Dan Heller 
Name: Lawrence Gene Stolz
Memorials: Find a Grave 1 2 Vietnam Wall Wall of Faces
Rank/Branch: Captain/USAF
Unit: 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron Ubon Airfield Thailand
Date of Birth: 24 November 1945
Home of Record: Haubstadt IN
Date of Loss: 26 December 1971
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 184459N 1055159E (WG875925)
Status in 1973: Missing In Action
Category: 1
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F-4D “Phantom II” Serial No. 66-8818
Other Personnel In Incident: Dale F. Koons (remains returned)
REMARKS: DEAD-FBIS PHOTO OF ID
SYNOPSIS: Capt. Larry G. Stolz was a pilot and 1Lt. Dale F. Koons his rear-seater aboard an F-4D Phantom fighter/bomber assigned to the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ubon Airfield, Thailand. Stolz was serving his second tour in Vietnam. On his first tour, he had flown as “back-seater” on the F-4 as Koons was on his second. Stolz had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and other honors for combat missions flown during his first tour of Vietnam.
On December 26, 1971, Stolz and Koons were sent on a bombing mission over North Vietnam as number three in a flight of four aircraft. During the mission, Stolz’ aircraft was hit, and he took the aircraft up into the low cloud cover either as escape procedure or in order to eject. Stolz and Koons were not seen again.
FBI later uncovered a photo made by the North Vietnamese which showed Larry’s and Dale’s identification, pistol, flight plans and dollar bills from their pockets. The Vietnamese added a note on the back of the photo which stated that both were “destroyed” with their aircraft. Larry’s mother, Lorene Stolz says, “Of course, we would like to have Larry back alive. We think often of the awful treatment he may be receiving… So many years, so many tears..and it’s not over.”
Families of men whose fates are uncertain find it impossible to ignore the mounting evidence that Americans are still held captive in Southeast Asia. Since the war ended, nearly 10,000 reports relating to missing Americans have been received by the U.S. government. Many authorities believe the numbers of those still alive to be in the hundreds.
Whether Stolz and Koons were “destroyed” when their aircraft went down is unknown. The U.S Government is certain that the Vietnamese know the fate of the two men, but as yet have been unable to learn for certain that they are dead – or alive.
On 13 December 1989 CIL-HI confirmed that remains recovered on 6 April 1988 were those of Larry Stolz and Dale Koons.
