sunset in Thailand as seen from the Mekong River in Laos
I’ll begin with a short introduction of myself, Susan Crosby.
I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina where life is at a slower pace.
In 2010, I escaped the fast paced lifestyle in Florida and moved to these peaceful mountains.
Photographing small weddings on occasion, and the daily operation of my real estate firm kept me occupied.
However, I have also been pre-occupied with thoughts that began decades ago. These thoughts led me to contemplate traveling to Southeast Asia. To travel with the special purpose to honor someone and begin to seek information about an event over 50 years ago. I never thought it would be possible to make such a trip, much less travel to Laos three times since 2017!
Why would a woman in the mature years of her life travel to remote areas of Laos which is 10,000 miles away from home?
It is my connection and attachment to a bracelet…
a POW/MIA bracelet inscribed with the name “Lt. Col. Carter Luna”. Colonel Luna, USAF pilot, flew missions in Laos during 1969. On 10 MAR 69, the F-4D Phantom aircraft he was piloting was hit by enemy fire. He ejected and landed safely on the ground, and was in radio communication with search and rescue forces. Captain Aldis Rutyna, weapon systems officer was rescued a few hours later. Radio communication ceased with Colonel Luna that afternoon,
and to date he has not been recovered, identified and repatriated.
I’ve had the bracelet for over 50 years, and although I never knew Colonel Luna, I have had a strong and continual interest to know more about him and his fate. Several years of research has provided me with some answers, but also generated more questions, and so I returned to Laos in March 2023 and 2024 to continue my quest for information.
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WHY DID I CREATE THIS WEBSITE?
There are 1,578 1,577 (as of January 2024) servicemen unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War. 285 of those servicemen are unaccounted-for in Laos. There are U.S. government agencies working in cooperation with the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia actively engaged in recovery missions. There are family members and researchers such as myself who also seek more conclusive information on missing servicemen. The goal of my website is to enlighten and remind the reader that there are many fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, and friends that have not been recovered and repatriated, and to pay tribute to Colonel Carter Luna.
Here’s what you’ll find within this website:
INVESTIGATIVE RESEARCH OF M.I.A.s
Discover what’s involved in conducting independent research of the servicemen who are still unaccounted-for specifically Colonel Luna,
by clicking on this page:
susankcrosby.com/investigative-research-of-pow-mias
MY TRAVELS IN LAOS
Learn what is involved in planning trips to remote areas of Laos. See photos and read about some of my experiences by clicking on the pages below.
CLICK ON THE YEARS:
2024 (includes Vietnam)
Honoring a Vietnam War pilot missing-in-action
For in-depth information about the story of my POW/MIA bracelet, and to learn what my research of Colonel Luna has uncovered so far, click here.
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INFORMATION
In November 2023 I had the honor to be the guest speaker at a reunion of Vietnam War A-1 Skyraider pilots in Ft. Walton Beach, FL
The video of the presentation is viewable on YouTube.
ADDITIONAL WEBSITE
I have designed another website to share information about other related endeavors. The website details other interests I have related to American MIAs in Laos, and the people in villages. I offer assistance to family members, veterans, interested parties who desire to travel to Laos. I also am very conscious of efforts by the U.S. government with cooperation of governments in Southeast Asia with their continuing recovery efforts of our men still unaccounted-for from the “Secret War” in Laos. Last but not least I am working on ways to offer humanitarian assistance to people in remote villages in Laos. Historically, villages were impacted during the war and the current presence of UXOs (unexploded ordnances) more than 50 years later still has a major effect on their safety and lifestyle.
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO VISIT THIS INFORMATIVE WEBSITE:
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DO YOU HAVE A POW/MIA BRACELET?
ARE YOU CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE
SERVICEMAN NAMED ON IT?
CLICK HERE “POW/MIA BRACELETS” PAGE TO
FIND OUT HOW I CAN HELP.
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If you would like to contact me please either e-mail or call me.
I had to delete the contact form due to the high volume of spam I receive.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 828.808.1609
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Website design & photography by: Susan K. Crosby (unless otherwise credited)