BECERRA, RUDY MORALES
Group Identification
Name: Rudy Morales Becerra
Rank/Branch: E4/US Army
Unit: 170th Aviation Company, 17th Aviation Group, 52nd Aviation Battalion, 1st
Aviation Brigade
Date of Birth: 29 October 1950
Home City of Record: Richmond TX
Date of Loss: 24 March 1970
Country of Loss: Cambodia
Loss Coordinates: 142750N 1071816E (YB484003)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 3
Acft/Venicle/Ground: UH1H
Refno: 1578
Other Personnel in Incident: Berman Ganoe; John C. Hosken; Michael O'Donnell;
John Boronski; Gary A. Harned, Jerry L. Pool (all missing)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 July 1990 from one or more of
the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence
with POW/MIA families, published sources, including James E. Lake's account
found in "Life on the Line" by Philip D. Chinnery, interviews. Updated by
the P.O.W. NETWORK 2001.
REMARKS: SURVIVAL UNLIKELY - PER SAR
SYNOPSIS: Kontum, South Vietnam was in the heart of "Charlie country" --
hostile enemy territory. The little town is along the Ia Drang River, some
forty miles north of the city of Pleiku. U.S. forces never had much control
over the area. In fact, the area to the north and east of Kontum was
freefire zone where anything and anyone was free game. The Kontum area was
home base to what was known as FOB2 (Forward Observation Base 2), a
classified, long-term operations of the Special Operations Group (SOG) that
involved daily operations into Laos and Cambodia. SOG teams operated out of
Kontum, but staged out of Dak To.
The mission of the 170th Assault Helicopter Company ("Bikinis") was to
perform the insertion, support, and extraction of these SOG teams deep in
the forest on "the other side of the fence" (a term meaning Laos or
Cambodia, where U.S. forces were not allowed to be based). Normally, the
teams consisted of two "slicks" (UH1 general purpose helicopters), two
Cobras (AH1 assault helicopters) and other fighter aircraft which served as
standby support.
On March 24, 1970, helicopters from the 170th were sent to extract a
MACV-SOG long-range reconnaissance patrol (LRRP) team which was in contact
with the enemy about fourteen miles inside Cambodia in Ratanokiri Province.
The flight leader, RED LEAD, serving as one of two extraction helicopters
was commanded by James E. Lake. Capt. Michael D. O'Donnell was the aircraft
commander of one of the two cover aircraft (serial #68-15262, RED THREE).
His crew consisted of WO John C. Hoskins, pilot; SP4 Rudy M. Beccera, crew
chief; and SP4 Berman Ganoe, gunner.
The MACV-SOG team included 1LT Jerry L. Pool, team leader and team members
SSGT John A. Boronsky and SGT Gary A. Harned as well as five indigenous team
members. The team had been in contact with the enemy all night and had been
running and ambusing, but the hunter team pursuing them was relentless and
they were exhausted and couldn't continue to run much longer. when Lake and
O'Donnell arrived at the team's location, there was no landing zone (LZ)
nearby and they were unable to extract them immeidately. The two helicopters
waited in a high orbit over the area until the team could move to a more
suitable extraction point.
While the helicopters were waiting, they were in radio contact with the
team. After about 45 minutes in orbit, Lake received word from LT Pool that
the NVA hunter team was right behind them. RED LEAD and RED THREE made a
quick trip to Dak To for refueling. RED THREE was left on station in case of
an emergency.
When Lake returned to the site, Pool came over the radio and said that if
the team wasn't extracted then, it would be too late. Capt. O'Donnell
evaluated the situation and decided to pick them up. He landed on the LZ and
was on the ground for about 4 minutes, and then transmitted that he had the
entire team of eight on board. The aircraft was beginning its ascent when it
was hit by enemy fire, and an explosion in the aircraft was seen. The
helicopter continued in flight for about 300 meters, then another explosion
occurred, causing the aircraft to crash in the jungle. According to Lake,
bodies were blown out the doors and fell into the jungle. [NOTE: According
to the U.S. Army account of the incident, no one was observed to have been
thrown from the aircraft during either explosion.]
