THE WALL OF FACES

Hello Grandpa John,

I am Jonathan Lee Saxman, your grandson, the son of your youngest son, Brian Saxman who you remember as Brian Held. I never had the opportunity to meet you, but, with the information that I have received from my Dad and your wife, Grandma Joan, I know you are an incredible man who sacrificed everything for me, my family, my friends, and our country. Thank you for your service. I can't wait to meet you in the presence of King Jesus. Even though I never met you, I love you.

Love,
Jonathan Lee Saxman

I’m John Held’s granddaughter, my father is Brian Saxman (John’s son). I wish I could have met him but I’m excited to meet him in Heaven! I know his life is missed by so many here on earth while we wait to reunite! You won’t ever be forgotten! Thank you for your service grandpa!

On the remembrance of your 86th birthday, your sacrifice is not forgotten.

POW-MIA...Never Forget

Semper Fortis

The Department of Defense conducted ceremonies at the Pentagon and at Hickam AFB on Friday, 18 September 2020 in commemoration of POW/MIA Recognition Day. Deputy Defense Secretary David L. Nordquist remembered the 1,586 MIAs from the Vietnam War as well as all those still unaccounted for from WWII, the Korean War, the Cold War and other conflicts. Director (Maj. Gen, USAFR, ret) Kelly McKeague of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) also recorded a separate video message to Gold Star MIA families. Additionally, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) produced a “virtual” event on 18 Sep. Since the 2019 Ceremony, DPAA has positively identified 1 Vietnam War MIA. Lieutenant Colonel John Wayne Held, USNA Class of 1958, USAF, is one of those 1,586 MIAs unaccounted for in Southeast Asia from the Vietnam War. He is the only man in his U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis class of 1958 who is still MIA. As of the date of this ceremony, there are 55 USNA graduates still MIA in Southeast Asia (SEA) from the Vietnam War. They account for 32% of the 169 men from Annapolis who made the ultimate sacrifice in SEA during the Vietnam War.

This is the link to the DoD/DVIDS video for the Pentagon ceremony:
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/766486/defense-officials-recognize-prisoners-war-missing-service-members-ceremony

This is the link to the DoD/DVIDS video for the Hickam AFB ceremony:
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/766491/admiral-commemorates-prisoners-war-and-missing-service-members-ceremony

This is the link to DPAA Director McKeague’s video statement:
https://vimeo.com/454474340

This is the link to the VVMF virtual remembrance: https://www.vvmf.org/POWMIA-2020/

Lieutenant Colonel John Wayne Held, Served with the 604th Air Commando Squadron, 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force.