Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Paul Magers from Billings, Montana, who was missing in action and later declared killed in action in Vietnam.
Paul Gerald Magers joined the Army in 1969 and graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, in January 1970. He graduated from Helicopter School in October 1970 and the Rotary Wing Aviator Course in February 1971 at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
Magers, left for Vietnam May 12, 1971, where he served with the 158th Aviation Battalion, 160th Aviation Group, 101st Airborne Division in Quang Tri province.
On June 1, 1971, his second week in the country, Magers and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Donald L. Wann flew with other aircraft to a hill near Dong Tri where a team of Army Rangers awaited rescue. Their mission took them about five miles east of the border with Laos and 20 miles south of the DMZ. Magers and Wann hovered overhead in their AH-1 Cobra gunship while another helicopter extricated the Rangers.
The Rangers left behind claymore mines that Magers and Wann attempted to destroy. As they dropped lower, fire from an enemy position hit the underside of the helicopter, causing a fuel leak that ignited. Their helicopter crashed into a slope.
According to the POW Network, all witnesses said nobody survived the crash. The military listed Magers and Wann as Missing in Action (MIA) until 2009 when a Vietnamese excavation team discovered remains from the crash site. The Defense Prisoner of War and Missing Personnel Office identified the remains of Magers and Wann.
For his action, Magers was awarded a Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart.
He was laid to rest in 2010 at Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel, Montana, Section A, Row 2, Grave 4.
We honor his service.
As it did last year, this year National Cemetery Administration is collaborating with Carry The Load for Memorial Day to honor fallen Veterans. Both NCA and Carry The Load are honoring select “Veterans of the Day” with remembrances on social media during May.
Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay
Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.
It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.
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We honor the service of Paul Gerald Magers.
With all due respect to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, please note that the date of Paul Mager’s seems to be incorrect as it appears below the folded flag of the photo in this post. The narrative states that the date of his disappearance was June 1,1971, not 1970. I’m only commenting with respect in honoring Paul Mager.
I read each post I see to honor the service and memory of each veteran. I just happened to notice the discrepancy in the dates in this post.
Thank you for posting the stories of these brave women and men.
Brigid Boyle
Boston, MA