WHAT I CAN DO - I WILL -

Capt. John T. McDonnell was the aircraft commander of an AH1G helicopter from A Battery, 4th Battalion, 77th Artillery, 101st Airborne Division operating in Thua Tien Province, South Vietnam. On 06 March, McDonnell's aircraft was the flight leader in a flight on two aircraft on a combat mission.

During a firing pass, McDonnell's aircraft was observed receiving enemy ground fire. The aircraft disappeared into an overcast and crashed into a mountain side. The area was searched, but McDonnell could not be located. His pilot, Lt. Ronald Greenfield, was found and medically evacuated. Lt. Greenfield could recall nothing from the point of impact to the following morning.

During the search, McDonnell's helmet was found with no trace of blood along with pieces of equipment. It appeared that McDonnell's seatbelt had been unlocked and that he had left the aircraft on his own power. During the search effort, numerous deserted enemy positions were located indicating that Capt. McDonnell might have been captured. The search continued for three weeks without success.

McDonnell was not a green soldier. On a previous tour of Vietnam then-2LT. McDonnell was attached as an artillery expert to Detachment A324, 5th Special Forces Group. It was at this time, on 25 May 1965, that he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal with "V" device for Heroism. At that time McDonnell was an advisor to South Vietnamese paramilitary forces at Thanh Dien Forest, Republic of Vietnam. A fellow team member had been killed by a sniper, another had been wounded. A third was missing. McDonnell's tactical advice and bravery enabled the team to successfully complete their search for the missing team member in the face of intense enemy fire.

There is every reason to suspect that McDonnell may have been captured. His fate following is a matter for speculation. Returned POWs would say that those who resisted most strongly were the most tortured and deprived. To a man, those 591 Americans who returned home at the end of the war cooperated at some point, in some way, with their captors. They all agree it is not a matter of whether a man can be broken -- but only how long it will take.

Only a few were known to hold out to the end, and, unfortunately for them, it was the end. A few were known to have been literally tortured or starved to death for their resolute refusal to cooperate. McDonnell's training and background may put him in that category. We may never know for sure.

RATIONALE SELECTION: The other crewmember survived the aircraft crash and was subsequently found and medically evacuated. All signs indicated CPT McDonnel left the aircraft under his own power. No correlated reports of Capt McDonnel's death have been received since the incident date.

REFNO: 1402 21 Apr 76

CASE SUMMARY

1. (U) On 6 March 1969 CPT John T. McDonnell, aircraft commander, and lLT [blank] pilot, were aboard an AHLG helicopter, #67-15845), as flight leader in a flight of two aircraft on a combat mission in tne vicinity of grid coordinates (CC) 170 960 in South Vietnam. During a firing pass over the taret area, CPT McDonneell's aircraft: was observed receiving enemy ground fire. The aircraft disappeared into an overcast and crashed into a mountain side. At about 1500 hours the following day the wreckage of the aircraft was located in the vicinity of (CC) 177 968. The area was searched, however, CPT McDonnell could not be located. LT [blank] was found and medically evacuated, but he recalled nothing of the incident from the time of impact to the following morning. CPT McDonnell's helmet was found, (without a trace of blood), along with other pieces of equipment. It appeared that CPT McDonnell unlocked his seat belt and left the aircraft. During the search efforts, numerous deserted emeny positions were located in the area, indicating that CPT McDonnell could have been captured. The search continued without success through 26 March. (Ref 1)

2. (C) On 24 July 1973 a rallier reported that he had observed two U.S. Prisoners of War on three occasions. The prisoners was said to be officers who had been captured by the NVA 2,nd Division in Quang Province. The POWs allegedly were collaborating with the division's political and military staff officer in a proselytizing effort directed toward U.S. soldiers. The rallier made no positive identification of CPT McDonnell's photo, but stated that his photo looked very similar to the POW who wore a large ring. (Information in this report correlated to CPT McDonnell.) (Ref 2)

3. (U) CPT McDonnell's name and identifying data were turned over to the Four-Party Joint Military Team with a request for any information available. No response was forthcoming. In August 1973 JCRC proposed a Casualty Resolution Operation at this site. American consul, Da Nang, responded that he believed that because of nearby enemy activity, it would be "somewhat imprudent" to conduct an operation at this site "at this time." During the existence of JCRC, the hostile threat in the area precluded any visits to or ground inspections of the sites involved in this case.

4. CPT McDonnell is currently carried in the status of Missing.

(U)- REFERENCES USED:

1. RPT (U), AVHAG-CC, 12 Apr 69.

2. RPT (C), Saigon, RVN FVS 32,810, 24 Jul 73.

* National Alliance of Families Home Page

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.