MATEJOV, JOSEPH ANDREW
GROUP BURIAL 12/95
DISPUTED BY FAMILY
|
Name: Joseph Andrew Matejov
Rank/Branch: E4/US Air Force
Unit: Detachment 3, 6994th Security Squadron from Ubon, Thailand
Date of Birth: 02 February 1952
Home City of Record: East Meadow NY
Date of Loss: 05 February 1973
Country of Loss: Laos
Loss Coordinates: 153755N 1065957E (YC143291)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action/Killed In Action
Category: 1
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: EC47Q
Other Personnel in Incident: Dale Brandenburg; Todd M. Melton; George R. Spitz;
Severo J. Primm III; Peter R. Cressman; Arthur R. Bollinger (all missing);
Robert E. Bernhardt (remains recovered)
|
Sgt. Joseph A. Matejov Courtesy 6994th Security Squadron |
 |
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 March 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 2023.
REMARKS: KIA 3 - POSS CAPT 4
SYNOPSIS: On February 5, 1973, about a week after the signing of the Paris
Peace Agreement, an EC47Q aircraft was shot down over Saravane Province,
Laos, about 50 miles east of the city of Saravane. The crew of the aircraft
consisted of the pilot, Capt. George R. Spitz; co-pilot, 2Lt. Severo J.
Primm III, Capt. Arthur R. Bollinger, 1Lt. Robert E. Bernhardt, Sgt. Dale
Brandenburg, Sgt. Joseph A. Matejov, all listed as crew members, and Sgt.
Peter R. Cressman and SSgt. Todd M. Melton, both systems operators. The
families of all aboard the aircraft were told the men were dead, and advised
to conduct memorial services.
It is known that Cressman and Matejov were members of Detachment 3, 6994th
Security Squadron from Ubon, Thailand. The aircraft, however, was flying out
of the 361st TEW Squadron (Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron) at Nakhon
Phanom Airbase, Thailand. Primm, Melton, Spitz, Brandenburg and Bernhardt
were assigned to the 361st TEW Squadron. Bollinger's unit is unknown.
The men in the 6994th were highly trained and operated in the greatest of
secrecy. They were not allowed to mingle with others from their respective
bases, nor were the pilots of the aircraft carrying them on their missions
always told what their objective was. They were cryptology experts, language
experts, and knew well how to operate some of the Air Force's most
sophisticated equipment. They were the first to hear the enemy's battle
plans.
Over five years later, Joe Matejov's mother, Mary Matejov, heard columnist
Jack Anderson, on "Good Morning America", describe a Pathet Lao radio
communique which described the capture of four "air pirates" on the same day
as the EC47Q carrying her son was shot down. NO OTHER PLANE WAS MISSING THAT
DAY. Anderson's information indicated that reconnaissance personnel had 40
uninterrupted minutes in which to survey the crash site.
The report of the reconnaissance team, which was not provided to the
families for over five years, showed that three bodies, which were thought
to have been higher ranking officers because of the seating arrangement,
were found strapped in seats. Four of the men aboard the aircraft were not
in or around the aircraft, and the partial remains of the eighth man
(Bernhardt) was recovered. No identification was brought out from the crash
site, and no attempt was made to recover the three bodies from the downed
aircraft. It is assumed that the reconnaissance team was most interested in
recovering the sensitive equipment aboard the EC47Q. The EC47Q became known
as the "Flying Pueblo". Most of the "kids" in back, as some pilots called
them, were young, in good health, and stood every chance of surviving
captivity.
There were specific reports intercepted regarding the four missing men from
the aircraft missing on February 5, 1973. Radio reports indicated that the
four were transported to the North Vietnam border. None were released in the
general POW release beginning the next month.
Peter Cressman enlisted in the United States Air Force in August, 1969 and
after two years at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska he volunteered for
service in Vietnam and left for Da Nang in June 1972.
In Da Nang, Peter spent his free hours at Sacred Heart Orphanage. His
letters to his hometown priest in Oakland, New Jersey, resulted in the
forming of "Operation Forget-Me-Not". Community schools, churches, merchants
and citizens joined the effort to help the innocent victims of war. The
group eventually provided a boxcar of supplies to the orphans.
Peter was transferred to the airbase at Ubon, Thailand. He believed the
secret missions being flown into Laos were illegal, and had written letters
to his congressman in that regard. His family has been active in efforts to
locate information on Peter and the nearly 2500 others who remain
unaccounted for. They founded the National Forget-Me-Not Association for
POW/MIAs in St.Petersburg, Florida, the largest POW advocacy group in the
country.
Joseph Matejov enlisted in the Air Force in 1970 from his home state of New
York and went to Southeast Asia in April, 1972. Joe's father and two
brothers were career military. His sister graduated from West Point in 1981.
Steven Matejov died in 1984 not knowing what happened to his son. Joe's
mother, Mary says, "Joe may be alive. If so, this government has a legal and
moral responsibility to get him home. The next generation of servicemen
should not have to wonder if they will answer the call to defend their
country only to be abandoned. We must stop this tragedy now, and never allow
it to happen again."
Thousands of reports received by the U.S. Government have convinced many
experts that hundreds of Americans remain captive in Southeast Asia. Members
of a crew flying a secret mission after a peace agreement had been signed
would likely be considered war criminals. If they are among those thought to
be alive, the survivors of the EC47Q have been held captive over 15 years.
It's time we brought our men home.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[matejov.94 08/14/94]
excerpts from letters....
August 6, 1994
from Mary Matejov to friends
Enclosed are the papers I spoke to you about the latest game the
Air Force is playing with me. There are remains, there are not remains
depending on who you are writing to......
April 19, 1994
from Department of the Air Force to Senator D'Amato
"....The Armed Forces Identification Review Board (AFIRB) has not met
nor made any determination concerning a group burial which would include
the remains believed to be of Sergeant Joseph A. Matejov. The
recommendation of the Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii, will be
only one of many factors evaluated by AFIRN. The United States Army is
the Department of Defense Executive Agent for Mortuary Affairs and is
responsible for identifying the remains of deceased personnel prior to
1993 ("ancient" remains). ......
May 14, 1994
Mrs. Mary Matejov to Col. Spinello, Commander PERSCDM
"Enclosed is a copy of a letter sent to the Honorable Alfonse M. D'Amato
which states there are remains believed to be Sgt. Joseph A Matejov...I
would like these remains sent to Dr. Michael Charney of Colorado...."
