SYNOPSIS:
PFC Robert L. Babula, PFC Robert C.
Borton Jr., PFC John E. Bodenschatz Jr., and PFC Dennis R. Carter were members of 1st
Platoon, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines.On 28 August 1966, the four were assigned
as a fire team ambush with instructions to establish an ambush site approximately 500
meters to the south of their platoon patrol base. This specific location is in Hoa Hai
village within grid square BT0667.
The fire team departed at 3:30 a.m.
on August 28, and were given instructions for use of the pyrotechnics they were carrying
as signaling devices. They were further instructed to relocate in the same general area or
return to their platoon patrol base in the event their ambush site was compromised, and
finally to return no later than 9:00 a.m. that morning.
When the fire team failed to return
as scheduled, an immediate search of the area was conducted by Company K with negative
results. During the period of August 29-31, the Battalion made a dovetailed search of the
entire area covering all possible routes of egress in the event the team members had been
captured.
Indigenous personnel in the area
were questioned, but no evidence was uncovered which gave any clues. Villagers were
questioned and a search of the area continued. On September 4, Company K discovered part
of an American wrist watch and PFC Bodenschatz' two identification tags in the vicinity of
BT061673. The search was intensified in that area, including the use of heavy engineer
equipment in an effort to locate graves, but no further trace was found.
On September 13, the Battalion
cordoned off grid squares BT0567, 0667, 0566, 0666 and all inhabitants were assembled,
screened and interrogated by an ARVN interrogation team from Hoa Vang District
Headquarters. Three Viet Cong suspects were retained for further questioning, however, no
additional information was obtained concerning the four Marines.
The Battalion Commander's final
determination was that the four Marines were captured.
In 1975, information was
declassified that indicated that since the fire team's disappearance, Marine headquarters
had received two reports sighting three to four Americans being displayed in villages
south of the area in which the fire team disappeared.
A Christmas card Received by Company
K/3/1 1st Marine Division, sent by Babula's mother and sister, stated that they had
recently received news that Babula was a prisoner of war. None of the four, however,
returned in the general prisoner release in 1973.
Since the war ended, the Defense
Department has received over 10,000 reports relating to the men still unaccounted for in
Southeast Asia, yet concludes that no actionable evidence has been received that would
indicate Americans are still alive in Southeast Asia. A recent Senate investigation
indicates that most of these reports were dismissed without just cause, and that there is
every indication that Americans remained in captivity far after the war ended, and may be
alive today.
