Name/Title
87.03.1 NVA FlagEntry/Object ID
1987.003.001Description
Viet Cong FlagUse
Used as a icon for the National Liberation Front
for South Vietnam, otherwise known as the Viet Cong.Context
Name: Robert Thomas White
Rank/Branch: O3/US Army
Unit:
Date of Birth: 17 August 1940
Home City of Record: St. Charles IL
Date of Loss: 15 November 1969
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 094036N 1063437E (XR730700)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Category:
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: OV1C
Refno: 1523
Other Personnel in Incident: John G. Graf (captured)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project with the assistance of one or more
of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence
with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews: 15 March 1990. Updated
by the P.O.W. NETWORK 2022.
REMARKS: 730401 RELEASED BY PRG
SYNOPSIS: John G. Graf was a Tactical Observer attached to Chief of Naval AD
Group, U.S. MACV, South Vietnam. On November 15, 1969, Graf was a crewmember
aboard an OV1C aircraft flown by U.S. Army Capt. Robert T. White on a visual
reconnaissance mission. The U.S. Army aircraft was hit by hostile ground fire
and crashed some 20 miles southeast of Tra Vinh City, Vinh Binh Province,
South Vietnam. Both the pilot and observer were observed by an American Coast
Guard unit to eject safely. A local villager reported that National Liberation
Front Forces captured both crewmen.
On March 29, 1973, the Viet Cong announced that White was to be released on
April 1. He was the last American in the repatriation program dubbed
"Operation Homecoming". In his debrief, Capt. White reported that he was held
with Graf in various prison camps until late January 1970, when Graf escaped
with another POW. Before his release, the National Liberation Front area
commander told White to inform the U.S. authorities that Graf had drowned
during an escape attempt in February 1970. Former residents of this area also
reported this story to officials and that his remains were buried in the Long
Toan area.
Viet Cong papers were found in a Viet Cong camp which contained the
interrogation reports of both LCdr. Graf and Capt. White. Other captured
documents stated that Graf had died in February 1970, and listed the location
of his grave in Vinh Binh Province.
Although information concerning LCdr. Graf is still classified, it was given
to the Vietnamese in hopes that they would be forthcoming with further
information about his fate. The Vietnamese continue to deny any knowledge of
LCdr. Graf.
Tom White was the "Last" POW on the list. His name was added after the list
was released to the USG.Collection
Military CollectionMade/Created
Date made
1959 - 1975Time Period
20th CenturyLocation
Location
Room
Offsite Storage No. 1, #2076Building
OffsiteDate
December 13, 2022Created By
Krupa, EricCreate Date
December 8, 2022Updated By
Krupa, EricUpdate Date
December 13, 2022