SYNOPSIS:
PFC Robert L. Babula, PFC Robert C. Borton Jr.,PFC John E
Bodenschatz Jr., and PFC Dennis R. Carter were memebers of
1st Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines. On 28 August
1966, the four were assigned as a fire team ambush with instructions
to establish an ambush site approximately 500 meters to the
south of their platoon patrol base. This specific location is in
Hoa Hai village within grid square BT 0667.
The fire team departed at 3:00AM on August 28, and were given
instructions for use of the pyrotechnics they were carrying as
signaling devices. They were further instructed to relocate in the same
general area or return to their platoon patrol base in the event
their ambush site was compromised, and finally to return no later
than 9:00AM that morning.
When the fire team failed to return as scheduled, an immediate
search of the area was conducted by Company K with negative results.
During the period of Auguts 29-31, the Battalion made a dovetailed
search of the entire area covering all possible routes of egress
in the event the team members had been captured.
Indigenous personnel in the area were questioned, but no evidence
was uncovered which gave any clues. Villagers were questioned and
a search of the area continued. On September 4, Company K discovered
part of an American wrist watch and PFC Bodenschatz' two identification
tage in the vicinity of BT 061673. The search was intensified in that
area, including the use of heavy engineer equipment in an effort to
locate graves, but no further trace was found.
On September 13, the Battalion cordoned off grid squares BT 0567,
0667, 0566, 0666 and all inhabitants were assembled, screened, and
interrogated by an ARVN interrogation team from Hoa Vang District
Headquarters. Three Viet Cong suspects were retained for further
questioning, however, no additional information was obtained concerning
the four Marines.
The BAttalion commander's final determination was that the four Marines
werer probably captured.
In 1975, information was declassified that indicated that since the
fire team's disappearance, Marine headquarters had received two reports
sighting three to four Americans being displayed in villages south of
the ara in which the fire team disappeared.
A Christmas card received by Company K/3/1 1st Marine Division, sent
by Babula's mother and sister, stated that they had recently received
news that Babula was a prisoner of war. None of the four, however,
returned in the general prisoner release in 1973.
Since the war ended, the Defense Department has received over 10, 000
reports relating to the men still unaccounted for in Southeast Asia,
yet concludes that no actionable evidence has been received that would
indicate Americans are still alive in Southeast Asia. A recent Senate
investigation indicates that most of these reports were dismissed
without just cause, and that there is every indication that Americans
remained in captivity far after the war ended, and may be alive today.
The fate of the four Marines on the fire team on 28 August 1966 remains
uncertain. What is clear, however, is that it's time we learned
the truth about our missing and brought them home.