The other helicopter crewmen were stunned. One of the Cobras, Panther 13,
radioed "I don't think a piece bigger than my head hit the ground." The
second explosion was followed by a yellow flash and a cloud of black smoke
billowing from the jungle. Panther 13 made a second high-speed pass over the
site and came under fire, but made it away unscathed.
Lake decided to go down and see if there was a way to get to the crash site.
As he neared the ground, he was met with intense ground fire from the entire
area. He could not see the crash site sice it was under heavy tree cover.
There was no place to land, and the ground fire was withering. He elected to
return the extract team to Dak To before more aircraft was lost. Lake has
carried the burden of guilt with him for all these years, and has never
forgiven himself for leaving his good friend O'Donnell and his crew behind.
The Army account concludes stating that O'Donnell's aircraft began to burn
immediately upon impact. Aerial search and rescue efforts began immediately;
however, no signs of life could be seen around the crash site. Because of
the enemy situation, attempts to insert search teams into the area were
futile. SAR efforts were discontinued on April 18. Search and rescue teams
who surveyed the site reported that they did not hold much hope for survival
for the men aboard, but lacking proof that they were dead, the Army declared
all 7 missing in action.
For every patrol like that of the MACV-SOG LRRP team that was detected and
stopped, dozens of other commando teams safely slipped past NVA lines to
strike a wide range of targets and collect vital information. The number of
MACV-SOG missions conducted with Special Forces reconnaissance teams into
Laos and Cambodia was 452 in 1969. It was the most sustained American
campaign of raiding, sabotage and intelligence gathering waged on foreign
soil in U.S. military history. MACV-SOG's teams earned a global reputation
as one of the most combat effective deep penetration forces ever raised.
By 1990 over 10,000 reports have been received by the U.S. Government
concerning men missing in Southeast Asia. The government of Cambodia has
stated that it would like to return a number of American remains to the U.S.
(in fact, the number of remains mentioned is more than are officially listed
missing in that country), but the U.S., having no diplomatic relations with
Cambodia, refuses to respond officially to that offer.
Most authorities believe there are hundreds of Americans still alive in
Southeast Asia today, waiting for their country to come for them. Whether
the LRRP team and helicopter crew is among them doesn't seem likely, but if
there is even one American alive, he deserves our ultimate efforts to bring
him home.
Michael O'Donnell was recommended for the Congressional Medal of Honor for
his actions on March 24, 1970. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying
Cross, the Air Medal, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart as well as
promoted to the rank of Major following his loss incident. O'Donnell was
highly regarded by his friends in the "Bikinis." They knew him as a talented
singer, guitar player and poet. One of his poems has been widely
distributed, but few understand that the author remains missing.
If you are able,
save them a place
inside of you
and save one backward glance
when you are leaving
for the places they can
no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say
you loved them,
though you may
or may not have always.
Take what they have left
and what they have taught you
with their dying
and keep it with your own.
And in that time
when men decide and feel safe
to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace
those gentle heroes
you left behind.
Major Michael Davis O'Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam
=======================
Gary Alan Harned-RT Pensylvaina
06/19/01
From: amcoon@hotmail.com (Anne Coon)
My name is Robert Schwab and I am from Meadville, Pennsylvania. I am looking
for information on my Uncle, Gary Alan Harned, who was a member of RT
Pennsylvania. He was listed as missing in action in March of 1970. I was
also told to mention the CCC in this e-mail. I would be very interested in
any information that anyone may have about my Uncle from people who knew him
personally or through military operations.
It is believed that in March of 1970, a helicopter that Gary was on was shot
down near Cambodia. Other passengers believed to be aboard were Captain
Michael O'Donnell, Officer John Hosken, Rudy Becerra, Berman Grande, Jr.,
Lieutenant Jerry Poole, and Sergeant First Class John Boronski. Recently the
Army has investigated the crash site and has found human remains. Through
DNA Testing they have positively identified Captain Michael O'Donnell,
Officer John Hosken, Rudy Becerra, and Berman Grande, Jr. The three
remaining men, Lieutenant Jerry Poole, Sergeant First Class John Boronski,
and my Uncle were not positively identified through testing, due to the
condition of the remaining bones. These remaining bones are being offered
for a group burial for Poole, Boronski, and my Uncle at Arlington Cemetery
later this year.
