MARIK, CHARLES W.

Name: Charles W. Marik "Cupcake 406"
Rank/Branch: USN, O2/ Bombadier/Nagigator
Unit: VA65 -- USS Constellation
Date of Birth: 14 April 39
Home City of Record: Oakland, MO
Date of Loss: 25 June 66
Country of Loss: North Vietnam/Over Water
Loss Coordinates: 184300N 1055000E
Status (in 1973): Missing in Action
Category: 5
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: A-6A - Intruder

Remarks: Good Chute

Other Personnel In Incident: Richard M. Weber (rescued), pilot

Source: Compiled by THE P.O.W. NETWORK 02 February 93 from the following
published sources - POW/MIA's -- Report of the Select Committee on POW/MIA
Affairs United States Senate -- January 13, 1993. "The Senate Select
Committee staff has prepared case summaries for the priority cases that the
Administration is now investigating. These provide the facts about each
case, describe the circumstances under which the individual was lost, and
detail the information learned since the date of loss. Information in the
case summaries is limited to information from casualty files, does not
include any judgments by Committee staff, and attempts to relate essential
facts. The Committee acknowledges that POW/MIAs' primary next-of- kin know
their family members' cases in more comprehensive detail than summarized
here and recognizes the limitations that the report format imposes on these
summaries."

Updated in 1998 with information provided by CDR F. Hugh Magee USN RET,
Attack Squadron 146 through "The Loss of Busy Bee 604, The events of 35 June
1966, as experienced by Lt F. Hugh Magee USN, Attack Squadron 146,
Illustrated by Max Coulson."

Synopsis: On June 25, 1966, Lieutenant JG Marik and Lieutenant Commander
Richard M. Weber, pilot, were the crew of an A-6A from the U.S.S.
Constellation on a combat mission against the Hoi Thuong Barracks, a coastal
target in northern Vietnam. Their aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire in
the tail section during a bombing run on the target and the pilot found the
aircraft was not responding to control. Both crewmen bailed out and the
pilot was in contact with Lieutenant Marik while descending but did not
observe him actually land in the water. The pilot landed in the water
approximately 3-5 miles from the beach in the South China Sea. After
landing he shouted for Lieutenant JG Marik and fired his weapon into the air
but never received a response. An airborne SAR force rescued Commander Weber
but was unable to locate any trace of Marik after a four hour search.

[Cdr Hugh Magee reports "... the A6 had been shot down in the vicinity of
Vinh and the two were in the water about 1/4 mile off the Vinh beach, under
mortar fire from bunkers on the beach. Upon arriving on the seen, Cdr Magee,
"Busy Bee 604" could see "one survivor in the water; and several hundred
yards toward the beach, a large greenish dye marker, but could not see the
second survivor..." Seconds later, Cdr Magee was hit by a 85mm anti
aircraft shell. He jettisoned fuel, ejected with a good chute, and was
picked up a short time later. Once hoisted inside the rescue helo, Cdr Magee
found the wet figure of LT R.M. Weber. One of the crewmen stated they
thought Marik had taken a direct mortar hit, Weber suffering only minor
injuries. Weber said he had little hope his crewman would be found. The
search continued until fuel became critical, to no avail. Two of three
survivors were rescued under intense enemy fire -- the most successful
rescue to date involving similar incidents. Those involved felt a sadness at
the loss of Ltjg Marik, but felt it was not due to any failure of the rescue
operation. Today, Magee's Skyhawk "Charlie" A4-C, #149567 rests in peace
on the Gulf of Tonkin floor - devoid of canopy, seat and pilot. He retired
in 1972 from the Navy, and in 1992 from the private sector.]

Lieutenant JG Marik was declared missing in action. Returning U.S. POWs had
no information on his precise fate. In May 1973 he was declared killed in
action, body not recovered, based on a presumptive finding of death.


Should anyone know the where-a-bouts of Lt Richard Weber or Lt Marik's
family, please contact the the P.O.W. NETWORK at 660-928-3304 or
email pownet@asde.com

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