On December 9, 1968, SP4 Samuel D. Shimek was taking part in a company-sized operation in Binh Long Province, South Vietnam when his unit engaged a superior enemy force. Members of the unit stated that they had
seen SP4 Shimek hit by either a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) or a hand grenade, which caused the M79 rounds that he was carrying to explode. As the company’s position became untenable, SP4 Shimek’s body was left behind.
A recovery mission returned to the area, but the body could not be found. A source observed the remains of a large foot in that vicinity which local inhabitants claimed was an American foot. This potentially correlates to
Shimek.
Witnesses believe that Samuel D. Shimek was killed on December 9, 1968. Others who are missing do not have such clear-cut cases. Some were known captives; some were photographed as they were led by their guards. Some were in radio contact with search teams, while others simply disappeared.
Since the war ended, over 250,000 interviews have been conducted with those who claim to know about Americans still alive in Southeast Asia, and several million documents have been studied. U.S. Government experts cannot seem to agree whether Americans are there alive or not. Detractors say it would be far too politically difficult to bring the men they believe to be alive home, and the U.S. is content to negotiate for remains.
Well over 1000 first-hand, eye-witness reports of American prisoners still alive in Southeast Asia have been received by 1990. Most of them are still classified. If, as the U.S. seems to believe, the men are all dead, why the secrecy after so many years? If the men are alive, why are they not home?
Incidental Information
