Orval Harry Skarman; Vietnam Veterans Memorial

My father served in Vietnam was lucky enough to make it home, severly wounded. But he had always worn the POW bracelet of Sgt. Orval Skarman, which was passed on to me when he died at age 38. He had been exposed to Agent Orange and had the skin problems that came along with it. For many years, I tried to find information about Sgt. Orval Skarman, but with no luck. I didn't know if he was ever recovered from the war. Apparently not. I always wanted to contact his family (parents, brothers, sisters, etc) to let them know that he was never forgotten. I hope they find out about this site. I would like to see his picture and maybe know more about him. If so, send me an email at myfester@zoominternet.net Laura Passomonti (daughter of Nicholas Passomonti, Rifleman, Army)

SKARMAN, ORVAL HARRY Name: Orval Harry Skarman Rank/Branch: E5/US Marine Corps Unit: L/3/3 3rd Marine Division Date of Birth: 11 March 1947 Home City of Record: Duluth MN Date of Loss: 15 January 1968 Country of Loss: South Vietnam Loss Coordinates: 164902N 1065235E (YD100600) Status (in 1973): Missing In Action Category: 4 Acft/Vehicle/Ground: Ground Refno: 0987 Others in Incident: (none missing) Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 October 1990 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK 1998. REMARKS: NO RETURN FROM R & R SYNOPSIS: Orval Skarman was a Marine stationed in northern South Vietnam near the demilitarized zone (DMZ). To the west, at Khe Sanh, his fellow Marines were battling what was to become one of the most publicized battles of the war. The battle for the city of Hue was one Skarman would not be around for. Skarman went on R & R at China Beach on January 4, and did not return. What happened to him was never discovered. He just disappeared. The Marines did not doubt his honor; they knew something had happened to Skarman that prevented his return. Perhaps he was captured or killed. He was classified Missing In Action. Like nearly 2500 other Americans, his fate remains unresolved. Since the end of American involvement in Southeast Asia, over 10,000 reports relating to Americans have been received. Nearly 1000 of these reports are first-hand, eyewitness reports. Many concern American prisoners who were not released at the end of the war. Collectively, they present a compelling case that Americans are still held against their will by an enemy many of us have forgotten. Whether Skarman was killed or taken captive is unknown. But, as long as there is even one man alive, held captive in Southeast Asia, we must consider that Skarman may be alive. We must insist that every effort is made to bring him home. Source: http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/s/s153.htm