Name: Jeffrey Martin Krommenhoek
Rank/Branch: O3/US Navy
Unit: Attack Squadron 163, USS ORISKANY (CVA-34)
Date of Birth: 27 October 1940
Home City of Record: Sioux City IA
Date of Loss: 25 October 1967
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 211300N 1054800E (WJ830498)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 4
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A4E
Other Personnel In Incident: (none missing)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 April 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:
SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Jeffrey M. Krommenhoek was a pilot assigned to Attack Squadron 163 on board the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA-34). On October 25, 1967 Lt. Krommenhoek launched in his A4E Skyhawk attack aircraft in a formation strike force against the Phuc Yen Airfield, 11 miles north of Hanoi.
The strike group encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire and surface-to-air missile activity throughout the target area. Krommenhoek was last seen just prior to roll in on the target as the group was departing the target area. Attempts were made to contact him by radio with negative response. A search of the area was impossible due to intense hostile activity. No emergency radio signals were heard enroute back to the coast. No parachute or downed aircraft was seen.
Lt. Krommenhoek was placed in a Missing In Ation status on that day, which was changed ten years later to Presumed Killed In Action after a status review board determined that there was no evidence to maintain the MIA status.
Whether Krommenhoek survived that day is unknown. He is among nearly 2500 Americans who are still missing in Southeast Asia. As evidence continues to mount that hundreds of these men are still alive in captivity, one wonders, what happened to Krommenhoek? Is he alive? If so, what must he be thinking of the country he so proudly served?
Jeffrey M. Krommenhoek was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander during the period he was maintained missing.
