A Test of Honor

The Virginian-Pilot ^ | January 1, 2002 | Lon Wagner and Amy Waters Yarsinske

[Bkauthor]

Here is Part 3 in the 6-part series. There is much more to come on this story, both in the pages of the Virginian-Pilot and in a book that's to be published this year by Penguin Putnam--where all the details and Scott's whereabouts are explained.

[Magnum44]

I have very mixed feelings about this article. I knew Michael Speicher. I was flying off the Saratoga with the same Airwing (CVW-17) during Desert Shield/Storm. 'Spike' was the only pilot shot down in the first night of the war out of over 1000 sorties, both Navy and AF. His wife had recently given birth to a child. His death was tragic enough even though it was in the line of duty.

I can not comment about behind the scenes meetings of covert ops to go in and recon the crash site that was found months later, but little facts in the article that do not jive make me suspicious that this story is, at the very least, being sensationalized for the purpose of selling newspapers or books.

[Bkauthor]

Within the same day, CVW-17 lost an A-6 (Wetzel/Zaun), also down in western Iraq and included in stats for the first 1,000 sorties. Also, Spike was not a "death" during the war--he was listed MIA. He was not considered KIA/BNR until May 22, 1991. Meghan was 18 months; Michael, his namesake, 3 years old.

Nothing in the article was sensationalized. It was determined to be air wing policy to turn off the ELT, against the advice of SPEAR--the Navy's premier operational intelligence unit. The radios VFA-81 carried on the first strike were new; VFA-83 didn't carry that model radio on the same strike.

Spike's case is unique in the history of the U.S. military in that he is the first and only person to be officially listed as MIA from any war. The behind the scenes investigation into his whereabouts is one of most significant as well. There is much that the fog of war taught us from January 17, 1991, and it continues to unfold around this particular case.

[Bkauthor]

I reversed the kids' ages--Michael was the 18 month old; Meghan, 3. I was typing too fast.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Are you the author of this book?

[Magnum44]

Your not telling me anything I don't already know. I knew Zaun and Wetzel as well. They were shot down on night 2 over western Iraq on a foolhardy low level by their squadron CO (later relieved of command). Zaun was a class mate of mine at the Academy.

I guess I don't like the article because it is not clear to me where it is going, if the authors are using Spike's story as a way to discredit/blame the military for someones personal gain or make our armed forces look something less than patriotic.

[Bkauthor]

Not at all. And the point is just the opposite of what you are thinking. In the end, it's about doing the right thing by Scott Speicher--and thereby any of our military who put their lives on the line. But we share an obligation as part of that commitment by our uniformed personnel to do everything possible to account for them, too. There are those now in power and with the ability to help Scott who will. That was not always the case. This "test of honor" or honor itself is something ingrained in all Academy midshipmen--and since I, too, wore my naval officer's uniform with pride, this is a matter of honor and patriotism for me as well.

As for Wetzel/Zaun:

Navy Lieutenants Robert Wetzel and Jeffrey Zaun launched from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA (CV-60) in the Red Sea on the night of 17 January 91. LT Wetzel was piloting an A-6E Intruder carrying 10 Rockeye bombs. LT Jeffrey Zaun was his Bombardier/Navigator (B/N). They were both assigned to Attack Squadron 35 (VA-35), the Black Panthers.

After receiving fuel from a USAF KC-135 tanker located over Saudi Arabia, they proceeded toward H-3 airfield located in southwest Iraq. H-3 airfield was heavily defended by several surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries and numerous anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) batteries. Their target at the airfield was a cluster of fuel storage tanks. The strike package consisted of four A-6E Intruders each flying separate low level routes to arrive at their individual targets at H-3 airfield within a minute of each other. Wetzel and Zaun were "Dash 2" of the flight of four Intruders.

As they approached the target airfield, both aircrew observed parachute flares being deployed by the Iraqis, turning the night sky into daylight. Additionally, the illumination from the tremendous amount of AAA and SAMs launches aided the Iraqis in visually targeting the incoming aircraft. After evading numerous AAA batteries and one SAM, the aircrew were targeted by an SA-6. LT Wetzel attempted to evade the missile but it detonated behind the aircraft’s right wing.

Due to the powerful explosion, the aircraft caught fire and quickly lost power to both engines. Both aircrew ejected from their stricken Intruder. Due to the low altitude and extremely high speed of the aircraft, LT Wetzel broke both his arms, his collar bone, and his back in the ejection. LT Zaun was also injured in the ejection. Both aircrew were captured shortly thereafter by the Iraqis, and transported to Baghdad where they were imprisoned for the rest of the war. They were both repatriated on 4 March 91.

[Magnum44]

I appreciate your explaination. Since I was there, I am still wondering why you dispute the fact that Sipke was shot down on night 1 while Wetzel and Zaun were shot down on night 2?

[Bkauthor]

Having the facts from Wetzel himself--and the Gulf War POWs official web site, maintained by Larry Slade, plus the documentation and deck logs off the key ships in the Gulf that night, it's pretty clear when they took off and when they were lost. That's why I posted the Wetzel/Zaun details off the 5th Allied POW web site.

