Commander Henry H Strong Jr.
You Are Not Forgotten
Name: Henry Hooker Strong, Jr.
Rank/Branch: O5/US Air Force
Date of Birth: 27 February 1933
Home City of Record: North Wales PA
Date of Loss: May 25, 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 183700N 1054200E (WF733607)
Status (in 1973): Missing in Action
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A4F
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.
SYNOPSIS: When Douglas Aircraft created the A4 Skyhawk the intent was to provide
the Navy and Marine Corps with an inexpensive, lightweight attack and ground support
aircraft. The design emphasized low-speed control and stability during take-off and
landing as well as strength enough for catapult launch and carrier landings. The plane was
so compact that it did not need folding wings for aboardship storage and handling. In spite
of its diminutive size, the A4 packed a devastating punch and performed well where speed
and maneuverability were essential.
Commander Henry H. Strong, Jr. was a Skyhawk pilot who participated in a strike on a
target near the city of Vinh on May 25, 1972. During this mission, Strong's aircraft was
shot down by enemy fire and he was declared Missing in Action.
The Defense Intelligence Agency further expanded Strong's classification to include an
enemy knowledge ranking of 2. Category 2 indicates "suspect knowledge" and includes
personnel who were lost under conditions that they may reasonably be expected to be
known by the enemy, or who were connected with an incident discussed in enemy news
media; or who were identified (by elimination) through analysis of all-source
intelligence.
When 591 Americans were released from POW camps in 1973, Henry Strong was not
among them. The Vietnamese have denied any knowledge of him. Through the years his
family has continually sought information about him. His two children, still very much a
"military family" have found it frustrating and difficult to get answers to their
questions.
Intelligence reports surfacing over the years during the war and following build a strong
case for a well-organized second prison system, and a well orchestrated plan to keep
prisoners within systems from intermingling. As it is widely believed that the Vietnamese
withheld the release of many prisoners until peace agreement terms were met (specifically
reconstruction aid), it is logical to assume that one prison system's inmates were released
while another were held back for possible release at a later date. It is also logical to
assume that the scenario might be played to its fullest, including convincing each man in a
two man crew that had been separated, that the other was dead.
Whether Henry Strong survived to be captured is not known. But as reports continue to
mount, the awful truth that we abandoned men to the enemy becomes more and more
apparent. It's time we brought our men home.
Henry H. Strong, Jr. was promoted to the rank of Captain during the period he was
maintained missing. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to keep pushing this
issue inside the Beltway...
The need to get specific answers is more important now than ever before. If still alive,
some MIAs are now in their 70s...They don't have much time left. We have to demand the
answers from the bureaucrats and keep standing on their necks (figuratively speaking)
until they get the message that THEY work for US and that we are serious about getting
these long overdue responses. It is time for straight answers for a
change.
Please take some time today and write the President, your Senators and
your Congressman, and ask for a full accounting of the whereabouts of Henry Hooker
Strong Jr. He still waits! He is not forgotten!
If you would like to do more, click on the link below.
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