THE WALL OF FACES

Your story has haunted me for as long as I can remember. Our family has kept your memory alive and although my grandmother (your mother) is gone and my father is resolved to never knowing, I continue to seek answers as to what happened to you. I pray one day we will all know. Until then the niece you don't know you have will keep looking for you!

Seaman Apprentice Gunners Mate Michael J. Kustigian (promoted administratively to Chief by Missing Persons' act), USN, was a crewman assigned to the Guided Missile Cruiser USS Long Beach (CGN-9) on station in the Gulf of Tonkin. On May 6, 1968 he was observed to be absent from his assigned work detail. A complete inspection of every compartment in the ship was completed and it was found that along with Seaman Apprentice Kustigian, a Seaman Harry E. Mitchell was missing (Kustigian and Mitchell were known to be best friends and shared an apartment at their home port). An in-depth investigation established that Kustigian and Mitchell were last seen aboard ship at about 9:00 p.m. on the night of May 5, 1968. Witness statements from the JAG report place both men having intense discussions earlier in the day, and they were dismissive of others who tried to speak with them. They were last seen on the after part of the ship's main deck. The exact circumstances of their disappearance are not known, however the investigation concluded that they most likely left the ship voluntarily and due to their own personal misconduct. None of the lookouts saw any indication of a man overboard situation during the night and the investigators believe that Kustigian and Mitchell went over the side in a manner to avoid detection. A search of the entire area was conducted by the USS Long Beach, USS Truxton and aircraft from the USS Yorktown. The search was finally terminated with negative results. The ship's course tracked 20-25 miles off the coast of North Vietnam. The weather was fair, seas calm, visibility good, and the shoreline could be seen from the ship's position due to combat activity (flares, etc.) on the beach. These conditions and the fact that all life lines were properly installed make it virtually impossible for a sailor (much less two sailors) to inadvertently fall from the side of the ship. Inspection of personal effects of both men disclosed one set of swim fins, face mask and snorkel tube missing from Mitchell's personal locker. Statements later gathered from other members of the crew say that 2 wetsuits had gone missing from the ship's inventory at the same time that Kustigian and Mitchell deserted, but those items were unreported at the time. SN Kustigian also had anti-American literature in the form of a book titled "American War Crimes in Vietnam" in his possession on the ship. One strong possibility is that both individuals disappeared over the side in some fashion to avoid "Man Overboard" reports from lookouts. Due to vague language in the Missing Persons act of 1979, Kustigian's status was administratively changed from "deserter" to "missing". SN Kustigian was subsequently declared Lost at Sea/ Body Not Recovered in accordance with the Missing Persons Act action on September 13, 1979 by administrative. This action was taken against the strong recommendation of Captain R.J. McCarthy (JAG) who felt that the language and spirit of the Missing Persons act should not apply deserters. Ongoing efforts by the family to determine what happened to SN Kustigian have produced a statement from one of the USS Long Beach's former Radiomen saying that he had decoded a message saying that Kustigian and Mitchell had been picked up by fishermen and turned over to enemy forces. Neither Admiral James Watkins (Executive Officer of the USS Long Beach at the time of the incident) nor Admiral Kenneth White (Commanding Officer of the USS Long Beach at the time of the incident) had any recollection of Kustigian or Mitchell falling into enemy hands. [Report generated by a POW/MIA Case Analyst (April 2008) found at pownetwork.org]

Thank you for your courage in dangerous times, in a far and dangerous place.

Dear TMCS Harry E Mitchell, sir

As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.

May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.

With respect, Sir

Curt Carter

Although we never met personally, I want to thank you TMCS Harry E. Mitchell, for your continued faithful and vigilant service, to this great country of ours!

Your Spirit is alive--and strong, therefore, you shall never be forgotten.

Again, thank you for a job well done!

MAYBE ONE DAY SOON.....UNTIL THEN.....HEAVENLY PEACE MY FRIEND