REMARKS:

SYNOPSIS: SP4 Larry K. Morrow, K Merrill, gunner, and WO Gerald D. Strablin, pilot, comprised the crew of an OH6A helicopter on a visual reconnaissance mission near Kontum in South Vietnam. (NOTE: JCRC records the date of this mission as 22 May 1972, while Defense Department records date as 29 May.)

During the mission, Strablin's helicopter came under hostile fire, disappeared over a ridge line, crashed, and burned. The Command and Control helicopter observed the helicopter just prior to impact, and shortly after impact, the Command and Control aircraft descended to the crash site and atempted to locate survivors. Because of heavy enemy fire, however, Command and Control was forced to leave. The crash was in an open area with enemy activity, and no survivor movement was noted around the wreckage.

On June 30, 1972, an ARVN platoon and U.S. personnel were inserted int the area. A 100 meter area was searched around the crash site. Numerous human skeletal remains, along with the remnants of a flight helmet were found and sent to the Saigon Mortuary at Tan Son Nhut. The helicopter pilot stated he witnessed a B52 crash in the area after the search attempt, so it was apparently unclear which aircraft the remains could be attributed to. (NOTE: no B52 crewmen are missing from this time frame in this area. While JCRC accounts indicate that Strablin's remains were recovered and identified, there is no listing on the memorial in Washington D.C. for either Strablin or Merrill, and their fates cannot be determined.)

On December 21, 1973, a rallier reported that he had seen a U.S. POW in June 1972 about 55 kilometers from the crash site of Morrow's aircraft. Information in this report correlates to Morrow.

The crash site was visited on two separate occasions. In August 1974, teams dug down about 11 1/2 feet to attempt to recover any burned remains in the immediate area of impact. Whether remains were found in this attempt is not mentioned in public records.

Larry K. Morrow was classified Missing in Action. The Defense Intelligence Agency further expanded the classification to include an enemy knowledge ranking of 2. Category 2 indicates "suspect knowledge" and includes personnel who may have been involved in loss incidents with individuals reported in Category 1 (confirmed knowledge), or who were lost in areas or under conditions that they may reasonably be expected to be known by the enemy; who were connected with an incident which was discussed but not identified by names in enemy news media; or identified (by elimination, but not 100% positively) through analysis of all-source intelligence.

Larry Morrow is among nearly 2500 Americans who remained unaccounted for at the end of the Vietnam War. Tragically, nearly 10,000 reports have been received relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia since 1975. Many authorities, who have examined this information believe there are large numbers of Americans still alive in captivity.

Whether Larry Morrow survived the crash of his helicopter to be captured is a matter of speculation, but it is possible, particularly given the intelligence received in 1973. Whether he is one of those said to be still alive is unknown. What seems clear, however, is that as long as even one American remains alive held against his will, there can be no "Peace with honor" in Vietnam. The war isn't over until all our men are home.