George Andrews Howes

The database page for George Andrews Howes

15 Jan 1999 In memory of George (Andy) Howes Missing since 10 January 1970 Even after 30 years, I still find it difficult to put into words the memories and my thoughts for Andy. I am Donn "Mixer" Wilimzik. Andy and I went through both primary and secondary flight schools together. We were the best of friends for the short time that we knew each other. The Army, of course, sent us both to Viet Nam and at Cam Ranh Bay, we said our goodbyes and never saw each other again. I was sent to A Troop, 7/1 Air Cav where I flew AH-1G Huey Cobras, mainly on pink teams. My call sign was Apache 31. Andy wanted to be a gun pilot and I'm sure that is what he was doing when they crashed. It just doesn't seem fitting that good people, at such a young age, should not have the opportunity to experience the pleasures of life, after going through the hell that man has created here on earth. Twenty-three percent of my classmates ... friends ... didn't make it back to the states. Don't get me wrong, I would not trade my year in Viet Nam for anything. It was something that you experience but once in a lifetime. If it were not for this escapade of fate, I never would have met Andy. In the event you did not have the opportunity to vacation in Southeast Asia, remember these words: "For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know." Upon my return to the States, I received a P.O.W. bracelet inscribed with Andy's name on it. This was a fortunate and meaningful token for me. I have not, and will not, remove it from my wrist until either he is returned home, or I meet him in the hereafter... Donn Wilimzik mixer_joy@sbcglobal.net

Notes from The Virtual Wall On 10 January 1970 three helicopters of the 71st Assault Helicopter Company departed Tien Phuoc to return to the unit base at Chu Lai, South Vietnam. Five to ten minutes into the flight, while flying through a rainstorm, the lead pilot, Captain Herbert C. Crosby, directed the flight to change to a different flight heading and radio frequency. Radio contact with CPT Crosby was lost during the frequency change and was not regained. The other two aircraft reached Chu Lai heliport and at 1400 hours search efforts were begun for the missing aircraft, a UH-1C (hull number 66-00739). An extensive ground and visual/electronic aerial search was initiated. The Huey's last known position placed it over dense jungle covered mountain foothills on the north side of the mountain range with rice fields within 2 miles to the east. The ground search included investigating villages in and around the helicopter's flight path and questioning anyone who might have knowledge of the aircraft's loss and the fate of its crew. Those efforts failed to locate either the helicopter or its crew, which consisted of CPT Herbert Charles Crosby, pilot CW3 George Andrews Howes, copilot SFC Wayne Clouse Allen, crew chief SFC Francis George Graziosi, gunner The four men were placed in MIA status. Over the years, their status was changed as Presumptive Findings of Death were issued. As of 12 Nov 2007, the remains of three of the four men have been repatriated and identified: CPT Herbert Charles Crosby:     Status changed to Died While Missing on 05 Nov 1974     Repatriated 23 Jan 1989; identified 24 Jul 2006 CW3 George Andrews Howes:     Status changed to Died While Missing 06 Nov 1978     Remains not yet identified SFC Wayne Clouse Allen:     Status changed to Died While Missing 14 Aug 1978     Repatriated 23 Jan 1989; identified 27 Mar 1991 SFC Francis George Graziosi:     Status changed to Died While Missing 20 Feb 1979     Repatriated 07 Jun 1994; identified 24 Jul 2006 Additional information is available on the POW Network and Task Force Omega sites.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is his buddy, Donn Wilimzik mixer_joy@sbcglobal.net

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 15 Jan 1999
Last updated 01/22/2008