THE WALL OF FACES

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.

I put my Stanley Olmstead MIA bracelet on the Christmas tree in honor of him, of my friend Richard D. B. Shepherd who stepped on a land mine in the Iron Triangle, of the many who accepted service no matter what they knew of the politics, including some who knew if they did not serve, some poor American would be put in their place... and for all the Vietnamese caught up on either side of the post colonial/cold war.

I lived with and worked for Cdr Olmteads family while I finished high school. They were a wonderful family. I met his sister Carolyn and brother Kieth also. I met Stanley while he was home on leave before leaving for Vietnam. My heart was broken for his family when I got the news he was MIA