06 Jan 2004 Dear Bob, For over 30 years I have waited to hear that I can throw away my bracelet, that you are home. I am sure that those who knew and loved you would be comforted to know what happened to you and where you are now, I know I would. My prayers are with you and your family always. "I have risen this morning by Thy grace, O my God, and left my home trusting wholly in Thee, and committing myself to Thy care. Send down, then, upon me, out of the heaven of Thy mercy, a blessing from Thy side, and enable me to return home in safety even as Thou didst enable me to set out under Thy protection with my thoughts fixed steadfastly upon Thee. "There is no other God but Thee, the One, the Incomparable, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise." - Baha'u'llah - Best wishes, Laurie laurie.early@bahaiemail.com

 

28 Mar 2004 Robert, I also have your name bracelet. I just wanted to let your family and you know that you're not forgotten!!!!!! From Amadeo E Flores 5040 Clark Rd, Elbridge N. Y. tonyflo3@aol.com

 

15 May 2004 Robert, you are NOT forgotten, I have had my bracelet since 12 January 2002. I wear it proudly and think of you every day. Peace, brother... From a veteran with his MIA bracelet, Daniel V. Mackey n2dvm@arrl.net

 

23 Mar 2005 I proudly wear Sgt. Phillips's bracelet every day as a testimony to the bravery and service of him and every other soldier, Marine, sailor and airman who served in Vietnam. May God bless, encourage and comfort the Phillips family. Don Norwood E-mail address is not available.

 

30 May 2006 Robert - I've worn your bracelet for almost 20 years. You are not forgotten. Deborah Howe E-mail address is not available.

 

28 Jun 2007 I just received my bracelet today, 28 June 07. I will wear it proudly. You are not nor will you ever be forgotten. From a U. S. Army Soldier, PFC Kevin R Church ninja7504me@yahoo.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall At about 0830 hours on 23 June 1970, the 595th Signal Company's supply sergeant, SFC Joe P. Pederson , departed Dian in a GMC 2-1/2 ton truck for a supply run to the 595th's outlying stations at Lai Khe and Phuoc Vinh in Binh Doung Province. SFC Pederson was accompanied by SP4 James M. Rozo and PVT Robert P. Phillips. They arrived in Lai Khe at about 1000 and departed at about 1100 enroute Phuoc Vinh. At 1530 the truck was found in a roadside ditch, both windscreens shattered by gunfire and the left front tire flat. Expended M-16 shell casings were found around the truck, but there was no sign of Pederson, Rozo, or Phillips. Ground and air searches located one dead Viet Cong, killed by a .45 caliber bullet (Pederson had carried a .45 sidearm), and three jammed M-16 rifles which proved to be those checked out by Pederson and his men. The searches did not locate the missing men, who were then formally placed in MIA status. In September 1970 a VC defector claimed to be one of four VCs who ambushed the truck and captured the three men. The defector claimed that one of the Americans, a noncommissioned officer, died shortly after being captured and was buried not too far from the point of capture. The other two, he said, had been interrogated locally before being marched off in the direction of Cambodia. In November 1971, a captured VC soldier reported seeing two Americans being evacuated to Cambodia - his descriptions fit Rozo and Phillips. As a result of these two debriefings SP4 Rozo and PVT Phillips were reclassified as prisoners of war while SFC Pederson was continued as Missing in Action. On 27 January 1973, the Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG), better known as the Viet Cong, released a list containing the names of American POWs whom the VC said died in captivity, but none of the three were on that list nor were Pederson, Rozo, or Phillips among the POWs released in February/March 1973. Over time the Secretary of the Army approved Presumptive Findings of death for the three men, Pederson on 01 Sep 1978, Phillips on 13 Feb 1979, and Rozo on 18 May 1979. Their remains have not been repatriated. Additional information is available on the POW Network and Task Force Omega sites.

Contact Us

© Copyright 1997-2019 www.VirtualWall.org, Ltd ®(TM)

Last update 08/15/2019.