Jim Thomas joined the Air Force when he was 18 and was assigned duty as an aircraft mechanic. While he was stationed in Hawaii, he was able to train for pararescue, and was then assigned to a pararescue Squadron at Da Nang, Vietnam. On November 25, 1971, while on a TDY assignment, Jim was on a rescue mission, which successfully retrieved 13 soldiers whose helicopter had been shot down. Jim's chopper took ground fire during the rescue, and the crew stopped at a forward base camp to make sure the chopper was safe to fly. The soldiers got off at that time. On the flight back to its home base at Bien Hoa, the chopper took more fire and the pilot was hit. It began a slow descent and impacted in a river, breaking in two. Three crew members were found dead. The two crewmembers standing next to Jim both got out and were recovered by friendly forces. A local fisherman who saw the crash said a third man, wearing a white t-shirt, also escaped. Jim was the only one wearing a white t-shirt. One side of the river was controlled by friendly forces, and the other, by enemy troops. When American Prisoners of War were released in 1973, Jim Thomas was not among them. He remains unaccounted for. Since the war ended, over 10,000 reports have been received concerning Americans still in captivity in Southeast Asia, but the U.S. has been unable to secure freedom for any of those who remain. On November 25, 1998, Jim's wife, Julie, passed away. Her friends said "she died of a broken heart." Julie never knew the fate of her husband, and left three daughters, Kimmie, Lisa and Symphony to carry on the fight. To view Kimmie's site for her dad, click the link below. |
Graphic by Charlie |
Please write your Representatives in Washington and tell them to bring our men home! |
Although his recently constructed distress signal, GX2527, was photographed in the early 90s, Peter Matthes remains in Vietnam!! How can this happen? Click above! |
Attention all veterans and friends of veterans! Do you know anyone suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Below is a link to a therapy program that has yielded great results to veterans it treats for PTSD. |
Index to My Website My other adopted POW/MIAs: Donald A. Luna l Richard D. Hill |
Jim Thomas' Story Name: James Richard Thomas Rank/Branch: E6/US Air Force Unit: 37th ARRSQ/Pararescue, Da Nang Date of Birth: 05 July 1943 Home City of Record: Ft. Walton Beach, FL Date of Loss: 25 November 1971 Country of Loss: South Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 1030800N 1064800E (XS953730) Status (in 1973): Missing in Action Category: 3 Acft/Vehicle/Ground: HH53C Refno: 1780 Other Personel in Incident: None Missing |
This POW/MIA Freedom Fighters Ring site is owned by Angela. |
This POW/MIA Ring site is owned by Angela Site ID #690 Proud Member of the POW/MIA Freedom Fighters. Get a POW/MIA Honor Page of your own. |
"As an American asked to serve, I was prepared to fight, to be wounded, to be captured and even prepared to die, but I was not prepared to be abandoned." (Former POW Eugene "Red" McDaniel - Source: VVnW POW/MIA Page) Thanks, LadyJen, for that the above graphic and quote. |
Graphic by Joni |
AboveGraphic by Rick Hinton. |
Much thanks to Kimmie Thomas for the above graphic and link!, which details a large reward for anyone who can help lead to a LIVE POW. |
James R. Thomas, Date of Loss: November 25, 1971 The POW/MIA Issue Although he was last seen alive at the scene of a helicopter crash in Vietnam, Jim Thomas remains one of the thousands of American soldiers from Vietnam and other American conflicts still unaccounted for. Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting that many POWs remain alive today, the U.S. Government has not taken effective action to bring these missing heroes home! Countless American families are left in doubt as to the fate of their loved ones. So what can you do about it?? |
One of the Many Left Behind |
James R. Thomas, Date of Loss: November 25, 1971 The POW/MIA Issue Although he was last seen alive at the scene of a helicopter crash in Vietnam, Jim Thomas remains one of the thousands of American soldiers from Vietnam and other American conflicts still unaccounted for. Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting that many POWs remain alive today, the U.S. Government has not taken effective action to bring these missing heroes home! Countless American families are left in doubt as to the fate of their loved ones. So what can you do about it?? |
