Kohler

Delvin Lee Kohler
E4/United States Navy
Born July 19, 1945
Lost October 2, 1969
North Vietnam Over Water

Delvin was the very first POW/MIA that I adopted. I adopted him when I was 17 in high school. I remember that I wrote his mother, who only lived about an hour away from me, she was so glad to hear that someone cared enough to adopt him. But she also said how she wished it would all just end. I didn't quite understand her then, I thought she meant that she was unhappy that I had written her and stirred up so many memories. I understand now that she was unhappy, but not because I had written, because she lived in a country where a 17 year old girl cared more about her son, than the goverment that sent him there to begin with. Nothing I could ever do with this page would ever pay a high enough tribute to him or to her. I just hope that in some small way this will reach out and make you all understand that we need to make the goverment see that we need to do whatever it takes to account for these men. If not for them, for their mothers.

to view Delvin's mothers letter to me
click here

Delvin was born to Mr. & Mrs. Roy Kohler of Ault, Colorado on July 19, 1945. Shortly thereafter, the Kohlers moved to Kersey, Colorado. Kersey was then and is now a small, close-knit farming community, and the Kohlers had a 200 acre farm in the heart of it.
The youngest of 2 boys, Delvin was raised constantly surrounded by the animals he loved. He joined the 4-H club at an early age where he learned the finer techniques of animal care and show handling.
By the time he attended Kersey High School, Delvin was still active in 4-H and also the Future Farmer's of America Club where he learned a great deal about a stock show judge. Somehow he found a little time to play a little baseball and football too.
Going on for 2 years of study at Lamar Jr. College, Delvin recieved numerous awards and ribbons, including a Team Livestock Judging trophy at the National Western Stock Show. He recieved college honors in livestock judging, as well as graduating in 1965 with an A.S. in animal science. Upon graduating, Delvin entered Colorado State University where he majored in animal husbandry. Two years into his studies, he learned that he was about to be drafted and, following family tradition, Delvin chose instead to enlist in the navy for 4 years.
Delvin's experience with farm machinery helped him to become an aircraft hydraulic mechanic. He was subsequently assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Constellation in Vietnam. Frequent air runs were made from the ship to Japan and the Philippines. Three years into his tour of duty, one day Delvin was called in on his day off to replace an ailing fellow crewman on a routine run to the Philippines. On the return flight, the aircraft carrying Delvin and 25 other people was shot down in the Bay of Tonkin. Even though many Vietcong were in the area and wreckage was found, by the time our planes arrived on the scene no survivors or bodies were discovered. Everyone aboard was listed as Missing in Action.

In October 2, 1969, a C2A "Greyhound" cargo aircraft from Reserve Cargo Squadron 50 departed Cubi Point Naval Air Station, Republic of the Philippines on a shuttle flight to various aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam, including the USS Constellation, the USS Walker, the USS Hammer, and the USS Long Beach.
The flight crew onboard the aircraft, assigned to Fleet Support Squadron 50 based in Atsugi Naval Air Station, Japan, including the pilot, Lt. Herbert H. Dilger; co-pilot, Lt. Richard A. Livingston; air crewman, Petty Officer 3rd class Paul K. Moser; aircraft captain, Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael J. Tye; and loadmaster -trainee, Petty Officer 3rd Class Rayford J. Hill. Most of the twenty passengers appear to be bound for the USS Constellation, but one was bound for the USS Long Beach, one of the four Philippine citizens onboard was headed for the USS HAmmer, and two to the USS Walker.
The aircraft was inbound to the Consititution and made communication at about 0600 hours, reporting that operations were normal. When communications were established with the Carrier Air Control, control was passed to the Marshall controller (Approach Control). The carrier's radoar continued tracking the aircraft until approximately 0655, at which time radar contact was lost at about 10 nautical miles from the Constellation.
Helicopter search and rescue efforts were immediately initiated from the ship. The helicopter began sighting an oil slick and debris. A few pieces of aircraft were recovered, and analysis of this debris indicated that the aircraft was in a relatively high speed nose down, right wing down impact with the water or had a possible right wing failure before impact. There was no sign of survivors, nor were any bodies recovered.
The crew and passengers onboard the C2 which went down on October 2, 1969 were all declared Killed/Body Not Recovered. There is very little hope that they will ever be found. They are lised with honor amoung the missing because no remains were ever located to repatriate to their homeland.
For many of the missing, however, solutions are not so simple. Several wer photographed in captivity, but never returned. Others were alive and well the last they were seen awaiting rescue. Still others described their imminent captures. For the families of these men, the years have passed heartbreakingly slow.
Since the war ended, nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia have bene recieved by the U.S. Goverment. Many officials who have reviewed this largely classified information are convinced that hundreds of Americans are still alive as captives in Southeast Asia. It's time we brought our men home