Home

"The End Of The Line At The Edge Of The World"

Captain James W. Herrick, Jr.

MIA Laos October 1969

On October 27, 1969, Captain Jim Herrick while assigned to the 602nd Special Operations Squadron, Nakhon Phanom flew his Skyraider on an interdiction mission over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. His plane went down in Xiangkhouang Province, Laos. His last known location was one mile northwest of Ban Khang Pha Nien and 19 miles northeast of Xieng Khouang near the Plain Of Jars.

Contrary to the prisoner of war release of the Paris Peace agreements, no prisoners held by the Laotian communists were ever released. Only those held by the Vietnamese were freed.

Sadly, nearly 600 Americans including Jim Herrick, disappeared into the dense jungles of Laos left behind. These brave men have never been forgotten by their families, nor by those who served with them.

POW/MIA Search Locator

God,where have the past years gone which seem so much as a passing cloud? In an instant I am there with you once again as the Skyraiders cough to life before heading out over the trails in Laos.

Three years ago, standing on the runway at Nakhon Phanom I felt your presence, knowing some day all of us will be together in the time we call eternal once a few more brief clouds have passed.

Yet there will never be a time for us to dispair as we strove to assist others and you gave your all to do it. Your memory and spirit live on within the hearts and minds of your family members who have waited so long for you to come home and never forgotten by those who served with you.

The internet has finally provided us the ability to find one another and together we have created the Thailand Laos Cambodia Brotherhood, a non profit charity organization to honor your memory by aiding those you strove to assist all over Southeast Asia.

Now thousands of children are being provided blankets, shoes, food, wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and other items of necessity by your brothers.

Truly every one of you are honored members who will live on in spirit within the hearts of the young children we assist in your memory. Every one of you has earned the right to be returned with honor.

Welcome Home my brothers!

John Sweet
56th Special Operations Wing
Tactical Units Operations Center
1987th Comm Nakhon Phanom 69-70
Air Commando Assoc. # 2924

The TLC Brotherhood Assistance Page