E3Graham

These candles will burn until
Gilbert James Graham
is brought home

Gilbert James Graham
E3 US Navy
Born February 24, 1946
Lost September 28, 1967
South Vietnam

Seaman Gilbert Graham and Engineman Petty Officer Second Class Joseph Musettie were crewmembers aboard River Patrol Boat #100 assigned to Commander River Squadron 5, River Sector 51. On the afternnon of
September 28, 1967, Graham was the forward gunner aboard aboard the PBR 100 on a routine patrol of hte Mekong River approximately five miles northeast of the Vihn Long, South Vietnam. Musetti was a boat captian.

The commander of the craft was in the process of investigating watercraft near the mouth of a canal when it recieved enemy rocket fire. Three rocket rounds struck the boat killing Graham and Musetti. The resultant explosion and fire consumed the boat and made it impossible to remove the bodies. From the survivors of the incident, it was determined that Graham and Musetti were killed instantly when the rockets exploded nearby. Both crewmen were placed in Killed/Body Not Recovered status.

In 1985, a private citizen obtained a lengthy document through the Freedom of Information Act describing in great detaild a POW camp near Hue where many American Prisoner's of War were held. Details of the report were confirmed by returned POW's who were held there. The source was shown photo's of missing men who did not return and idetified several - some as "positive", and others are "possible". On the "possible" list was the name Richard Musetti, USN. There is no other Musetti missing.

The Department of Defense states that the source is a liar.

The two crewmembers of PBR 100 are listed with honor among the missing becasue their remains were never found. Their cases seem fairly clear. For others who are listed missing, resolution is not as simple. Many were known to have survived thier loss incident. quite a few were in radio contact with search teams and describing an advancing enemy. Some were photographed or recorded in captivity. Others simply vanished without a trace.

Reports continue to mount that we abandoned hundreds of Americans to the enemy when we left Southeast Asis. While the crewmembers of PBR 100 may not be among them, one can imagine their proud willingness to cruise one more mile of river to help bring them home.