Masterson Update - January 27th, 2001

In the case of Michael "Bat" Masterson, USAF, shot down over Laos October 13, 1968 - One of the disputed pieces of information relating to Michael "Bat" Masterson is a January 14^th 1972 DIA memo listing 21 POWs, who according to DIA, had been moved from their area of capture in South Vietnam and Laos to North Vietnam. Of the 21 POWs listed, 20 came home. The fate of the 21^st POW, Michael "Bat" Masterson, remains a mystery.

That mystery is compounded by inaccurate and perhaps purposely misleading information supplied to the Masterson's wife Fran, over the last 28 years. Today, DPMO contends that the intelligence correlated to Masterson actually related to a Lt. Ronald Mastin, shot down over North Vietnam in January 1967. It is important to pay attention to the dates.

In 1999 Fran Masterson asked the following question: "Why would DoD believe the 14 Jan 72 DIA Memo pertained to Lt Mastin, when the memo was showing movement of personnel from Laos and South Vietnam to North Vietnam, and Lt Masting was shot down and captured in North Vietnam and was already known by the United States government to be a prisoner in North Vietnam since 1969, almost three years before the 14 Jan DIA Memo we prepared?"

An email from Air Force Casualty relayed that question to DPMO, on September 16, 1999. Included in the email was this comment; "Our review of Lt. Mastin's Casualty File appears to support her statement. Our records indicate that Lt Mastin was placed in a MIA status over North Vietnam effective 16 Jan 67. Sufficient evidence was received to change Lt Mastin's casualty status to captured (POW) effective 8 Sept 69 with the location again listed as North Vietnam. He was returned to Military Control from Hanoi, North Vietnam, on 4 Mar 73."

DPMO replied to the question raised in the Sept. 16^th email stating: "The first error took place in 1970 when analysts misinterpreted a small bit of information and concluded that Lt. Col. Masterson was a POW in Hanoi. This sketchy, but sensitive information actually related to Lt. Mastin. The second error occurred in January 1972 when DIA drew up a list of Americans who were lost in South Vietnam and Laos and who were believed to be in North Vietnam. Varying sources of information were used to compile the list. Lt Col. Masterson's name was included based on the 1970 error, DIA analysts still believed he was in Hanoi."

DPMO offered an expanded explanation in an earlier memo, dated July 26^th, 1999, stating: "In mid-1970, sensitive wartime information concerning American prisoners in North Vietnam was erroneously correlated to Lieutenant Colonel Masterson based upon a mistaken analytical interpretation. His name was included in the memorandum identifying him as a prisoner in North Vietnam based upon this incorrect analytical assessment. For almost two years, DIA analysts incorrectly considered Lieutenant Colonel Masterson a POW. Of note, however, is that the U.S. Air Force never concurred with DIA's interpretation of the data and continued to list him as MIA. Three months after dissemination of the 1972 memo, DIA analysts realized that the sensitive information had been misinterpreted and was not associated with Captain Masterson, but instead referred to Air Force Lieutenant Ronald Mastin. In view of the analytical error and the complete lack of corroborating evidence to support a belief that Lieutenant Colonel Masterson was a captive in North Vietnam or anywhere else, DIA analysts reversed their opinion, concurring with the Air Force that his correct status was MIA."

A memo dated June 29^th 1999, from Air Force Casualty, to DPMO, referring to the January 1972 memo stated: "This office has no record of receiving this memorandum or of Lieutenant Colonel Masterson ever officially being carried as a prisoner of war by any government agency."

Finally, the Comprehensive Case review, commonly referred to as the "scrub" dated July 1, 1999 states: "On Apr 10 72 DIA changed Capt. Masterson's wartime status from MIA to PW based on an analytical interpretation of a message from a sensitive source. It subsequently became apparent that the (sic) there was no evidence to support such an analytical conclusion, and Capt Masterson's status was returned to MIA."

So when was Capt. Masterson added to the DIA list of POWs. Was it in 1970 or was it as late as April 10^th 1972 as the "scrub" reports and when was he removed from the list and why?

We went back to the Library of Congress, where we found the January 14^th 1972 memo, hoping to find a DIA list that would confirm or refute the DPMO explanation. We found many lists which raised additional questions.

