HAMM, JAMES EDWARD

Name: James Edward Hamm
Rank/Branch: O2/US Air Force
Unit: 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Da Nang Airbase
Date of Birth: 04 May 1943
Home City of Record: Longmont CO
Date of Loss: 14 March 1968
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 161800N 1072200E (YD547037)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 2
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: F4D
Other Personnel in Incident: (backseater rescued)

REMARKS:

SYNOPSIS: Jim Hamm was always finding room for another model airplane to hang
from the ceiling of his room as a kid. When he went to college, he studied
aeronautics and joined the Air Force ROTC. Eventually, he received his wings
and trained to fly the most exciting fighter jet of the day -- the F4 Phantom.

When Jim was shipped to Vietnam, he was assigned to the 390th Tactical Fighter
Squadron at Da Nang airbase in South Vietnam. On March 14, 1968, Jim and his
aircraft commander were sent on a close-air support mission to assist in
diversionary fire for a helicopter evacuation about 18 miles southwest of the
city of Hue where the 304th North Vietnamese regiment was active.

Hamm made three low altitude runs over the hostile forces that morning. On his
fourth run, his plane was hit and caught fire. His backseater ejected and
landed in a valley with an injured leg, and Hamm landed some distance away.
Radio contact was established and rescue attempts made in spite of heavy ground
fire. One rescue helicopter crashed and another was called away. The crew of
the crashed helicopter was safely recovered. The injured backseater was finally
rescued and hospitalized for treatment.

During this period, Jim directed air strikes against the enemy in an attempt to
secure the area, although the enemy was extremely close. For this action he was
awarded the Silver Star. Later in the day, radio contact was lost, and no
further information was received from Jim.

Later analysis indicated that, because of Hamm's isolated position in the
center of enemy activity, he may have been captured. Certainly the enemy knows
his fate. Like nearly 2500 other Americans, his fate is uncertain. Reports
received since the war ended indicate that many are still captive, waiting for
their country to bring them home. One of them could be Jim.

Near Jim Hamm's home town of Longmont, Colorado, there is a peaceful place
where friends and family sometimes go to think and wonder about that day in
March 1968, when Jim was last seen. The pond there has a plaque to let all who
wander there know it's Jim's Pond. One day, maybe he'll see it.