HUARD, JAMES LINTON
Remains Returned 01/27/97
Name: James Linton Huard
Rank/Branch: O2/US Air Force
Unit: Ubon AFB, Thailand
Date of Birth: 17 March 1946
Home City of Record: Dearborn MI
Date of Loss: 12 July 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 174300N 1062900E (XE573593)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 4
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: F4E
Refno: 1898
Other Personnel In Incident: Samuel O'Donnell (missing)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 April 1991 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 1998.
REMARKS:
SYNOPSIS: The Phantom, used by Air Force, Marine and Navy air wings, served
a multitude of functions including fighter-bomber and interceptor, photo and
electronic surveillance. The two man aircraft was extremely fast (Mach 2),
and had a long range (900 - 2300 miles, depending on stores and mission
type). The F4 was also extremely maneuverable and handled well at low and
high altitudes. Most pilots considered it one of the "hottest" planes
around.
1lT. James l. Huard was the pilot and aircraft commander of an F4 aircraft
on a solo tactical mission when it was lost on July 12, 1972. His Weapons
Systems Operator on the flight was Capt. Samuel O'Donnell, Jr.. When the
plane was about 17 miles NNW of Dong Hoi, it failed to make a progress
check. During subsequent search and rescue, two Forward Air Controllers
(FAC) reported hearing a faint but definite emergency signal, but no radio
contact could be established or ground search initiated because of heavy
enemy force concentration in the area. Search continued until July 14, 1972.
Later information showed that the plane went down in a reservoir. When it
was drained, the wreckage of the plane was found, but there was no sign of
either crewman, nor any evidence to indicate that they perished with the
plane. The two were classified missing in action.
Nearly 2500 Americans did not return from the war in Vietnam. Thousands of
reports have been received indicating that some hundreds remain alive in
captivity. Whether Huard and McDonnell are alive is not known. What is
certain, however, is that Vietnam and her communist allies can tell us what
happened to most of our men. and return those who are alive.
James L. Huard was promoted to the rank of Captain during the period he was
maintained Missing in Action.
[up0127.97 01/30/97]
UPn 01/27 Vietnam MIAs remains identified
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 27 (UPI) -- A DNA test and a mother's blood have
helped solve the mystery of an Air Force pilot missing since the Vietnam
War.
Officials said Monday a DNA analysis helped positively identify the
remains of Capt. James L. Huard (HUGH'-ard), who died with another officer
in the crash of an F-4 jet in July 1972.
The Air Force jet was on a solo tactical mission when it went down
northwest of Dong Hoi (dong HOY') in North Vietnam.
Huard's remains were thought to have been buried by Vietnamese villagers,
exhumed in 1976 and moved to Hanoi following a search by U.S. and Vietnamese
officials.
The Vietnamese government repatriated the remains in 1986. But the U. S.
military said the remains were insufficient to identify Huard and until now
he has been listed as missing in action.
The Air Force removed Huard from the MIA list last week after DNA testing
with Huard's remains and his mother's blood produced a positive match.
The Dearborn chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America, which was named
in honor of Huard, will attend his military burial in May at Arlington
National Cemetery. And as Dearborn's only MIA, he will be honored during his
hometown's annual Memorial Day parade.
A high school math and science teacher before enlisting, Huard was 27
years old and married with three sons when he died.
[up0128.97 01/30/97]
UPn 01/28 1533 Vietnam vet's remains on way home
Copyright 1997 United Press International.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The remains of a U.S. serviceman listed as
missing in action for nearly 25 years have been identified and are going
home.
The Pentagon says DNA testing has positively identified the remains of
James L. Huard, an Air Force captain from Dearborn, Mich.
Huard's crew lost contact with him as the aviator was flying his jet on a
tactical mission over North Vietnam on July 12, 1972. A three-day
search-and-rescue operation was unsuccessful, and enemy activity in the area
prevented further search.
In December 1988, Vietnam turned over 38 boxes of remains believed to be
those of American servicemen. Subsequent investigations and the DNA tests
ultimately confirmed Huard's remains.
More than 2,000 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
Use your Browser's BACK function to return to the PREVIOUS page