Name: William Boyle
Rank/Branch: E7/US Army Special Forces
Unit: CCC/MACV-SOG, 5th Special Forces Group
Date of Birth: 26 November 1938 (Brooklyn NY)
Home City of Record: Watrous PA
Date of Loss: 28 February 1970
Country of Loss: Laos
Loss Coordinates: 143753N 1072404E (YB586188)

Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 2 -- Suspect knowledge
A. Involved in the same incidents as individuals in Category 1.
B. Lost in areas or under conditions that they may reasonably be expected
to be known by the enemy.
C. Connected with an incident that was discussed but not identified by name in the enemy news media, or
D. Probably identified through analysis of all-source intelligence.

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: CH34
Refno: 564
Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)

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.

REMARKS:

SYNOPSIS: SFC William Boyle was assigned to MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observation Group). MACV-SOG was a joint service high command unconventional warfare task force engaged in highly classified operations throughout Southeast Asia. The 5th Special Forces channeled personnel into MACV-SOG (although it was not a Special Forces group) through Special Operations Augmentation (SOA), which provided their "cover" while under secret orders to MACV-SOG. The teams performed deep penetration missions of strategic reconnaissance and interdiction which were called, depending on the time frame, "Shining Brass" or "Prairie Fire" missions.

On February 28, 1970, SFC Boyle was a passenger in an ARVN CH34 Sikorski helicopter (serial #554324), call sign "King Bee". The CH34 was a huge gas powered aircraft that sat high on two great wheels in front, making the pilots appear to be sitting 2 stories above the ground, and tapering down in back. The aircraft was an outstanding transport vehicle. The ARVN used the CH34 before they acquired "Huey" helicopters from the U.S.

Boyle's aircraft was on a resupply/medivac mission in the tri-border area in Attopeu Province, Laos, when it was hit by enemy ground fire. SFC Boyle had just completed loading wounded personnel when an enemy rocket hit the helicopter, causing an explosion and subsequent fire. SFC Boyle was observed just prior to rocket impact standing inside the helicopter and was apparently trapped inside the aircraft and burned with it.

The wrecked remains of the helicopter and surrounding area were checked thoroughly, but no bodies could be found after the fire. No other U.S. Army personnel were lost in the crash of the aircraft. William Boyle was listed as Killed in Action - Body Not Recovered.

Because no remains were found for SFC Boyle, he is listed with honor among the missing. Unlike Boyle, the fates of other missing Americans are not as simple. Many were alive and well the last time they were seen. Some were photographed or known to have been captives, yet simply disappeared from the prison system. In all, there are nearly 2500 still missing, prisoner, or unaccounted for in Indochina.

When American involvement in the Indochina war ended in 1975, refugees began to flood the world, bringing with them stories of Americans still held captive. Since that time, nearly 10,000 reports have been received regarding missing Americans. Most authorities believe Americans are still alive. Few agree on how to bring them home.