News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: US Army News Release

Date: April 09, 2001

"US Army News Release

Subject: THREE SOLDIERS KILLED IN VIETNAM HELICOPTER CRASH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Release #01-022

April 9, 2001

Three soldiers were killed when their MI-17 helicopter crashed into a mountain in central Vietnam on Saturday. The three soldiers were part of a team involved in the joint effort to recover and identify the remains of American servicemembers missing during the Vietnam conflict. Although positive identifications have not been completed, the next of kin of the soldiers believed to be on board the aircraft have been notified. Next of kin will be updated as these identifications are confirmed. The Army is deeply saddened by the deaths of our soldiers and the deaths of the three U.S. Air Force members, one U.S. Navy member and nine Vietnamese personnel. The Army extends heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the families and friends who lost loved ones in this tragedy. The Army's first concern is for the families in this time of anguish and bereavement. The Army is committed to providing its full support in providing for their needs.

Dead are:
Lt. Col. Rennie Melville Cory, Jr., of North Carolina, who was the outgoing detachment commander, Detachment 2, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting, Hanoi. Lt. Col. George D. Martin, III, who was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Ft. Drum, N.Y. Lt. Col. Martin was the incoming detachment commander, Detachment 2, Joint Task Force-Full Accounting, Hanoi. Sgt. 1st Class Tommy James Murphy, of Georgia, a mortuary affairs specialist assigned to the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii, Hickham Air Force Base, Hawaii.

Questions about the soldiers should be directed to the U.S. Army Public Affairs Office at (703) 697-7550. Questions about the mission of locating POWs and MIAs should be directed to the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office Public Affairs Office, (703) 602-1245. Questions about the incident should be directed to Pacific Command Public Affairs Office, (808) 477-1341/1342."