<BGSOUND SRC="GrnBeretBld.mid" LOOP=INFINITE> Col.Patrick Hardy Wood,U.S.A.F. I chose to wear the POW/MIA name bracelet of this hero who has my family name of (WOOD) Rank/Branch: 04/US Air Force Date of Birth: 23 January 1931 Home City of Record: Kansas City MO Date of Loss: 06 February 1967 Country of Loss: North Vietnam Status: Missing in Action SYNOPSIS: On Feb. 6, 1967, Cpt. Lucius L.Heiskell was a pilot and was flying an O1F aircraft on a visual reconnaissance mission with another O1F when his aircraft was struck by enemy fire forcing him to bail out. His parachute was followed to the ground and voice contact with him indicated that immediate rescue was not feasible due to enemies in area. Beeper signals continued and later an HH3E helicopter flown by Maj. Patrick H. Wood was dispatched to recover Heiskell. He was at the time located near the border of Laos and North Vietnam, about 5 miles from the Mu Gia Pass. Wood's crew that day included Capt. Richard A. Kibbey and SSgt. Donald J. Hall. Heiskell was hoisted aboard, but as the helicopter was departing the area, it was hit by ground fire causing it to explode and crash. The helicopter pararescueman survived and was treated for burns. The remainder of the crew, Hall, Kibbey and Wood, as well as Heiskell were not located. When 59l Americans were released in 1973, the crew of the HH3E was not among them. They were numbered with nearly 3000 Americans who remained missing, prisoners, or unaccounted for at the end of the war. Since American involvement in Vietnam ended in 1975, over 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing, prisoners, or otherwise unaccounted for in Indochina have been received by the U.S. Government. Many officials having examined this largely classified information, have reluctantly concluded that many Americans are still alive today, held captive by our long-ago enemy. Whether Wood and the crew of the HH3E survived the crash of their aircraft, only to be captured is not known. It is not known if they might be among those thought to be still alive today. What is certain, however is that as long as even one American remains alive, held against his will, we owe him our very best efforts to bring him to freedom. PATRICK H. WOODwas promoted to the rank of Colonel during the time he was maintained 'Missing in Action'. How to add this link to your homepage Thanks Hacksaw for this award-clk to go to his site
Rank/Branch: 04/US Air Force Date of Birth: 23 January 1931 Home City of Record: Kansas City MO Date of Loss: 06 February 1967 Country of Loss: North Vietnam Status: Missing in Action SYNOPSIS: On Feb. 6, 1967, Cpt. Lucius L.Heiskell was a pilot and was flying an O1F aircraft on a visual reconnaissance mission with another O1F when his aircraft was struck by enemy fire forcing him to bail out. His parachute was followed to the ground and voice contact with him indicated that immediate rescue was not feasible due to enemies in area.
Beeper signals continued and later an HH3E helicopter flown by Maj. Patrick H. Wood was dispatched to recover Heiskell. He was at the time located near the border of Laos and North Vietnam, about 5 miles from the Mu Gia Pass. Wood's crew that day included Capt. Richard A. Kibbey and SSgt. Donald J. Hall. Heiskell was hoisted aboard, but as the helicopter was departing the area, it was hit by ground fire causing it to explode and crash. The helicopter pararescueman survived and was treated for burns. The remainder of the crew, Hall, Kibbey and Wood, as well as Heiskell were not located.
When 59l Americans were released in 1973, the crew of the HH3E was not among them. They were numbered with nearly 3000 Americans who remained missing, prisoners, or unaccounted for at the end of the war. Since American involvement in Vietnam ended in 1975, over 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing, prisoners, or otherwise unaccounted for in Indochina have been received by the U.S. Government. Many officials having examined this largely classified information, have reluctantly concluded that many Americans are still alive today, held captive by our long-ago enemy.
Whether Wood and the crew of the HH3E survived the crash of their aircraft, only to be captured is not known. It is not known if they might be among those thought to be still alive today. What is certain, however is that as long as even one American remains alive, held against his will, we owe him our very best efforts to bring him to freedom.
PATRICK H. WOODwas promoted to the rank of Colonel during the time he was maintained 'Missing in Action'.