THE WALL OF FACES

The “Friends of Rocky Versace” once again remember one of Rocky’s fellow alumni from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and Vietnam War MIAs, Col John William Armstrong, on what would’ve been his 91st birthday - 5 December 2017.

As indicated in the 28 Aug 2015 entry, below, Col Armstrong was the pilot of an F-4C Phantom jet aircraft that went down over Laos. His Weapons Systems Officer, Capt Lance P. Sijan (USAFA graduate) ejected from the damaged aircraft, evaded captivity for more than a month, was captured, transported to Hanoi and, in an extremely weakened condition, died in captivity of the communist North Vietnamese. His remains were repatriated to the U.S. in 1974 (more than 9 months after the start of "Operation Homecoming.") Capt Sijan posthumously received the Medal of Honor. Col Armstrong's remains have not yet been located. His case is in the "Active Pursuit" category by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).

See the following website links for updated status:
https://dpaa.secure.force.com/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000BTGQEA4
https://www.abmc.gov/node/511419#.WiavhUxFzmI

The Department of Defense conducted a ceremony at the Pentagon on 15 September 2017 for POW/MIA Recognition Day to remember those members of our nation’s Armed Forces since World War II whose remains have not been recovered. Col John William Armstrong, USMA Class of 1949, is one of the 1,602 unaccounted for in Southeast Asia from the Vietnam War. He is also one of 10 graduates from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point who is still MIA.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1313374/sacred-mission-for-dod-powmia-agenc/

I've worn Col Armstrong Pow bracelet for many years----- this year my grandson did a school project about the Vietnam war and I showed it to him. Now I'd like to return it to his family.

This picture of Cadet John W. Armstrong is from the 1949 HOWITZER, the Annual of the United States Corps of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY. As of May, 2017, Col Armstrong is one of 10 USMA graduates who remain MIA in Southeast Asia from the Vietnam War. Photograph used with the permission of the West Point Association of Graduates.

Colonel John William Armstrong, Served with the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force.