News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: MIA bracelet heading home

Date: September 29, 2001

"MIA bracelet heading home
by Staff Sgt. Beverly Isik
65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

09/28/01 - LAJES FIELD, Azores (AFPN) -- When Maj. Victor Apodaca's F-4C Phantom was struck by enemy fire over Quang Binh province in North Vietnam, Jerry Rabon was 6 months old and thousands of miles away in Columbia, S.C. More than 20 years later, a small stainless-steel band brought them together, in spirit at least.

Rabon, an air transportation specialist in the 729th Air Mobility Squadron here, was sitting on the bed with his wife, Paula, when he heard the news that the body of the man whose name he had worn on a bracelet for more than 12 years was being returned home from Vietnam.

The couple was watching the American Forces Radio and Television Service's "Around the Services" program when they heard the news.

"We were totally in shock," Rabon said. "To say I had goose bumps would be an understatement. Without question, we'll remember that moment for the rest of our lives. It was a weird feeling to hear it on the news that the man has been gone for 34 years, and his remains were finally identified and he was finally coming home."

He purchased the missing-in-action bracelet in 1989 while on leave in Jacksonville, Fla., visiting his future father-in-law.

"I had been interested in the bracelets for a long time, and Paula's dad was active in the local (Veterans of Foreign Wars), so he pointed me in the right direction to get one," Rabon said.

Some people like to get one with the same last name as theirs or their home state, Rabon said. His only criteria: an Air Force person's name was on the bracelet.

When he slipped on the bracelet that day, Rabon took the duty seriously. He felt strongly about the sacrifices Apodaca and thousands of other veterans made. He vowed continued support from him and his wife.

"I've worn the bracelet for 12 years, with the exception of when I've had to deploy to certain locations where jewelry wasn't allowed," he said. "Then Paula wore it."

Rabon, who is in the Lajes Honor Guard, will not let his family forget those still missing in action.

"I still have people who ask me what the bracelet is for; if it's a medical alert bracelet," he said. "People in my house are acutely aware of what it is. My kids will remember this in years to come. It has a lot of meaning for us.

"There are places where we can't fly our flag or walk around in a T-shirt that says 'Proud to be an American,'" he explained. "This is the one way I can say it and support those who have fallen, in a country where I can't wear that T-shirt."

The sacrifices made by those who fought before, he said, have made tremendous changes in the way the military does business today.

"One of the things the military says is that we won't leave any of our own behind, and that's being shown today," he said. "We're back searching and trying to find the members who were left behind. We take care of our own no matter what the circumstances. One way of showing we'll never forget is by wearing the bracelet."

The Rabons are preparing a letter for Apodaca's family. They will send the letter and the bracelet to a contact in Washington who will forward it to the family.

"We included our return address in the letter," Paula said. "We hope to make contact with the family. We want them to know that it wasn't just their family who was always with him. There were others who were behind their family during that time."

For now they will wait.

"And buy another bracelet and wear it until that one is recovered too," Paula said. (Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service) "