WEAVER, EUGENE A. Deceased
Name: Eugene A. Weaver Rank/Branch: Civilian Unit: CIA Date of Birth: 7 March 1923 Home City of Record: Kenosha, WI Date of Loss: 31 January 1968 Country of Loss: South Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 163300N 1073800E (YD760850) Status (in 1973): Released POW Category: Acft/Venicle/Ground: Ground (some lists say over water) Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)
Source: Compiled 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 in 2005.
REMARKS: 730316 RELEASED BY PRG
SYNOPSIS: WO1 Solomon Hughey Godwin was captured in Hue during the Tet Offensive on February 5, 1968. A U.S. trained Vietnamese intelligence agent who was held with Godwin escaped three weeks after capture and reported on Godwin's status.
Godwin was detained in the hills outside of Hue until late July 1968, when he and one other American POW, Mr. Eugene Weaver, began their journey to North Vietnam. Weaver had been captured at Hue on January 31.
WO1 Godwin's health was deteriorating rapidly, and he died during the march north. Mr. Weaver was told to sign a document verifying that WO1 Godwin died. The place of death was also recorded on this document, although it was illegible to Mr. Weaver.
Eugene Weaver was one of 591 lucky Americans released in Operation Homecoming in the spring of 1973. Godwin's name did not appear on any list provided by the Hanoi government.
In 1987, Gen. John Vessey provided classified information relating to Godwin to the Vietnamese in the hopes that they would return his remains or be more forthcoming with information on his fate. Hanoi denies any knowledge WO1 Godwin.
Since the end of the war, nearly 10,000 have been received relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia. Many experts believe that there are still hundreds alive in captivity. Some of the nearly 2500 missing were known to have been captured, like Godwin. Others were known to be alive and capture imminent.
The Vietnamese periodically "discover" information and remains of Americans in their country, yet have yet to "discover" the fate of Solomon H. Godwin.
SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977 Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602 Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and spelling errors).
EUGENE A. WEAVER Civilian Captured: January 31, 1968 Released: March 16, 1973
Eugene A. Weaver was born March 7, 1923 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin and received a Ph.B. degree in 1948. During World War II he was a B-17 bomber pilot in the Air Force and served in Europe. Since 1949, he has been in Federal Service. He was assigned to USMACV in Vietnam as a civilian advisor when captured in Hue on January 31, 1968. His family is located in Norman, Oklahoma where a l9 year old son attends the university; a second son, age 16, is in high school.
Perhaps one of the greatest delights on returning home was to see the size of his sons who were but children when Weaver departed for overseas. Weaver intends to take an extensive holiday before returning to work. He plans to drive cross country to see the changes that occurred since 1966 and visit friends and relatives. He found the homecoming reception, both unofficial and official, overwhelming.
---------------------
I am sad to announce the death of Mr. Eugene Andre Weaver, POW 2-1-68 to 16 March 73. Born 03-07-23, died 6-30-05. Gene was CIA, working for CORDS. He suffered the rest of his life after being forced marched to Hanoi. His health suffered from his Vietnam injuries and mal treatment, to include removal of his kidney, liver, and elbow. His widow, Irene survives him and lives in AZ.
MM