THE WALL OF FACES

My name is Sally. I received a POW bracelet when I was 14 with Capt. Byrd's name on it. His name has been a part of my life for 48 years. Respectfully, I would like to present it to his family in Berea, KY.

On January 9, 1969, CPT Hugh M. Byrd Jr., pilot, and 1LT Kevin O'Brien, observer, were conducting a visual reconnaissance mission over the Khe Sanh area in Quang Tri Province, RVN, in a U.S. Army Cessna O-1G Bird Dog observation plane (#51-5059). Byrd's aircraft flew from the 220th Aviation Company (Reconnaissance), 212th Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. O'Brian's job as observer from Headquarters & Headquarters Battery (HHB), 2nd Battalion, 94th Artillery, was to identify artillery targets. The flight was diverted to assist a reconnaissance team in enemy contact near Khe Sanh. After supporting the team and being relieved by another aircraft, Byrd headed his Cessna back to Phu Bai. The weather was poor, and the pilot reported at 7:40 PM that he was lost with conditions worsening. The O-1G aircraft was not equipped to fly Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). Dong Ha Airfield and other radar controllers tried to get a fix on the Bird Dog and were able to maintain radio contact but could not establish a precise location. Based on the direction the aircraft told them it was flying, the radar station advised it to climb because of mountains in the area. No further transmissions were heard. Numerous searches were initiated following the disappearance of the airplane but were terminated after a few days due to poor weather. When searches resumed, no wreckage was located. Byrd and O'Brien were declared Missing in Action. In December 1993, a joint Vietnamese-U.S. team investigated a crash site 19 kilometers (11.8 miles) south of Ba Long in Quang Tri Province. The team retrieved the aircraft’s data plate with a serial number that correlated to the lost Bird Dog; however, no human remains were recovered. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and pownetwork.org]

I'm thankful for this time of technology which provided me with the details of your life, your untimely passing, and the sacrifice you made for our country and our way of life. I've had your bracelet for 44 years and really didn't know much about you. I'm grateful to see a picture of you, know the aircraft you flew, where your home of record was, and how old you were. I'm sorry that your parents lost a child that could never be replaced and honor their commitment as well. Peace be with you and all the lives you loved and held dear. Esther Gibbs

I still have your pow bracelet. I wish peace for you and your family.

I too have a Capt Byrd POW/MIA red bracelet. It is my hope that he will return home and until that day, he and his family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you Capt Byrd for your service and sacrifice.