Dan Heller 
Name: Charles Edward Barnett
Memorials: Find a Grave 1 2 3 Vietnam Wall Wall of Faces
Rank/Branch: Commander/USN
Unit: Fleet Attack Squadron 93 (VA-93) USS Midway CVA-41
Date of Birth: 18 January 1935
Home of Record: Houston TX
Date of Loss: 23 May 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 201700N 1062500E (XH479432)
Status in 1973: Missing in Action
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A-7B “Corsair II” BuNo. 154405
Other Personnel In Incident: None
REMARKS: BODY FELL IN FIELD—NHAN DAN
SYNOPSIS: Commander Charles E. Barnett was a pilot assigned to Attack Squadron 93 onboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CVA-41). On May 23, 1972 at 12:00 p.m., Cdr. Barnett launched in his A-7B “Corsair” aircraft as the flight leader of a strike mission into Nam Dinh, North Vietnam. Cdr. Barnett and his wingman preceded the strike group to suppress the two known active surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites.
As the strike group withdrew from their attack, Cdr. Barnett and his wingman followed. At approximately 6-8 miles from the coast-out point, Cdr. Barnett directed his wingman over the radio to increase his speed and maneuver. Approximately twenty seconds later, he transmitted to his wingman that he had an electronic indication of a SAM radar. The wingman heard no further transmissions from him and lost sight of him. The wingman attempted to contact Cdr. Barnett by radio but with negative results. The wingman observed what appeared to be an aircraft crash site and a column of smoke about five miles inland. Search and rescue efforts produced negative results.
According to the U.S. Navy, that is the end of the story. Commander Barnett was maintained in a casualty status of Missing In Action, which was changed administratively to Presumed Killed In Action/Body Not Recovered on 15 June 1975.
A Vietnamese publication called Nhan Dan reported that Commander Barnett’s body fell into a field from his crippled aircraft, but at the end of the war, after having signing an agreement to release all prisoners and account for as many missing as possible, the Vietnamese denied any knowledge of Commander Barnett.
On November 3, 1988, the Vietnamese “discovered” they had the remains of Commander Barnett and returned them to U.S. control. After going through the identification process in the US, it was announced in early February 1988 that Commander Barnett had come home.
For over 16 years, the Vietnamese held Commander Barnett prisoner, whether he was alive or dead. The U.S. government has received nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing in Southeast Asia, and many authorities believe that there are hundreds still alive. The U.S. has not been able to secure the release of any living POW.
Charles Barnett’s family no longer has to wait, wondering what happened to him. But for nearly 2500 other American families, life goes on in uncertain agony. And, for the hundreds of American servicemen who may still be alive, another day in captivity and abandonment passes.
