commendation Medal.
∼MIA - Vietnam
SYNOPSIS: On November 24, 1969, a C130A departed Ubon Airfield, Thailand on an operational mission over Laos. The crew aboard the aircraft included Maj. Michael D. Balamonti (the navigator); Capt. Earl C. Brown; Capt. Richard O. Ganley; 1Lt. Peter R. Matthes (the copilot); and Sgts. Donald L. Wright; Larry I. Grewell; Charles R. Fellenz; and Rexford J. DeWispelaere.
While on the mission, near Ban Bac, Savannakhet Province, Laos, the C130 was observed to be struck by several rounds of 37mm anti-aircraft fire, burst into flames, crash to the ground, and explode on impact. All the crew was
declared Missing in Action, but due to enemy presence in the area, it was strongly felt that the enemy could account for them. It was not determined whether the crew died or survived the crash of the aircraft.
The crew of the C130 are among nearly 600 Americans who were lost in Laos.
When Dr. Henry Kissinger negotiated President Nixon's Peace Agreements in Paris in 1973, ending American involvement in the Vietnam War, the Americans
lost in Laos were forgotten. Kissinger did not negotiate for them, even though several were known to be Prisoners of War, and some 125 of them were known to have survived their loss incidents. Furthermore, the Pathet Lao
stated on several occasions that they held "tens of tens" of American prisoners.
The nearly 600 Americans lost in Laos have never been negotiated for, and not one American held in Laos was released at the end of the war.
Since the end of the war, nearly 10,000 reports have been received by the U.S. relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia. Many authorities believe that hundreds remain alive today, held captive. Whether the crew of
the C130 could be among them is not known, but it seems certain that there are compelling questions that need answers. Among them - why did we abandon the men who served our country? What are we doing to bring them home?
US Air Force Capt Earl Carlyle Brown was Missing in Action(MIA) on 24 Nov 1969. As a member of the Air Force, CPT Brown served our country until January 7th, 1974 in Laos. He was 30 years old and was married. It was reported that Earl died when his plane crashed. His body was not recovered. CPT Brown is on panel 16W, line 114 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington DC.
I was just a child when I first started wearing your bracelet. I wore it for several years, and still have it to this day. Though it is now scuffed, somewhat mishapen, and barely retains any of the black paint that highlighted the letters of your name, I have never forgotten you or ceased to wonder if you were ever found. I had always held out the hope that you were found alive and living a peaceful life back here in the USA. Alas, I've found you are now resting peacefully with our nations heroes, your brothers in arms, at Arlington National Cemetery.
Thank you for your sacrifice. You will not be forgotten. My family will always treasure the bracelet bearing your name. I have two young sons, who already know your story. Hopefully, they will have children someday who will also be able to hold your bracelet, listen to your story, and remember and honor your sacrifice for our great country. God Bless, F.B.Short, [email protected].
I AM THE YOUNGEST SIBLING OF EARL "CARLYLE" BROWN. WE HAD A LARGE LOVING FAMILY AND "CARLYLE" WAS BY FAR THE MOST AMBITIOUS. HE LOVED TO FLY AIRPLANES AND STARTED WHILE IN AFROTC AT NCA&TSU IN GREENSBORO NC. MY MOTHER (NOW DECEASED) ALWAYS FEARED FOR HIS LIFE WHILE HE WAS STATE SIDE AND EVEN MORE WHEN HE WAS STATIONED IN OKINAWA, JAPAN FLYING MISSIONS TO VIETNAM. HE TOLD HER WHILE HE WAS FLYING HE FELT LIKE HE COULD REALLY REACH OUT AND TOUCH THE FACE OF GOD. EVEN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS MY HEART IS HEAVY WHEN I THINK OF HIS DEATH ON FOREIGN SOIL WITH NO ONE THERE TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE HIS LIFE. GOD MAKES NO MISTAKES AND OUR FAMILY REMAINS STRONG. MY MOTHER NEVER GAVE UP HOPE OF HIS BEING ALIVE EVEN TO THE END OF HER LIFE. NOW I AM SURE THEY ARE REUNITED IN HEAVEN.
