LAUREANO-LOPEZ, ISMAEL

Name: Ismael Laureano-Lopez
Rank/Branch: E4/US Army
Unit: Company A, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade
Date of Birth: 16 August 1945
Home City of Record: New York NY
Date of Loss: 20 February 1968
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 123138N 1075455E (ZU168861)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 3
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: Ground
Refno: 1056
Other Personnel In Incident: (none 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: Laureano-Lopez and his unit were conducting a search and destroy
mission in Quang Duc Province, South Vietnam, when they were required to make a
river crossing. During the crossing, the OIC spoke to Laureano-Lopez and turned
back around when he heard someone yell. He then saw that Laureano-Lopez had
fallen into the water, and he saw him go under.

Several persons from the unit began diving immediately to try and rescue him.
His helmet and weapon were found in about 5 feet of water, but he was not found
then or during a several hour search. Due to the tactical situation in the area,
the unit had to suspend the search and leave the area. Laureano-Lopez was never
found.

Ismael Laureano-Lopez is listed with honor among the missing because no remains
were found. His case seems quite clear. For others who are listed missing,
resolution is not as simple. Many were known to have survived their loss
incident. Quite a few were in radio contact with search teams and describing an
advancing enemy. Some were photographed or recorded in captivity. Others simply
vanished without a trace.

Reports continue to mount that we abandoned hundreds of Americans to the enemy
when we left Southeast Asia. The thought of hundreds of Americans in cages and
prison camps belies the thought that we left Vietnam with "Peace With Honor". It
makes frivolous the deaths of tens of thousands and the suffering and sacrifice
of hundreds of thousands more. We must bring these men home.

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