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Craig Mitchell Dix
Staff Sergeant
128TH AHC, 11TH AVN BN, 12TH AVN GROUP, 1ST AVIATION BDE, USARV Army of the United States Livonia, Michigan December 05, 1949 to October 27, 1978 (Incident Date March 17, 1971) CRAIG M DIX is on the Wall at Panel W4, Line 54 |
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A memorial requested by Robert Londers |
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This is a memorial for SSG Craig Mitchell Dix.
Remembered by one who wore his MIA bracelet |
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I have carried SSGT Craig M Dix's bracelet for 10 years.
Steve Broadbent |
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Gone but not forgotten.
Chuck McLaughlin |
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I will miss and remember SSG Craig Mitchell Dix forever.
Emmalee |
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I was 10 when Craig was reported missing. I also wore his bracelet until it wore out, as did most of my family. My Mother still wears his bracelet as does my 12 year old son. I remember when they planted a tree in his honor. I know Craig's mother kept up hope until the day she died. I am very touched by those who have written on this page. I have pictures of him that even though he was very young in them, I share with my son. Craig was a cousin of mine and even though I have only a few memories of him he will always be with me. Thank you to all and God Bless you:)
From his cousin, |
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Brother, Till I can do the same, you will never be forgotten.
Joe O'Neill |
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My mother received a Craig Dix MIA bracelet back in 1972. I remember seeing her wear it when I was five. I was going through her jewelry box about a week ago and found it. She decided that I could have it. I am now 15 and when people ask me about it, I tell them that it's an MIA bracelet that my mom gave me. Now, thanks to this website, I can tell them more about Craig.
From |
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My name is Christina Carlson, and I am currently living in Okinawa, Japan. I am part of an Air Force family stationed here. I bought an MIA/POW bracelet the other day, and I happened to have SSGT Craig Dix. I have wanted one of these bracelets for so long, so I could show people my respect for our fallen and lost soldiers. I have been looking for information on this man and his family since I got this bracelet, and I am so happy I finally found more information. I am also glad to know that his family is remembering him in a great way.
Christina |
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I feel like such a late comer to SSG Dix's memorial page. It never dawned on me to Google his name until just now. I was in elementary school when I got his bracelet and it shows the wear and tear of a young girl's usage. It now sits in a place of honor on our family's altar. I've visited "The Wall" and was stunned at the immensity. I felt so small in its presence. I was there during the dedication of the WWII monument. The Veterans that were there worked tirelessly to accommodate everyones' questions. Raw emotion was everywhere. I was too scared to ask for help and was truly afraid that SSG Dix had never been found. Well, I've found him - here on this The Virtual Wall. I can be at peace that he will always be remembered with love and respect, not just by a young girl who at the time did not understand the scope of his commitment, but by all Americans. Thank you to all who have toiled to keep our service men and women's lives and sacrifice in our hearts and minds.
MarieBeth |
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I am a retired USAF Master Sergeant. I have worn Craig Dix's bracelet since 1972. Although we never met, we are brothers in arms and I will continue to pray for him and his family until he is repatriated, dead or alive. May God continue to watch over them.
From a brother in arms and MIA bracelet wearer, |
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I was a neighbor of the Dix Family. I was very young when he went to Vietnam, about four or five, so I didn't know him well, but I remember his mother and father and I remember they never gave up hope that he would be found. I also wore his MIA bracelet - for many years, in fact. I recently came across it in a box I had stored away. Finding it brought back many memories of his family's struggle to locate him. I vaguely remember a story of his mother's meeting with the Prince of Cambodia in efforts to locate him. It saddens me to think that Craig's parents passed without ever having the closure they so desperately sought. Craig Dix will forever be an American Hero and he will never be forgotten.
A. Page |
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I just located this Memorial while I was researching the newly released Military Records on Ancestry.com trying to find out more information on my Uncle Craig. I lost my breath for a minute when I first saw this. My mother, one of his older sisters, will be very proud to know that there are other people who held Craig so dearly. Thank You.
From his niece, |
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My children have never asked about the bracelet I wear with the name of SSgt Dix on it. I explained to my youngest that this is the cost of being free. I honor SSgt Dix every day and keep a thought for his family as I'm sure he did for all of ours. Although I cannot hear a voice to go with his face, we all benefit from his life. To his family, I wear his bracelet proudly. And thank you, SSgt Dix.
Nicole Manser |
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I was just looking through a drawer with old jewelry, watches, etc. when I saw the bracelet I bought in 1975 remembering Craig Dix. I am from Michigan and I remember I wanted to buy one of the memorial bracelets for someone who was from Michigan. I was in the service during Craig's tour in Viet Nam and when I returned home I joined the Michigan Department of State Police. During my time in the Department I lost two friends in the line of duty. Seeing Craig's bracelet brought back memories of my time in the service, what his family went through when they heard Craig was not coming home, and also memories of the loss of my personal friends in the line of duty. I am again wearing his bracelet and for the life of me can't remember why I took it off after I first received it. This bracelet should not be in a drawer but visible so everyone will somehow remember those who gave their lives yesterday for what we enjoy today. My prayers are with his family and God Bless to all those who wear the same small memorial for SSgt Craig M. Dix.
Phillip T. Chrzan |
Notes from The Virtual WallIn the aftermath of Operation Lam Son 719 (Feb 1971), combat operations were conducted in areas of Cambodia adjacent to the South Vietnamese border. Like Lam Son, air transport and cover were provided by U.S. forces, while SVN Army forces conducted the ground operations.On 17 March 1971, a combat assault was conducted northwest of the village of Snoul, in Kratie Province, Cambodia. During the assault, a UH-1H HUEY (hull number 69-15664) of the 128th AHC, 11th CAB, was hit while departing the landing zone and crashed just north of the LZ. The crew consisted of
Shortly afterwards a second helicopter, this one an AH-1G COBRA gunship (hull number 69-17935) from A Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, was struck by ground fire and crashed into the jungle less than a mile west of the Huey's crash site. The COBRA crew consisted of Captain David P. Schweitzer, pilot, and 1LT Lawrence E. Lilly, co-pilot. SAR forces managed to extract CPT Schweitzer but were forced to depart the area before Lilly could be extracted. When friendly ground forces reached the crash site, Lilly was found to be dead but his body could not be recovered (Note: his remains have never been repatriated). At this point, one man - Lilly - was known to be dead; Schweitzer had been picked up; and the four men from the HUEY (Hestand, Dix, Harris, and Bauman) were on the ground amidst enemy troops. These four men were not rescued. Since there was no convincing evidence of their death they were placed in MIA status. James Hestand was captured later that day and remained a POW until release on 12 February 1973 during Operation Homecoming. During his debrief he reported that Craig Dix had been shot in the right ankle as he evaded approaching VC troops. He added that SP4 Dix was ambulatory and still evading at the time of his own capture. Hestand stated that when he last saw CW2 Bauman, Bauman was alive, in good condition, and was with SP4 Dix. Finally, he stated that he saw the body of Bobby Harris outside the aircraft after the crash and believed that Harris was dead. Even so, Harris was maintained in MIA status until 1979. While there were conflicting intelligence reports regarding the number of Americans captured and their status, two facts remain: Both Dix and Bauman were alive and mobile when last seen, and neither one has been seen since. On 27 October 1978 the Secretary of the Army approved a Presumptive Finding of Death (PFOD) for now-Staff Sergeant Craig Dix. PFODs for Bauman and Harris were approved on 08 Jan and 16 April 1979 respectively. On 07 July 2003 remains repatriated from Cambodia on 18 Apr 2002 were identified as those of SSG Bobby Glenn Harris. |
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