Dan Heller 
Name: Patrick Martin Fallon
Memorials: Find a Grave 1 2 3 Vietnam Wall Wall of Faces
Rank/Branch: Colonel/USAF
Unit: 602nd Special Operations Squadron Nakhon Phanom Air Base Thailand
Date of Birth: 12 November 1921
Home of Record: Pittsburgh PA
Date of Loss: 4 July 1969
Country of Loss: Laos
Loss Coordinates: 191700N 1030600E (UG004331)
Status in 1973: Missing In Action
Category: 1
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: A-1H “Skyraider” Serial No. 52-137512
Other Personnel In Incident: None
REMARKS: LAST KNOWN ALIVE DISCREPANCY/MIA/PFoD
On July 4, 1969, Colonel Fallon was the pilot of an A-1H, lead in a flight of two aircraft which departed Nakhon Phanom Air Base, Thailand, late in the morning for an armed reconnaissance mission over Xieng Knouang Province, Laos. His aircraft was hit in the wing during his second pass over the target and Colonel Fallon bailed out. Aircrew overhead saw Colonel Fallon’s parachute being dragged in and initially “guessed” Colonel Fallon was on the ground and a prisoner approximately 20 miles southeast of Mung Suoi. However, Colonel Fallon was able to report he had landed safely and was in good condition but receiving fire from nearby hostile forces. Aircraft in the area laid down air strikes within one hundred feet of his position and received hostile ground fire. They reported friendly forces were two and a half miles southwest of his location and advised him to move in that direction but Colonel Fallon was observed surrounded by hostile forces. After being in communications with aircraft overhead for approximately thirty minutes, Colonel Fallon radioed “Put it in around me. They have zapped me. I’ve had it.” However, radio communications continued with Colonel Fallon for approximately 15 more minutes with no evidence he’d been wounded. Colonel Fallon’s wingman observed hostile infantry on the ridge top around his position. U.S. aircraft delivered ordnance on Colonel Fallon’s position. Colonel Fallon was declared missing in action. In August 1969 the area Colonel Fallon was last seen was searched by ground forces but with negative results. On September 16, 1969, an unconfirmed report was received that a U.S. pilot had been killed by grenades while defending himself with a pistol. An attempt was being made to locate villagers who might know of the grave site. Returning U.S. POWs had no information on Colonel Fallon’s precise fate. In August 1979 he was declared dead/body not recovered, based on a presumptive finding of death.
If Patrick Fallon died in a firefight with Pathet Lao forces, he has a right to have his remains returned to his family, friends and country. However if he survived his fate, like that of other Americans who remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, could be quite different.
Since the end of the Vietnam War well over 21,000 reports of American prisoners, missing and otherwise unaccounted for have been received by our government. Many of these reports document LIVE American Prisoners of War remaining captive throughout Southeast Asia TODAY.
Fighter pilots in Vietnam were called upon to fly in many dangerous circumstances, and they were prepared to be wounded, killed or captured. It probably never occurred to them that they could be abandoned by the country they so proudly served.