Any information would be very helpful. Thank you for your time.
Robert A. Schwab
(814) 336-2270 or e-mail amcoon@hotmail.com
================================
July 1, 2001 The Journal Standard
Waiting for the turth
Freeport resident Darlene Pool holds her husband, Jerry Pool's MIA bracelet
marking the date that Jerry was reported missing in action; March 24, 1970.
Photo by Steve Ingram
Freeport resident still unsure of exactly whathappened to her husband in
Vietnam.
FREEPORT -- "I almost died this time," Darlene Pool said about hearing the
latest news on her husband.
"Now he's going to be buried twice and there's still no proof he's there."
It was the third week in May when Darlene Pool of Freeport said she heard
from U.S. Army officials. What they told her was that they had positively
identified the remains of her husband, Jerry Pool, a Green Beret Special
Forces soldier who went down in a helicopter in Cambodia during the Vietnam
War.
She was told a short time later, however, that her husband wasn't
specifically identified, but that a group identification had been made.
In the past, Darlene Pool has suffered from several heart attacks and
strokes and is in failing health. This latest news about her husband has
almost been too painful for her to bear.
"This has been going on off and on for 32 years," Darlene Pool said. "I've
been in too much pain and too much suffering ... Only the truth will end
it."
First, the crash
The Pool odyssey officially began on March 24, 1970, with the crash of a
Huey helicopter in Cambodia. In that helicopter was Jerry Pool, who was part
of a military team sent to Cambodia to extract a U.S. long range
reconnaissance patrol.
Pool's squad found the patrol and set about leaving the area when they came
under heavy enemy fire. On the helicopter at the time with Jerry Pool were
seven U.S. Army soldiers and five Montagnard tribesman. The Montagnard are
an indigenous people of Vietnam and Southeast Asia who aided the U.S. during
the Vietnam War.
"Shortly after they picked up these guys, the helicopter was hit by a rocket
and it exploded at 200 feet, it crashed and burned," said Larry Greer, a
spokesman for the U.S. Defense Department's POW/MIA Office. "There was no
evidence of any survivors. There was heavy enemy activity so (rescuers)
couldn't stay in the area."
According to Greer, the story then picks up again in November of 1993 when a
joint U.S. and Cambodian search team tried but failed to find the crash
site.
Then, in 1994, several Vietnamese citizens were interviewed regarding human
remains they had found consistent with what would be left at the Cambodian
helicopter crash site.
After years of investigating, a group identification was finally made
official on June 20, 2001. Using skeletal, tissue and teeth remains at the
crash site, Army officials were able to positively identify four U.S.
soldiers who were on the helicopter.
Jerry Pool was not one of the four. But since the crash was so severe, Greer
said, Pool could not have escaped. Therefore, Jerry Pool is being identified
as part of the group of remains that were found.
"There are frequently individual remains that can't be sorted and
identified," Greer said. "It is just like in some of the large civilian air
disasters where they are never able to identify everyone ... Obviously, no
one got off (of this helicopter) so they made a group identification."
Now, off MIA list
"(Jerry) Pool's remains were not individually identified, but he has been
identified as part of the group," Greer said. "He is now accounted for so he
comes off of our list of MIA (soldiers)."
According to Greer, there are currently 1,966 U.S. soldiers still Missing in
Action from the Vietnam War. There have been 619 identified so far. To put
that in context, there are 8,100 soldiers still MIA from the Korean War and
78,000 from World War II.
For Darlene Pool, her husband's inclusion in this group identification is
not enough to provide closure on an incident that has haunted her and her
family for years.
In addition to the fact that Jerry Pool's remains have still not been found,
Darlene Pool is also fed up with the numerous false alarms and mistaken
identifications that she said have taken place over the years.
Darlene Pool said this has caused a great deal of stress within her family,
which includes two grown children she had with Jerry, Jerry Lynn Pool and
Michele Leigh Pool.
"It has hurt me and it has hurt my children," Darlene Pool said. "I am
personally tired of suffering with this."
