Anselmo, William Frank, SSgt

SSgt. William F. Anselmo along with SSgt. Noel Rios were assigned to the 15th Aerial Port Squadron at DaNang AB South Vietnam. On March 6, 1968 SSgt. Anselmo along with Rios were assigned the duty of traveling from their squadron at DaNang to Khe Sanh to repair a disabled aircraft. They originally manifested on a C-123 Provider, tail number, 54-0662, Mission # 701 that was a non-stop flight to Khe Sanh. Mission #701 carried a cargo of ammunition for Khe Sanh. After it was delivered the aircraft returned to Da Nang.

According to the Loadmasters log PAC-AF form 112A, the mission carried only cargo, no passengers.Mission #702 which departed later that day went from DaNang to Phu Bai then on to Khe Sanh. At Phu Bai the passenger representative which helped the loadmaster take on cargo as well as a Navy Medic, a photographer for Newsweek and 44 Marines noted SSgt's Anselmo and Rio's toolbox's and the right steering mechanism part needed to repair the aircraft at Khe Sanh, stowed near the rear door of the aircraft. 

The C-123 continued to Khe Sanh where it was hit by ground fire and crash and burned.  All remains were recovered  later, but none were linked to SSgt's Anselmo and Rios. They are still listed as KIA/BNR. Investigations revealed that neither NCO was suspected of wrong doing! Both had excellent military records and both men had performed similar repair missions before. There are questions if they were onboard. If so, where are their remains?