FREDERICK H. CROWSON
Unit: Company B, 229th Aviation Battalion, 1st
Cavalry Division, crew chief
Date of Birth: 29 January 50
Home City of Record: Pensacola FL
Date of Loss: 02 May 1970
Country of Loss: Cambodia
Loss Coordinates: 114512N 1060827E (XU243013)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: UH1H
Other Personnel In Incident: Michael Varnado;
Robert M. Young; Bunyan D. Price; Dale W.
Richardson (all missing); Daniel F. Maslowski
(returned POW);- Tommy Karreci (evaded and
escaped)
Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project with
the assistance of one or more of the following:
raw data from U.S. Government agency sources,
correspondence with POW/MIA families, published
sources, interviews. Date Compiled: 01 January
1990. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK.
REMARKS: 730212 RELSD BY PRG/INJ
SYNOPSIS: On May 2, 1970 a UH1H helicopter from
Company B, 229th Aviation Battalion, 1st Cavalry
Division flown by WO1 Michael B. Varnado was hit
by ground fire and forced to land just over the
border of South Vietnam near the city of Memot,
Cambodia. The aircraft was transporting members
of HHC, 34th Armor, 25th Infantry Division, SP4
Rodney L. Griffin; SP4 Bunyan D. Price, Jr.; WO1
Daniel F. Maslowski; Capt. Dale W. Richardson;
and Capt. Robert M. Young. Also aboard were Tommy
Karreci, SP4 Frederick H. Crowson, and CW2 Daniel
F. Maslowski, crew members of the aircraft.
The men were part of an attempt to stop North
Vietnamese forces from gaining strongholds in
Cambodia. President Nixon announced the request by
Cambodia for American assistance on April 30. Had
we not assisted, the North Vietnamese, in addition
to having an effective sanctuary to which they
could retreat without retaliation, would also
have South Vietnam completely outflanked.
The crew all survived the crash, and had only 30
-40 seconds on the ground to decide what to do.
They all attempted to evade, each in different
directions. Only 18-year-old Karreci managed to
make it back to U.S. lines in 2 or 3 days.
Crowson, Maslowski, Varnado and Young went in one
direction and were all captured by North Vietnamese
and Viet Cong forces. Price, according to Defense
Department records, was also captured. Griffin and
Richardson took off in another direction and were
never seen again.
Crowson and Maslowski were released in 1973 and
in their debriefings stated that WO1 Varnado and
Capt. Young had died in captivity, while detained
in Cambodia. The Provisional Revolutionary
Government of South Vietnam (PRG) officially
acknowledged their deaths, listing Varnado's
death as 21 September 1970, and Young's death as
17 November 1972.
According to Dan Maslowski, Bob Young died of
illness in Dan's arms in the fall of 1972.
Maslowski saw Varnado about two months after
capture. "Vito" had been shot in the leg and in
the side when he was captured, and according to
Dan, "looked like hell". His side wound had
healed, but the wound in his leg, in the kneecap,
was badly infected. He could not walk, and told
Maslowski that the Viet Cong had been transporting
him in a hammock. The Viet Cong had told Varnado
that he was to be taken to a hospital to have his
leg taken care of. The Vietnamese state that he
died two months after Dan saw him in camp (about
4 months after capture).
On August 1, 1989, it was announced that the
Vietnamese had "discovered" the remains of Michael
Varnado, returned them to the U.S. His remains were
positively identified, much to the relief of
family and surviving comrades, and Michael Varnado
could finally be buried with the honor he deserved.
The remains identification did not contradict that
Vietnamese' statement that Varnado died four months
after capture.
The fate of Price is uncertain. Maslowski always
believed Price had been captured, but never saw him
in camps he was held in. One report from escaped ARVN
POWs stated that he was captured by the Khmer and
because the ethnic groups normally did not
cooperate, the Khmer would not likely have given
Price over to the Vietnamese, who had captured
the other four.
Since 1973, nearly 10,000 reports have been given
to the U.S. Government regarding Americans still
missing in Southeast Asia. Some, according to U.S.
State Department sources, have withstood the
"closest scrutiny" possible, and cannot be
disputed. There is very strong reason to believe
that Americans are still held captive in
Southeast Asia today, yet President after
President has failed to would bring them home.
SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret),
Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor P.O.W. Publications,
10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original
publication (including date andspelling errors).
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO
FREDERICK H. CROWSON
Specialist 5- United States Army
Captured: May 2, 1970
Released: February 12, 1973
More than 1,500 persons greeted Frederick Crowson
when he returned to his home in Pensacola, Florida.
Military officials, banner-waving students, and
"just people" had all gathered to welcome Freddy
home. He accepted the keys to the City presented by
Mayor Elebash who praised him on what he had done
for his country. His own words express his
feelings at the time:
"I'm at a loss for words. I tried to think of a
speech on the way, but I just can't find the words.
I want to thank all who have written to me at
Fort Gordon and all who sent me bracelets. I will
treasure them all my life. I'm the happiest guy in
the world right now."
He had been taken prisoner on May 2, 1970 but he
showed no ill effects from it. He planned a long
visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. O.
Crowson, his three brothers, Paul, Martin, and
Mike, and his sister, Mrs. Larry Cole.
He summarized his feelings with these words:
"I'm glad to be back in this wonderful country
and I am glad to have served all these wonderful
people. "
November 1996
Frederick Crowson retired from the United States
Army as a CSM. He resides in Florida.
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