LERSETH, ROGER GENE

Name: Roger Gene Lerseth
Rank/Branch: O3/US Air Force
Unit:
Date of Birth:
Home City of Record: Spokane WA
Date of Loss: 06 September 1972
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 204610N 1063800E (XH700972)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Category:
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: A6A

Other Personnel in Incident: Donald F. Lindand (remains returned)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 1 April 1991 from one or more of
the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence
with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W.
NETWORK 1998.

REMARKS: 730212 RELSD BY DRV - INJURED

SYNOPSIS: The Grumman A6 Intruder is a two-man all weather, low-altitude,
carrier-based attack plane, with versions adapted as aerial tanker and
electronic warfare platform. The A6A primarily flew close-air-support,
all-weather and night attacks on enemy troop concentrations, and night
interdiction missions. The planes were credited with some of the most
difficult single-plane strikes in the war, including the destruction of the
Hai Duong bridge between Hanoi and Haiphong by a single A6. Their missions
were tough, but their crews among the most talented and most courageous to
serve the United States.

Donald F. Lindand was the pilot of an A6A sent on a combat mission near
Haiphong, North Vietnam on September 6, 1972. His bombardier/navigator on
the flight was Lt. Roger G. Lerseth. During the mission the aircraft was
shot down and both crewmembers ejected.

Lerseth was captured by the Vietnamese and taken to Hanoi. Lindand was seen
running on the ground with Lerseth after ejection, and is known to have
evaded capture for 24 hours. Hanoi radio reported that the "aggressor
pilots" had been captured, but Lerseth was told by the Vietnamese that
Lindand was dead.

In February 1973, Lerseth was released with 591 Americans from Vietnam. He
had been a "guest" in the Hanoi prison system for the relatively short
period of five months.

Since the war ended, over 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing,
prisoner or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S.
Government. Many authorities who have examined this largely classified
information are convinced that hundreds of Americans are still held captive
today. These reports are the source of serious distress to many returned
American prisoners. They had a code that no one could honorably return
unless all of the prisoners returned. Not only that code of honor, but the
honor of our country is at stake as long as even one man remains unjustly
held. It's time we brought our men home.

On June 3, 1983, the Vietnamese "discovered" and returned the remains of
Donald F. Lindand to U.S. control. Alive or dead, Lindand was a prisoner of
war for eleven years.



Roger Lerseth retired from the United States Navy as a Commander. He resides
in Virginia.

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