THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Cdr Stanley Olmstead, Thank you for your service as an Unrestricted Line Officer - Pilot on the USS INDEPENDENCE. You are still MIA. Please come home. Saying thank you isn't enough, but it is from the heart. Presidents’, and Valentine’s Days just passed, and Lent has begun. Time passes quickly. Please watch over America, it stills needs your strength, courage and faithfulness, especially now. Be at peace.

Still have MIA bracelet from the 70s. Still appreciate the sacrifice Commander Olmstead made along with his family. Will never forget and i am FOREVER Grateful!

On October 17, 1965, LCDR Stanley E. Olmstead was the pilot of a U.S Navy F-4B Phantom II (#151515) from Fighter Squadron 84 (VF-84) “Jolly Rogers,” Carrier Wing Seven (CVW-7) aboard the USS Independence. With him was Radio Intercept Officer (RIO) LTJG Porter A. Halyburton. They were the number two aircraft in a flight of four on a combat mission to attack anti-aircraft sites for a day strike mission on the Thai Nguyen bridge northeast of Hanoi, NVN. About 40 miles east of the city of Thai Nguyen, their aircraft was seen to be hit by anti-aircraft fire. Other pilots in the area saw it hit the side of a mountain and explode. They did not see any parachutes nor hear any radio transmissions. U.S. aircraft passed over the crash site and determined that there was no possibility of survival. However, it was later learned that Halyburton had survived, and was captured. Upon his release from North Vietnam in February 1973, Halyburton reported that while at low-level, their jet was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Halyburton noticed that the pilot’s canopy and helmet were gone, and Olmstead’s head was bowed. The Phantom remained in level flight, and while Halyburton attempted to raise the pilot on the intercom, he lost his oxygen mask. As the aircraft approached karst rock outcroppings, Halyburton ejected. He saw no other parachutes in his descent. During his captivity, no further word was heard about Olmstead, but he believes he went down with the jet. Olmstead was promoted to Commander during the time he was missing. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and pownetwork.org]

I was a plane captain with VF-84 during VF-84's Vietnam tour in 1965. The pilot's and RIO's of VF-84 were superb men. Cdr. Olmstead will always be missed. I've seen his RIO, Porter Halyburton who spent 7 1/2 years as a POW.

I have worn the bracelet since I got it in late 1970 to honor this man. After 20 years in the Air Force and 25 years Civil Service I still wear it. I will wear it when I have passed to meet him in the next life. God bless his family.