Originally Posted by
Kathy Maher
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Ed, I read something recently about the guy who did the filming and so forth - how ironic.
I had a question for you -- I have a POW braclet - I bought it, gosh, maybe 10 years ago at one of our POW/MIA rallys we have here. Anyway, when I bought it they didn't have any info on the soldier - would you be able to find something out for me? I'd be interested to know if he's been recovered yet.
Maj. Kevin O'Brien
USA 9 Jan 69 SVN
NY
If you can get the info or let me know where I can find it I'd sure appreciate it! you can message me here or on my personal e-mail --
Thanks for ALL you do!
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I'd be happy to research that. It sounds like they have closed it, but I'll get more story from our history section.
On January 9, 1969 Captain Hugh Byrd of the 200th Aviation Company was piloting a 01G Bird Dog aircraft, tail #51-5059. On board was 1Lt Kevin O'Brien. Kevin's mission
was reconnaissance, he was to identify targets for artillery. They were in the Khe Sanh area of South Vietnam. They diverted the plane to assist a recon team on the ground that was in contact with the enemy. They aided the team and was then relieved by another aircraft. On the return flight they ran into some very bad weather. The pilot reported in at 1940 hours that he was lost and that the wether was getting worse. Dong Ha and other radar controllers tried to get a fix on the aircraft. The radar team told Captain Byrd to climb higher in the sky because of dense mountains in the general area. At this time all communication halted. Searches were conducted but the wreckage nor the remains of Captain Byrd or 1Lt Kevin O'Brien were ever found. Kevin O'Brien was declared MIA. On March 7, 1979 Kevin was classified as Died while missing. While Kevin was missing he was promoted to Major. Kevin is on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. on Panel 35W line 061.