[Bkauthor]

Thank you for the reply. While I can't answer that question, I will say this--and I'd like for everyone to remember that it's the premise-turned-doctrine of the Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs, and in Scott Speicher's case, the duty of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence:

"The most basic principle of personal honor in America's armed forces is never willingly to leave a fellow serviceman behind. The black granite wall on the Mall in Washington is filled with the names of those who died in the effort to save their comrades in arms. That bond of loyalty and obligation which spurred so many soldiers to sacrifice themselves is mirrored by the obligation owed to every soldier by our nation, in whose name those sacrifices were made.

"Amidst the uncertainties of war, every soldier is entitled to one certainty--that he will not be forgotten. As former POW Eugene "Red" McDaniel (a U.S. Navy pilot, by the way) put it, as an American asked to serve: 'I was prepared to fight, to be wounded, to be captured, and even prepared to die, but I was not prepared to be abandoned.'"

The Senate Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs was created to ensure that our nation meets its obligation to the missing, now including sizeable help from mandates passed to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, whose members are working on Scott Speicher's behalf. And we need to pay close attention to what goes on in Iraq and better understand the evil that resides there...

[Magnum44]

This is only factual tidbitting and does not add to the discussion, but if you are going to write that both aircraft were shot down the same night, you better check your sources. Spike was downed the night before, the 16th, and I can produce the initial launch plan from the Saratoga's V-2 that includes his aircraft (its a small keepsake). Maybe I misunderstood you at some point in this discussion, you seem to have done a lot of research and talked, at least to some of, the right folks. but Spikes plane was the only plane lost on 16 Jan 91 (Red Sea Time Zone).

Curious, what class were you, what did you fly, and when did you get out?

[Magnum44]

BTW, I salute your stated motive for publishing this and apoligize for my general skepticism of media motives. It comes from too much other biased reporting out there.

[Magnum44]

Ok, I don't want to be accused of sea lawyering (and I won't accuse you of the same), the initial strike was launched on the late evening of 16th, he was lost in the early morning of the 17th. Wetzel/Zaun flew the evening of the 17th.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

While I can't answer that question, ...

It is a simple question BK, either you did or did not author this piece..... why won't you answer?

[Bkauthor]

I appreciate your e-mail back. I was University of Virginia and intelligence. Not to belabor the point, but you should have the facts on Spike's flight. From the official incident report on Speicher's accident, his flight began at 1:35:39:5 on 17 January (ZULU). Weight off wheels was 1:36:18:44. The mishap was roughly two and a half hours into the flight. The Wetzel/Zaun incident occurred later that day, 17 January, at 2000Z, which would have felt like the next night to those of you on the first strikes, some of which went weight off wheels near midnight on 16 January.

For several years--and to this day--I am a frequent visitor to the U.S. Naval Academy.

[Bkauthor]

I'm rather new to this forum and wasn't sure of the impact, but, yes, I am the author of the pieces you're reading in the Virginian-Pilot as well as the book. I've spent 7 years of my life, the last of which has been the most intense, researching what has happened to Scott Speicher. I've stuck with his case this long, using all the skills I've learned as a researcher, investigative journalist and author of several military aviation books: Wings of Valor, Wings of Gold, , "Memories and Memorials," in U.S. Naval Aviation and others to dog his case. I had the background and personal history to do the right thing by Scott and have. It's not so much about getting it on paper as getting him back. You'll understand that as this story breaks out--and it is. It's very much the unimaginable story--true in every respect and fraught with painful twists of fate. I've been involved so heavily in how it turns out because I care very much that we do the right thing for him. I'm also anguished by the "what ifs" referred to in today's article. There are several not included in today's piece (too complex to explain in such an abbreviated forum). Also, I am not normally featured in the newspaper--I'm an author, not a newspaper columnist. I only make feature guest appearances as they would say in the newspaper world. So, I'm grateful that the Virginian-Pilot, with the nation's highest per capita military population, is reading these pieces. But they are only a bit--a small taste, really--of what's really going on with Scott's case. The rest will come soon.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Thank you for your response. I was impressed by the information and could not understand why you would not want to take credit for authoring this piece. Good luck in your writing - perhaps you will get something done for this family.

[Bkauthor]

Thank you. Over the years, I also developed a tremendous focus on what was truly important in life, not that I didn't know it already, but the circumstances surrounding Scott Speicher's case make you realize all the more what's precious. I also sensed he needed an advocate and someone who could turn what they knew into something that could get people to take notice. He never had this much exposure until now. I should say, too, that I'm a very modest person. I didn't write what I did for me but for him. While other folks may have a different reason, that's mine. It's a matter of honor and of commitment.

[Bkauthor]

Part 4 is on the www.pilotonline.com site--"Returning to Iraq." I haven't seen it loaded onto FreeRepublic yet. My system doesn't pick up the pictures like some of the others, so if anybody out there would be so kind as to load it on, I'd appreciate it.