Shareware Supreme Volume 6 #1/swsii.zip/swsii/009/L353.ZIP/L353.TXT

Text File | 1989-11-11 | 4KB | 73 lines

LAKER, CARL JOHN

Name: Carl John Laker
Rank/Branch: E4/US Army
Unit: Company H, 75th Infantry, 1st Cavalry Division (Ranger)
Date of Birth: 12 June 1950 (East Meadow NY)
Home City of Record: Clearwater FL
Date of Loss: 17 June 1970
Country of Loss: Cambodia
Loss Coordinates: 121833N 1071134E (YU386618)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: Ground
Other Personnel in Incident: Deverton C. Cochrane (missing)

REMARKS: HEAD WOUND - 3 RECOV - SERCH NEG - J

SYNOPSIS: On June 16, 1970, SSgt. Deverton C. Cochran was team leader and SP4
Carl J. Laker the assistant team leader of a reconnaissance team from Company
H, 75th Infantry, 1st Cavalry Division on an area search mission in Cambodia.

1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry was an aerial reconnaissance cavalry squadron
operating with an aero-scout ("white") platoon; aero-weapons ("red") platoon,
and an aero-rifle ("blue") platoon. The squadron also had a ground cavalry
element. Cochrane is listed as attached to "75th Infantry, 1st Squadron, 9th
Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division."  Laker, however, is listed as assigned to
Company H of the 75th Infantry, 1st Cavalry Division, which is a Ranger unit.
If these unit designations are accurate, then Laker was a Ranger while Cochrane
was probably a "blue" assigned to the Company H mission. In 1970, the Company H
strength was 198 men. The 75th Infantry ("Merrill's Marauders") had only been
organized the beginning of 1969 to provide a parent unit for the separate
long-range reconnaissance patrol companies (LRRP). Ranger companies in Vietnam
were particularly elite.

The team was operating just inside Cambodia in Mondol Kiri Province due east of
the South Vietnam city of Dak Song. After a successful infiltration, the team
set up in the vicinity to conduct a trail watch and to establish a night
defensive position.

The next morning, the team moved out to conduct reconnaissance until 1535 hours
when, upon entering a wood line, the team leader was fired upon by enemy
troops. Members of the team saw the team leader fall holding his neck and loin.
SP4 Laker tried to crawl forward to assist, and fell on top of another member
of the team who later reported that Laker had been hit above the left eye,
gravely wounded.

The team finally managed to break contact and one member was able to evade the
enemy and return to friendly lines. An extensive search was made of the battle
area for several days, but only 2 wounded members of the team were rescued.
There was no trace of Cochrane or Laker.

Although the Ranger missions were hazardous, few remain missing from them.
Laker was classified as Killed in Action, Body Not Recovered because the extent
of his injuries were known, and they were serious. Cochrane's injuries, on the
other hand, could not be assessed, and it was felt there was the possibility of
survival and ultimate capture. Cochrane was classified Missing in Action.

Laker and Cochrane are among nearly 2500 Americans still prisoner, missing or
unaccount for from the Vietnam war. Some, like Carl Laker, are undoubtedly
dead. Others were certainly not dead, but in good health the last they were
seen. Still others were seen as prisoners or even photographed, only to
disappear from the prison system.

Unlike "MIAs" from other wars, most of the missing from Vietnam can be
accounted for, if Vietnam chooses to do so. Based on thousands of refugee
reports, most authorities now believe that hundreds of Americans are still
alive today, held against their will. For the honor of those who died, and for
the honor of our country, these men must be brought home.