As it is, the U.S. Army is in the process of organizing a funeral ceremony
at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C., where the remains
recovered from the crash site will be buried.
Darlene Pool said she is not sure if she will take part in the Arlington
ceremony. She is still not satisfied with the official version of events
leading to her husband's identification. Darlene Pool said she will continue
to hope that the truth about what happened to Jerry Pool on that fateful day
in 1970 will surface some day.
"Everybody says I should go (to the ceremony) to pay my respect for the
others who were identified," Darlene Pool said. "I don't think I will be
going because it's false. I'm a person who hates lies ... I'll fight for my
husband until the day I die. He deserves the truth."
Travis Morse can be reached at 232-0178 or at tmorse@journalstandard.com.
==========================
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2001 12:04:38 EDT
Subject: Soldiers and Airmen Returning Home
Greetings,
I am .... for the US Army at Fort Myer, Va. I also had the pleasure to
serve as ..... for 5th SFG(A) from Dec 91 through Dec 94. Today and
tomorow, I have the honor to be part of an escort for the families and
remains of 3 Special Forces soldiers and 4 members of the Air Force returned
home from Cambodia. These soldiers were lost on 24 March 1970 in Cambodia;
REFNO 1578.
They are:
1LT Jerry L. Pool
SSG John Boronski
SGT Gary Harned
CPT Michael D. O'Donnel
WO1 John C. Hosken
SP4 Rudy Becerra
SP4 Berman Ganoe Jr.
There will be a ceremony at the Old Post Chapel on Fort Meyer at 1300 hours
on 16 August. While this was a war before my time, I still feel a deep
sense of pride, honor, and esprit de corps in their return. These days are
very special for anyone who has every worn a uniform or served in the the
defense of their country. I have the deepest pride in my service and the
highest regard for my brothers who have fallen before me. I hope their
return brings some closure and ease to the minds and hearts of those who
care.
Respectfully,
====================
Updated: 07/2001
MIA some 31 years, soldier's remains headed home
By JO ANN ZUIGA Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle
After 31 years, U.S. Army Sgt. Rudy Becerra is coming home from the Vietnam
War. The remains of Becerra, who was 19 when reported missing in 1970 after
his helicopter was shot down, were identified recently and are being brought
to Houston on Friday.
Becerra will be honored with full military honors, first in Arlington
National Cemetery on Thursday, then in his hometown of Rosenberg on Sunday.
His mother, Geneva Martinez, 70, and four siblings from Rosenberg will be in
Washington on Thursday forthe ceremony honoring Becerra and his fellow crew
members.
"It is not easy," Martinez said of living all these years not knowing where
her eldest son rested. "I had been told they had been shot down by the enemy
in Cambodia. We all cried. I've prayed for the Lord to let me see some kind
of sign to know what happened."
Army captains first knocked on her door in 1970 to report her son was
missing, Martinez said. Case investigators made many more visits. Finally,
in November 1978, Becerra was declared dead.
"I didn't want to move from my house, in case he would come home," Martinez
said. "But in my heart, I felt my son was gone."
There were additional knocks at her door in 1995. This time, the government
investigators asked for blood from Martinez and her two other sons to
facilitate DNA testing of remains found in Cambodia.
According to a U.S. Army Central Identification laboratory report, Becerra
was last seen March 24, 1970, aboard a UH-1H Huey helicopter along the
border of South Vietnam and northeast Cambodia, an area known as the
"Dragon's Tail."
The Huey was sent to rescue an eight-member special operations team trying
to elude enemy forces. On board were Capt. Michael O'Donnell, the aircraft
commander; Warrant Officer John C. Hoskins, the pilot; Berman Ganoe, the
gunner; and Becerra, the crew chief.
Accompanying aircraft reported that the chopper landed and radioed it had
picked up all members of the special operations team. But as the helicopter
ascended, it was hit by enemy fire and an explosion was seen in the
aircraft.
It continued in flight for about 300 yards, then a second explosion sent it
crashing into the jungle. After several flyovers, no signs of life were seen
near the crash site. Intense ground fire continued, forcing other aircraft
to return to base.
