the men and women who were very much a part of this organization throughout the years. Everyone of them had a voice and spoke out on the issues including POW/MIA and Human Rights for Vietnam. All of them have earned their honorable place in NV&GWVC history. Others not mentioned here are listed on some of the pages and have given just as much to the causes for which we stand. May God Bless them and may they be at eternal peace. We miss them and will never forget them.
The memorial pages will be redone in good order. When they are completed, they will be posted in the archives.
Larry J. O' Daniel, NV&GWVC POW/MIA COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
It is my sad duty to advise you belatedly of the passing of Larry J. O'Daniel. The last time I spoke to Larry it was last Spring as he had planned to visit a friend in South Vietnam with whom he had served in military intelligence. Since then Larry had been off the radar. I just learned today that he died at home several months ago. Larry was a Captain in the United States Army and served primarily in the III Corp Area in i968/9 where his function was to identify and neutralize the Viet cong- including those holding American POWS. After leaving the military he continued his efforts on behalf of American prisoners of war and missing in action and was the author of "Missing In Action Trail of Deceit" in the late 1970s. It was so controversial that it was reportedly removed from the libraries as it was one of the first books to reveal that our government abandoned our prisoners of war and missing in action. He later authored additional books: "Help Me I'm Still Alive" and in 2000, "Trails of Deceit." Larry was relentless in his efforts on behalf of our missing servicemen and he will be missed. Rest in Peace, Friend.
John McCreary, Defense Intelligence Expert, DIA
John McCreary, an advocate for American prisoners of war and missing in action, departed for his eternal rest on August 14,2019. He worked for the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA (1991).
J. Thomas Burch, Jr., November 13, 2019
Tom Burch, a founder and former Chairman of the National Vietnam & Gulf War Veterans Coalition, began his final journey today at 0300hours on November 13, 2019. Tom succumbed to the effects of cancer after having endured the disease for several months. During this time of tribulation he bore his travails with strength and dignity. Tom is remembered for his lengthy and dedicated service on behalf of our POW-MIAs and fellow veterans. May Tom rest in peace.
Former Congressman William "Billy" Hendon (R-NC)
Former Congressman, Billy
Hendo. POW/MIA activist and co-author of the book, "An Enormous Crime, passed away on June 20, 2018. Billy was a remarkable representive in Congress and a good friend to many POW friends and families. His endless struggle to expose the truth cost him his health and welfare as many in the halls of Congress tried to bring him down, especially the late Sen. from Arizona, John McCain, and the former Secretary of State, John Kerry, among others who continually made Billy's life miserable. Billy Hendon spent nearly 4 decades working intensively to bring American POWs home from Vietnam. He was co-author with Elizabeth Stewart of the New York Times Best Seller: An Enormous Crime The Definitive Account of American POWs Abandoned in Southeast Asia. Billy also produced the You tube video, only a portion of his dedicated efforts which caused him severe financial distress. He persevered to the point that years of devotion to this pain-staking cause also affected his health. We owe it to Billy to make every effort to get the sealed/classified records of the returned POWs opened so that we can obtain information on those who were abandoned and, also on the collaborators, such as was the late Sen. John McCain, who basked in the reputation of hero/patriot and "war hero" when, in fact, he had maligned both his brothers-in-arms and those who begged truth on the issue. For his relentless devotion to the cause, and to truth and honesty in government, may Billy's soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. God Speed, Billy!
Col. Nguyen Kim Ban
A good friend and member of the NV&GWVC with the Council
of Vietnamese-American Organization,
Colonel Ban served in the
South Vietnamese Army and was a former Prisoner of War of the
N. Vietnamese
Following is a memorial tribute to those we have lost. We will never forget their devotion and service both to God and country.
- Col. Nguyen Kim Ban - Pres. Council of Vietnamese-Americans and former Vietnamese POW
- Leroy O' Daniel - Brother of Larry O' Daniel
- Ted Sampley - POW/MIA activist and founder of US Veterans Dispatch
- Col. Earl Hopper - POW/MIA activist and father of POW/MIA, Vietnam, Earl Hopper, Jr.
- Ted Mortenson - Former POW, Vietnam
- Joyce Gardiner - NV&GWVC staff
- Dolores Alfond - Pres. National Alliance of Families for the Return of America’s Servicemen and brother of Vietnam POW/MIA, Victor Apodaca
- Charlie Ray - USMC, POW/MIA activist and father of James Ray, POW/MIA, Vietnam, still unaccounted for
- Mike Cobb - Rolling Thunder National Staff
- Joe Douglass
- Mike Van Atta - POW/MIA activist
- Lynn O' Shea - POW/MIA activist and Director of Research for National Alliance of Families for the Return of America’s Servicemen
- Mrs. Jean Ray (wife of the late Charlie Ray) - POW/MIA Mother and activist died peacefully in 2017. The Ray's were the parents of SSgt. James M. Ray, US Army, Vietnam, captured March 18, 1968.
The NV&GWVC is saddened to report that Sydney Schanberg
died today, July 7, 2016. Syd as some of you may recall was
a guest speaker at the Coalition Luncheon about 8 years ago.
Sydney unlike many of our politicians, like John McCain, was
an honorable man. When I last spoke to Syd, he indicated that
his sight was failing. We are grateful for Syd's dedication
in reporting on American POW-MIAs abandoned by our government
in Southeast Asia and in reporting on the Cambodians being massacred
by the Kymer Rouge He tried to help.
May he obtain a rich reward in eternity.
Diana West posted an article below as a tribute to him.
Article by Diana West on Sydney Schanberg
