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Shareware Supreme Volume 6 #1
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009
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1990-08-15
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LUSTER, ROBERT LEE
Remains Returned 27 January 1969, ID'd 23 February 1976
Name: Robert Lee Luster
Rank/Branch: E3/US Army
Unit:
Date of Birth: 30 December 1949
Home City of Record: Tiffin OH
Date of Loss: 23 January 1969
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 141911N 1074330E (YA940681)
Status (in 1973): Missing in Action
Category: 3
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: UH1H
Other Personnel in Incident: William R. Henderson, Frank D. Moorman (both
missing)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 September 1990 from one or more of
the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.
REMARKS: REMS REC 690127, IDD 760222
SYNOPSIS: MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observation
Group) was a joint-service unconventional warfare task force engaged in highly
classified operations throughout Southeast Asia. The 5th Special Forces
channeled personnel into MACV-SOG (although it was not a Special Forces group)
through Special Operations Augmentation (SOA), which provided their "cover"
while under secret orders to MACV-SOG. The teams performed deep penetration
missions of strategic reconnaissance and interdiction into Laos and Cambodia
which were called, depending on the time frame, "Shining Brass" or "Prairie
Fire" missions.
On December 19, 1968, PFC Robert F. Scherdin was the assistant team leader of a
MACV-SOG reconnaissance patrol in Rotanokiri Province, Cambodia, near the border
of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The team leader, suspecting enemy activity, had
taken four members of the team to check out the area. The rear element, with
Scherdin in charge, came under heavy automatic weapon fire as they were moving
up to the leader's position. Montagnard soldier Nguang in this element, saw
Scherdin fall on his right side and tried to help him stand up, but Scherdin
only groaned and would not get up. Nguang was then wounded himself and realized
that he had been left by the other three Vietnamese of the rear element,
whereupon he left Scherdin and joined the rest of the unit.
The team leader and his element were extracted a short time later, then the rear
element was extracted, except for Scherdin. The team leader had been informed
that Scherdin had been wounded and because of the tactical situation, had to be
left behind. Scherdin was not seen again.
On December 30, a platoon was inserted into the area to search for Scherdin, but
had to be extracted because of heavy enemy activity. In January, 1969, the rear
element of the original team was also reinserted and remained four days. They
died in a helicopter crash shortly after their extraction. They had not been
questioned by the investigation board, and it is not known if they located
information concerning Scherdin.
There are only three Americans missing who are associated with the loss of a
helicopter in January 1969. Lost January 23, 1969, they are SGT. William R.
Henderson, SP4 Frank D. Moorman and PFC Robert L. Luster. These three were lost
in the Tri-border area in South Vietnam. Their remains were recovered on January
27, 1969 and positive identifications confirmed February 23, 1976. These three
may have comprised the flight crew of the helicopter extracting the Special
Forces search party. [As the remainder of the rear element was probably
completely indigenous, U.S. records would not contain reference to them.]
Nearly 2500 Americans were lost in Southeast Asia during our miltary involvement
there. Since the war in Southeast Asia ended in 1973, thousands of reports
relating to Americans prisoner, missing or unaccounted for have been received by
the U.S. Government. The official policy is that no conclusive proof has been
obtained that is current enough to act upon. Detractors of this policy say
conclusive proof is in hand, but that the willingness or ability to rescue these
prisoners does not exist.
Robert F. Scherdin, if one of those hundreds said to be still alive and in
captivity, must be wondering if and when his country will return for him. In
America, we say that life is precious, but isn't the life of even one American
worth the effort of recovery? When the next war comes, and it is our sons lost,
will we then care enough to do everything we can to bring our prisoners home?