The first list we found was dated January 1967. We suspect earlier lists exist, but we couldn't find them. It appears that in January 1967, a list of POWs was compiled. For our purposes we will refer to this as a "Master List" as opposed to the update memos we located. During 1967, memos were issued by DIA directing the services to add individuals to the list of POWs, as information was acquired. Based on the information available it appears that another Master List was compiled on 13 Dec. 1967. The Dec. 67 list was superseded by an April 17, 1968 list. That list was replaced by a March 18, 1969 list. The March 1969 list was replaced by a February 20, 1970 list which was replaced by a May 11, 1970 Master List. Additional Master Lists were issued in August and November 1970, March and May of 1971, and February and April of 1972. If other lists were issued, we could not locate them in the Library of Congress. We also assume that interim memos, such as those issued in 1967 and early 1968, continued adding POWs to the list as information became available.

In pursuing these lists we looked for three things. The first is the appearance of Lt. Mastin, and Capt. Masterson, on the list and when Capt. Masterson's name was removed from the list.

The Air Force stated, in their email, that a change was made in Lt. Mastin's "casualty status to captured (POW) effective 8 Sept 69." That is consistent with his appearance on the 20 Feb. 1970 DIA "Master List." There is no mention of Capt. Masterson.

Capt. Masterson's name does not appear on the May 11^th 1970 list. Masterson's name first appears on the DIA List dated August 1970.

We said it was important to pay attention to the dates. The DPMO case "scrub" clearly states: "On Apr 10 72 DIA changed Capt. Masterson's wartime status from MIA to PW based on an analytical interpretation of a message from a sensitive source. It subsequently became apparent that the (sic) there was no evidence to support such an analytical conclusion, and Capt Masterson's status was returned to MIA."

If the "scrub" is accurate in stating "on Apr 10 72 DIA changed Capt. Masterson's wartime status from MIA to PW" someone needs to explain how Capt. Masterson's name is on the May 11^th , and Nov. 1970 lists, the March 2^nd and May 5^th 1971 lists, and the February 7^th and April 27^th 1972 lists. Unfortunately, we were unable to locate any list dated after April 27^th 1972.

Could Masterson's name have been removed from a subsequent list? That is a possibility, but we doubt it. Our doubt is based on a communication generated by the U.S. Air Force, Randolph AFB Texas dated November 30^th 1973. In that communique, directed to, among others, JCRC Thailand and DIA Washington DC, the Air Force stated: "A review of your B-2 report reflects that you are carrying the following individuals in your code MIAW, which reflects that these men are listed as POW by DIA and MIA by AFMPC..." The communique list eleven (11) Air Force members, among them "Bat" Masterson.

The message concluded by saying: "coordination with DIA has established that they are carrying these individuals as MIA, repeat MIA. Request you take the necessary action to delete any references pertaining to PW status and place members in new MIA code."

We learn three things from this message: 1. JCRC continued to carry Masterson as a POW, at least to 30 November 1973; 2. Based on the wording of the memo, sometime between the last located list, dated April 27, 1972 and Nov. 30 1973 DIA may have changed Masterson's status, yet JCRC continued to carry him as POW; 3: the Air Force was inaccurate, misleading or outright lying when it said, in 1999 "This office has no record of receiving this memorandum or of Lieutenant Colonel Masterson ever officially being carried as a prisoner of war by any government agency." (FYI: this message was found in Captain Masterson's Casualty File located in the Library of Congress.)

Why did the Air Force carry Masterson as MIA while DIA carried him as POW? Why did the Air Force and DIA agree to remove Capt Masterson from their list of POWs? Was it because of an analytical error as DPMO stated? Or, was it simply because Capt. Masterson did not come home and the President of the United States had stated all the POWs were home?

It is important to note that each of the DIA cover letters accompanying the lists stated: "This list has been derived from an analysis of all-source intelligence information and constitutes an all-source intelligence estimate of POW status. These estimates are reasoned judgements which are not always sufficiently conclusive to be accepted by the Services as confirmation of POW status for non-intelligence purposes. This list, therefore, will not necessarily correlate with Military Service casualty lists."

Was the determination to list "Bat" Masterson as a POW based on, as the DIA stated, "an all-source intelligence estimate of POW status" that represents "reasoned judgements." Or was the determination based on, as DPMO states: "a small bit of information.... sketchy, but sensitive information...." resulting in a "mistaken analytical interpretation."

