POW/MIA daughter forces recovery of father's remains
Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 1:45 pm
POW/MIA daughter forces recovery of father's remains
The following was received from the family of Major John O’Grady, shot down over Vietnam on April 10, 1967. This story is still unfolding. From more information visit Major O’Grady’s website at johnogradypowmia.com Please post a word of encouragement to the family in the Guestbook Section and give this email the widest distribution possible.
Lynn
Lynn O’Shea Director of Research National Alliance of Families For the Return of America’s Missing Servicemen World War II + Korea + Cold War + Vietnam + Gulf Wars + Afghanistan REMAINS RECOVERD
05/26/2012
Despite claims to the contrary on the record by the US State Department, Patty O'Grady, Ph.D can confirm firsthand with multiple source confirmation that the remains of Colonel John F. O'Grady USAF, POW/DIC were recovered from the grave the soldiers who buried him protected for 45 years.
On Thursday, May 24, 2012, Patty O'Grady confirmed that a full jawbone with 7 teeth were recovered by the Joint Vietnamese American MIA team.
On Friday, May 25, 2012, the Vietnamese shut down the excavation site allegedly for Dr. O'Grady's safety. The real reason was so the full remains could be recovered in secrecy and transported directly to Hanoi. The Vietnamese Army, the Vietnam Foreign Affairs representative, and Quang Binh Province militia were on site until about 5:00PM local time supervising remains recovery. The remains are currently in the custody of the Vietnamese government.
The site was then shut down permanently and left unprotected from 5:00 pm on May 24, 2012 until approximately 11:30 am on May 25, 2012. No US military personnel were on site. He was abandoned again by his government.
However, his daughter would not leave - under threat of arrest, deportation, robbery, assassination, emotional blackmail, and primitive living conditions she vowed to stay.
Dr. O'Grady noticed activity at the site on Friday. Small groups of workers going up the mountain to the site to dig. She contacted US State Department to confirm excavation has not resumed. She asked again for a briefing and was told "nothing to report" and "site still shut down". About mid morning she noticed an SUV with military officer (national uniform) standing beside the trail workers were using to go to gravesite parked south toward Dong Hoi. A large truck was parked on opposite side of the road facing North toward Vinh and Hanoi.
As Patty walked to investigate and take photographs, the villagers were animated and approaching her - hugging her, shaking her hand. Many were crying. "Your father!! Your father!!!" They pointed to the hill and then the truck. They were nodding and saying, "Yes! Yes!" with great excitement!!
The SUV left. The truck pulled away with a local villager driving who slowed down next to her and with a big smile shaking his head up and down saying, "Yes! Yes!" "Father!! Father!!" The truck drove away and the village returned to normal. The Vietnamese and Americans may return tomorrow - perhaps today to dig again but will not "find his remains."
Patty knows they already have him. On this Memorial Day, he will finally be on his way home.
Just as An and Thiet promised, his dog tags were found with him.
---- Lynn
Lynn O’Shea Director of Research National Alliance of Families For the Return of America’s Missing Servicemen World War II + Korea + Cold War + Vietnam + Gulf Wars + Afghanistan
The following was received from the family of Major John O’Grady, shot down over Vietnam on April 10, 1967. This story is still unfolding. From more information visit Major O’Grady’s website at johnogradypowmia.com Please post a word of encouragement to the family in the Guestbook Section and give this email the widest distribution possible.
Lynn
Lynn O’Shea Director of Research National Alliance of Families For the Return of America’s Missing Servicemen World War II + Korea + Cold War + Vietnam + Gulf Wars + Afghanistan REMAINS RECOVERD
05/26/2012
Despite claims to the contrary on the record by the US State Department, Patty O'Grady, Ph.D can confirm firsthand with multiple source confirmation that the remains of Colonel John F. O'Grady USAF, POW/DIC were recovered from the grave the soldiers who buried him protected for 45 years.
On Thursday, May 24, 2012, Patty O'Grady confirmed that a full jawbone with 7 teeth were recovered by the Joint Vietnamese American MIA team.
On Friday, May 25, 2012, the Vietnamese shut down the excavation site allegedly for Dr. O'Grady's safety. The real reason was so the full remains could be recovered in secrecy and transported directly to Hanoi. The Vietnamese Army, the Vietnam Foreign Affairs representative, and Quang Binh Province militia were on site until about 5:00PM local time supervising remains recovery. The remains are currently in the custody of the Vietnamese government.
The site was then shut down permanently and left unprotected from 5:00 pm on May 24, 2012 until approximately 11:30 am on May 25, 2012. No US military personnel were on site. He was abandoned again by his government.
However, his daughter would not leave - under threat of arrest, deportation, robbery, assassination, emotional blackmail, and primitive living conditions she vowed to stay.
Dr. O'Grady noticed activity at the site on Friday. Small groups of workers going up the mountain to the site to dig. She contacted US State Department to confirm excavation has not resumed. She asked again for a briefing and was told "nothing to report" and "site still shut down". About mid morning she noticed an SUV with military officer (national uniform) standing beside the trail workers were using to go to gravesite parked south toward Dong Hoi. A large truck was parked on opposite side of the road facing North toward Vinh and Hanoi.
As Patty walked to investigate and take photographs, the villagers were animated and approaching her - hugging her, shaking her hand. Many were crying. "Your father!! Your father!!!" They pointed to the hill and then the truck. They were nodding and saying, "Yes! Yes!" with great excitement!!
The SUV left. The truck pulled away with a local villager driving who slowed down next to her and with a big smile shaking his head up and down saying, "Yes! Yes!" "Father!! Father!!" The truck drove away and the village returned to normal. The Vietnamese and Americans may return tomorrow - perhaps today to dig again but will not "find his remains."
Patty knows they already have him. On this Memorial Day, he will finally be on his way home.
Just as An and Thiet promised, his dog tags were found with him.
---- Lynn
Lynn O’Shea Director of Research National Alliance of Families For the Return of America’s Missing Servicemen World War II + Korea + Cold War + Vietnam + Gulf Wars + Afghanistan