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Name: Donald Alfred Luna

Rank/Branch: O3/US Air Force

Unit:

Date of Birth: 17 April 1938

Home City of Record: Houston TX

Date of Loss: 01 February 1969

Country of Loss: Laos

Loss Coordinates: 163200N 1060500E (XD155280)

Status (in 1973): Missing in Action

Category: 3

Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: O2A

Refno: 1369

Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)

REMARKS:

SYNOPSIS: All tactical strike aircraft operating in Southeast Asia had to be under the control of a Forward Air Control (FAC), who was intimately familiar with the locale, the populous, and the tactical situation. The FAC would find the target, order up U.S. fighter/bombers from an airborne command and control center or ground based station, mark the target accurately with white phosphorus (Willy Pete) rockets, and control the operation throughout the time the planes remained on station. After the fighters had departed, the FAC stayed over the target to make a bomb damage assessment (BDA).

The FAC also had to ensure that there were no attacks on civilians, a complex problem in a war where there were no front lines and any hamlet could suddenly become part of the combat zone. A FAC needed a fighter pilot's mentality, but but was obliged to fly slow and low in such unarmed and vulnerable aircraft as the Cessna O1 Bird Dog, and the Cessna O2.

Capt. Donald A. Luna was the pilot of a Cessna O2A on an operational mission near Khe Sanh, South Vietnam. At a point about 10 miles southeast of that city in a pocket of Laos which intrudes on the South Vietnam border, Luna's aircraft was shot down. Luna was declared Missing in Action.

Records on American military personnel were maintained in various government agencies. Raw intelligence data from Southeast Asia freqently first found its way into the files of the organization which came to be known as Joint Casualty Resolution Center (JCRC). Many analysts believed JCRC records were the most complete and authoritative, since they contained largely raw data without benefit of analytical "muddling".

In November 1973, JCRC received a cable from Defense Intelligence Agency which was copied to various high stations, including CIA, the Secretary of State and the White House. The cable stated JCRC should "take necessary action to delete any references pertaining to PW [Prisoner of War] status and place members in a new MIA code" the files of Donald A. Luna and several others. Whether JCRC had intelligence that indicated Donald Luna had been captured is unknown.

Since American involvement in Vietnam ended in 1975, nearly 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 classified information, have reluctantly concluded that many Americans are still alive today, held captive by our long-ago enemy.

Whether Luna survived the crash of his aircraft to be captured by the enemy is certain 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.

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Dear Senator Gramm:

I am writing in the interest of, Capt. Donald A. Luna. I would like to know what is being done to find Capt. Luna, and the rest of our men, that are still MIA.

Capt. Luna`s plane was shot down, about ten miles southeast of Khe Sanh in February 1969. Capt Luna was the pilot of a Cesna02A, on an operational mission. I believe there was a good chance, that Capt. Luna could had survived this crash, as there was never a recovery of his body, even though a search was performed. I also believe his family, has a right to know his fate, and to have closure in this matter.

Our Country and our Vets still need to heal from the Vietnam conflict, this will never happen until our government shows responsibility, and takes a firm and open stand to bring our vets home, where they belong. After saying this, I would appreciate it, if you would take the time to let me know, what has been done to find Capt Luna, and any future plans to find the rest of our Countries Vets and bring them home.

Please it is time to let our Nam Vets have closure on a war, that should had never been. They gave their all to their country, and in most cases, without receiving any respect, or thanks, isn't it time for their country to give it `s all to them? Show them that you care, help bring home their brothers, that they had to leave behind.

Respectfully yours

T. D.

TammyRick@aol.com

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 Benny Lee Dexter - POW/MIA

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 CPT. George D. MacDonald

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 Prairie Ridge POW/MIA Flag History

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