May 23, 1994
Department of the Army to Mrs. Matejov
" ....Unfortunately, you have misunderstood what has transpired in this
case as there has not been a recommendation for individual identification
of the remains of Sergeant Matejov. CILHI recommended that comingled,
unsegregated remains recovered from the crashsite of the aircraft on
which Sergeant Matejov was a manifested crewman be identified as the
group remains of the crew including Sergeant Matejov. Therefore, there
are no individually segregated remains that can be identified as
Sergeant Matejov available for an independent opinion......"
May 25, 1994
Dr. Charney to Mrs. Matejov
..." It so happens that Mr. Huey was here this morning on another case,
that of Mark Danielson, also airforce, shot down June 1972. I had
spoken with Huey when he was last here, as I mentioned to you over the
phone and in my note, about the fact that you would be asking that the
"remains" of Joseph be brought, to me and that is when he said that
there was ONLY AN IDENTIFICATION TAG. THAT WAS ALL. ......I will
certainly look over the lot...as they did the teeth of Danielson
today...."
--------------------------------------------
National Alliance of Families,
Bits n Pieces
DESPITE THE VALIANT EFFORTS OF SENATOR BOB SMITH AND CONGRESSMAN BOB
DORNAN AND THEIR STAFFS THE BARON 52 BURIAL REMAINS SCHEDULED TO MARCH
27TH, 1996.
ON FEB. 23, 1996, DINO CARLUCCIO, OF SENATOR SMITH'S OFFICE AND AL
SANTOLI OF CONGRESSMAN DORNAN'S OFFICE MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF DPMO
TO DISCUSS THE VIHN PHU LIVE SIGHTING REPORTS, THE BARON 52 INCIDENT,
LIMA SITE 85 INCIDENT, LAO POW/MIA ARCHIVES, THE CASE OF DAVID HRDLICKA
AND THE MISSING SERVICE PERSONNEL ACT. REPRESENTING DPMO WERE SENIOR
DPMO ANALYST, FOR LAOS AND CURRENT OPERATIONS, WARREN GRAY; DIXON
JORDAN, LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS OFFICER; FRANCIS O'BRIEN, GENERAL COUNSEL;
AND ELBERT HAMPTON, ASST . FOR POW/MIA AFFAIRS AND DRUG POLICY, OFFICE
OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS (OSD/LA). MONG
POINTS ACKNOWLEDGED BY DPMO:
VINH PHU LIVE SIGHTINGS - "THE ORIGINAL 1990 LIVE SIGHTING REPORT HAD
BEEN RULED A FABRICATION WITHIN 9 DAYS OF THE REPORT ARRIVING IN THE
THEN-DIA SPECIAL OFFICE FOR POW/MIA. MR. GRAY INDICATED THAT HE WAS NOT
COMFORTABLE WITH THIS DETERMINATION AND THAT THE SOURCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
IMMEDIATELY RECONTACTED AT THE TIME FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. HE ALSO
STATED THAT THE PERSON AT DIA WHO ANALYZED THE REPORT HAD ONLY BEEN
THERE FOR A SHORT PERIOD AND HAD LEFT TWO DAYS AFTER THE REPORT WAS
APPROVED AS A FABRICATION."
"THE USG ASKED THE VIETNAMESE IN NOV. 1995, TO VISIT THREE MOUNTAINOUS
LOCATION WITH GRID COORDINATES IN VINH PHU PROVINCE, NORTH VIETNAM..."
"IN EARLY JANUARY 1996, THE VIETNAMESE INFORMED THE USG THAT SUCH AN
INVESTIGATION WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED BECAUSE THE REPORTS OF AN UNDERGROUND
PRISON FACILITY IN VINH PHU PROVINCE HAD ALREADY BEEN INVESTIGATED BY
USG AND CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS IN RESPONSE TO BILL HENDON'S PUBLICIZED
STATEMENTS..... MR. GRAY EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE USG HAD NOT YET
EXPLAINED TO THE VIETNAMESE THAT THE AREAS IN QUESTION HAD NOT BEEN
VISITED BY EITHER THE USG OR CONGRESSIONAL STAFF. THE PREVIOUS
INVESTIGATIONS WERE REPORTEDLY LIMITED TO A VILLAGE AREA SEVERAL MILES
FROM THE MOUNTAINOUS REGION BASED ON COORDINATES BILL HAD HAD OBTAINED
FROM THE LIVE SIGHTING REPORTS. MR. GRAY SAID THAT THE COORDINATES IN
ONE OF THE HEARSAY REPORTS HAD BEEN REPORTED ERRONEOUSLY BY A DEBRIEFER
AT THE TIME THE REPORT WAS OBTAINED."
"MR. GRAY SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE GENERAL WOLD HAD RAISED THE MATTER
DIRECTLY WITH THE VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS DURING HIS TRIP. (NOTE: AT THE
JAN. MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE ATTENDED BY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
ANTHONY LAKE AND THE MEMBERS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION, GEN. WOLD
HAD CONCURRED THAT THE MATTER NEEDED TO BE RAISED WITH VIETNAMESE
OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY BY THE PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION IF THE MATTER WAS
NOT SATISFACTORILY RESOLVED BY THEN.)"
BARON 52 AND THE NSA INTERCEPTS: "MR. GRAY INDICATED THAT HE WANTED TO
CONDUCT HIS OWN ANALYSIS OF THIS CASE, BECAUSE HE APPARENTLY WAS NOT
SATISFIED WITH A PREVIOUS ANALYSIS CONDUCTED BY MR. DESATTE IN 1987.
"MR. HAMPTON FURTHER INDICATED THAT MR. GRAY SHOULD MAKE HIS OPINIONS
KNOWN TO GEN. WOLD ON THE NEED FOR RE-EXAMINATION OF THE NSA MESSAGES,
AND THAT, IF MR. TROWBRIDGE DID NOT OBJECT, DPMO STAFF SHOULD RECOMMEND
TO GEN. WOLD THAT HE CONSIDER ASKING THE APPROPRIATE DOD OFFICIALS TO
RESCIND THE DETERMINATIONS WITH RESPECT TO CRESSMAN AND MATEJOV.... IF
MR. TROWBRIDGE OR OTHERS HAD OBJECTIONS, THEN MR. HAMPTON STATED THE
ISSUE SHOULD BE FURTHER DISCUSSED BETWEEN MEETING ATTENDEES."
