   This page is dedicated to keeping alive the memory of those POW/MIAs who have not yet returned home. Specifically, it is dedicated to keeping alive the memory of WO1 James L. Phipps, declared Missing In Action on January 20, 1968. The following is a synopsis provided by Operation Just Cause of the events surrounding the disappearance of WO1 Phipps.  On January 9, 1968, the crew of the UH1C (tail #66-00745) consisting of WO1 James L. Phipps, aircraft commander; WO Rainier S. Ramos, pilot; SP4 Warren E. Newton, doorgunner; and PFC Fred J. Secrist, gunner, were on a gunship-cover mission about 20 miles west of the city of Tam Ky in Quang Tin Province, Republic of Vietnam. LT Williamson, the pilot of another helicopter, was flying as scout in front of WO Ramos' aircraft when he received a call from WO Phipps indicating that he had been hit, was on fire, and was going down. LT Williamson stated he would follow the aircraft down. He saw smoke trailing from Ramos' aircraft but did not sight flames until the aircraft impacted on the ground. The helicopter hit and exploded (the estimated impact speed was between 65 and 80 knots). The senior officer of Troop C, 7th Squad, 17th Air Cavalry arrived and made several passes over the downed aircraft. Heavy automatic weapons fire from the north and east of the downed aircraft was received on the third pass, but it was noted that the downed aircraft was gutted by fire and explosions. At no time was any evidence seen that suggested that the crew had been thrown clear of the crash. During the first 45 minutes of the on-scene observation, the munitions, consisting of 2.75 rockets and 40mm grenades were exploding for about one and one-half hours. On January 20, a recovery operation was initiated and the remainder of the aircraft was located in the bottom of a large trench. About three sets of remains were recovered, but only one set (that of PFC Secrist) was subsequently identified. Newton, Phipps and Ramos were not declared dead, but Missing in Action, indicating that there was still the possibility that they were thrown clear of the aircraft and captured by the enemy. Since American involvement in Vietnam ended in 1975, over 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing, prisoner, or otherwise unaccounted for in Indochina have been received by the U.S. Government. Many officials, having examined this largely classfied information, have reluctantly concluded that many Americans are still alive today, held captive by our long-ago enemy. Whether Newton, Phipps and Ramos survived the crash of their helicopter to be captured by the enemy firing at other aircraft in the area is certainly not known. It is not known if he might be among those thought to be still alive today. What is certain, however, is that as long as even one American remains alive, held against his will, we owe him our very best efforts to bring him to freedom.     |
