Henry Paul Brauner

The database page for Henry Paul Brauner

07 Aug 2003 Dear Major Brauner, My name is Cadet Major Brian Jensen and I am a member of Civil Air Patrol - United States Air Force Auxiliary. I never got the opportunity to know you for I was not even a thought when you were serving this great nation. However, 3 years ago I got my first POW/MIA bracelet and then I started getting more and more involved. Eventually, I was paired up with you through Operation Just Cause and I have had your picture up on my website for the last three years. Since I never knew you, I wanted to ensure that I say thank you properly for all that you have done for this great country. I want you to know that wherever you are, we will bring you home! Urah Sir! With Respect, C/Major Brian Jensen, Civil Air Patrol San Diego, Ca eaglef22@san.rr.com

11 August 2003 My Dad Lieutenant Colonel Henry Paul Brauner We have a picture of my dad, I'm guessing at the age of about 7 years old, sitting in front of an airplane with his brother. I know one thing about my dad: he loved to fly and lived to do so. It was his passion; not just a job of obedience to his country and the people above him. He went to Rutgers College in Princeton, New Jersey, where he wanted to learn all he could about the Air Force and enter into the Air Force as a Lieutenant. With an IQ of 161, he was smart enough to decide that he did not want to start his career where most people start, at the bottom of the totem pole. He worked hard to reach the level where he was when he died for our country. I heard that he was asked to fly for the president prior to his death. Although he was honored to be asked to do such a thing, he chose rather to continue navigating for the Air Force. He meant the world to his family, who loved him very much. This made his death very hard on all of us, in different ways. (As we are all different and handle things differently) I am his oldest daughter, Cyndi Lyn Waldmann, who was daddy's girl. I always had to be close to him when he was home, as I missed him and longed for him to be home. I sat on his lap, whenever I could. He played with us children, often bucking us off, as though he were a horse!! We have a picture of him as a teenager, riding a horse. He liked to joke around with us, but we sometimes were not sure he was joking, because he could be so serious. These are just a few of the things that I know about my Dad, as I knew him in the ten years I had him. Dad's death was very hard for my Mom. She was very emotional and did not like to talk about it. My dad liked to write and to write poetry. I will have to find one of his poems and put it on this web site. I too, like to write poetry, and enjoy writing. Perhaps a trait I got from my Dad. I've written a poem about my dad that I hope to add to this site. Yes, his death was hard on all of us. He was only considered Missing In Action ( M.I.A. ), after his right wing had gotten blown off. The chance of survival was very slim, although the Air Force left you with the thought that he may still be alive. That meant he could be a Prisoner Of War (P.O.W. ). After 7 years, in 1979 they considered him to be Killed In Action (K.I.A.). It did not matter that the terminology had changed, for we were always hopeful that he was alive. I have even a greater hope, now, for I have found out that he was raised in a Christian home. I hope to see him in Heaven when I die. I often, as a child, and occasionally as an adult, had a recurring dream of him returning home. Stranger, was to realize that others had had a similar dream. My sister, Kris E. Holsey, and my mother in law, Ann E. Waldmann. Mom Waldmann knew my dad and his parents, when she and my Dad were teens. I find comfort in the fact that the family that I married into knows about my dad and of his family. I have been able to hear about his younger days, and stay in touch with his surviving brother and sister. I would like to fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle picture of my Dad. I hope to make a creative album to remember him by!! In His Honor, From His Eldest Daughter, Cyndi Lyn Waldmann Note or correction, my dad's last known address was not in New Jersey when he died, it was in California. Photo courtesy of his daughter, Cyndi Lyn Waldmann 13 Jun 2005 Many years after my dad's death, I finally went to go see the Wall. What an amazing place, filled with so many names of people who died, all fighting for our freedom. I then on our way home visited a church that I really like called, Shenandoah Bible Baptist Church. And Lord willing, I hope some day to make that my home church. As I could see the Wall whenever I felt like it, seeing as no remains were found, there is no grave where I could visit. God Bless All Who Visit Here, Henry Paul Brauner's Eldest Daughter, Cyndi Lyn Waldmann E-Mail will be forwarded by the Webmaster@VirtualWall.org