"MR. CARLUCCIO INDICATED THAT HE HAD SEVERAL POINTS TO MAKE AT A LATER
DATE CONCERNING THE ACTUAL NSA MESSAGES, AND THAT HE WANTED TO BE
INVOLVED WITH THE RE-EXAMINATION OF THESE REPORTS BY DPMO ON BEHALF OF
SENATOR SMITH. HE REMINDED THE PARTICIPANTS THAT IT WAS UNFAIR TO ASK
THE CRESSMAN AND MATEJOV FAMILIES TO ACCEPT THE AFIRB (ARMED FORCES
IDENTIFICATION REVIEW BOARD.) DECISION WHEN DPMO WAS CURRENTLY UNABLE TO
DEMONSTRATE CONCLUSIVELY TO WHO THE NSA MESSAGES PERTAINED TO IF IT WAS
NOT BARON- 52. HE A GAIN INDICATED THAT NO OTHER AIRCRAFT, SOUTH
VIETNAMESE OR AMERICAN WAS SHOT DOWN IN SOUTHEAST ASIA ON THE DATE OF
THE BARON-52 INCIDENT, AND, AS EARLY AS FEB. 14, 1973, THE DIRECTOR OF
NSA HAD SPECIFIED THE LOCATION OF THE CAPTURED AIRMEN IN THE SAME REGION
OF LAOS WHERE THE SHOOT-DOWN HAD OCCURRED."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The National Alliance of Families mourns the passing of
Mary Matejov. Mary passed
peacefully on August 15th.
She is the mother of Sgt. Joseph A. Matejov, missing in
Laos
since February 5, 1973.
Joe was part of the Baron 52 crew.
Buried without remains, the
U.S.
government considers Joe accounted for. His family does not.
To the Matejov family we extend our deepest sympathy.
--
Lynn
Lynn O'Shea
Director of Research
National Alliance of Families
for the Return of America's Missing Servicemen
World War II - Korea - Cold War - Vietnam - Gulf Wars - Afghanistan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lititz Record Express
Lititz VFW holds emotional ceremony for POW/MIADay
Lititz Record Express
She wore a black leather vest embroidered with an eagle and an American flag
with the words “Run for the Wall,”
“POW/MIA Prisoners of War
Missing ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
02/15/2016
Family asks KIA status be
overturned - powerpoint
presentation
|
04/12/2016
http://www.stripes.com/news/us/vietnam-war-airman-s-death-re-examined-after-decades-of-controversy-1.402908
Vietnam War airman's death re-examined after decades of
controversy
By Travis
J. Tritten
Stars and Stripes
Published: April 11, 2016
WASHINGTON — The Air Force closed the case on Sgt. Joseph
Matejov when his surveillance aircraft went down at the end of the
Vietnam War.
The missing airman was deemed killed in the fiery crash,
and more than two decades later a group gravestone was installed at
Arlington National Cemetery. A single casket containing bone fragments
recovered in Laos was lowered into the ground at the 1996 funeral for
Matejov and seven fellow Air Force crewmembers.
Officially, it was the end of the military’s
accounting....
POW/MIA CT FORGET-ME-NOTS, INC. 8 / 29 /2016
As National POW/MIA Recognition Day approaches, I have a
message for you from John Matejov, the brother of Sgt. Joseph Matejov of the
Baron 52 crew. On February 5, 2016, the Matejov family made a formal
presentation to DPAA, DOD, and the Department of the Air Force requesting a
status change from KIA to MIA for their brother, Sgt. Joseph A. Matejov. John’s
message dated August 9th is:
An unexpected delay most probably made by my questioning the lack of Mr.
Linnington’s analysis of the Tourism documents (page 33). The upcoming History
of Flight’s repatriation of remains from Tarawa next month…Mr. Linnington’s
resignation possibly attached to the History Flight upcoming event with
paralleling connections to the Baron 52 case where entities outside DPAA are
submitting more evidence to correctly account for missing service personnel than
from within DOD.
As my final family remarks to Mr. Linnington in the presentation room on 5
Feb stated in part…"We feel that the honor of our brother’s service to his
country has been betrayed" to now read…"We feel that Mr. Linnington’s words to
us on that day are a further betrayal to our brother’s Honor of his service to
our country. He now has that to ponder, and I hope that he does."
FYI: Here are the references to the Tourism memos from the Matejov PowerPoint
presentation:
• 12/17/91 – Sedgwick Tourison Memo to Francis Zwenig: – Memo examines DOD’s
MIA totals – "Two Sets of Books" and concludes: The Baron-52 crew "were reported
as having been killed by the U.S. Air Force three weeks after their loss, in the
absence of any compelling evidence of death and in a manner inconsistent with
the normal casualty investigation procedures.
• 12/17/91 – Sedgwick Tourison Memo to Francis Zwenig: – Memo further
concludes: "The reporting to the Defense Department that the EC-47Q aircraft
personnel were ‘Dead’ and not ‘Unaccounted for’ effectively removed these eight
individuals from any serious consideration for recovery. The simple fact that
the U.S. Air Force had reported them as having died removed them from all lists
of ‘Unaccounted for’ and would reasonably have moved them into a category of
‘died’ which had the affect of making them invisible to those U.S. intelligence
personnel who had the mission of actively collecting information on the fate of
those ‘Unaccounted for’ or who had died without their remains being recovered."
• 12/17/91 – Sedgwick Tourison Memo to Francis Zwenig: – Memo further
concludes: "Furthermore, U.S. military intelligence resources in Laos and
Thailand which could have been employed to help determine the fate of such
personnel may have been actively prevented from doing so by the CIA Station in
Vientiane, Laos." – "In short, U.S. intelligence resources were available in the
area to help learn about the fate of the EC-47Q personnel but were not used or
authorized
• 6/10/92 – Sedgwick Tourison Memo to Francis Zwenig: – "On January 27, 1973,
U.S. Navy Commander Harley H. Hall is shot down in South Vietnam. He is
initially reported by the U.S. Navy as MIA and in February the Navy reports him
to be a POW. He is the last such individual to be placed in that status. In
early February an EC-47Q aircraft based in Thailand is shot down in southern
Laos. On February 12th the Air Force reports that they have confirmed one crew
member is dead. On February 22nd the Air Force reports confirmed the entire crew
is dead although not all remains are recovered."
6/19/92 – Tourison/Lang Memo to Senate Select Committee: – "Disagreements
over the Air Force’s handling of this incident [Baron 52] are evident in DIA
documents through 1979."
• 8/2/92 – Tourison Memo to Francis Zwenig for the Senate Select Committee: –
"18 servicemen listed in DIA’s own internal documents with a casualty code of
having died in captivity. DIA responded that the code, KK, has been used for the
last 19 years to indicate died in captivity. However, in early 1973 it was used
briefly to signify died while missing." – SSC Staff Comment: "DIA’s response is
reasonably explained by both the casualty files and other archival documents.
