THE WALL OF FACES

The Department of Defense conducted a ceremony at the Pentagon on Friday, 20 September 2019 in recognition of POW/MIA Recognition Day. Deputy Defense Secretary David L. Nordquist remembered the 1,587 MIAs from the Vietnam War as well as all those still unaccounted for from WWII, the Korean War, the Cold War and other conflicts. Since the 2018 Ceremony, DPAA has positively identified 7 Vietnam War MIAs. LTJG Geoffrey Holmes Osborn, USNA Class of 1962, is one of those 1,587 MIAs unaccounted for in Southeast Asia from the Vietnam War. He is one of 4 graduates from his U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis class who is still MIA. The other 3 USNA Class of 1962 MIAs are: 1) LT Charles Fryer; 2) Maj. Lucius Heiskell, USAF; and 3) LT Charles Knochel. As of the date of this ceremony, there are 54 USNA graduates still MIA in SEA from the Vietnam War.

This is the link to the DoD story about the ceremony:

https://www.defense.gov/explore/story/Article/1967474/prisoners-of-war-missing-in-action-remembered-at-pentagon-ceremony/

This is the link to the C-Span video of the ceremony:

https://www.c-span.org/video/?464524-1/pentagon-hosts-national-powmia-recognition-day-ceremony

Lieutenant Junior Grade Geoffrey Holmes Osborn, Served with Fighter Squadron 194 (VF-194), Carrier Air Wing 19 (CVW-19), USS Bon Homme Richard, Task Force 77 (TF-77), 7th Fleet.

On September 24, 1965, LTJG Geoffrey H. Osborn was the pilot of a U.S. Navy F-8E Crusader jet aircraft (#150668) from Fighter Squadron 194 (VF-194) making a night catapult launch from the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) when it crashed into the South China Sea. The launch appeared normal and the aircraft began a normal rate of climb to an estimated altitude of 200 feet at which point it commenced a slow rate of descent. The afterburners remained operational until impact, approximately one quarter mile ahead of the ship. At impact, the Crusader exploded. No erratic flight conditions nor ejection attempts were observed. A search was conducted, but no sight of the pilot or aircraft were seen. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org]

Dear Sir, I have worn you on my wrist for 30 years. I turned 52 this year and tomorrow you will be gone 52 years. I was given this MIA bracelet by a lady whose husband was a Vietnam Veteran. The only connection is I was born in Orange County Florida and they had you listed being from Winter Park. RIP SIR.

Dear LTJG Geoffrey Holmes Osborn, 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