17 Jan 2005 Dear Cyndi, What a blessing it was to find this site. I've had Henry P. Brauner's POW/MIA bracelet since around 1973. At first, I often felt that he would return home to his family, and as recently as 2 years ago, I found out this was not the case. When I went to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC, I was incredibly sad to see his name on the Wall, as well as the thousands of others who paid the untimate price for freedom. The quote "Freedom is not free" is no more relevant than on this Wall. So, after having a life-changing experience with another Vietnam Veteran at the Wall (whom I did not know) I decided then and there, I wanted to find "my soldier's" family. After calling every Brauner in New Jersey, to no avail, and after my local paper did an article on my bracelet, my search brought me here. Strangers in New Jersey and in my hometown has been so kind to help me with my quest. Cyndi, I read your letter about your Dad. I can't imagine how it would be growing up without him. He and your entire family were casualties of war. And for this, I am truly sorry. I would be so very honored if you would contact me. I have contacted this website and gave them my information, but I thought that this is another way that I might reach you. My e-mail is: rpreston1973@yahoo.com. I await your response and will continue to hold you and your Dad close to my thoughts. Rachel Preston Tracy, Ca. 95376 rpreston1973@yahoo.com

Notes from The Virtual Wall On the night of March 29, 1972, an AC-130A Hercules "Spectre" gunship (tail number 55-0044) of the 16th Special Operations Squadron departed Ubon Airfield, Thailand, on a night reconnaissance mission over supply routes used by North Vietnamese forces in Laos. The AC-130 was accompanied by a section of F-4 Phantoms. At approximately 0300, while attacking a convoy approximately 56 miles east of Savannakhet in southern Laos, the AC-130 was hit by a Surface to Air Missile (SAM). A few seconds later the AC-130A impacted the ground on the east side of a jungle covered mountain and was consumed by secondary explosions. As one of the F-4D escorts flew low over the burning wreckage, he was unable see any sign of survivors. However, several minutes later emergency beeper signals were heard by the F-4D escorts and another AC-130A gunship operating nearby ("Spectre 10") and his escorts. No voice contact was established with any of the downed aircrew. At 0350 hours, a "Nail" Forward Air Controller (FAC) arrived on station to cover the crash site area and control the search and rescue (SAR) efforts that were immediately initiated. He did not hear emergency beepers, nor was he able to locate any signs of survivors. SAR efforts were terminated at 1830 hours on 30 March 1972 when no trace of the downed crew was found. All 14 crewmen were listed Missing in Action: Major Irving B Ramsower, pilot and aircraft commander; Captain Curtis D Miller, copilot; 1st Lt Charles J Wanzel, copilot; Major Henry P. Brauner, navigator; Major Howard D Stephenson, electronic warfare officer; Captain Richard Castillo, infrared sensor operator; Captain Richard C Halpin, low light TV senior operator; Captain Barclay B Young, fire control officer; Staff Sgt James K Caniford, illuminator operator; Staff Sgt Merlyn L Paulson, flight engineer; Staff Sgt Edwin J Pearce, aerial gunner; Staff Sgt Edward D Smith, aerial gunner; Airman 1c Robert E Simmons, aerial gunner; and Airman 1c William A Todd, aerial gunner. The U.S. and Laos excavated this aircraft's crash site in February 1986. The teams recovered a limited number of human bone fragments, personal effects, and large pieces of plane wreckage. It was later announced by the U.S. Government that the remains of Castillo, Halpin, Ramsower, Simmons, Todd, Paulson, Pearce, Wanzel and Smith had been positively identified from these bone fragments. Additional information is available on the POW Network and Task Force Omega sites.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is his daughter, Cyndi Lyn Waldmann E-Mail may be forwarded via the Webmaster@VirtualWall.org 7 Aug 2003

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Last updated 06/27/2005