THE WALL OF FACES

Michael Joseph Bosiljevac was an Omaha native, born October 9, 1945 to Michael and Helen Bosiljevac. He attended Sts. Peter and Paul grade school and Creighton Prep High School where he excelled at academics, basketball and track. Mike applied and was accepted to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and graduated in 1967.

After graduation he married his love, Mary Kathleen Veys in 1968. He attended post graduate school and earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Minnesota and attended Undergraduate Navigator Training in Mather AFB, California where his daughter, Susan, was born in 1970. Mike completed Electronic Warfare Officer training in July 1971 and was assigned the F-105G. Another child arrived in 1972 and they named him Michael.

Mike was assigned to the 17thWild Weasel Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force and deployed to Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand to fly Surface to Air missile suppression support over North Vietnam.

LtCol James W. O'Neil was the pilot and Capt. Michael J. Bosiljevac the EWO (Electronic Warfare Officer) of an F105G jet fighter which was shot down by a Soviet SAM (Surface to Air Missile) on September 29, 1972. Both Bosiljevac and O'Neil ejected successfully, and landed 23 miles southwest of Hanoi. Radio Hanoi/Moscow/Cuba reported the capture of both "pilots" alive (FIBIS) on 29 September 1972. O'Neil was subsequently transferred to Hoa Lo (the "Hanoi Hilton") and repatriated March 29, 1973.

Upon his release, O'Neil stated that he had observed Bosiljevac in the parachute, and that Bosiljevac had manually cut the parachute risers for control and deployed his survival kit for landing. On about the fifth day of his confinement, O'Neil asked an English-speaking guard about Bosiljevac. The turnkey later returned and said, "He is alive, well, uninjured, and luckier than you."

Repeated USG, as well as family inquiries met with little response from the DRV/SRV. In fact, the Socialists Republic of Vietnam (SRV) wrote to the family of Mike Bosiljevac and claimed to have "no knowledge of Mr. Michael Joseph Bosiljevac," and further stated that "they no longer hold prisoners within Vietnam."
Yet, on September 21, 1987, the government of Vietnam provided Bosiljevac's name and his remains were returned to USG control on September 24, 1987. The 1 Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii (CILHI) released the remains for a second opinion in January of 1988, and final identification occurred in January 1988. Bosiljevac's remains were returned to Omaha, Nebraska for burial on February 10, 1988.

On August 1, 1989, Mike Bosiljevac's records were corrected to reflect that he Died in Captivity as a POW. While this correction does not define the total duration of his captivity, it stands as a matter of record. Additionally, his remains were returned with irrefutable evidence of an autopsy performed in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

Michael J. Bosiljevac was promoted to the rank of Major as a posthumous Award.

I am from Nebraska as was Mike just 20 miles south of Omaha in Plattsmouth. I was in the Class of ‘69. During my first year and thereafter he looked me up and encouraged me to stick with it and not give up. He was an inspiration to me. I followed Kay and his mother’s ordeal as they fought to get him back. I am a docent at the SAC air and Space Museum near Omaha and will work to establish a memorial to him there.

Mike and I were number 1 and 2 in Nav Class 71-10 at 3540 NTS, Mather AFB. We received our wings in November 1970 (Over 50 years ago). We both went to EWO school in the 3537 EWTS class 72-01. He and Ed Johnson chose F-105 Wild Weasel assignments. He was a good friend and classmate. As soon as I knew he was MIA, i purchased a bracelet. Sometime in the early 2000's, I stopped by Kay's house and returned the bracelet to her and expressed my sympathy on her loss.

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 8, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Captain Michael Joseph Bosiljevac, United States Air Force, for gallantry in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force while serving with the 17th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force, in Southeast Asia, on 11 May 1972. On that date, as Electronic Warfare Officer in the lead F-105 Thunderchief in a flight of four F-105s, Captain Bosiljevac directed repeated attacks against hostile surface-to-air missile batteries threatening a large strike force, prompting the firing of ten missiles toward himself and away from the strike force. While providing accurate threat warning to his flight and the strike force, he directed the expenditure of retaliatory missiles, initiated active electronic countermeasures, and assisted his pilot by maintaining visual contact with the rest of the flight as it successfully disengaged from an attack of hostile interceptors. By his gallantry and devotion to duty, Captain Bosiljevac has reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
See https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/24121