THE WALL OF FACES

Lam Son 719 was a large-scale offensive against enemy communications lines which was conducted in that part of Laos adjacent to the two northern provinces of South Vietnam. The South Vietnamese would provide and command ground forces, while U.S. forces would furnish airlift and supporting fire. Phase I, renamed Operation Dewey Canyon II, involved an armored attack by the U.S. from Vandegrift base camp toward Khe Sanh, while the ARVN moved into position for the attack across the Laotian border. Phase II began with an ARVN helicopter assault and armored brigade thrust along Route 9 into Laos. ARVN ground troops were transported by American helicopters, while U.S. Air Force provided cover strikes around the landing zones. On February 15, 1971, during one of these maneuvers, a CH-47 helicopter was assigned the task of ferrying a load of gasoline into Savannakhet Province, Laos. The crew of the aircraft consisted of crew chief SP4 Donald E. Crone, pilot CWO Marvin M. Leonard, door gunner SP4 Willis C. Crear, flight engineer SP4 John L. Powers, and aircraft commander 2LT James H. Taylor. WO Barry F. Fivelson was a passenger onboard the aircraft. During the mission, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and began to lose altitude. During the descent, the sling load apparently exploded, causing the helicopter to explode, break into pieces, and crash. Observers later said that the helicopter seemed disoriented and that it had overflown the nearest friendly location by several miles and had descended in enemy-held territory about 10 miles southeast of Sepone. According to the U.S. Army, air searches conducted within minutes of the crash revealed no sign of survivors. However, according to information given to family members, the aerial search failed to find evidence of a crash. A ground search was not possible because of hostile threat in the area. (Note also that Defense Department data remarks indicates that a crash site was found and that no survivors were observed from the air.) The men aboard the CH-47 were all classified Killed/Body Not Recovered. In October 2001 it was announced that a February 11, 2000 joint recovery in Laos resulted in the positive identification of the remains of four Americans: WO1 Barry F. Fivelson, Specialists 4th Class Willis C. Crear and Donald E. Crone, and John L. Powers. [Taken from pownetwork.org]

I'VE BEEN WEARING HIS POW/MIA BRACLET FOR PAST ALMOST 25YRS
WOULD LOVE TO GET HIS BRACLET TO FAMILY

Dear SP4 John Lynn Powers, 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, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir

Curt Carter

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John is buried at Arlington Nat Cem.