Dear Capt. Brown, You don't know me, but I feel as if I've known you for more than half my life. You see, I wore your POW/MIA bracelet through Jr. High and High School. I was only 12 years old when I got it. It was too big for my arm so my grandfather cut it down a little and reshaped it so it wouldn't fall off. I prayed for you and your family daily. I still have your bracelet. I keep it in my jewelry box, with all my "good" jewelry. Who would have thought, when I was twelve, and handing out POW/MIA bracelets and bumper stickers, that I would end up married to a Vietnam Vet? My husband served in the infantry in the Army in 1970, 101st Airborne, 3/506th, Delta Company. In 1999 we went to Vietnam with a group that helps vets make peace with their past by helping the people of Vietnam. I still pray for you and your family and I just wanted to say thank you for serving our country. God bless you. God bless your family. Cindy Pratt.
On 24 November 1969, Captain Earl C. Brown, pilot; First Lieutenant Peter R. Matthes, co-pilot; Captain Richard O. Ganley, navigator; Major Michael D. Balamoti, navigator; Staff Sergeant. Donald L. Wright, flight engineer; Sgergerant Rexford J. DeWispelaere, loadmaster; Staff Sergeant Larry I. Grewell, Loadmaster; and Staff Sergeant Charles R. Fellenz, non crew member comprised the crew of a C130A that departed Ubon Airfield, Thailand on an operational mission over Laos.
At 1907 hours, while operating over the rugged, jungle covered mountains near the city of Ban Bac, Savannakhet Province, Laos; the C130A was observed as several rounds of 37mm anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) fire hit it. Other pilots saw the aircraft burst into flames, crash to the ground and explode on impact in an area laced with primary and secondary roads, along with rivers of various sizes. The crash site was also located approximately 29 miles west of the Lao/Vietnamese border, 67 miles west-northwest of Kham Duc and 90 miles west-southwest of DaNang, South Vietnam.
Those aircraft already on site conducted an immediate electronic and visual search, but none of the other aircrews heard any emergency beeper signals, saw any parachutes or located the aircraft wreckage. Because of the heavy enemy presence in the area, no ground search for the crew was possible. According to the Air Force, due to the circumstances surrounding this incident, it could not be determined whether the crew died or survived the crash of the aircraft. All crewmen were immediately listed Missing in Action.
In 1992, after a great deal of pressure was applied to the United States Government to establish the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs to officially investigate all aspects of the LIVE POW issue, the committee was instituted. During a hearing held specifically to receive sworn testimony from independent imagery experts hired as consultants for the US Government to examine these photographs generated by US intelligence, one noted consultant testified that the June 1992 satellite photographs of the Dong Mang (Dong Vai) prison camp near Hanoi indicated large numbers and letters appearing in nearby fields that matched the distress codes and surnames of known POW/MIAs. Further, that independent imagery consultant told the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs in his sworn testimony that he had detected, with "100% confidence," a faint "GX2527" in a satellite photograph of that prison camp in Vietnam.
These letters and numbers correlate to the secret primary and backup distress symbols and authenticator number for Peter Matthes. Other satellite photographs revealed more names and authenticator numbers that are confirmed to belong to other POW/MIAs, but none are fellow crewmen of First Lieutenant Matthes'. The Senate Select Committee recommended in 1993 that the Executive Branch investigate these cases by name with Vietnam. To date that has not happened.
In January 1993, a joint US/Lao team from the Joint Task Force for Full Accounting visited the C130 crash site for the first time. During that survey/excavation operation, no bone fragments or teeth were found. A full-scale crash site field excavation was conducted nearly 11 months later, from 21 October to 8 November 1993, during which time only 649 unidentifiable bone fragments and 5 teeth were recovered.
Interestingly, during the time in between these two trips to this crash site, the Deputy Director of Defense Intelligence Agency's (DIA) POW/MIA Special Office answered a Minnesota Congressman's questions about Peter Matthes by writing: "In January 1993, a joint US/Lao investigation team visited the crash site of this aircraft and found personal items of the crew in the wreckage. This site has been recommended as a high priority excavation site for one of the joint recovery teams operating throughout Southeast Asia under the authority of Joint Task Force-Full Accounting. This excavation should conclusively resolve the fate of the missing Air Force Officer."
On 23 October 1995, nearly two years later, that handful of remains recovered in October/November 1993 were accepted by the United States Government as "positively identified group remains" of all 8 American POW/MIAs from this loss incident, including Peter Matthes.
