James Allen Treece

Lieutenant Colonel
12TH TAC RECON SQDN, TAN SON NHUT AB, 7TH AF
United States Air Force
11 August 1934 - 06 March 1978
Memphis, TN
Panel 11E Line 059

7TH AF

12TH TRS
RF-4C

USAF Pilot

Purple Heart, Air Medal, National Defense, Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign

The database page for James Allen Treece

I never had the honor of meeting you but I have worn a bracelet bearing your name for seven years.
I have thought of you every day and you will forever be a hero to me.
Thank you for your sacrifice and devotion to this great nation.
You shall never be forgotten.


By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream that seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We set today a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit that made these heroes dare
To die, or leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raise to them and thee.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1836

25 Apr 2003

I have worn your bracelet for nearly 30 years. Every day I'm reminded that a brave man gave his life so that I might live mine in freedom. You and your family will always be in my prayers.

From someone who remembers.
E-mail address is not available.

A Note from The Virtual Wall

James Treece served in Korea as a rifleman with the 7th Marines in 1953 before joining the Air Force as an Aviation Cadet in 1956. By 1966 he had attained the rank of Captain and was engaged in another war, this time as a pilot.

On 7 Oct 1966, Capt Treece and 1st Lt Larry D. Knight departed Tan Son Nhut Air Base in RF-4C tail number 65-0885 for a night photo recon run over northern South Vietnam. Their last contact with ground controllers occurred while they were over water east of Hue setting up for a run. Search and rescue efforts were begun when they failed to return to Tan Son Nhut, but no trace of aircraft or crew was found. Both men were classed as Missing in Action and remained in that status until the Secretary of the Air Force approved Presumptive Findings of Death, Knight on 22 Oct 1974 and Treece on 06 March 1978.





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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 08/10/2009