Marine Observation Squadron

Hello,

my name is Benjamin. For 14 years now, I've worn the POW/MIA bracelet of Major Eugene Lacy Wheeler, member of VMO-2, lost over Laos 4/21/1970 with Aerial Observer Capt Chuck Hatch. Eugene was last known alive on the ground on the 22nd, the day Hatch was successfully extracted. Chuck had heard three pistol shots, followed by automatic weapons fire from what he beleived to be Eugene's position. Eugene remains MIA.

I'm looking for anyone that knew Eugene or Chuck, or anyone who has information of the rescue attempt, or anyone that knew the two men personally or has memories of them. Over the years, Eugene has become my older brother. Though I've never met him, I think of him constantly, wondering what happened. His case discrepency (he was shot down over Laos as member of VMO-2, yet all official records state he was shot down over Quang Tri Province, SVN as member of VMO-12), drew me deeper into the POW/MIA issue.

I'm doing research not only on Eugene (but my most emotional intrest is on Eugene) but all MIA's from the Vietnam War. I'm doing the research for a book I plan on writing, which at this time, is going to be titled A Body Guard of Lies: How U.S. Servicemen were Abandoned in Communist Hands in South East Asia. I've read a lot of POW/MIA issue books, and have been dissapointed that they might name a few names, but do not talk of the personallity, character, or the background of an MIA.

My book is going to be split into two different sections. The first will talk about the history of POW's abandoned going back to WWI, up to Vietnam. This section will focus on the numbers of those held back, political reasons, communist and US omitions, and documentation that supports it.

The second part of the book will be sectioned as "The Men We Left Behind." Although it's going to provide information on POW's that there is information available that prove they were held long after the war, I wish to include Eugene. I've searched, and I don't have any information of him living after 4/22/1970, but I've invested a lot of thought and heart-ache to him. Eugene will represent the MIA, a man that we have no available unclassified information of, but because Hanoi and Washington (whom both are capable of) will not provide answers, remains MIA.

Please don't look ill to my attempts. I'm a concerned citizen who wishes that the mistakes we've made toward our POW/MIA's for close to a century are not paid again. I wish to write this book in the hope that our citizens become so disgusted about the fate of our POW/MIA's, they will never allow it to happen again. Yes, it may be all in vain, but after everything I've learned, I just can't let it be left unheard until I've told as many people that will listen to me. To do less, will dishonor those who fought and died, and those who fought behind bamboo and barbwire long after their country declared them dead.