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BARDEN, HOWARD LEROY

Name: Howard Leroy Barden
Rank/Branch: O3/US Air Force
Unit: 12th Air Commando Squadron
Date of Birth: 28 October 1933
Home City of Record: Cuyahoga Falls OH
Date of Loss: 31 January 1967
Country of Loss: Laos
Loss Coordinates: 163407N 1061448E (XD331322)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: UC123B
Other Personnel in Incident: Lloyd F. Walker;
Roy R. Kubley; Ronald K. Miyazaki;
Harvey Mulhauser (all missing)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01
September 1990 from one or more of
the following: raw data from U.S. Government
agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.
REMARKS: CRASH - SURV POSS BT NO SIGN - J
SYNOPSIS: The Fairchild C123 "Provider"
was aircraft based on an all-metal
glider designed by Chase Aircraft and was the first
transport to see Vietnam service.
The Provider, when it was in camouflage
paint with mottled topside and light bottomside,
resembled an arched-back whale suspended from the bottom
versions was the UC123B of Project Ranch Hand.
Ranch Hand aircraft sprayed pesticides for
malaria prevention and herbicides,
including Agent Orange, that destroyed both the
forest that concealed the Viet Cong and
the rice and manioc plant that fed them.
Maj. Lloyd F. Walker was the pilot of a 12th Air
Commando Squadron UC123B which was sent on a
defoliation mission on January 31, 1967.
His crew that day included Capt. Howard L. Barden,
Capt. Roy R. Kubley, Capt. Harvey Mulhauser,
and Airman 1st Class Ronald K. Miyazaki,
the flight mechanic.
The aircraft had leveled off and started spraying
when it suddenly inverted and crashed.
Further investigation revealed that hostile fire
struck the propeller causing the crash.
The crash occurred about 5 miles south-southwest
of Sepone in Savannakhet Province, Laos.
All crewmembers were eventually determined to have
been killed in the crash of the aircraft.
The Ranch Hand crew is among nearly 600 Americans
listed missing in Laos.
Although the Pathet Lao stated on several
occasions they held "tens of tens" of American prisoners,
Laos was not included in the agreements ending American
involvement in the war, and the U.S. has not
negotiated for the freedom of these
men since that day.
Consequently, not one American held
in Laos has ever been released.
In our haste to leave an unpopular war,
it now appears we abandoned some of our
best men. In our haste to heal the wounds
of this same war, will we sign their
death warrants? Or will we do what we can to
bring them home?

Ronald K. Miyazaki was promoted to the rank of
Sergeant prior to determination
of death.



The VietNam Veterans' Memorial Wall Page
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~ In Honor There Is Glory ~

I am a lonely soldier
I fought in many wars
Gave my life for all my friends
I did it for a cause

I had so many dreams in life
But now they've gone away
My family they remember me
Just constantly they pray

They place a wreath upon my grave
They speak of what I've done
My body lies within this tomb
I am America's beacon

I tried to do the best I could
To fight for freedom's cause
I prayed that I would save the day
Forever was my loss

I made this special sacrifice
So you could all live free
I am an American soldier
My life a victory

So now when you remember me
I want you all to know
I appreciate this day you give
It's pride that makes me glow

I was proud to serve my country
Proud to die for peace
Proud to be the biggest part
Of the freedom our life speaks

I really did not want to die
I had to save a friend
I did this to protect his life
This honor I defend

So as I lie here in my grave
I hear the soldier's march
Timed in step to fight their best
American's own heart

The colors that I wore for you
I wear them in my grave
The medals spread across my chest
They make my soul ablaze

I'm proud to be an American
My soul in peaceful place
Remember on this special day
A soldier's blessed in peace

My heart is still there is no beat
This love I had was true
I fought for country's colors
The Red the white and Blue

So think of me as years do pass
Remember what I say
I'm proud to be an American
I served the U.S.A.

~ God Bless All Our Soldiers ~

~ Francine Pucillo ~

For the Viet Nam Vets:

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