Name: Harold DeLoss Monlux
Rank/Branch: O2/US Air Force
Unit: 559th TFS
Date of Birth: 18 August 1941 Omaha NE
Home City of Record: Sioux City IA
Date of Loss: 11 November 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 170000N 1065800E (YD093804)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Category:
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: F4C
Missions: 11
Other Personnel in Incident: Robert I. Biss (released); Nearby F4C same day:
Richard L. Butt (remains returned); Herbert B. Ringsdorf (released);
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 April 1991 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 1997.
REMARKS: RELSD 730218 BY DRV
SYNOPSIS:
The Phantom, used by Air Force, Marine and Navy air wings, served
a multitude of functions including fighter-bomber and interceptor, photo and
electronic surveillance. The two man aircraft was extremely fast (Mach 2),
and had a long range (900 - 2300 miles, depending on stores and mission
type). The F4 was also extremely maneuverable and handled well at low and
high altitudes. Most pilots considered it one of the "hottest" planes
around.
On November 11, 1966, two F4C aircraft were shot down about 5 miles west of the city of Vinh Linh in Quang Binh Province, North Vietnam. The crew of one consisted of pilot 1Lt. Herbert B. Ringsdorf and weapons/system operator 1Lt. Richard L. Butt. Of this crew, both were apparently captured, but only Ringsdorf was released at the end of the war. The Department of Defense received intelligence that Butt was dead, but evidently did not feel it was compelling enough to declare Butt Killed in Action, as he remained in Prisoner of War status for several years.
On April 10, 1986, Butt's remains were "discovered" and returned by the Vietnamese and positively identified. For twenty years, Richard L. Butt was a prisoner of war - alive or dead.
The crew of the second F4C to be shot down on November 11, 1966 was 1Lt. Harold D. Monlux and Capt. Robert I. Biss. Both men were captured and released at the end of the war.
There is some confusion as to the location of the loss incidents of these four individuals. While the loss coordinates place all four in Quang Binh Province, certain records indicate that Biss and Monlux were lost in the next province to the north, Ha Tinh. Their grid coordinates (YD108825 and YD093804) are close enough to be all in Quang Binh Province.
Since the war ended, over 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing, prisoner or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S. Government. Many authorities who have examined this largely classified information are convinced that hundreds of Americans are still held captive today. These reports are the source of serious distress to many returned American prisoners. They had a code that no one could honorably return unless all of the prisoners returned. Not only that code of honor, but the honor of our country is at stake as long as even one man remains unjustly held. It's time we brought our men home.
Richard Butt, Herbert Ringsdorf and Harold Monlux were promoted to the rank of Captain during the period they were maintained Prisoner of War. Robert Biss was promoted to the rank of Major.
SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and
spelling errors).
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO
HAROLD D. MONLUX
Captain - United States Air Force
Shot Down: November 11, 1966
Released: March 4, 1973
By way of introduction, I was born August 18, 1941 in Omaha, Nebraska. My family moved to Sioux City, Iowa, when I was two and I spent the next sixteen years there. I then moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to attend the University of Tulsa. I graduated with a B.S. degree in Petroleum Marketing and accepted a commission through the AFROTC program.
I came on active duty January of 1965 at Vance AFB, Oklahoma where I attended pilot training. I then attended a series of short schools and became combat ready in the F4C and left for Cam Ranh Bay AFB, South Vietnam in late October 1966.
November 11, 1966 was a day I shall never forget. I was in a flight of three F4C's striking a military storage area just north of the DMZ. We were hit by ground fire and had to bail out. Unfortunately due to the weather conditions my fate could not be determined and I was listed as MIA. I then began an unforgettable thirty-eight day trip to Hanoi followed by six years and four months confinement in North Vietnam.
Many have asked me how I made it through this long ordeal. A complete answer to this question would be very long and difficult to write. There are, however, a few things that I feel are particularly important.
I love my country. I love the people that make it the best country in the world, therefore, I tried to conduct myself in a manner which would be in their best interests.
When I came into the service I made a bargain with the Air Force and, therefore, with my country. My personal code of ethics places a very high value on keeping one's word and this I tried to do to the best of my ability.
The sense of humor that Americans possess was another very important factor. We laughed when things were at their lowest ebb.
All of these factors and many more contributed to an esprit de corps that I believe has never been topped. It was indeed a great honor for me to have served with this very distinguished and extraordinary group of men.
A word to those great Americans who supported the prisoners and kept faith in us. I sincerely believe that this support contributed to a large extent in the improvement of treatment in late '69 and to our return. For this I will be forever grateful.
Finally, I would like to express my feelings toward President Nixon. He conducted himself and the affairs of our country with dignity. He destroyed the credibility gap. He had the intestinal fortitude to do what he felt was right during an extremely trying time for our country. For these and many other reasons I have the greatest respect for this man.
Thanks again to each and every one of you and may God bless you all.
December 1996 Harold and his wife Carol reside in Oklahoma.