It might help to look at the other names listed, their date of loss and when they were added to the DIA list of POWs. They are:

Name:	Date of Loss	Date Listed as POW by DIA	Comment
Andrews, Willian	10-05-66	05/70	Voice Contact
Balcom, Ralph	05-15-66	03/67
Capling, Elwyn	09-19-68	03/69	Remains returned 3/77
Francisco, San D.	11-25-68	03/69	Voice Contact
Frederick, William	07-05-67	05/70	Remains returned 7/89
Hardy, Arthur	03-14-72		Remains returned 9/83
Horne, Stanley	01-14-68	07-68	Remains returned 4/90
Masterson, Michael	10-13-68	08/70
Thomas, Kenneth D.	05-05-66	04/68	Remains returned 8/85

Two names were redacted. The name of Arthur Hardy must have been added to a list dated after 27 Apr 1972.

It should also be noted that remains returned in 1977, 1983 and 1985 were result of unilateral repatriations. That is, they were returned as a result of either remains recovered or stored by the Vietnamese and did not require a U.S. recovery effort. It would be interesting to know the recovery circumstance of Horne and Frederick.

Whatever evidence existed to consider the 11 men as POW, was compelling enough for JCRC to include Kenneth Thomas in the 1975 "Project X" study. This put him among the 57 men JCRC believe might have survived in captivity.

Are we to believe that "Bat" Masterson and ten other members of the Air Force were listed by DIA, as POW based on "mistaken analytical interpretation." Or was Masterson and 10 others removed from the POW list to conform with the policy that all the POWs were home?

Questions.... and Lies....

Masterson Update - October 29, 1999

Recently, Mrs. Masterson provided us with copies of memos generated by Air Force Casualty and the Defense POW/MIA Office (DPMO) regarding her requests for information on the January 14th, 1972 DIA memo. In an October 22nd phone conversation, Mrs. Masterson described the responses as "garbage."

We also discussed the implication in the Air Force memo that her distress came from the "receipt of the document" rather than the FACT that the information it contained had been withheld from her for over 25 years.

The DPMO memo, dated 26 July 1999, describes the 1972 memo as; "Reportedly obtained from the Library of Congress, the 27-year-old memorandum named 21 individuals who DIA POW/MIA analysts believed at that time were moved to North Vietnam from either Laos or southern Vietnam....."

The memo continued; "...While a copy of the memo was not maintained in Lieutenant Colonel Masterson's file, or in the files of any of the other named individuals, it appears authentic..."

"...Former DIA analysts who are now with DPMO, were unfamiliar with the memo, but understood how and why Lieutenant Colonel Masterson's name was included and offered the following information:"

"In mid-1970, sensitive wartime information concerning American prisoners in North Vietnam was erroneously correlated to Lieutenant Colonel Masterson based upon a mistaken analytical interpretation. His name was included in the memorandum identifying him as a prisoner in North Vietnam based upon this incorrect analytical assessment. For almost two years, DIA analysts incorrectly considered Lieutenant Colonel Masterson a POW. Of note, however, is that the U.S. Air Force never concurred with DIA's interpretation of the data and continued to list him as MIA. Three months after dissemination of the 1972 memo, DIA analysts realized that the sensitive information had been misinterpreted and was not associated with Captain Masterson, but instead referred to Air Force Lieutenant Ronald Mastin. In view of the analytical error and the complete lack of corroborating evidence to support a belief that Lieutenant Colonel Masterson was a captive in North Vietnam or anywhere else, DIA analysts reversed their opinion, concurring with the Air Force that his correct status was MIA."

"Since 1974, Lieutenant Colonel Masterson's wife has been aware of DIA's erroneous correlation that resulted in their one-time belief that he was a POW. This analytical misinterpretation has been explained to her in various conversations with DIA personnel dating back more than two decades."

"It is important to note that this memo was not deliberately withheld from Lieutenant Colonel Masterson's family. Instead, it appears that in 1972 either no one thought to put it in the files of the named men or the administrative support staff simply failed to make any file copies..."

What is not explained in the DPMO memo is how Ronald Mastin, shotdown northeast of Hanoi, could have ever been considered " moved from their original areas of capture in Laos and South Vietnam to North Vietnam."

Mrs. Masterson has requested all information and intelligence reporting on the capture of Ronald Mastin and the documentation supporting the DPMO contention that DIA subsequently changed their analysis from Masterson to Mastin. Let's hope she doesn't have to wait another 25 years.

For More on Bat Masterson - click here