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Old 28 August 2012, 18:58
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SFC Shue, SFC Wald, SFC Brown coming home after 41 years MIA

Welcome Home its been over 41 years. Thank you for your service and sacrifice from a greatful nation.




Military confirms identity, releases information about soldier killed in Vietnam 41 years ago


Submitted by Chris Dyches

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011, 5:15pm

CABARRUS COUNTY - The U.S. military is releasing new details about a North Carolina soldier who was killed during a mission in the Vietnam War.

Last week, WBTV learned that the body of Sergeant First Class Donald M. Shue was found, more than 41 years after he was killed in Vietnam. SFC Shue was killed during a reconnaissance mission in November 1969, the military confirmed to WBTV.

SFC Shue was part of a special forces reconnaissance patrol that was on a mission in Vietnam's Quang Tri Provenance that was "attacked and overrun by enemy forces on a remote hilltop," a spokeswoman for the Joint Prisoners of War, Missing in Action Accounting Command Center told WBTV on Tuesday.

The reconnaissance team retreated, but SFC Shue and two others were injured in the attack and presumed killed. SFC Shue has been listed as "Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered" since the attack.



According to Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) spokesperson Elizabeth Feeney, an investigation into the missing soldiers began in December 1993. In May 2009, a joint U.S.-Vietnamese team correlated the site where SFC Shue and the two other men were last seen. A month later, the team talked with a witness to the attack and found some remains.

It wasn't until March 2010 that the team was able to excavate the hilltop. The bodies were identified in January 2011.

Feeney says Sergeant First Class Donald Shue's remains were positively identified by JPAC. The two men found with him were Staff Sergeant Gunther H. Wald of New Jersey and Staff Sergeant William T. Brown of California. Both men were part of the same special forces reconnaissance patrol as SFC Shue.

Previous article: Body of soldier killed in Vietnam 41 years ago to come home

According to the head of the Rolling Thunder motorcycle group, the family has asked the group to help lead SFC Shue's body home to Cabarrus County in late April. SFC Donald Shue rode bikes back in the 60's and his nephew, who is listed as next-of-kin, also rides and will be riding the lead with the motorcycle group both days.

SFC Shue is expected to be buried with his parents and brothers in Concord, NC on May 1st.

Bergen, NJ. His home of record is Bergen, NJ.


Wald served in the US Army and attained the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC).

Wald was listed as missing in action on November 3, 1969, when his patrol was ambushed in Laos.

Synopsis (from the POW Network) as to the circumstances behind being listed as MIA:

Gunther entered the US Army in 1967 where he attained the rank of Sergeant First Class. When Gunther entered the Army he had already had four years in service in the US Marine Corps and served in the MACV-SOG, Command and Control North. MACG-SOG (Military Assistance Command Studies and Observation Group) was joint service high command unconventional warfare task force engaged in highly classified operations throughout Southeast Asia. The Fifth Special Forces channeled personnel (though it was not a Special Forces group) through Special Operations Augmentation (SOA), which provided their “cover” while under secret orders to the MACV-SOG. The teams performed deep penetration missions of strategic reconnaissance and interdiction, which were called, depending on the time of frame, “Shining Brass” or “ Prairie Fire” missions.

It was on such a mission that SSGT Brown, SSGT Gunther Wald, SP4 Donald Shue and two of the six Montagnards went missing. The Americans and Montagnards were members of a patrol operating in Laos. The patrol team was attacked by a numerically superior force 30 miles inside Laos near Ban Chakevy Tai in Saravane Province. Four of the Montagnards escaped and returned to the camp to report the ambush and capture of their comrades

When last seen, Brown had been wounded by a gunshot just below the ribcage. SSGT Wald and SP4 Shue were also seen to receive numerous shrapnel wounds from a fragmentation grenade. The other team members were forced to withdraw leaving the others behind.

Due to bad weather, a recovery team could not reenter the area until November 11. They searched the entire area, but could only find some web gear, which was identified as belonging to three of the indigenous team members and SP4 Shue. There was no trace of any other graves or of the three missing Americans. They were classified as missing in action as of November 3, 1969.

Information provided by POW Network and NJVVMF
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Last edited by agonyea; 22 July 2013 at 19:46.
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Old 28 August 2012, 19:04
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Wow, just wow.

R.I.P. Gentlemen . . . you were, fortunately, not forgotten.