However, DIA's own declassified documents indicate an analytical judgment
through at least 1979 that the crew of Baron 52 may have survived into
captivity. The 4 in this case are not in DIA’s list of 83 possible live POW
candidates and further explanation is required.
The Matejov family continues to await a decision by the Air Force more than 6
months after their presentation. I wonder…Is the government having difficulty
refuting the facts, do they now acknowledge that mistakes were made to account
for these men? If so, how long will it take to realize that they must change
Joe’s status from KIA to MIA?
Kathy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
National Alliance of
Families for the Return of America’s Missing Servicemen World War II +
Korea + Cold War + Vietnam + Gulf Wars + Afghanistan 1302 24th
Street West, #315
Billings, Montana 59102-1442 An IRS recognized 501(c) 3 organization EIN
94-3146805
Sept 1 2016
(Photo Credit: http://www.stripes.com/news/us/vietnam-war-airman-s-death-re-examined-after-decades-of-controversy-1.402908
)
First a sincere "Thank you" to Mr. John Matejov for all of his hard work and
dedicated research on his brother’s case and for sharing his message with the
Alliance and its followers. John is the brother of Sgt. Joseph A. Matejov of the
Baron 52 crew. (He is also Joe’s PNOK) On February 5, 1973, roughly a week after
the signing of the Paris Peace Agreement, an EC47Q aircraft (call sign Baron 52)
was shot down over Saravane Province, Laos, about 50 miles east of the city of
Saravane. The crew of the aircraft consisted of the pilot, Capt. George R.
Spitz; co-pilot, 2Lt. Severo J. Primm III, Capt. Arthur R. Bollinger, crewmember
1Lt. Robert E. Bernhardt, crewmember Sgt. Dale Brandenburg, crewmember Sgt.
Matejov, and Sgt. Peter R. Cressman and SSgt. Todd M. Melton, both systems
operators. The families were told the men were dead and advised them to conduct
memorial services. On the 43 rd
anniversary of the crash, February
5, 2016, the Matejov family made a formal presentation to DPAA, DOD, and the
U.S. Air Force (USAF) requesting a status change from KIA to MIA for their
brother, Sgt. Matejov.
Mr. Matejov shared the following message with the Alliance and has given
permission for us to share in our Bits n Pieces:
An unexpected delay has occurred with the Secretary of the Air force (SecAir
Force) rendering the final decision on the Baron 52 case, most likely made by my
questioning the lack of the Director, DPAA (Mr. Linnington’s) analysis of the
Tourison documents (see below, page 33 of these documents). On 19 August, I was
informed that the decision package is pending final review by GEN Grosso (A-1 to
Sec Air Force). This is the second time I have been informed of a "final
review." I have not been told a reason for the delay or further review, leaving
only speculation on my part.
At the DPAA presentation, my final remarks to Mr. Linnington noted,"We feel
that the honor of our brother’s service to his country has been betrayed." Mr.
Linnington closed the presentation with the statement, "We
[DPAA] take these matters very seriously, and we will look over everything you
have provided to us today."
I now question this stated commitment and feel that Mr. Linnington’s words to us
are a further betrayal to our brother’s honorable service to his country. It
appears DPAA did not conduct a further analysis of the Tourison documents at
all. His empty promise to all those present, including our four attorneys and
three WY Congressional staffers, has added salt to our wounds. He now has that
to ponder, and I hope that he does.
For your reference, some highlights of the Tourison documents include:
• 12/17/91 – Sedgwick Tourison
Memo to Francis Zwenig: examines DOD’s MIA totals – "Two Sets of Books" and
concludes the Baron52 crew "were reported as having been killed by the [USAF]
three weeks after their loss, in the absence of any compelling evidence of death
and in a manner inconsistent with the normal casualty investigation procedures.
• 12/17/91 – Tourison Memo to
Francis Zwenig: concludes "The reporting to the [DOD] that the EC-47Q aircraft
personnel were ‘Dead’ and not ‘Unaccounted for’ effectively removed these eight
individuals from any serious consideration for recovery. The simple fact that
the [USAF] had reported them as having died, removed them from all lists of
‘Unaccounted for’ and would reasonably have moved them into a category of ‘died’
which had the affect of making them invisible to those U.S. intelligence
personnel, who had the mission of actively collecting information on the fate of
those ‘Unaccounted for’ or who had died without their remains being recovered."
• 12/17/91 – Tourison Memo to
Francis Zwenig: concludes "Furthermore, U.S. military intelligence resources in
Laos and Thailand which could have been employed to help determine the fate of
such personnel may have been actively prevented from doing so by the CIA Station
in Vientiane, Laos … In short, U.S. intelligence resources were available in the
area to help learn about the fate of the EC-47Q personnel but were not used or
authorized.
• 6/10/92 – Tourison Memo to
Francis Zwenig: "On January 27, 1973, U.S. Navy Commander Harley H. Hall is shot
down in South Vietnam. He is initially reported by the U.S. Navy as MIA and in
February the Navy reports him to be a POW. He is the last such individual to be
placed in that status. In early February an EC-47Q aircraft based in Thailand is
shot down in southern Laos. On February 12th the [USAF] reports that they have
confirmed one crew member is dead. On February 22nd the [USAF] reports confirmed
the entire crew is dead although not all remains are recovered."
6/19/92 – Tourison/Lang Memo to Senate Select Committee (SSC):
"Disagreements over the [USAF’s] handling of this incident [Baron 52] are
evident in DIA documents through 1979."
• 8/2/92 – Tourison Memo to
Francis Zwenig for the SSC: "18 servicemen listed in DIA’s own internal
documents with a casualty code of having died in captivity. DIA responded that
the code (KK) has been used for the last 19 years to indicate died in captivity.
However, in early 1973 it was used briefly to signify died while missing." SSC
Staff Comment: "DIA’s response is reasonably explained by both the casualty
files and other archival documents. However, DIA's own declassified documents
indicate an analytical judgment through at least 1979 that the crew of Baron 52
may have survived into captivity. The four in this case are not in DIA’s list of
83 possible live POW candidates and further explanation is required.
• Page 33
Air Force Document
(Pending Declassification)
In Feb of 1974, DIA’s casualty report changes their status from Missing in
Action to KK, (died in captivity). There is no explanation for DIA’s conclusion
that some had been captured alive and then may have been killed, information
totally inconsistent with the Air Force’s official version.
The above paragraph clearly needs to be explained, and several points demand
clarification:
(1) How can the DIA have separate accounting records that differ from
official USAF accounts?
(2) If all the Baron 52 crew were declared KIA by the USAF on Feb 22 1973,
why did DIA officials find it necessary to change their secret accounting status
for four of this crew to "KK" status over a year later?