The Army identification lab report said a U.S. recovery team traveled to
Kontum Province in 1994 and interviewed Vietnamese informants. That led to
U.S.authorities receiving 10 boxes believed to contain the remains of U.S.
servicemen April 11, 1995.
Last May, Martinez received another knock at her door. "They told us that he
was in the 10th box," Martinez said. Inside were Becerra's gold dental cap,
several bones and a medal of St.Christopher, the patron saint of travelers.
"That's what I want to come home with, Rudy's medal," Martinez said. She
also will bring home a number of medals honoring his military service.
The remains will be flown to Hobby Airport on Friday. The family and others
will escort the casket to Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home in Rosenberg. A
wreath presentation is planned Saturday in front of the Fort Bend County
Courthouse. Visitation is at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Davis-Greenlawn Chapel,
followed by a service at 7 p.m. At 2 p.m. Sunday, Becerra's remains will be
carried on a military-style caisson to Greenlawn Cemetery for burial with
full military honors.
"We ran track and played football together," said Becerra's high school
friend, Mike Delgado, who fought as a Marine in Vietnam. "He was a good
guy." Delgado put together a poster of fallen soldiers from Rosenberg's
Lamar Consolidated High School that included Becerra, Richard M. Corrales,
Herman Clay, Gary Lee Cox and Richard W. Hibbler.
"We knew what happened to all of them, except for Rudy," said Delgado. "When
I found out last Memorial Day at a veterans ceremony, my knees buckled and
I fell to my knees.
"I said, `Thank you for answering my prayers. Rudy's coming home.' "
=============================================
Associated Press Newswires
Friday, August 17, 2001
Vietnam MIA's remains to return home
ROSENBERG, Texas (AP) - There's a plot and a headstone for Rudy Ray Becerra
in Greenlawn Memorial Park. But his body isn't there.
His mother, Geneva Martinez, has refused to visit the vacant grave.
Becerra was 19 years old when he left his mother's Southeast Texas home in
1969.
He was on Christmas leave from the Army, during the height of the Vietnam
conflict.
Three months later, a helicopter believed to be carrying Becerra and seven
of his crewmates was shot down over the northeast corner of Cambodia.
After 31 years, the serviceman's remains will be returning to his mother on
Friday, following a memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery.
Military officials recovered the last of the helicopter's wreckage late last
year, including the remains of its crew members.
In 1978, Becerra was declared dead.
Martinez still remembers the day she learned of her son's disappearance and
her son's words to her before he left that Christmas.
"He had told me, 'If something was to happen to me, don't believe the TV,
the radio, the papers. If something was to happen to me, there would be a
captain come tell you.' (The captain) sat me on the couch, and he said he
had to talk to me, and he told me, 'Your son, Rudy, is missing in action
(MIA),' "Geneva said, sobbing uncontrollably," And I said, 'Where is he? Can
you tell me? Where is my son?"
Martinez found herself grieving once again Monday when two Army officials
arrived at her home to review all the facts in the case surrounding Rudy's
disappearance. In December of 1999, Army officials contacted Geneva,
requesting blood samples from her and Rudy's father, Seldono Becerra, who
had past away years earlier. Rudy's brother, Leroy, was also asked to be
tested.
More than a year passed before the family heard any more about the testing.
But last three weeks ago, Army officials notified Martinez that they would
be visiting her and her immediate family. U.S. Total Army Personal Command
Casualty and Memorial Affairs Operations Center Mortuary Affairs Specialist
Johnny Johnson arrived at Geneva's home to find a distraught and anxious
family.
"It was like losing him all over again," Martinez told The Herald Coaster in
Rosenberg. "Maj. Johnson said a prayer. He was in uniform - that just gets
me. I held him for the longest. I didn't want to let him go."
The men spent more than two hours reviewing details of an investigation
which began 31 years ago and will ultimately end in Rudy's return to his
family.
"(MAS Johnson) said, 'I'm so glad you're here for me to bring Rudy home
to,"' Geneva said. "He said everyone says he has a hard job, but he has a
good job - bringing people home to rest. And Rudy's ready to come home."