[Vision2020] Where Are They Now? (CPT Gregg N. Hollinger)

[Tom Hansen]

A copy of the following email has been provided to the appropriate elected
officials at:

Governor Butch Otter
http://gov.idaho.gov/ourgov/contact.html

Senator Larry Craig
http://craig.senate.gov/webform.cfm

Senator Mike Crapo
http://crapo.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Representative Mike Simpson
http://www.house.gov/simpson/emailme.shtml

Representative Bill Sali
http://sali.house.gov/

Emails concerning those unaccounted for veterans whose home of record is
within Idaho's 1st Congressional District will be provided to Representative
Sali if/when he becomes accessible to the citizens of Idaho.

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Subject:  Where Are They Now? (CPT Gregg N. Hollinger)
 
Dear - ,
 
As a retired veteran and citizen in the state of Idaho I would like to know
what is being done to determine the fate of the following veteran who
remains unaccounted for:
 
Captain Gregg Neyman Hollinger (Boise, Idaho), U.S. Air Force
 
On December 14, 1971, CW2 Otha L. Perry, pilot; Capt. Cecil C. Perkins,
co-pilot; Lt. Col. John Boyanowski, Capt. Gregg N. Hollinger, SP4 Dwight A.
Bremmer and SSgt. Floyd D. Caldwell, passengers; were aboard a U21A aircraft
(tail #18041), call sign "Long Trip 041." They were conducting an
administrative mission from Hue/Phu Bai Airfield to DaNang Airbase, South
Vietnam , which was located 42 miles southeast of their base of departure.
 
The planned flight path was to take Long Trip 041 24 miles due east of
Hue/Phu Bai into the Gulf of Tonkin, then the aircraft would make a 90
degree right turn and continue the remaining 19 miles into DaNang Airbase.
During the flight, the aircraft experienced an in-flight emergency. CW2
Perry reported to ground control that he had lost his number 2 engine and
had a fire. He gave their location and requested search and rescue (SAR) be
launched in case they had to ditch. Within minutes after the emergency was
declared, both radio and radar contact was lost with the U21A. By the time
SAR personnel arrived at the aircraft's last known position, there was no
sign of the U21A or its crew and passengers.
 
Due to inclement weather and poor visibility all search efforts were
curtailed. However, extensive searches were conducted for the next three
days, over water and the adjacent shore area, but no trace of the aircraft
or personnel was ever found. The last known position placed Long Trip 041
approximately 7 miles east-northeast of Hon Son Cha Island , which is
located 1 mile east of the tip of the Vung DaNang peninsula, Thua Thien
Province , South Vietnam . At the time the formal search effort was
terminated, Otha Perry, Cecil Perkins, Jon Boyanowski, Dwight Bremmer, Floyd
Caldwell and Gregg Hollinger were listed Missing in Action.
 
While there is little doubt about the fate of the men aboard Long Trip 041,
they do have a right to have their remains returned to their families,
friends and country if at all possible. 
 
Additional information and a detailed account of Captain Hollinger's
activities on December 14, 1971, prior to his disappearance, are available
at:
 
http://www.IdahoCares.net/Hollinger.htm
 
Please advise me of any action that is being taken by you or any other
elected or appointed official to determine his fate.
 
In the event there is nothing being done, please explain why not, and tell
me how you, personally, plan to correct this and prevent it from ever
happening again.
 
Information related to other Idaho citizen-veterans who remain unaccounted
for may be accessed at:
 
http://www.IdahoCares.net

Yours most sincerely,
 
Thomas P. Hansen
SFC, US Army (Retired)
201 Taylor Avenue
Moscow, Idaho
 
Cc:
Lewiston Tribune
Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Spokesman Review

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Pro patria,

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil
and steady dedication of a lifetime." 

--Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.