(3) Who placed these four crew members in the KK status and why? Who changed
their status over a year later and why?
(4) How were DIA officials
allowed to testify to the SSC in the early 1990’s that "All
crew members died in the crash, and there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever
to show that any of the crew survived." Knowing full well that they
possessed information directly contradicting this statement?
(5) If the SSC possessed this information in the early 1990’s, why did no one
challenge these officials? These documents were only recently discovered at
Texas Tech University in January 2016 by our attorneys.
(6) Has anyone actually gained possession of the USAF Document "Pending
Declassification" mentioned on page 33?
If the recent re-organization of the DOD Accounting Agency (DPAA) was
supposed to enhance the accounting process due to past "leadership weaknesses"
(page 1 of the July 2013 GAO report), why has the first family case brought
before the DPAA appear, at this juncture, to have failed as an early litmus test
for the new organization? Furthermore, the new DPAA Director’s early resignation
is a puzzle to all of us. His perceived personal commitment to our family on 5
Feb 16 that he was in the position for the long haul and to "take
these matters very seriously, and …look over everything, appears a broken
promise.
My belief is that in light of the facts concerning the four Baron 52 crew
members "captured and killed in captivity" as recorded by the DIA, there were
indeed American POWs known to have been captured alive and summarily abandoned
by our government…with the full knowledge of the DIA. I also perceive Mr.
Linnington’s resignation may be connected to this fact, and his choice to resign
an honorable one after 33 years of faithful service to our country knowing he
did not want to become the "Fall Guy" in this national disgrace. Mr. Linnington
called me four days after his resignation was announced to explain his action.
In this phone conversation, he unknowingly gave me insight as to why the Baron
52 case may not be
re-opened. Ask me what he said, and I will gladly tell you.
In September 2016 we will hear of a private organization called "HISTORY
FLIGHT." This organization invited DOD to participate in excavation efforts on
the Island of Tarawa to unearth and repatriate about 40+ U.S. Marines buried
there during World War II. DOD initially, declined this offer. Subsequently,
HISTORY FLIGHT volunteers have indeed discovered over 40+ U.S. Marine remains.
These remains are to be turned over to the identification lab in Hawaii next
month. DPAA has since contracted with HISTORY FLIGHT on a limited basis.
The salient point is that a non-federal entity (relying on donations and
volunteers) has accomplished a significant task that most considered to be DOD’s
job. A hurculean task pursued based only on threads of evidence…not unlike the
Baron 52 case. The difference is that this private organization was able to
recover bones to be identified. In Baron 52’s case , only the DIA has any record
of what truly (?) happened to the crew.
After 43 years and now seven months, we wait the final decision of the Sec
Air Force on Baron 52. The focus of my review of this decision will be directed
towards any noted analysis of the Tourison documents if the decision is to
not re-open the case.
It is readily apparent to me at this time that if this is to be the decision,
that DOD clearly goes on record of denying irrefutable facts unless I can
personally bring my brother’s bones home to them. My brother…and many other
family members do not deserve this form of accounting. Baron52’s facts speak for
themselves. It may be a sad tale that while DOD is fed ‘facts’ that have always
been in plain view, they simply do indeed ignore them.
The concerns shared by Mr. Matejov are justified. This lengthy decision
process makes the Matejov family and those following the case wonder if the DOD,
DPAA and the USAF are having difficulty accepting or refuting the facts, or
pondering the pitfalls of a moral dilemma?
We wait.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Air Force denies MIA status for airman in
Vietnam-era Baron 52 case
The Air Force and Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency
weighed the possibility of a review for eight months but notified
the family Tuesday that the ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BARON 52
UPDATE… May 2017
As of today, sadly the Baron52 case lingers
on….
On 8 Nov of 2016,
John Matejov received the official resolution phone call from the office of the
Sec of the Air Force. 3 Star Lt Gen Grosso had 6 people assembled in the
conference room to listen in.
“I have
determined that there is no basis to re-examine or disturb the original 1973 KIA
determination.”
Upon hearing
these words, John interrupted Gen Grosso and immediately asked for an
explanation of how this is possible considering that the Tourison documents
clearly show the Defense Intelligence Agency recorded that 4 of the 8 crew were
“captured”.
Gen Grosso could
not verbally offer an explanation as requested but assured him that the
documents were analyzed and the explanation would be forthcoming with the
written analysis accomplished by DPAA.
The written analysis arrived a
week later with absolutely no mention of the Tourison documents whatsoever.
Gen Grosso had
assured John during this call that she would “do some more work on the documents
and that “We will be getting back with you shortly.”
On January 10th
2017, John received the following written response from Gen Grosso’s office. It
was signed by H. L. Larry, SES, USAF (who was one of the attendees during the
conduct of the 8 November 2016 phone call.)
“We
appreciate that this response likely does not fully answer your questions
regarding the Defense Intelligence Agency’s parallel personnel classification
system. However, given the passage of time since the downing of the Baron 52
flight and DPAA’s mission focus on POW/MIA personnel, DPAA is the agency best
suited to assist you in these matters”
In essence, Sec
of the Air Force was passing the buck back to DPAA.
Sec of the Air
Force based the above written response on a paragraph directed to Congressman
Van Hollen… in which DPAA’s Director of Outreach and Communications- Mr Todd
Livich, (who was tagged with handling all matters left unfinished by Mike
Linnington’s resignation).
It read:
“In our May
24, 2016 response to your April 21,2016, letter on behalf of the National
Alliance of Familes for America’s Missing Serivemen, we promised to respond to
the unanswered questions. As the director of Outreach and Communications, I am
pleased to repond to those questions.”
Question #7.
(Case
question from family member John Matejov): Recently revealed Tourison Documents
from Texas Tech University show that DIA had a parallel accounting system. In
this system four crewmen from Baron52 were listed in a KK status, which
according to their system meant “captured, died in captivity”. Please provide
the documents concerning this status for these servicemen, (a status under which
they carried until 1979) and explain why DoD organizations testified to the
Senate Select Committee on POW/MIAs that these men were carried KIA after the
war. Please add any other new/updated information that is available.
In this response
came the following paragraph which did not answer the question at all, but
rather gave blatantly false information. This response speaks directly to the
hallmark of DPAA’s obfuscation and deceit, while pointing the accusatory finger
to the Matejov Family’s pursuit of the truth about their brother.
