THE WALL OF FACES

1LT Prevost, I was given a POW/MIA bracelet several years ago and never thought that much about it. However after joining the USAF 10 years ago and serving on the Base Honor Guard Team, the bracelet and what it really stands for has brought new meaning to my life. I have read your story many times and when asked to this day I am able to tell people your story. Thank you for your service to our Nation and Godspeed.

You are NEVER FORGOTTEN....To Honor With Dignity!

I am from Connecticut. Though we may never meet, I think of you everyday. I was born 13 years after you went missing. My dad was also in the Marine Corps and was in Vietnam. I was 6 years old when I received my P.O.W bracelet at a Vietnam Veterans Monument Dedication . I picked you because we are from the same state and I was hopeful that you would return so that I could send you the bracelet and maybe meet you. I just turned 35 and I still have the same hope. I have worn this bracelet everyday including proms, my wedding, and the day I gave birth to my son and I will continue to do so in your honor and to for all those who never made it home.
~S.Yale

On January 30th, 1966, a United States Marine KC-130F Hercules aircraft #804, the "DASC" tanker, was returning to Da Nang airbase after a refueling mission over the Gulf of Tonkin for Marine and Navy F-4B Phantom jets enroute to bomb the Haiphong area was "scrubbed". The aircraft held over 70,000 gallons of aviation fuel in its "bladder" in the fuselage. The aircraft radioed a transmission that it "saw some unusual 'flashes' on 'Tigre Island' as it flew over it enroute south, and that it was going to make another pass to “take a look-see.” This was simply a routine effort by the aircraft commander to contribute perhaps some extra intelligence with the mission, since Tigre Island (North Vietnamese territory) was classified "unoccupied." That was the last transmission received, and shortly thereafter, the aircraft disappeared from the Da Nang radar scope. It was determined later that the NVA had secretly moved several radar-controlled anti-aircraft 37mm guns onto Tigre Island just for the purpose of trying to down American aircraft that regularly flew over or near the island. Apparently, #804 was hit and exploded in mid air when the aviation fuel was ignited, killing all aboard. Extensive searches of the sea, the island, and the near-by North Vietnamese Coastline yielded not one shred of neither the aircraft nor any of the six marine crewmembers on board: pilot 1LT Albert M. Prevost, crew chief SSGT Peter G. Vlahakos, navigator GSGT Galen F. Humphrey, and crew members MAJ Richard A. Alm, SSGT Donald L. Coates, and SSGT Russell B. Luker. All were declared Killed in Action, Bodies Not Recovered. [Narrative taken from pownetwork.org; image from wikipedia.org]

Albert, I just got to know who you are this week. I know you are just a distant cousin with our relations parting ways in France before my Grandfather was born. I still consider you family. My father Joesph Prevost was born in 1936 so your kids are probably my age, he served in Korea after the war but not in Vietnam. I served in the Army in 1980's and then again in 2006 I served in Iraq. We share the taste of combat and for that I feel a deeper connection. I have always been an optimist so I will keep you listed as MIA and if not before I know we will meet on the other side at the next Rally Point and you can tell your story's and let us know the details of you last mission. God speed brother, thank you for your service to our country. Spc. Paul Prevost US Army 1984-92 / 2003-07

Dear 1LT Albert Michael Prevost, 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