WHAT I CAN DO - I WILL -

There are only a handful of American deserters or AWOL (Absent Without Leave) maintained on missing lists. At least one of these was known to have fallen in love with a woman whom he later learned was a communist. Another fled because he had scrapped with a superior and feared the consequences. This man was ultimately declared dead, and his AWOL record expunged. There is little information regarding those listed as AWOL on the missing lists.

PVT Arthur W. Kerns was listed by the Defence Intelligence Agnecy as missing as of 21 January 1967. Kerns disappeared somewhere in the vicinity of Saigon, and Defense Intelligence Agency classified him AWOL. The Army declared him dead as of 23 December 1966. It is not known when he actually disappeared, but apparently it was prior to 21 January 1967. By 1984, Kerns' name reappeared on the honorable lists of the missing. Evidently, the DIA and Army decided he was no longer AWOL. Details are not available.

Arthur Kerns IS NOT listed on the 1995 Department of the Army list of deserters from the Vietnam War. There is still a date discrepency between the Army PFOD date of 23 Dec 66 and the DIA MIA date of 21 Jan 67.

Biographical and incident of loss information was obtained from either POW/NET and/or Task Force Omega, Inc (unless otherwise noted). Additional information may be found via remembrances at The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund or The Virtual Wall Vietnam Veterans Memorial.