It read…
“Regarding
the Tourison Documents discovered at Texas Tech, the Defense Intelligence Agency
used numerous letter codes to denote the status or condition of missing or
captured personnel. The Matejov family questioned DIA on the association of the
code “KK” with the loss of Sgt Matejov. According to the documents
provided by the family, DIA responded to
them in the 1990’s, informing them that “KK” was used to denote servicemen who
were captured and died in captivity; however,”… in early 1973 it was used
briefly to signify died while missing”.
The
obfuscation…
(1) This answer
did not at all answer John Matejov’s question about the official testimony
before the Senate select committee in which the testimony directly stated that
all crew died in the crash.
(2) This answer
did not provide any substance whatsoever as to the association of KK status
given to the Baron52 crew… and why this was done by DIA.
(3) This answer
provided no documents as requested that supported DIA’s assessment of “KK”
status of the crew.
The deceit…
(1) At no time
was there any response or documents given to or “provided
by”the Matjov Family in 1973 pertaining to KK status as stated by Mr
Livick. If there were documents provided at that time (and Mr Livick obviously
claimed he was aware of them with this response of April 2016), why did he not
provide these very documents to Congressman Van Hollen in support of his
statement?
(2) Lt Gen
Grosso’s pledge to John Matejov that he would receive DPAA’s analysis of the
Tourison documents did not at all occur when John received the official written
SecAirForce resolution.
FOIA Follow-up
On April 27 2017,
John Matejov received the following written interim response to a FOIA he sent
to DIA.
It reads:
“This is an
interim response to your February 9, 2017, Freedom of information Act (FOIA)
request for any and all correspondence or communication sent to or received from
the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, and Secretary of the Air Force pertaining
to the Tourison documents and their relevance to POW case # 1983 (Baron 52)
during the period 5 Feb, 2016 through February 9th 2017. We received
your request on February 14, 2017, and assigned it case # FOIA-0201-2017. We
will be unable to respond to your request within the 20 day statutory 20 day
time period due to unusual circumstances.
These unusual circumstances could be:
(a) the need to search for and collect records from a facility geographically
separated from this office: (b) the potential volume of records responsive to
your request,: (c) the need for consultation with one or more other agencies
which may have substantial interest in either the determination or the subject
matter of the records. For these reasons, your request has been placed in the
queue and will be worked on in the order the request was received. Our current
administrative workload is in excess of 1,139 requests.”
As you can see,
FOIA’s only have so much credibility to them in obtaining any assistance.
Next step:
John’s
Congressional Representatives from Wyoming are about to receive a letter asking
them to now become the direct representatives of the Matejov Family. They are
being asked to intervene on behalf of his family and to ask all the direct
questions still not yet answered, even though they have complied with all
the guidelines dictated to him by providing new and compelling evidence… (the
Tourison documents), They must now seek the truth after
this trail of deceit has run it’s course with his family.
John’s
congressional representatives have verbally agreed to this request for support.
It is obvious to
us all that the Baron 52 case is merely only one of many cases being ignored by
DOD and DPAA. Sgt Joseph Matejov’s service secretary is now implemented in this
unjust/unfair accounting as well, as the Sec of the Air Force should have
officially requested DPAA analyze the Tourison documents upon realization that
they had not done so in the review conducted in 2016.
The Matejov Family should not be
instructed to become the mediator between DOD Agencies in this case after they
have already accomplished all tasks they were asked to do with their 5 Feb 2016
presentation to DOD officials.
Hopefully by this
time next year, there will be a much more positive update to share with you.
Thank you all for
this opportunity to inform you of our brother’s fight to be properly accounted
for.
John Matejov
(PNOK, Sgt Joseph
Matejov USAF)
(307) 763 6260
jmatejov@trcable.tv
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
John Matejov sent this latest link concerning the
Matejov family's quest to change Joe's status from KIA to MIA. You will
find it informative and proof, once again, that Joe's status must be changed
from KIA to MIA. You may wish to review the Matejov Powerpoint which was
sent to you in February 2016.
Kathy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The below site is the link to Part 3 of a documentary
released yesterday about Baron52. (It also has the links to
Parts 1 and 2)... All three parts total 33 minutes in
length and are an excellent tutorial on some of the aspects
of the case... and our family’s quest for Joe’s status
change.
Some additional
points to ponder that were omitted
due to space constraints:
(1) The salient
fact that Bob DeStatte gave
false testimony to the Senate
Select committee pertaining to
Baron52.
(2) Ralph Wetterhan’s
analysis of the radio intercept
in which the location by those
who intercepted this
transmission was used, contrary
to where the transmission
originated from. (a fact Mr
Wetterhan can attest to.)
(3) The fact
that the Senate Select Committee
did not explain the Tourison
documents at all.
I have become
more and more convinced that the
reason our family has been
denied a fair review, is that it
would lead everyone to the
salient and sad truth that those
4 crew members were known to
have been captured alive, and
then intentionally abandoned.
(There is no other explanation
that makes any sense). Joe’s
KIA status stands as a gross
injustice to the HONOR of his
service to his country.
Joe Matejov was aboard the last Air Force Security
Service EC-47 shot down during the Vietnam War. This FB page is
maintained by his family.
Loving
brother, son, friend. Still
in our hearts and prayers.
Never forgotten
|
POW/MIA CT Forget-Me-Nots, Inc. 5/15/2019
The following letter is from John Matejov as he continues the
Matejov family quest to have Joe’s status changed from KIA to MIA in
order for Joe’s case to be investigated and resolved properly. The Baron
52 case had been closed with the burial of comingled remains at
Arlington even though there were no remains identified as Sgt. Joseph A.
Matejov. Yet, the evidence of LKA indicates otherwise. What will it take
for the government to reopen the case to uncover the truth of what
really happened to the crewmembers of the Baron 52?
John Matejov
(address removed by ks)
29 March 2019
President Donald J. Trump
1600 Pennsylvania Ave N. W.
Washington DC 20500
Mr President,
I am writing to you on
VIETNAM VETERAN’S RECOGNITION DAY on behalf
of my brother, Sgt Joseph A. Matejov USAF, who was shot down over Laos
on 5 Feb 1973 along with 7 other crew members while aboard
"BARON 52".
(The official case designator is #1983) I am Joe’s
Primary Next of Kin.
Sadly, I find it necessary to request from you sir, intervention on
our behalf due to what appears to be questionable accounting protocol
our family has been subjected to while simply seeking answers to basic
accounting missteps which we have documented over the past 35 years
culminating most recently with communications with DPAA, and Sec of the
Air Force. I have attached several documents that verify my assertions
which I feel warrant both your attention, and then your consideration to
assist our family in this quest for the truth surrounding our brother’s
loss.
