LAKER, CARL JOHN

Name: Carl John Laker
Rank/Branch: E4/US Army
Unit: Company H, 75th Infantry, 1st Cavalry Division (Ranger)
Date of Birth: 12 June 1950 (East Meadow NY)
Home City of Record: Clearwater FL
Date of Loss: 17 June 1970
Country of Loss: Cambodia
Loss Coordinates: 121833N 1071134E (YU386618)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: Ground
Refno: 1634
Other Personnel in Incident: Deverton C. Cochrane (missing)

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 1998.

REMARKS: HEAD WOUND - 3 RECOV - SERCH NEG - J

SYNOPSIS: On June 16, 1970, SSgt. Deverton C. Cochran was team leader and
SP4 Carl J. Laker the assistant team leader of a reconnaissance team from
Company H, 75th Infantry, 1st Cavalry Division on an area search mission in
Cambodia.

1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry was an aerial reconnaissance cavalry squadron
operating with an aero-scout ("white") platoon; aero-weapons ("red")
platoon, and an aero-rifle ("blue") platoon. The squadron also had a ground
cavalry element. Cochrane is listed as attached to "75th Infantry, 1st
Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division." Laker, however, is listed as
assigned to Company H of the 75th Infantry, 1st Cavalry Division, which is a
Ranger unit. If these unit designations are accurate, then Laker was a
Ranger while Cochrane was probably a "blue" assigned to the Company H
mission. In 1970, the Company H strength was 198 men. The 75th Infantry
("Merrill's Marauders") had only been organized the beginning of 1969 to
provide a parent unit for the separate long-range reconnaissance patrol
companies (LRRP). Ranger companies in Vietnam were particularly elite.

The team was operating just inside Cambodia in Mondol Kiri Province due east
of the South Vietnam city of Dak Song. After a successful infiltration, the
team set up in the vicinity to conduct a trail watch and to establish a
night defensive position.

The next morning, the team moved out to conduct reconnaissance until 1535
hours when, upon entering a wood line, the team leader was fired upon by
enemy troops. Members of the team saw the team leader fall holding his neck
and loin. SP4 Laker tried to crawl forward to assist, and fell on top of
another member of the team who later reported that Laker had been hit above
the left eye, gravely wounded.

The team finally managed to break contact and one member was able to evade
the enemy and return to friendly lines. An extensive search was made of the
battle area for several days, but only 2 wounded members of the team were
rescued. There was no trace of Cochrane or Laker.

Although the Ranger missions were hazardous, few remain missing from them.
Laker was classified as Killed in Action, Body Not Recovered because the
extent of his injuries were known, and they were serious. Cochrane's
injuries, on the other hand, could not be assessed, and it was felt there
was the possibility of survival and ultimate capture. Cochrane was
classified Missing in Action.

Laker and Cochrane are among nearly 2500 Americans still prisoner, missing
or unaccount for from the Vietnam war. Some, like Carl Laker, are
undoubtedly dead. Others were certainly not dead, but in good health the
last they were seen. Still others were seen as prisoners or even
photographed, only to disappear from the prison system.

Unlike "MIAs" from other wars, most of the missing from Vietnam can be
accounted for, if Vietnam chooses to do so. Based on thousands of refugee
reports, most authorities now believe that hundreds of Americans are still
alive today, held against their will. For the honor of those who died, and
for the honor of our country, these men must be brought home.

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