Lima Site 85 - Laos

Senior Chief

Senior Chief

Banned
Anyone have any information pertaining to the activites of LIMA SITE 85?

My uncle was on the AF/Lockheed team that was overrun on that Site in 1968. They are still listed as MIA.
 
https://cia.gov/csi/studies/95unclass/Linder.html

http://www.afa.org/magazine/April2006/0406lima.asp

http://limasite85.us/the_destruction_of_lima_site_85.htm

http://limasite85.us/director.htm

The Americans at Phou Pha Thi on March 11, 1968

• Rescued: Capt. Stanley J. Sliz, SSgt. John Daniel, SSgt. Bill Husband, SSgt. Jack Starling, Sgt. Roger Huffman, Howard Freeman (CIA), John Spence (CIA).

• Killed during rescue: CMSgt. Richard L. Etchberger.

• Killed in action/body not recovered: Lt. Col. Clarence F. Blanton, MSgt. James H. Calfee, TSgt. Melvin A. Holland, SSgt. Herbert A. Kirk, SSgt. Henry G. Gish, SSgt. Willis R. Hall, SSgt. James W. Davis, SSgt. David S. Price, TSgt. Donald K. Springsteadah, SSgt. Don F. Worley.

• Killed in action/body recovered: TSgt. Patrick L. Shannon.
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• Killed in action/body not recovered: Lt. Col. Clarence F. Blanton, MSgt. James H. Calfee, TSgt. Melvin A. Holland, SSgt. Herbert A. Kirk, SSgt. Henry G. Gish, SSgt. Willis R. Hall, SSgt. James W. Davis, SSgt. David S. Price, TSgt. Donald K. Springsteadah, SSgt. Don F. Worley.

I have a problem wiht those that are listed as killed in action. Last time I checked they were still listed as MIA. I know that in 1998 they were still listed as MIA. The indicator on the Wall in DC shows them as MIA as well.

I have the original declassified document regarding the site and the day they were over ran. If the OIC had not have sat on his hands they would have been out of there with hours to spare. Someone dropped the ball big time.
 
Could be Senior Chief that since 1998 they have been reclassified and that the fellas in charge of the markers on the wall aren't up to snuff. The article which lists them as KIA not recovered is from the Air Force Association dated April of this year. This link...

http://www.afa.org/magazine/April2006/0406lima.asp

I'd say its worth a phone call to the AFA at least to get their source and follow it up through them than the regular channels.
;)
 
bulldogg said:
Could be Senior Chief that since 1998 they have been reclassified and that the fellas in charge of the markers on the wall aren't up to snuff. The article which lists them as KIA not recovered is from the Air Force Association dated April of this year. This link...

http://www.afa.org/magazine/April2006/0406lima.asp

I'd say its worth a phone call to the AFA at least to get their source and follow it up through them than the regular channels.
;)
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The KIA/MIA discrepancy doesn't bother me as much as the coverup we had about the incident. My Uncles wife fought with the AF from 1968 through 1999 when she passed away. Every year she went to DC with a few of the other wives.

Early on the AF tried to pass off bodies on them that was supposed to be the guys that were on the site. We had an ace in the hole. My uncle had been involved in an accident when he was a kid on the farm. His skull had markings from that accident and my Aunt had the x-rays (I don't know if the AF ever knew because they kept bringing remains with skulls.) It got to be a running joke with my Aunt. They would plop out the remains and my Aunt would say that it was without a doubt not my Uncle.

When she died I think the whole family decided that if he was dead that it was then OK. We all hoped that there was a grand reunion inside the Pearly Gates.

I guess we will never really know what happened to the guys. Maybe when we trek to the Pearly Gates ourselves. (Who killed JFK, and some of the other mysteries of our time will be answered.....but at that point who will really care?)
 
From the military/cia perspective there were some pretty dodgy legal dealings going on since this was in Laos where we weren't supposed to be. To have told the truith would have been to admit to breaking a treaty and a law. Given the political climate post-vietnam and the witch hunts that ensued I can understand their CYA act until those involved were no longer in legal jeapordy. On the other hand I can completely understand the anguish the families would suffer in such an instance.

Was there any "new" information from the sources I found from what you had?
 
bulldogg said:
From the military/cia perspective there were some pretty dodgy legal dealings going on since this was in Laos where we weren't supposed to be. To have told the truith would have been to admit to breaking a treaty and a law. Given the political climate post-vietnam and the witch hunts that ensued I can understand their CYA act until those involved were no longer in legal jeapordy. On the other hand I can completely understand the anguish the families would suffer in such an instance.

Was there any "new" information from the sources I found from what you had?
Click to expand...

I haven't gotten all of the way through them yet. I've been busy preparing for a business trip to start up a project.

I will let you know after I have the opportuntiy to read through it and get the links to my cousin.
 
Fair enough Senior Chief... if your business travels bring you through Hong Kong give me a holler and we'll burn one down.
 
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