CARL BOYETTE CRUMPLER
Rank/Branch: O5/United States Air Force, pilot
Date of Birth: 02 July 1927
Home City of Record: Jacksonville FL
Date of Loss: 05 July 1968
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 173600 North 1062700 East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4D
Other Personnel in Incident: Michael Burns,
returnee
Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or
more of the following: raw data from U.S.
Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.
REMARKS: 730314 RELEASED BY DRV
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 and spelling errors).
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO
CARL B. CRUMPLER
Colonel - United States Air Force
Shot down: July 5, 1968
Released: March 14, 1973
I am a Floridian by birth and received all my
early training in state schools completing high
school in Jacksonville in 1945. Shortly after
graduation I enlisted in the U. S. Navy and was
released after one year of active duty during the
World War II demobilization. In 1946 I entered
the University of Alabama and received my degree
and USAF commission in 1950. In September 1950 I
was called to active duty and attended pilot
training in 1951-52. A succession of assignments
in Air Defense Command FighterSquadrons followed,
from 1952 to 1960, including a tour of duty in
Naha, Okinawa.
In 1960 I attended the Aircraft Maintenance
Officers Course and was subsequently assigned to
Air Training Command for four years. My next
assignment was to Teheran, Iran as an advisor to
the Imperial Iranian Air Force. Departing Iran I
was assigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing,
Ubon, Thailand with a five month stopover for F4
training at Homestead AFB, Florida.
I was shot down by ground fire over North Vietnam
on 5 July 1968.
My wife, Jane, sons, Mike (16), Todd (13),
daughters, Beth (11), and Leigh (10), awaited my
return in Orange Park, Florida.
One question that I have often been asked since my
return is "What changes have you seen in America
since your return?" Most people asking this are
seeking answers dealing with moral decay,
decline of established institutions or changes in
our social structure. The most obvious change that
I have seen is Americans are concerned. They are
concerned about inflation, social problems,
integrity in public office and even the possible
decline in our international image. Concerned
Americans working together brought us through the
economic chaos of the 30's, rebuilt a destitute
Europe after World War II and placed a man on the
moon. It seems time again for us Americans to get
a few calluses on our hands. It is a cheap price
to pay for freedom and our way of life. My faith
in the future of our wonderful nation has never
been greater.
November 1996
Carl Crumpler retired from the United States Air
Force as a Colonel. He and Jane still live in
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