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Source: Compiled from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources,correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK in 1998.
Other Personnel In Incident: Frederick Herrera; Richard Roberts (both missing)
REMARKS:
SYNOPSIS: On March 25, 1969, PFC Prentice W. Hicks, PFC Frederick D. Herrera and PFC Richard D. Roberts were riflemen on a road interdiction mission northwest of the city of Kontum, South Vietnam. On March 24, their unit had been in contact with an unknown sized enemy force, and at that time, PFC Hicks had been wounded several times. The unit was ordered to pull back, and PFC Hicks was placed on a litter and carried out of the area for evacuation.
As the unit was moving toward high ground, they again
came in contact with the enemy. At that time, PFC
Roberts was the point man. During the contact, the unit began to move in a disorderly fashion back down the
hill, and during that period, PFC Hicks, Herrera and
Roberts were separated from the main element.
It is believed that PFC Herrera and Roberts had stayed
behind with PFC Hicks. This was the last time they were seen. At that time, neither Herrera or Roberts were
injured.
During a search of the area on April 5, a
reconnaissance team found some letters belonging to PFC Hicks, along with the cover from a Bible belonging to
PFC Herrera, but there was no sign of the three missing men. The three men had disappeared, and, given the
enemy situation in the area, it is entirely possible
that they were captured. They were declared Missing In
Action. Later hearings were held to declare them dead,
although no evidence was ever received that the three
died.
Americans captured by the Viet Cong had a terrible and
grueling ordeal ahead. The Viet Cong themselves were
often deprived of adequate food, and the need to be
constantly moving only made life more difficult to
sustain. Americans were ill-equipped to cope with
jungle diseases and drastic change in diet. Torture was commonplace and cruel. Many were mentally and
physically depleted to the point of starvation and
death.
Towards the end of the war, prisoners captured
in the south were routinely taken north for detention
by the North Vietnamese, and although torture was a
daily threat, few died of starvation during those late
years.
Whether Herrera and the others were captured is not
known. The chances of their having survived the second
attack are good. Alive or dead, however, the Vietnamese certainly know their fate. Someone knows where they
were taken that day.
Tragically, reports of Americans still held captive in
Indochina continue to be received, creating a large
body of evidence difficult to ignore. It seems clear
that some of our military are still held prisoner in
Southeast Asia. Herrera, Hicks and Roberts could be
among them. Isn't it time we brought our men
home?
Here's a poem that I received in my email after someone saw my page.... It's called "The Things You Didn't Do"
by Leo Buscaglia
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