I hope this brings your families some well-deserved peace of mind.

And thank you for your service.
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Old 28 August 2012, 19:13
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Welcome Home additional info pending:

Last Known Activity



Final Resting Place of RT Maryland

Feb. 20, 1945
La Habra

Orange County

California, USA

Death: Nov. 3, 1969, Laos

You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!


WILLIAM THEODORE BROWN - Army - SFC - E7 - Special Forces

Age: 33

Race: Caucasian

Date of Birth Feb 20, 1945
From: LA HABRA, CA
Religion: PRESBYTERIAN
Marital Status: Single

***** Hello everyone, I am Jeffery M Brown, Sgt. William T Brown's nephew. Today is Sepember 26, 2011. My uncle who went missing November 3, 1969 has finally come home. His remains have been found and will be laid to rest today at Arlington National Cematery. It was a 42 year search that has been completed. I only wish would have been for my grandparents and father to see this day. God bless our service people all over the world. It's a good feeling that the US Army works hard to find closure for the families of missing service men.
- Jeff Brown

***** Rocky Maggio - cousin
Waupaca WI 54981 USA
Billy was a cousin. He has been missing in action since 11/69. I also am a Vietnam veteran. Billy's family is all gone now. Father died this year, mother died two years ago, and brother was killed in motor cycle accident last year. He had one other brother who passed away years ago. Family is all together now. Billy never married.

***** MG(R) Eldon Bargewell
Team mate, CCN., Danang
Billy, peace, be with you, brother and thanks, for watching out over me, all these years. It will, be a great day, when we can all, meet again. Eldon RT Michigan



His tour began on Nov 3, 1969
Casualty was on Jan 8, 1979
In LZ, LAOS
Hostile, died while missing, GROUND CASUALTY
Body was not recovered
Panel 16W - Line 22
William Theodore Brown
Rank/Branch: E6/US Army
Special Forces Unit: SOA, Command & Control North, (MACV-SOG), 5th Special Forces Group.
Date of Birth: 20 February 1945 (Chicago IL).
Home City of Record: La Habra CA.
Date of Loss: 03 November 1969.
Country of Loss: Laos.
Loss Coordinates: 154800N 1064700E (XD643674).


Other Personnel in Incident: Gunther H. Wald; Donald M. Shue (both missing); six Montangards (two missing, four escaped).

Bill Brown was born in Chicago, Illinois February 20, 1945, the youngest of three boys. When Bill was two, his family moved to California, where they remained, and where he attended Cerritos College. Bill was an excellent swimmer and golfer.

In September 1965, Bill joined the Army and earned his Beret and paratrooper badge. He was sent to Vietnam on December 14, 1967. He is a demolitions expert and fluent in the Vietnamese language. In Vietnam, he helped train
Montagnard tribesmen, and was so drawn to them that he reenlisted after his tour and returned to Vietnam in May 1969.

On his second tour, Bill was attached to MACV-SOG, Command and Control North. MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observation Group) was a joint service high command unconventional warfare task force engaged in highly classified operations throughout Southeast Asia. The 5th Special Forces channelled personnel into MACV-SOG (though it was not a Special Forces group) through Special Operations Augmentation (SOA), which provided their "cover" while under secret orders to MACV-SOG. The teams performed deep penetration missions of strategic reconnaissance and interdiction which were called, depending on the time frame, "Shining Brass" or "Prairie Fire" missions.






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


On 3 November 1969 Recon Team Maryland from MACV-SOG, CCN, was inserted in Laos on a recon mission. The team consisted of Gunther Wald, Bill Brown and Don Shue. The team came under heavy attack and all were mortally wounded. By the time a Bright Light team went in delayed by bad weather all that was found was some web gear. In 2009 a farmer in Laos discovered some remain that were determined by JPAC to be those of Wald, Brown and Shue. Brown and Shue were identified early, returned and buried with full honors. On 30 May 2012, Gunther Wald was finally accounted for.

On 30 August 2012, the members of RT Maryland will be buried together in Arlington National Cemetery. There will be a visitation and service for families and friends on 29 August from 1800 to 2000 at the Robert Murphy Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22203. There will be a formal service at 1100 at the Old Post Chapel on Fort Myer. A caisson will take the remains of Wald, Brown and Shue to their final resting place in Arlington. They will be burried together with full military honors.

