David Pecor Soyland
Chief Warrant Officer
C CO, 158TH ASLT HELO BN, 101ST AVN GROUP, 101ST ABN DIV, USARV Army of the United States Rapid City, South Dakota April 29, 1951 to April 10, 1978 (Incident Date May 17, 1971) DAVID P SOYLAND is on the Wall at Panel W3, Line 39 |
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You are remembered by a fellow Army Aviator who wears your POW/MIA bracelet. May we never forget those who have served and are serving our great country.
Richard E. Eppler, CW4, USA (Ret) |
Notes from The Virtual WallReconnaissance Team ALASKA was inserted into the Da Krong Valley, Thua Thien Province, SVN, reportedly on 8 May 1971. The team consisted of
C Company, 158th Aviation Battalion, had been tasked with extracting the recon team and launched an assault/extraction flight from Camp Evans. One of the assault helicopters involved, UH-1H tail number 67-17607, was crewed by
Heavy enemy fire precluded insertion of ground forces until the next day, when additional ground forces were inserted in an attempt to recover the survivors of both RT ALASKA and the downed Huey. SP5 Parker, SP4 Alcorn, and the two surviving Nungs were found alive. While Pearce's remains were identified the rescue party lacked the tools needed to free his body from the wreckage. The bodies of Hollingsworth, Dehnke, and the Nung trooper were recovered. SP4 Alcorn reported that he saw a man, believed to be WO Soyland, running on the crest of a nearby ridge, but although search efforts continued until 27 May the searchers were unable to locate either 1LT Entrican or WO Soyland. Entrican and Soyland both were classed as missing in action. Enemy documents dated May 1971 were later captured and mentioned an American captured in the area, but it was impossible to determine if the documents referred to Entrican or Soyland. Both men were carried as Missing in Action until the Secretary of the Army approved Presumptive Findings of Death (Soyland on 10 Apr 1978; Entrican on 6 Dec 1978). |
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