THE WALL OF FACES

Captain Thomas Dean Clem, Served with Marine All-Weather Attack Squadron 533 (VMA(AW)-533), Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12), 1st Marine Amphibious Force (1st MAW), Third Marine Amphibious Force.

On May 3, 1968, pilot 1stLt Thomas D. Clem and bombardier/navigator 1stLt Robert D. Avery were crewmen in a U.S. Marine Corps Grumman A-6A Intruder (#154164), call sign Hillborn 18, from All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 (VMA [AW] 533), Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), III Marine Amphibious Force, on a radar-controlled strike mission over North Vietnam. Their targets were roads used as supply routes to the south near the village of Nhan Trach, 13 kilometers northwest of Dong Hoi. No radio transmissions were received from the aircraft after leaving the target area. The Intruder failed to return to base, and both crew members were carried in a status of Missing in Action. Radio and visual searches were conducted until May 21, 1968, with negative results. Ground searches for the crash site were prevented due to enemy presence in the area. Returning U.S. Prisoners of War in 1973 were unable to provide any information on the fate of the crew. In 1974, the status of Clem and Avery was changed to Dead, Body Not Recovered. In November 1992, joint U.S. and Socialist Republic of Vietnam excavation activities at an apparent aircraft crash site near Nhan Trach village resulted in materials recovered believed to be consistent with the missing aircraft; however, no human remains were recovered. The site was visited again in January 1993 when aircraft wreckage correlating to an A-6-type aircraft was found. Also located were a small portion of an aircrew member’s G-suit and a bone fragment of possible human origin. Recovery operations ceased when an unexploded Mark 82 500-lb. bomb was located within the crash crater. Both men were promoted to Captain during the time they were missing. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and pownetwork.org]

I am the Curator of the POW/MIA Bracelet Display in the Vietnam Hangar of the Palm Springs Air Museum in Palm Springs, California where we now have over two thousand bracelets honoring POWs, MIAs and KIAs and would be honored to include your bracelet in our Display should you have one. If you no longer have your bracelet or wish to keep yours or are an immediate family member (spouse, fiancé, sibling, child, grandchild, cousin, niece, nephew, or close friend) I can order one for the Display in your name with funds donated by our Museum visitors.
https://palmspringsairmuseum.org/vietnam-pow-bracelet-display/
Dr. Dave Thompson
Palm Springs Air Museum
POW/MIA Bracelet Display Curator
Lt. Commander U.S. Navy 1964-1970
10-103 Lakeview Dr. Rancho Mirage, Ca 92270
760-328-0859 760-464-6843 [email protected]

Never forget.

HOOAH

I bought Captain Clem’s POW/MIA bracelet in 1972 when I was discharged from Army. I have proudly worn it every day since then. I have only had it off for a couple of surgeries. When asked about it I am proud to share his story. Mike Dengate- Waterford Michigan