In preparation for anticipated questions from both the public and the media, DIA prepared the following message, dated 9 November 1995: "Group remains represent human biological evidence which can be associated with a specific incident, but which cannot be individualized by any currently available, scientifically accepted technique." In other words, none of the teeth or bone fragments was - nor could they be - identified as belonging to any member of that missing aircrew, or to Peter Matthes.
Did the crew of this C130 Hercules have their remains recovered and identified or are they still among nearly 600 Americans who disappeared in Laos and remain unaccounted for? Many of these men were known to be alive on the ground. The Laotians admitted holding "tens of tens" of American Prisoners of War, but these men were never negotiated for either by direct negotiation between our countries or through the Paris Peace Accords which ended the War in Vietnam since Laos was not a party to that agreement. Declared KIA 7 Jan 1974.
I wore his bracelet during the war. just found out about this web site and I had your bracelet all these years. I was sorry to hear the outcome. but I wore your bracelet with pride and thought of you. May God Bless. April Sarosy, [email protected], Franklin Square, NY 11010.
I have your braclet and would like your family to have it. It has been through a fire but you can still read it and I would like for one of his family members to have it. In 2004 I went to the Wall in Washington, and rub his name I also have said a great many prayers for the Captain and his family. I now have a son in the Air Force, recently back from Iraq. Please contact me and I will gladly send you the bracelet.I am now and have always been very proud of all of our service members. God Bless you all. Sue Nicholas, [email protected], 22440 Samuel Taylor, MI 48180.
Captain Brown has another Memorial marker for him in the Springfield Memorial Baptist Church Cemetery in Gaston County, NC.
Close personal friend and comrade. Memories to Earl's Family. We remember with great fondness Earl and Shirley and Libby from our time togethe in Okinawa especily at All Souls' Episcopal Church. Earl and Shirley stood in for family relatives as godparents at the baptism of our son Peter (now 38 in SJ, CA). When Earl went MIA and Shirley and Libby returned to the States, we lost track of them. We often think of their wherabouts and of Earl especially when we visit the memorial Wall in D.C. or the Wall South (1/2 replica) here in Pensacola. All love and prayers to them. Peter and Molly Delevett, 160 East Texar Drive Pensacola, FL, 32503, [email protected].
He served with the 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron, Ubon Airfield, Thailand.
He was awarded The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Good Conduct Medal, The Air Medal with Multiple Oak Leaf Clusters, the Achievement Medal, The Commendation Medal.
∼MIA - Vietnam
SYNOPSIS: On November 24, 1969, a C130A departed Ubon Airfield, Thailand on an operational mission over Laos. The crew aboard the aircraft included Maj. Michael D. Balamonti (the navigator); Capt. Earl C. Brown; Capt. Richard O. Ganley; 1Lt. Peter R. Matthes (the copilot); and Sgts. Donald L. Wright; Larry I. Grewell; Charles R. Fellenz; and Rexford J. DeWispelaere.
While on the mission, near Ban Bac, Savannakhet Province, Laos, the C130 was observed to be struck by several rounds of 37mm anti-aircraft fire, burst into flames, crash to the ground, and explode on impact. All the crew was
declared Missing in Action, but due to enemy presence in the area, it was strongly felt that the enemy could account for them. It was not determined whether the crew died or survived the crash of the aircraft.
The crew of the C130 are among nearly 600 Americans who were lost in Laos.
When Dr. Henry Kissinger negotiated President Nixon's Peace Agreements in Paris in 1973, ending American involvement in the Vietnam War, the Americans
lost in Laos were forgotten. Kissinger did not negotiate for them, even though several were known to be Prisoners of War, and some 125 of them were known to have survived their loss incidents. Furthermore, the Pathet Lao
stated on several occasions that they held "tens of tens" of American prisoners.
The nearly 600 Americans lost in Laos have never been negotiated for, and not one American held in Laos was released at the end of the war.
Since the end of the war, nearly 10,000 reports have been received by the U.S. relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia. Many authorities believe that hundreds remain alive today, held captive. Whether the crew of
the C130 could be among them is not known, but it seems certain that there are compelling questions that need answers. Among them - why did we abandon the men who served our country? What are we doing to bring them home?
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