In the past, our respectful following of the protocol dictated to us
has been met with empty answers and contradictions which now have
morphed into direct ignoring of specific questions without reasonable
explanation. I personally have been given false information by the
Secretary of the Air Force. (This is well documented) Family attorneys
made a 2 hour power point presentation to DPAA, DOJ, and Sec Air Force
personnel on 5 Feb 2016 with compelling evidence. We were told that all
evidence would be looked into.
This simply did not occur at all. DPAA basically rehashed old
analysis and ignored our new evidence.
Consequently, when I received a direct phone call from Sec Air
Force’s Office on 8 Nov 2016, I was informed that there existed no
new
basis submitted for a review of our brother’s initial KIA
status. I was also informed during that conversation that I would
receive the analysis accomplished on "The Tourison Documents" which
clearly indicate that 4 of
BARON 52’S crew had been captured,
and that they had later died in captivity. This new evidence was a
direct 180 degree reversal of the official file scenario pertaining to
the fate of the crew.
That scenario was given in sworn testimony to
the Senate Select Committee in 1992 by the DIA which stated: "All had
died in the crash". I had made a point of questioning the impact of the
Tourison Documents during the above mentioned phone conversation.
I did not
receive the analysis of the Tourison documents as
promised by Lt Gen Grosso.
I later only received a letter from her
office however telling me that they
would not
answer my question pertaining to the Tourison Documents.
This letter then directed me to
return to DPAA
to obtain the information I was seeking. It stated, "We
appreciate that this response does not fully answer your questions
concerning the DIA’s parallel personnel classification system". (Letter
attached)
After Senator Enzi contacted Air Force Secretary Wilson , he too
inexplicably was not able to acquire an answer concerning the Tourison
documents. (Letter attached
I cannot describe the level of frustration in getting to the bottom
of the apparent impasse our family is experiencing, and I do not know
who else to turn to. I find it quite disheartening to now be ignored
when simply seeking reasonable questions concerning a family member lost
in combat.
My request to you sir, is to help our family obtain the answer to the
questionable intel contained in the "Tourison Documents" and some
additional survival questions relating to two pistols "Found buried side
by side and off the fuselage grid" as documented by the excavation
report of the crash site.
I am being continually discouraged by the repetitive reminder of all
DPAA HAS
done in this case. In recent communication to me,
sidestepping has occurred in response to my direct questions pertaining
to the aforementioned Tourison Documents/pistols etc. (Most recently,
this occurred on 23 Feb 2019 in which I contacted DPAA directly via
their "Live" Family update on FB.) They responded to me asking to use
their secure line, which I promptly obliged. I was given an official
DPAA question confirmation #CUD4391 informing me "Someone will reach out
to you soon". (Screen photo of this interaction is attached) As of today
(29 March 2019), I
have yet to hear from the DPAA office on the matter.
As an aside, our family has a military legacy that is ongoing as we
speak. Three West Point Grads in our midst-with dad receiving the Silver
Star for valor in Korea, and all 4 branches of the military represented
totaling over 100 years of combined active duty military service. We now
have a third generation family member serving aboard a nuclear submarine
and another about to enter West Point this July. While these facts alone
garner no expectations of preferential treatment, they are offered to
you as a reason why we cringe every time we hear the phrase "Thank you
for your service"… knowing that one of our family members has not truly
been thanked for his
service considering the poor manner of accounting
that surrounds his combat disappearance.
With this in mind… can
you obtain answers to the following
questions for us? It is all we seek.
(1) How did two crew pistols find
themselves "buried side by side and off the fuselage grid" if
not
placed there by
surviving members of the crew
in order to deny them use by the enemy before
hastily leaving the crash site?" This question has been officially asked
3X in the past, with no competent answer.
(2) How and why did the DIA testify under
oath before the Senate Select Committee that "All
died in the crash" when in secret files, they
labeled four of this crew as
captured?"
( I have video of this testimony)
(3) Why and how did the DIA ultimately
change "captured" to "killed while in captivity" when the above
testimony clearly stated they had died in the crash?
(4) If the DIA knew they were captured,
this clearly indicates they also had to knew of the
location
of captivity? And later… if they died, wouldn’t this also
indicate they knew of the location of death… other than at the crash
site? Where are these remains now? (Certainly not in the casket at
Arlington.)
(5) If initially
known to have been captured after the Peace Accords were signed , why
was there no effort at all dedicated to obtaining their release?
In fact, the exact opposite occurred and is
ongoing as we speak. "The covering up of the capture of four of Baron
52’s crew."
I am at a loss to explain why I cannot seem to obtain these answers
myself. I am only left to harbor deep thought as to why these questions
have been ignored without courtesy of any reasonable explanation albeit
DOD has been given several opportunities to do so.
It stands to reason that the
ignoring of an analysis of the intel contained in the Tourison documents
clearly becomes the issue that requires scrutiny.
I seek assistance from your office in doing just that.
Finally sir, is an issue that defies one of the very fundamental
cornerstones of our constitution. " FREEDOM
OF THE PRESS. "
The BARON 52
accounting saga was about to be published in a
periodical from MOAA, (Military Officers Association of America). A
contract was signed by an investigative journalist to report on the
newly organized DPAA and it’s new-found effectiveness. The journalist’s
name is… Colonel Ralph Wetterhahn,USAF. (Ret) He is available for
comment. Ph # (---) --- ----
Col Wetterhahn accepted this task after he had actually participated
in our family’s 2 hour power point presentation on 5 Feb 2016 as a hired
(but retired), government trained crash investigation expert. . After
signing the contract, he began making calls to interview key government
players within the DPAA and Sec Air Force in order to gather all aspects
of the BARON 52
case review to show a genuine exposé of how the
"new" DPAA operated under the newly appointed director, Mike Linnington.
However… Almost as abruptly as his interviews started, his story was
directly killed when he received a call from a MOAA board member
informing him that they had cancelled his contract. He was informed that
DOD had called them.
What caused MOAA to do this? Had DOD not called, his story would have
been printed. What did DOD have to hide from a story about DPAA’s new
and enhanced effectiveness?
My firm belief is that DOD was directly involved in "Censoring of the
Press" by making what I am told were
two
calls to MOAA on the matter. Col Wetterhahn is available for comment and
he has names of the DOD personnel who made the calls to MOAA.
As I have spent 25 years of my life dealing with DOD on this matter,
I have been able to document some rather egregious events by simply
asking very basic questions. It is my opinion sir that agencies within
DOD have continually acted with a high degree of impunity with my family
and with many other families who have also been the recipients of
similar questionable conduct.
