DONALD, MYRON LEE

Name: Myron Lee Donald
Rank/Branch: O2/US Air Force
Unit:
Date of Birth:
Home City of Record: Moravia NY
Date of Loss: 23 February 1968
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 212400N 1071500E (XJ848654)
Status (in 1973): Released POW
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: F4D

Other Personnel in Incident: Laird Guttersen (released POW)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 March 1991 from one or more of the
following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Copyright 1991 Homecoming II
Project.

REMARKS: 730314 RELSD BY DRV

SYNOPSIS: The Phantom, used by Air Force, Marine and Navy air wings, served a
multitude of functions including fighter-bomber and interceptor, photo and
electronic surveillance. The two man aircraft was extremely fast (Mach 2), and
had a long range (900 - 2300 miles, depending on stores and mission type). The
F4 was also extremely maneuverable and handled well at low and high altitudes.
Most pilots considered it one of the "hottest" planes around.

Lt. Myron L. Donald served as weapons systems operator in a Phantom
fighter/bomber flown by Major Laird Guttersen on a mission they were assigned on
February 23, 1968. While close to Hanoi, the aircraft was hit by a missile from
a MiG 21. Donald and Guttersen crash landed near Haiphong and both were
captured by the North Vietnamese. Both were released in March 1973 with other
American POWs.

Donald and Guttersen received torture and deprivation in the hands of the
Vietnamese, but neither lost their will to survive. Donald says that the POWs'
sense of humor was one of the biggest things that kept them going. He remembers
times when POWs were in their cells with irons on hands and feet, but laughing
so hard that tears ran down their cheeks. This, he said, "drove them crazy."

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.

Myron L. Donald was promoted to the rank of Captain during his captivity.
