13 February 2008
Library of Congress, Weather a bust
Yesterday morning I spent some time at the Library of Congress going over the microfilm copies of the Stars and Stripes Pacific Edition newspaper. As expected, nothing was found regarding the story of Lt. Hunter being rescued in Laos or identified in July of 1966. His name did not appear on the DoD casualty lists that were printed daily in the newspaper.
Also there were a few months missing from the 1966 microfilm files that may have shed some light on possible missions. There were a few stories talking about F-105 pilots making bomb runs in North Vietnam, hitting truck parks, SAM sites, barracks, supplies, but there was no unit identification. Rarely was there a story on Laos or the Air Commandos.
The weather has worsened here in D.C. as a cold front moves through brining in rain and freezing conditions that has hampered travel and transcribing all the names of Douglas County’s fallen at the Vietnam Veterans National Memorial. Today the weather will be much the same, yet tomorrow is to hopefully yield better, and warmer conditions.
However I did find Lt. Hunter’s name on panel 7E, row 109 where a few graphite copies were made. In honor of Lt. Hunter’s sacrifice and the pursuit of the research that has ensued, a photograph was placed at the memorial at the base of panel 7E.
On the back of the photograph, the following was written:
1st Lt. Robert Gerald Hunter
355TFW, 354TFS
Died 25 May 1966, LaosPlaced at the Vietnam Veterans National Memorial on 12 Feb 2008.
