CADWELL, ANTHONY BLAKE

Name: Anthony Blake Cadwell
Rank/Branch: E2/US Army
Unit: 188th Maintenance Battalion
Date of Birth: 09 August 1945 (Oakland CA)
Home City of Record: Missoula MT
Date of Loss: 17 October 1967
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 152722N 1084011E (BT540075)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: Ground
Refno: 0863
Other Personnel In Incident: (none missing)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 30 June 1990 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 2020.

REMARKS:

SYNOPSIS: On October 17, 1967, Private Anthony B. Cadwell and a friend
departed their unit area to go swimming at the USO Beach at Chu Lai, South
Vietnam.  At 1400 hours, they entered the water. After 10 minutes, the
friend noticed that Cadwell was being carried away by the current and
undertow, so he returned to shore, although with some difficulty.

When Cadwell's friend reached shore, he looked back and saw Cadwell floating
on his back about 100 yards offshore. Two swimmers with air mattresses
attempted to reach him as he called for help. Another swimmer was observed
attempting to reach him, and the friend went for more help. However, before
help could reach him, Private Cadwell sank and was not seen again. Search
efforts were conducted by helicopter and divers without success.

Cadwell is one of nearly 60,000 casualties of the Vietnam War. Some deaths,
like his, were unrelated to battle. Cadwell is listed with honor among the
nearly 2500 Americans who remained unaccounted for in Southeast Asia at the
end of the war, because his remains were never found.

Unlike Cadwell, the bulk of the missing could be readily accounted for. The
communist governments of Southeast Asia remain resolute in their refusal to
do so in a timely manner. Tragically, thousands of reports of Americans
still held captive have been received. Many experts believe hundreds are
still alive. It's time we brought our men home.

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01/2020

https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000KZOXEA4

PVT ANTHONY BLAKE CADWELL

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Private Anthony Blake Cadwell, who joined the U.S. Army from Montana, served with the 188th Maintenance Battalion. On October 17, 1967, Private Cadwell and a friend departed their unit area to go swimming at the United Service Organizations Beach at Chu Lai, South Vietnam. They entered the water together, and after a time the friend noticed that they were being carried away by a current and undertow. The friend returned to the beach with some difficulty. He saw Private Cadwell floating on his back about 100 yards off shore. When Private Cadwell signaled for help, two soldiers from another unit tried unsuccessfully to rescue him with an air mattress, but the current carried him out to sea and he was not seen again. His body was not recovered.  Private Cadwell is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. 

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable.

If you are a family member of this serviceman, DPAA can provide you with additional information and analysis of your case. Please contact your casualty office representative.

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