|
|||||||||
Name: Therman
Morris Waller |
Other Personnel In Incident: James L. Carter; Edward M.
Parsley; Wilbur R. Brown; (all missing)
Source: Compiled by
Homecoming II Project 15 June 1990 from one or more of the
following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources,
correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources,
interviews.
REMARKS: NO RAD
CNTCT-REK SITE UNCONF-J
SYNOPSIS: The
Fairchild C123 "Provider" was a night attack
system/transport aircraft based on an all-metal glider designed
by Chase Aircraft. The airplane's C123B prototype first flew on
September 1, 1954. The C123B, in the hands of a group of airmen
who called themselves "The Mule Train" became the first
transport to see Vietnam service. The C123B transports were soon
joined by UC123Bs of the now-controversial Project Ranch Hand
which sprayed pesticides and herbicides over Vietnam, including
Agent Orange. The Provider, particularly in camoflage paint with
mottled topside and lightbottomside, resembled an arched-back
whale suspended from the bottom midpoint of huge dorsal wings.
Like other transports, the Provider proved its versatility during
the Vietnam war. The C123 also dispensed flares to illuminate
targets for fighters or tactical bombers, and were dubbed
"Candlestick" when they served in this capacity.
On February 3, 1966, a C123C Provider aircraft with a
crew of four, including its pilot, Capt. Wilbur R. Brown, and
crewmembers James L. Carter, SGT Edward M. Parsley and SGT
Therman M. Waller, was assigned a mission on the border of Laos
and South Vietnam about 10 miles southwest of Khe Sanh.
During the mission, radio contact was lost with the Provider and
its whereabouts or those of the crew were never determined. In
April 1969, a rallier identified a number of photographs of
missing Americans as men he believed to have been captured.
Wilbur Brown was among those the rallier selected. CIA questioned
the identification as no returned POWs reported having seen any
of the Provider crew in POW camps. It should be noted, however,
that it is now widely believed that more than one prison system
existed in Vietnam, and that prisoners in one were not mingled
with prisoners from another. (Also, given the location of the
crash, the possibility exists that the crew, if captured, may
have been taken by Pathet Lao forces. No Americans were ever
released that were held in Laos.)
The mission flown by the C123 lost on February 3, 1966 is not
indicated in public records. It is known that
"Candlestick" missions, dispensing flares to illuminate
targets for fighters or tactical bombers, was very effective
against truck traffic in Laos, except in those areas where
anti-aircraft defenses became too formidable. It it possible that
the C123C might been on a "Candlestick" mission.
Brown, Carter, Parsley and Waller were declared Missing In Action
by the U.S. Air Force. They are among nearly 2400 Americans who
are unaccounted for from the Vietnam war. Experts believe there
are hundreds of these men still alive today, waiting for their
country to come for them.
Whether the missing men from the Provider lost on February 3,
1966 are among those still alive is not know. What is certain,
however, is that the U.S. has a moral and legal obligation to do
everything possible to bring home those who are alive.
As long as
even one American remains alive, held against his will, we must
do everything possible to bring him home alive.
POW/MIA Data & Bios supplied by the P.O.W. NETWORK Skidmore, MO. USA