Although the title of this page with respect to MIAs is plural, the majority of my research has been focused on one U.S. pilot who has been missing in Laos since 1969. During the course of my extensive research of his military service, and circumstances of the loss I encounter other cases of missing-in-action servicemembers, and prisoners-of-war. So, it is research that encompasses far more than a single person but my primary interest is Colonel Carter P. Luna.
I am a self-titled “investigative researcher” due to a lack of having a formal description to define what I do. I investigate behind a computer, literally with my “boots on the ground” in Southeast Asia, and by making contact with individuals directly or indirectly related to the focus of my research. I research many archival sources, media sources, personal military records (which I am privileged to acquire with the approval of the family). I began my most intense research in about 2017, although through the years prior to that I did some cursory searching on the internet. Since the internet came into existence in 1993, I had very minimal capability of conducting what can often be described as “challenging” research before that.
Another “tool in my toolbox” is networking. I learned during my 25 year career in law enforcement that networking with others was invaluable in investigations. It also was helpful when the occasion presented itself to be able to put a “face to a name” rather than only speaking on the phone or by e-mail to someone. I have had the opportunity to attend organizational meetings where I am able to network with likeminded people, but also to gain an education into areas of research related to those servicemen who have not been repatriated.
There are numerous reasons why researching someone who went missing in a foreign country during a war over fifty years ago can be challenging. Since the war most documents have become declassified making them accessible for viewing. Imagine what it was like before “declassification”, it had to be very limited at best. While I personally do not believe every single document related to the war is declassified researchers work with what’s available. Documents take on many forms such as military service records, investigative reports by various U.S. government agencies, maps, photographs, analysis of other losses investigated by other researchers.
How did I begin my research, recordkeeping, documentation, archiving of information? In the beginning I wasn’t really looking “forward” to where my inquiries may lead me. My mindset was very shortsighted. I wanted to know about Colonel Carter Luna and casually searched the internet for information about him, possible family members, and the weapons systems officer flying with him Colonel Aldis Rutyna (Captain Rutyna at the time of rescue). I saved notes and printed information in manila file folders; very little of my research was saved in word document files on my computer. I also acquired information through a freedom of information request, commonly known as a “FOIA” (pronounced: foy uh) the “Freedom of Information Act”. While a FOIA doesn’t provide everything that is archived from a government source, in this case the United States Air Force, it can provide a foundation for other directions to go in search of information. In addition to the obvious things such as an individual’s social security number, years later I would find that often times documents would contain much redacted information, i.e. names of individuals interviewed, locations of various events. Interestingly though if I were provided information from a government source with lots of redacted information, I have been able to find the same document through an on-line archival source with the identical information not redacted.
Fast forward to about 2017 when my research became more focused and intense so did my methods of storing information. I now have a vast library of documents from various sources, spreadsheets that I have made, maps and photographs stored on my computer. In addition, much of this information is also in a hard-copy format, and a back-up drive for my laptop. I have divided information into three ring binders based on the topic, i.e. intelligence, maps, military service records, search and rescue logs, and so on. These processes have made it much easier and more manageable to access information when I’m referring to it during my research, and when asking another researcher for information or assistance.
As I mentioned above I also gain knowledge by networking with other individuals and organizations. If I say there is much to be learned researching POW/MIA issues… it would be an understatement. By nature I am very inquisitive, and want to know the “why” of things. It would be best for me to itemize some of the topics that required me getting an “education” to understand the “why” of certain events related to the loss of Colonel Luna, and how they are instrumental to my research.
- historical military information
- military service records
- Vietnam War & the Secret War in Laos
- military aircraft
- tactical military operations
- search and rescue logs AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE IS AN ACTUAL PAGE FROM A SEARCH & RESCUE LOG FROM THE MISSION ON 10 MAR 69 involving Colonel Luna.
- locating individuals who may have firsthand or other knowledge including personal contacts who served in the military, or specifically in the Vietnam War. finally, but most importantly in a personal way was becoming acquainted with Pat Luna the wife of Colonel Luna. Actually, it’s a story of it’s own of how I found out that she was his next-of-kin. The insight she has provided to me about Colonel Luna on a personal, and a professional level is deeply meaningful to me. The friendship we have formed is like no other that I’ve had especially because we have never met!
- reports prepared by U.S. government organizations
- archive sources
- map sources
SEARCH & RESCUE LOG (SAR) 10 MAR 69
MAP OF AREA OF COLONEL LUNA’S LAST KNOWN POSITION
17.0257 N 105.5758 E