These four men were all classified Category 4, which means U.S. Intelligence has no information to indicate that the Vietnamese knew their fates.

According to Captain Sprick's twin brother, Duane, searches were conducted for the aircraft which were extensive and thorough for the time and condition. The DaNang area was unfriendly, so the search and rescue was fairly restricted since the area was "owned by the Viet Cong at the time."

In 1969, the Central Intelligence Agency received a rather extensive and detailed report relating to a POW camp near the city of Hue in which scores of Americans had been held. When asked to review photographs of Americans still missing, the source giving the information positively identified Captain Albert Pitt as having been detained in this camp. This identification was made on Aprill 11, 1968. The source also listed the Viet Cong Huong Thuy District Committee members and provided sketches of the committee's headquarters and POW camp.

The U.S. intelligence community determined that it could not "determine why the source selected his (Pitt's) photograph" as he "was never seen by other US POWs following his loss incident." The report was filed as classified.

Over 15 years later, this report was unearthed by a concerned citizen through the Freedom of Information Act. He immediately contacted the family of the man on the "Positive ID List" and was shocked to learn that they had never been told of the report's existence, nor did they have any clue that their son could possibly have been captured.

Since that time, the lengthy report was distributed widely, and came into the hands of two of the men whose names appeared on the "Positive ID List" who had been fortunate enough to be released in 1973 by the North Vietnamese. These returned POWs verified the accuracy of the report insofar as the compound was concerned and added that it was a "way station" in which POWs were held only for brief periods of time.

Since American involvement in the Vietnam War ended in 1975, nearly 10,000 reports concerning Americans missing in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S. Government. Many authorities are convinced that hundreds of Americans are still being held prisoner in Southeast Asia.

If Captain Albert Pitt was accurately identified by the Vietnamese source in 1969, has he been abandoned by the country he proudly served?

Have we done enough to learn the fate of these MARINES?

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds -- wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there, I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air. Up, up the long, delirious burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark, or even eagle flew. And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod The high untresspassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

THE AEROPLANE

by Gordon Boshell

I sweep the skies with fire and steel My highway is the cloud I swoop, I soar, aloft I wheel My engine laughing loud I fight with gleaming blades the wind That dares dispute my path I leave the howling storm behind I ride upon it's wrath

I laugh to see your tiny world Your toys of ships, your cars I rove an endless road unfurled Where the milestones are the stars And far below, men wait and peer For what my coming brings I fill their quaking hearts with fear For death . . . is in my wings

Roy Gehris Webmaster © Copyright Nov. 10, 1997

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