Never forget those who fought for you. To learn how you can make a difference, click below. |
Much thanks to Kimmie Thomas for the above graphic and link!, which details a large reward for anyone who can help lead to a LIVE POW. |
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are in need. ~Proverbs 31:8~ |
The Dove of Peace flies to any site where peace is welcomed. Please help it around the globe by passing it on... |
AboveGraphic by Rick Hinton. |
Graphic by Joni |
We are in agreement that every effort to keep this matter out of the public eye should be made. ... Because of the nature of this case and the undesirable precedent that might occur, your course of action seems appropriate. ~from an internal memorandum, ultimately obtained under the Freedom of Information Act - a Pentagon official's correspondence with a colleague~ |
"As an American asked to serve, I was prepared to fight, to be wounded, to be captured and even prepared to die, but I was not prepared to be abandoned." (Former POW Eugene "Red" McDaniel - Source: VVnW POW/MIA Page) Thanks, LadyJen, for that the above graphic and quote. |
This POW/MIA Ring site is owned by Angela Site ID #690 Proud Member of the POW/MIA Freedom Fighters. Get a POW/MIA Honor Page of your own. |
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
">
This POW/MIA Freedom Fighters Ring site is owned by Angela. |
Jim Thomas' Story Name: James Richard Thomas Rank/Branch: E6/US Air Force Unit: 37th ARRSQ/Pararescue, Da Nang Date of Birth: 05 July 1943 Home City of Record: Ft. Walton Beach, FL Date of Loss: 25 November 1971 Country of Loss: South Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 1030800N 1064800E (XS953730) Status (in 1973): Missing in Action Category: 3 Acft/Vehicle/Ground: HH53C Refno: 1780 Other Personel in Incident: None Missing |
Index to My Website My other adopted POW/MIAs: Donald A. Luna l Richard D. Hill |
">
">
">
">
Attention all veterans and friends of veterans! Do you know anyone suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Below is a link to a therapy program that has yielded great results to veterans it treats for PTSD. |
Although his recently constructed distress signal, GX2527, was photographed in the early 90s, Peter Matthes remains in Vietnam!! How can this happen? Click above! |
Please write your Representatives in Washington and tell them to bring our men home! |
Click this heart for a great site on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. |
Graphic by Charlie |
Jim Thomas joined the Air Force when he was 18 and was assigned duty as an aircraft mechanic. While he was stationed in Hawaii, he was able to train for pararescue, and was then assigned to a pararescue Squadron at Da Nang, Vietnam. On November 25, 1971, while on a TDY assignment, Jim was on a rescue mission, which successfully retrieved 13 soldiers whose helicopter had been shot down. Jim's chopper took ground fire during the rescue, and the crew stopped at a forward base camp to make sure the chopper was safe to fly. The soldiers got off at that time. On the flight back to its home base at Bien Hoa, the chopper took more fire and the pilot was hit. It began a slow descent and impacted in a river, breaking in two. Three crew members were found dead. The two crewmembers standing next to Jim both got out and were recovered by friendly forces. A local fisherman who saw the crash said a third man, wearing a white t-shirt, also escaped. Jim was the only one wearing a white t-shirt. One side of the river was controlled by friendly forces, and the other, by enemy troops. When American Prisoners of War were released in 1973, Jim Thomas was not among them. He remains unaccounted for. Since the war ended, over 10,000 reports have been received concerning Americans still in captivity in Southeast Asia, but the U.S. has been unable to secure freedom for any of those who remain. On November 25, 1998, Jim's wife, Julie, passed away. Her friends said "she died of a broken heart." Julie never knew the fate of her husband, and left three daughters, Kimmie, Lisa and Symphony to carry on the fight. To view Kimmie's site for her dad, click the link below. |