ON THE WALL Panel 16W Line 024


Comments/Citation

03 Nov 1969 SSGT William T. Brown, SST Gunther Wald, SP4 Donald Shue and six Montagnards formed a patrol operating in Laos. The patrol team was attacked by a numerically superior force 30 miles inside Laos near Ban Chakevy Tai in Saravane Province. Four of the Montangards escaped and returned to camp to report the ambush and capture of their comrades.

When last seen, Brown had been wounded by a gunshot just below the rib cage. He was lying on the ground as the attackers shouted, "Capture the Americans". SSGT Wald and SP4 Shue were also seen to receive numerous shrapnel wounds from a fragmentation grenade. The other team members were forced to withdraw leaving them behind.

Bad weather precluded insertion of a recovery team until November 11. They searched the entire area, but could only find some web gear which was identified as belonging to three of the indigenous team members and SP4 Shue. There was no trace of any graves or of the three missing Americans. They were classified as Missing In Action.


Sgt 1st Class Donald M. Shue, U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group, was lost on Nov. 3, 1969, when he was attacked by enemy forces near the Laos-Vietnam border. His remains were identified on Jan. 6, 2011
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Last edited by agonyea; 22 July 2013 at 19:46.
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Old 28 August 2012, 19:27
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RIP brothers. You were not and will not be forgotten.
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Old 28 August 2012, 19:45
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RIP Gentlemen, see you in Vahalla.
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Old 28 August 2012, 19:49
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Welcome home.

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Old 28 August 2012, 19:58
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From the photos, they could be any of us. Their memory will live on as long as our collective memory of them lives on.

Rest easy, warriors.
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Old 28 August 2012, 20:02
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Welcome Home Warrior.
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Old 28 August 2012, 20:16
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RIP warriors. Welcome home.

The internment at Arlington will take place this Thursday 30 AUG. A service will be held at Ft Myer, followed by internment at Arlington. I've had the honor of coordinating with some personnel to ensure we had active duty representation. I received one email showing some of the attendees. I paused as I read about one family member, a son who was born shortly after his dad was declared MIA. He (Soldier)had departed for Vietnam not knowing his then girl friend was pregnant. I'm glad to see that these men are being honored and remembered for their duty and sacrifice for our Nation and that family members can move to closure.
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Old 28 August 2012, 20:21
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Old 28 August 2012, 20:45
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Welcome home Warriors! You have been missed but never forgotten.
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Old 29 August 2012, 09:30
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RIP

Erik Willard, a CMH historian, is creating maps of the Vietnam War at
https://www.********.com/groups/431374360216330/
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Old 29 August 2012, 11:36
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Rest in Peace!
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Old 29 August 2012, 12:58
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After all these years....welcome home brave men.
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Old 30 August 2012, 06:05
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Welcome Home. RIP.
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Old 30 August 2012, 10:46
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Welcome home.

SFC Wald was my adopted MIA/POW since junior high when I wanted a bracelet of a 5th Group soldier.

Fromthis article.
Quote:
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced Monday that the three U.S. servicemen will be buried as a group on Aug. 30, in a single casket representing the three soldiers, in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

Shue was buried individually on May 1, 2011, at Carolina Memorial Park in Kannapolis. Brown was buried at Arlington on Sept. 26, 2011.
The funeral today is ceremonial and perhaps there will be a funeral at another time for SFC Wald individually?
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Old 30 August 2012, 12:36
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'A long time coming,' Palisades Park Green Beret killed in Vietnam to be buried in Arlington

Most information I have seen in all the years I have searched online. Had a son that never knew him and a grandson in the Army named Gunther after him.

Glad to hear the family finally has closure.
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Old 31 August 2012, 02:45
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RIP & welcome home. Thankful the family has closure. Prayers for family & friends.
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Old 31 August 2012, 09:07
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Welcome home warriors.
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Old 31 August 2012, 11:21
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Old 6 September 2012, 11:18
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RIP, Warriors. Welcome home.
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Old 6 September 2012, 11:30
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Reading this stuff brings me to tears..

Welcome home brothers.. We NEVER forgot.

RIP
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Old 8 September 2012, 07:29
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Welcome Home Gentleman. Rest in Eternal Peace.
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Old 8 September 2012, 09:49
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Rest in peace, soldiers, and welcome home.
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