FOSTER, MARVIN LEE

Name: Marvin Lee Foster
Rank/Branch: O4/US Army
Unit: Headquarters Company, USARV
Date of Birth: 29 December 1929 (Willow OK)
Home City of Record: Hubbard TX
Date of Loss: 16 March 1969
Country of Loss: South Vietham
Loss Coordinates: 161357N 1074448E (YC936965)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 4
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: U21A

Other Personnel In Incident: Raymond E. Bobe; David R. Smith; Charles R.
Barnes; Michael L. Batt (all missing)

REMARKS:

Source: Compiled from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S.
Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families,
published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK in 1999 with
material from the Library of Congress and Lew Schmidt.

SYNOPSIS: On 16 March 1969, Captain Charles Barnes, co-pilot and Captain
David R. Smith, aircraft commander were aboard a U21A aircraft which
departed Long Trahn, North Army Airfield, South Vietnam. The aircraft made
two stops, one at Long Binh and the other at Qui Nhon. At Qui Nohn the plane
picked up the following passengers: SP4 Michael Batt, Major Marvin L.
Foster and PFC Raymond Bobe. The aircraft resumed its journey north
toward Hue/Phu Bai where it was scheduled to land. During this portion of
the mission, the aircraft was required to revert from visual to instrument
flight rules because of the low cloud ceilings, poor visability and rain
showers in the area. The aircraft was picked up by radio and radar; however
contact was lost during the approach pattern. After loss of contact, all
standard emergency radio frequencies were utilized, but radio contact with
the aircraft could not be regained. Da Nang Air/Sea rescue was also
notified, but initial efforts were limited to a communications search
because of the bad weather. The aircraft was never located. Based on a
replotted flight plan, the indicated last known location for this aircraft
was approximately one kilometer west of Truoi Mountain, Quang Nam Da Nang
(formerly Tuan Thien Province) Province, South Vietnam.

The U21 is a medium-sized aircraft, built to hold 8 or 10 passengers and
crew. The U-21A was a fixed-wing, twin-reciprocating-engined Beech Aircraft
airplane, the military version of the civilian Beech Queen Air aircraft. It
was used mainly by the Army, to a lesser extent by the Air Force, generally
used for VIP or commutes rather than surveillance or combat support
missions.

Batt's photograph was selected as a known prisoner from the JCRC photo album
of those missing, but the U.S. Government states that it is unknown why the
source selected Batt's photo. Returning POWs did not indicate that any of
the crew or passengers had been held with them in their prison system.

When 591 Americans were released from Vietnamese prisons in 1973,
high-ranking military officials were shocked that "hundreds" who were
expected to be released were not.

Examination of intelligence reports suggest that there was more than one
prison "system" in Vietnam. Those prisoners who were released were
maintained in the same systems. If the missing men aboard the U21A were
captured and kept in another system, the POWs who returned would not know
it.

Now, nearly 20 years later, men like these are all but forgotten except by
friends, family and fellow veterans. The U.S. "priority" placed on
determining their fates pales in comparison to the results it has achieved.

Since the U21 A was lost, nearly 10,000 reports have been received by the
U.S. relating to Americans still missing in Southeast Asia. Many authorities
believe that hundreds remain alive, waiting for their country to come for
them. Whether the men aboard the U21A are among them is not known. What is
certain, however, is that we, as a nation, are guilty of the abandonment of
nearly 2500 of our best and most courageous men. We cannot forget, and must
do everything in our power to bring these men home.

In 1988, "material" was provided the United States Government that
correlated with Captain Barnes. Additionally, the area where this "material"
was reportedly found (Hue) generally correlates with the last known location
of Captain Barnes' aircraft. Some reports label this a "dog tag" report,
while others mention remains. As of 1999, the crew and all the passengers
remain unaccounted for, listed as presumed dead/body not recovered.

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