Please respond to Terry J. Wood:
Wood_Ter@mr1.k12.mo.us

“Searching for Vietnam Veteran
American Helicopter Pilot”

We are searching for my wife’s father. We are certain that he completed at least two tours to Vietnam, during the years 1967 – 1970. He was a US military officer, at least a Warrant Officer and possibly as high ranking as a Captain. He flew helicopters and we are told often flew other officers to various locations. We have good reason to believe he was a US Marine.
My wife Lisa Ann “Tuyet” Wood has not seen her father since March of 1970, at which time her and the mother became separated from dad. She needs closure with this and wants to know her father. We do not ask for anything from him other than to know him. He also has three grandchildren now, Amy age 11, Jack age 10, and baby Zane Huy Wood (We call him the Little General) his age is 2 years and 2 months; they want to know grandpa.
Here are some facts that we have concerning her father. His men referred to him as Mr. Gene or Mr. G. He would have been born 1944-45. We know this, because he was 24-25 when he met Mai Nguyen for the first time October of 1967 at a place called Nui Que. She was 19 years old. Nui Que is a village or small farming town that is located near Huong An. Huong An is around 40 kilometers south or southwest of DaNang. The Que Son Valley area is about 10 miles from Huong An.
Mai told us that he had been shot in the right leg prior to their first meeting. He showed her how he had used his boot or shoe lace and tied it around the injured leg as a tourniquet and escaped the NVA or VC. Mai and Mr. Gene’s relationship lasted for several months the first round and she was near him at Bong Son area during February, March and April of 1968. She became pregnant with the baby Lisa by April of that year. Mai told us that Mr. Gene was in a second chopper incident near Bong Son where the enemy forces shot and hit the rotor tail on his chopper. This time he escaped with at least one other and they radioed for help and were picked up by US military forces. The US recaptured and took the damaged helicopter to Quinhon. This happened sometime during the late spring or early summer of 1968. We know this to be so, because he took her to Quinhon to see the damaged helicopter. Mai moved to Kon Tum area with Mr. Gene and later that summer he tried to get her to relocate to the Pleiku area, but she by this time said no. She was sick and pregnant with Lisa, and she no people at Pleiku. Mr. Gene told Mai that he would be returning to the United States in a few weeks, possibly in two or three months. We are speculating now the exact date, but he returned to the US late that summer or early fall of 1968.
The baby Lisa was born Tuyet Vo on December 24th, 1968 at Kon Tum. The father of course was not present at her birth, because he was in the middle of a war and most likely was even back in the US at this time. When she was born her mother named her Tuyet which mean “Snow White,” because she was so white at birth. She later changed her name to Lisa Ann when she became a US citizen in 1998. The Vietnamese doctor tried to buy her at birth and later too, because she was such a pretty and unusual baby.
Next, Mr. Gene’s physical description includes the following, he was most likely average size for an American. He was probably about 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet in height. We know he had blue eyes, brown hair and distinguishing mole on the face. He was described by several who saw him as handsome or good looking. My thoughts, Lisa must look much like the father because she doesn’t look a great deal like her mother. Mai stated that Lisa’s father had blue eyes; I believe this is true. My reasoning, I studied genetics some and Lisa carries the blue dominant gene from her father in her genetic makeup. This is the only possible reason that our little general Zane can have blue eyes. Without grandpa’s blue eyes, Zane could never have his blue eyes.
We know that by the winter or March of 1970, Mr. Gene had returned to Vietnam for a second tour of duty. He came back and found Mai and his baby daughter Lisa. He held his daughter and Mai said he kept looking at the baby Lisa’s hands. He brought them presents and he told Lisa’s mother that he would start making out papers for her to come to the USA. He said for her to wait and that he would return in about a week. Her mother was lied to by some Vietnamese and they told her that if she came to the US that something bad would happen to her and the baby. She ran off and hid. Now the reader must realize here that several things had already happened. First, Mai had already had two brothers killed by the VC or NVA for collaboration with the Americans. Her father was killed too. She was only about 20 or 21 and had little education. Also as I have learned, the Vietnamese are very superstitious too. Anyhow, Mr. Gene did return later, because other Vietnamese told her he came searching for her. She believes that Lisa’s father sent money for her and that another Vietnamese person took the money and lied saying that he had left and had already returned to the United States. Regardless, they became separated because of the war and Lisa and father haven’t seen each other since.
There is a Vietnamese man in Tacoma, Washington that says he saw Lisa’s father. This man is a cousin to Mai and he was also a South Vietnamese soldier. He and his wife a teacher fled Vietnam to the United States some 20 years ago. His physical description of Lisa’s father matches her mother’s description of the father. He further states that he was definitely a US military officer and flew helicopters. Locations that he gave as to where Lisa’s father was at include these LZ bases and provinces. LZ Baldy base. Bong Son Base in Binh Dinh province. Phu Cat one base in Binh Dinh province. These are website locations he states that is where Lisa’s dad was located at 1967-68 in Vietnam. Nui Que, Huong Que and Huong An villages where Lisa’s mother lived at this time.

1) http://www.rjsmith.com/Hoi_An_LZ_Baldy.html
2) http://www.rjsmith.com/6837-iv.html Bong Son Base in Binh Dinh province
3) http://www.rjsmith.com/phu-cat-ab-nf.html Phu Cat, one base in Binh Dinh province
4) http;//www.rjsmith.com/Kontum_Complete_2.html

This man thinks that Lisa’s father could have been a US Marine Captain. He further stated that he believed the unit he was with the 169th or 196th. I have researched some and found a US Army unit the 196th. However, we have been told that sometimes US Marines are detached to do important jobs with other branches of the US military. This man also said that he was at or near a place called LZ Ross. We are wondering if he might not have been a US Marine detached and placed here for the specific important job of flying higher officers.
In closing, I am a veteran teacher with the Missouri public, have been trying to help locate Lisa’s father since the summer of 1998 when we first met. My grandfather and two uncles were US Marines, and both of my uncles served during WWII. One Uncle Victor Oscar Wood retired a Warrant Officer US Marine Corps and lived until his death early 1970s at Chula Vista, CA. He also played basketball for the US Marines Corps. I am told that his basketball uniform is on display in the US Marine Museum in California.
Sir, we realize that this is really a monumental task in locating my father-in-law. It’s the so-called preverbal needle in a haystack, or grain of sand on the beach. Yet, somebody surely must know or remember this man and will know where how he can be located. I have always believed, and still do for hat matter that my wife’s father is still alive. If you can help us in anyway, we will forever be grateful. We appreciate any help from the US Marine Corps. I know that the Marines can help us if anybody can. We may be contacted at the following address and telephone numbers:

Terry J. and Lisa Ann Wood
312 North Walnut Street,
Marshfield, MO 65706
417-468-2102 (home)
417-859-2120 (ext. 2429 my work)

Thank you and God bless the USA!
Sincerely,

Terry J. Wood