It is a known fact that the Senate Select Committee, DPAA and Sec Air
Force all possess copies of the Tourison Documents which state 4 crew
members from BARON 52
were known to be captured. But when I ask the
two latter agencies for an analysis of that intel, I am not getting
answers, but rather being treated as if I have not submitted this
evidence at all. I have documented proof both agencies have had contact
with me over the matter. Sec Air Force has informed me in writing that
they will not
answer my question and then referred me back to
DPAA. I contacted DPAA. To date, DPAA has not responded at all.
It now becomes a trust issue between my family and DOD. We now
suggest an inquiry from an authority with DOD oversight, given the
apparent sensitive nature of my questions. DOD has simply proven itself
incapable of insight into any analysis of the evidence. (The Tourison
Documents)
I hope that your support of Veteran’s around the country extends
additional support to the crew of
BARON 52,
Sgt Joseph A. Matejov, and our family. Help us restore the HONOR to Sgt
Matejov’s loyal service to his country by correcting the apparent
inadequate accounting for him and by changing his KIA status back to MIA
where the censored facts show that it should be.
We all should be able to say ‘Thank you for
your
service."… in Sgt Joseph Matejov’s name as well.
Thank you for your time sir.
John Matejov received the following note ( retyped on page 7)
from:
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 23, 2019
Thank you for taking the time to write and share your story with
President Donald J. Trump. He is honored by the opportunity to serve you
and the American people.
White House staff reviewed your correspondence and forwarded it to
the appropriate Federal Agency for further action. For additional
information about the Federal government in the meantime, please visit
www.USA.gov
or call 1-800-FED-INFO
Respectfully,
The Office of Presidential Correspondence
John will continue to keep us updated of any progress.
** |
|
Today is the 50th anniversary of the downing of
the Baron 52.
HI folks,
Today is the 50th anniversary of the downing of the Baron 52
crew aboard an EC47Q intelligence collector aircraft over
Laos after the signing of the Paris Peace Accord on January 27,
1973. Below you will find a message from Heather Atherton who wrote
the recent opinion piece about the Baron 52 which appeared in USA
Today. Please share with your contacts.
Kathy Shemeley
Hello friends,
Happy Friday! I’m sending
you this email to thank you for your
ongoing support over the past few years to help
me analyze and ultimately help shed light on the
Baron 52 incident that had a profound impact on
so many of us. Two weeks ago, USA Today
published a personal opinion piece online I
wrote after spending the last five years
researching the incident, the last three of
which were alongside John Matejov and his sister
Mary, siblings of one of the “backender”
intelligence crew on the flight, Joe Matejov.
They have carried that torch since 1973 pushing
for answers to legitimate questions and had all
but given up in 2019. John was happy to have
someone from my generation motivated to learn
and amplify their remaining questions when I
reached out in 2020. We are so proud to share
this piece with you and let you know that IT WAS
PRINTED IN THE FULL USA TODAY PRINT EDITION
TOMORROW WHICH WILL BE ON NEWSSTANDS ALL WEEKEND
– SUNDAY IS ACTUALLY THE 50TH
ANNIVERSARY OF BARON 52. Printing, as you know,
has become a lost art and is now reserved only
for the pieces most moving to the editors. They
loved our perspective and story that captured
the emotions associated with these 50th
anniversaries – the Paris Peace Accords, Baron
52’s downing and Operation Homecoming beginning
(next week through March 29th).
I would love to hear from
you about it if you’d like to reconnct. We also
would be very grateful if you’d share the online
version with anyone you feel would be
interested.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2023/01/21/vietnam-war-paris-peace-accords-remember-baron-52/11021128002/
Additionally, our crash
expert, Ralph Wetterhahn, also published a piece
in this month’s VFW Magazine about Baron 52 from
a measured, technical perspective. He spent
years evaluating the materials and evidence for
the Matejovs before they presented their
questions – which are clearly laid out in his
piece – and were met with little interest in
helping answer them by multiple related
government agencies and the League. That story
is in print and should go online in March.
Thank you again for all of
your support and those of you from the squadron
who shared your experiences and recollections of
my dad and this incident with me. I know it’s
not an easy topic to talk about, especially with
a middle-aged woman who didn’t see battle. But I
experienced a different battle, the PTSD
aftermath my dad struggled with and our family
continues to process. Those of you who
experienced that understand that silence doesn’t
heal. So, we hope the sunlight on this story
will provide some healing for those touched by
it, in some way.
We will keep you posted on
any further progression of this journey. If you
feel moved to do something additional, please
support
Legacies of War, the organization I serve as
a board member, which not only removes the
remaining UXO’s on the ground in Laos, Vietnam
and Cambodia but they work hard to educate the
public about the Secret War. Their work is
helping address the remaining physical and
emotional scars of the War that are still
festering 50 years later. Their Lam Vong Circle
is just $10 a month which helps support the
education efforts. The $45 million of
Congressional funding for demining is 100% for
that purpose. I help support their operational
budget for the additional programs.
Thank you from the bottom
of our hearts!
I can be also reached here
or at my research email –
baron52research@gmail.com.
Warmest regards,
Heather Atherton
AthertonPR.com
916-316-4568
@athertonpr
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be sure to read the USA TODAY
editorial link by Heather Atherton which
appeared in Saturday, January 21's USA TODAY.
Friday, January 27, 2023 is
the 50th anniversary of the signing of the
Paris Peace Accord. But not all POWs came
home.
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
02/2020
https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000000vCGqbEAG
SGT JOSEPH ANDREW MATEJOV
-
Conflict
-
Service
-
Status
-
Date of Accounting
-
VIETNAM WAR
-
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
-
Accounted For
-
10/27/1995
On October 27, 1995, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA,
now DPAA) identified the remains of Sergeant Joseph Andrew
Matejov, missing from the Vietnam War.
Sergeant Matejov joined the U.S. Air Force from New York and was
a member of the 6994th Security Squadron. On February 5, 1973,
he was a crew member aboard an EC-47Q (serial number 43-48636)
on a night reconnaissance mission over Saravane Province, Laos.
The aircraft crashed during the mission, and Sgt Matejov was
killed in the incident. Immediate search and rescue efforts
failed to recover his remains. In February 1993, a joint U.S.
and Laotian investigative team recovered remains from the crash
site in Saravane Province, and forensic analysis eventually
identified some of the recovered remains as those of Sgt Matejov.
Sergeant Matejov is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at
the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
If
you are a family member of this serviceman, you
may contact your casualty office representative to learn more
about your service member.
Sgt JOSEPH ANDREW MATEJOV
-
Unit
-
Country of Loss
LAOS
-
Home of Record NY
