HR - 1. REGRET TO ADVISE THAT MR. JOHN W. KEARNS III WAS KILLED BY INCOMING ARTILLERY FIRE IN THE PAKSONG AREA AT APPROXIMATELY 1132 LOCAL 15 DECEMBER. - KEARNS, JOHN WESLEY III

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06520612
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: July 11, 2023
• Document Release Date: February 15, 2022
• Case Number: F-2015-02404
• Publication Date: December 16, 1972

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�17GRFT 0 ADVISE THAT MR. JOHN W. KEARNS III �WAS KILLED
:L:CO:rYING ARTILLERY FIRE 'IN THE' PAKSONG AREA AT APPROXIMATELY
I i3Cf. LOCAL 15 DECEMBER,. :.JOHN: WAS IN AREA TO *ASSIST IN
I IL OF 200 REPLACEMENTS FOR GM 401. HE' HAD BEE N ON THE
GF:37.1!D FOR APPROX tWO HOURS AND THERE WAS NO REPORTED
EflY ACTIVITY IN AREA. APPROXIMATELY 3000 FRIENDLY TROOPS
OF 3S 401' AND 33 WERE SURROUNDING THE VICINITY OF PAKSONG.
TF.REE H-34'S AND ONE CH-47 WITH REPLACEMENTS WERE 'EN ROUTE
Tc PAKSONG -AT THE 'TIME. JOHN WAS DISCUSSING ACTIVITIES WITH
CC,-nIANDERS AND STAFF WHEN ONE MORTAR ROUND (82 MM OR
� 122 MA) LANDED SEVERAL METERS AWAY. � BEFORE PERSONNEL COULD
DISPERSE: INTO BUNKERS A SECOND ROUND LANDED IN THE PROXIMITY
TKE GF-ZOUP KILLING JOHN AND GM 401 COMMANDER, � AND
APPROX 2 t OTHERS. ADDITIONAL INCOMING FOLLOWED
. THIS TWO ROUND. BARRAGE ,AND THE CH-47 WAS DIVERTED BACK TO
KSE.. THE THREE H-34,'S WERE ORDERED TO- STAND BY" FOR MEDEVAC.
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INCOMING CEASED H-347S LANDED, DISCHARGED THEIR'TROOPS
72- EVACUATED KIA AND WIA TO Pa-18, ARRIVING ABOUT'
Io
JOHN WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD UPON ARRIVAL AT PS-18
A ND IT WAS DOCTOR'S OPINION- THAT SHRAPNEL HAD SEVERED
THE AORTA. COU PAKSE ACCOMPANIED REMAINS: TO UDORN AND
TOE TO To SEE
o
DEATH CERTIFICATE EXECUTED BY MAjIP BURT, MD,- USAF, UDORN,
UH1OH STATES DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL AND MEDICAL CAUSE
T=ERNAL BLEEDING. PLACE OF DEATH LISTED' VICINITY OF PAKSE,
LAOS._ 'EMPLOYMENT LISTED U.S. GOVERNMENT CONTRACT CIVILIAN.
Yl DO OT ANTICIPATE PRESS COVERAGE BUT WILL. PREP-ARE
STORY FOR USE BY EMBASSY PRESS OFFICER AND VIP AIR AMERICA :
C.JS IN EVENT PRESS QUERIES OCCUR LOCALLY.
3.
SEEN NOTIFIED� BY. COS,
WHO SAFEHAVE NED
REQUESTS RELATIVES
-ISTED BELOW BE NOTIFIED OF JOHN'S DEATH.
ADVISES ALL ARE WITTING OF JOHN'S TRUE EMPLOYMENT WITH '
E iHERALD.. . NO KNOWN MEDICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN CONTACT.
DESIRES FOLLOWING BE NOTIFIED BY PERSONAL...
PLEASE CONFIRM WHEN NOTIFICATION ACCOMPLISHED.
CO NT ACT .
CR
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