Loss Coordinates Map

Name:

Branch / Rank:

Unit:

Date of Birth:

Home of Record:

Date of Loss:

Country of Loss:

Loss Coordinates:

Status (in 1973):

Category:

Duty:

Other personnel in incident:

Remarks:

Tom Clark graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1963, after having already spent two years at Penn State University. He was sometimes referred to as an "old man" at the Academy. He was interested in politics and flying and looked forward to a military career.  Nearly 6 years after his graduation, Tom Clark was flying a mission in Laos over the Ho Chi Minh Trail just northwest of the DMZ when his aircraft was shot down. Circumstances surrounding his crash indicate that the enemy probably knows his fate, but in 1973, Tom was not released with other POWs. Tom Clark is one of nearly 600 Americans who were lost in Laos and did not return. 

The Pathet Lao stated on several occasions that they held "tens of tens" of American prisoners, but that those who had been captured in Laos would also be released from Laos. The Lao wanted acknowledgement that the U.S. and Vietnamese had been waging war in their country. Laos was not included in the peace agreements ending American involvement in Southeast Asia, and not one American held in Laos was released - or negotiated for. By 1989, the U.S. had so thoroughly forgotten the men they abandoned that they began building medical clinics for the communist Lao government. At the same time, reports and evidence mount that Americans are still held alive as captives in Vietnam and Laos.

Tom Clark served his country proudly. He does not deserve abandonment. Thomas E. Clark was promoted to the rank of Major during the period he was maintained Missing in Action.

In reviewing the message traffic/abstracts maintained by the Library of Congress, I've determined that the crash site of Major Clark is at one of the following places:  Saravan, Savannakhet, or Kammouan province, Phou Houat Mountain -- Vientiane province, or the Nam Mi Tributary.  Reports surrounding Ban Houay Kasan and Ban Along Noi areas also included his name;  I'm sure that further research of the loss coordinates above (if possible) will put us in the exact province.

One of the documents referencing Major Clark regarded him as 'Sunvalley 34.'  This leads me to believe that his Call sign may be 'Sunvalley34.'  Any info regarding the possibilities surrounding the references would be most appreciated -- email or by guest book!

Incidental Information

Did you serve with this HERO?  Is he Family, an old friend, or a High School Sweetheart?  Is there something special you would like to share about Tom -- If so, I would like to hear about it and post it on this page!!
Please send me an e-mail