Huneycutt, Charles Jerome, Jr., Maj

Then 1st Lt. Charles Jerome Huneycutt Jr. served with the 389th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, 7th Air Force Danang AB, RVN.  His tour began on 22 September 1957

1Lt. Charles J. Huneycutt. navigator, and Major James S. Morgan, pilot ,were t-he crew of one F-4C (# 64-0669) in a flight of two which departed Da Nang AB on an operational mission. Both F-4s were tracked to their target area of Dong Hoi in North Vietnam, but because of inclement weather, both were directed to an alternate target nearby. Positive radar and radio contact was maintained with the aircrafts until the point when their bombing dives were to begin. All contact was then lost.  They were listed as MIA.

The remains of Major Huneycutt were turned over to the United States Government in 1989.   
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Rec'd 11 Oct 2015

"According to The Internet the Major was missing on 10 November of 1967 along with Colonel James Shepard Morgan in an F-4 Phantom."
     Birddog

Notes/Links:

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/cjhuneycutt.htm
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18533245 http://www.vvmf.org/thewall/Wall_Id_No=24746
http://taskforceomegainc.org/h068.htm
http://www.dukealumni.com/about-daa/memorials (listed as Class of 1965) http://www.yatesville.net/mil/10.htm (memorials)

 
US Air Force Maj Charles Jerome Huneycutt Jr, Vietnam Veteran, born in Morehead City, he became a native of Charlotte, NC.

US Air Force Major Charles Jerome Huneycutt Jr was a casualty of the Vietnam War. As a member of the Air Force Reserve, MAJ Huneycutt served our country until 29 September 1989 in South Vietnam. He was 24 years old when he was shot down and was not married. Charles died when his plane crashed. His body was recovered years later. Maj Huneycutt was born in Morehead City, NC. MAJ Huneycutt is on panel 29E, line 067 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. He served our country for 23 years, 20 of those years being Missing in Action. He was reportedly shot down in North Vietnam on 10 November 1967, declared Missing in action, then Killed in Action after the remains were returned 10 November 1988. The remains were officially identified 25 September 1989.

Thank you so much for your hard work on the wall. My mother, Alberta Piner Huneycutt, was still alive in Morehead City until 2007. Quang Tri might be in the province mentioned. I do not know. I am not sure exactly how long Jerry actually lived but a very short time. It was in confidential information that we did not receive until the body was returned. Bright colored parachutes and evidence of broken legs were mentioned. I'd have to look it up. He's remains were identified by the family through dental records. Jerry was reported PKIA in 1979 and finally his estate was settled. My father Charles Jerome Huneycutt Sr, died in Jan 1989 knowing Jerry's remains had been found but not ever living for their return and burial. Daddy was a Methodist Minister so we lived all over Western NC. Jerry graduated from High School in Winston-Salem where he was an All American football player. He was inducted into the Winston-Salem sports Hall of Fame while he was MIA. Jerry had only been in Viet Nam for a month when he was shot down. He was in ROTC at Duke and had just graduated from flight school and parachute school prior to going. He graduated from Duke in 1965 playing in the Tangerine Bowl that year. I have three sisters. Mabel Jane Huneycutt Earle (Duncan) in Va., Alice R Huneycutt in Fl,, and Michelle Huneycutt Johnson in Conn. Jerry was considered one of the top young pilots in the country by many

Jerry was a Graduate of James A Gray High School, Class of 1961. At Gray, he played Varsity Football, Varsity Basketball, All Conference Most Valuable Back and Sporting News High School All-American Team. He also was an officer and member of several clubs at Gray. He graduated from Duke University, of course on a football scholarship and was number one in his class at Moody Air Force Base. Dottie Huneycutt Burnside.

Jerry Huneycutt was a graduate of Duke University in the class of 1966. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity at Duke. I recall Jerry coming back to Duke in late 1966 or early 1967 after graduation from flight school. I recall his being very excited about the prospect of flying and serving in Vietnam. It was a great shock to us all when we learned of his death. Dick Alvarez

SYNOPSIS: On November 10, 1967, 1Lt. Charles J. Huneycutt. navigator, and his Pilot were the crew of one F4C in a flight of two which departed Da Nang Airbase, South Vietnam on an operational mission. Both F4's were tracked to their target area of Dong Hoa in North Vietnam, but because of inclement weather, both were directed to an alternate target nearby. Positive radar and radio contact was maintained with the aircrafts until the point when their bombing dives were to begin. All contact was then lost.

Electronic searches were negative. Ground search was not conducted since the incident occurred over heavily defended territory about 14 miles southeast of Dong Hoi on the coast of North Vietnam. All four men aboard the two airfraft were classified Missing in Action.

A North Vietnamese general was quoted in an article saying a women's militia shot down two F4C recon planes that same day and captured "both bandits" alive. As four, not two, individuals are concerned in this incident, it is unclear which of the four the article could relate to. However, according to a 1974 publication from a POW organization named FACK, the Defense Department acknowledged at one time that one crew member was indeed, a prisoner of war. According to a 1974 list published by the National League of Families, Charles J. Huneycutt survived his loss incident.

In 1988, the Vietnamese discovered and returned to U.S. control the remains of 1Lt. Charles J Huneycutt Jr. The other three pilots lost on November 10, 1967 remain missing, and the Vietnamese deny knowledge of their fates. For 21 years, Huneycutt was a Prisoner of War, whether he was alive or dead.

Charles Jermone Huneycutt, Jr. was a Graduate of James A. Gray High School, Class of 1961. At Gray, he played Varsity Football, Varsity Basketball, All Conference "Most Valuable Back and Sporting News High School All-American Team. He also was an officer and member of several clubs at Gray HS. His father was a Methodist Minister and then they moved to a church in Charlotte, NC. Charles was declared Killed in Action many years later and his body has been found and returned.

He served with the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, DaNang Airbase.

He was awarded The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Air Medal with Multiple Oak Leaf Clusters.