Gerasimo Arroya-Baez and Richard L. Bowers, two U.S. advisors, two other Americans and a number of ARVN personnel were on duty at Tam Soc operating base in Ba Xuavn Province, near Saigon. The base personnel awoke early on the morning of March 24, 1969, to find the unit under attack by what was estimated to be a company-sized Viet Cong force and a heavy weapons sections using mortars, automatic weapons, small arms and B40 rockets.
Richard L. Bowers was heard on the radio calling for help when the radio went dead. A relief force was sent out to help. When it arrived, all the Vietnamese defenders of Tam Due Operations Base were found dead, along with two Americans. Bowers and Arroya-Baez, the American advisors, were not to be found.
A Vietnamese civilian who had been captured and later escaped stated that Bowers and Arroya-Baez had been taken prisoner, dressed in black pajamas, and were seen being led off into the jungle. Numerous intelligence reports were received concerning two U.S. POW's fitting the description of Bowers and Arroya-Baez, that were seen by ARVN and VC personnel at different times and locations after their capture, some conflicting.
A Vietnamese who was captured and escaped stated that Arroya-Baez was alive but that Bowers had been shot the day of capture. The combination of the most credible reports indicate that Bowers and Arroya-Baez were captured during the battle, but in the confusion were able to escape. They were located by the Viet Cong, however, on the same evening. The next day, a VC guard killed Bowers after he had again attempted to escape....
After it was determined that Bowers was dead, the guard and Arroya-Baez departed with the rest of their group and were forced to travel a number of days by foot and sampan.
The files of Bowers and Arroya-Baez are still classified. Gerasimo Arroya-Baez's name appeared on the "Died in Captivity" list provided by the Provisional Government of Vietnam in 1973, and it was stated that he died in captivity August 22, 1972. Fourteen years later, in March 1985, the Vietnamese "discovered" the remains of Arroya-Baez and returned them to the U.S. They have yet to "discover" the fate or remains of Richard L. Bowers.
" WHERE IS OUR PRIDE AND HONOR TO THESE BRAVE YOUNG MEN. SENT FROM THEIR HOME LAND TO BE FORGOTTEN? "WE NEED A 100% EFFORT FROM OUR GOVERNMENT TO BRING EVERY HERO HOME AND END THIS DISGRACE WE BEAR."
DVA
NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF FAMILIES
