1872 C H F Peters discovers asteroids #122 Gerda & #123 Brunhild
On This Day In History
Birthdates which occurred on July 31:
1527 Maximilian II, German King/Emperor (1564-76)
1704 Gabriel Cramer, Swiss mathematician (paradox of Cramer)
1803 John Ericsson US, invented screw propeller, built USS Monitor
1816 George Henry Thomas, Major General (Union Army), died in 1870
1817 Philip Cook Jr, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1894
1825 Thomas Hart Taylor, Brig General (Confederate Army), died in 1901
1837 William Clarke Quantrill Col (Confederate Army)
1841 George Melville polar explorer, naval engineer
1900 Elmo Roper pollster (Roper Poll)
1901 Jean Dubuffet France, painter (Landscape with 2 Personages)
1912 Irv Kupcinet Chicago Ill, TV host (Tonight! America After Dark)
1912 Milton Friedman economist (Nobel 1976)
1919 Curt Gowdy Green River Wyo, sportscaster (ABC)
1919 Primo Levi Italy, chemist/writer (Survival in Aushchwitz)
1921 Whitney M Young Jr civil rights leader, head of Urban League
1928 Bill Frenzel, (Rep-R-MN,1971-91)
1923 Ahmet Ertegun CEO (Atlantic Records)
1932 Ted Cassidy, Pittsburgh PA, actor (Lurch-Addams Family)
1929 Don Murray Calif, actor (Bus Stop, Advise & Consent, Endless Love)
1939 France Nuyen Marselles France, actress (St Elsewhere, Diamond Head)
1943 William Bennett US Secretary of Education (1985-88)/drug czar/radoi talk show
1944 Geraldine Chaplin Santa Monica Ca, actress (Dr Zhivago, 3 Musketeers)
1946 Bob Welch rocker (Fleetwood Mac-Oh Well)
1946 Gary Lewis Jerry's son, singer, (& The Playboys-This Diamond Ring)
1951 Barry Van Dyke Atlanta Ga, actor (Lt Dillon-Battlestar Galactica)
1951 Evonne Goolagong Cawley Australia, tennis player (Wimbeldon 1971)
1957 Dirk Blocker LA Calif, actor (Baa Baa Black Sheep, Ryan's Four)
1962 Sandra "Sweetness" Hodge basketball player (Harlem Globetrotters)
1872 C H F Peters discovers asteroids #122 Gerda & #123 Brunhild
BURROUGHS, WILLIAM DAVID
Name: William David Burroughs
Rank/Branch: O4/United States Air Force, pilot
Unit: 15th TRS
Date of Birth: 29 SEPTEMBER 1932
Home City of Record: Indianhead MD
Date of Loss: 31 July 1966
Country of Loss: North Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 180000 North 1030000East
Status (in 1973): Returnee
Category:
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: RF101
Missions 98N 127T
Other Personnel in Incident: none
Source: Compiled by P.O.W. NETWORK from one or more of the following: raw
data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA
families, published sources, interviews.
REMARKS: 730304 RELEASED BY DRV
SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and
spelling errors).
UPDATE - 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidmore, MO
WILLIAM D. BURROUGHS
Colonel - United States Air Force
Shot Down: July 31, 1966
Released: March 4, 1973
DEAR AMERICA: It's mighty nice to be home among friendly faces again. My
understanding of the reasons for your personal interest in us is slow in
coming, but among those many reasons I see a concern for those in need. This
affirmation of the brotherhood of man suggests an idea that forced itself
before me during these past years. There is almost nothing that you and I do
- whether we like it or not - nothing we do that does not affect someone
else. And even though the effect may be small, it can reach around the
world. Our intellectual, vocal, physical, emotional, and spiritual actions
and reactions have an effect on others. What we call our personal business
often has some effect on others - if only in the joy or sorrow we exude to
those near us. Cause and effect sometimes operate in unforeseen ways. The
lesson I draw from this human condition says: consider well that
well-intentioned actions can produce a negative effect, sometimes on those
unknown to us.
One more comment before my sermon is done: The terms of sacrifice are
uncertain. Those who have died have given their lives; those left behind
have given that life and continue to give themselves in small and large ways
each day. We can only sense and understand at best the effect. We cannot
feel it. The sacrifice of those left here is anguish, lessened in some by
their acceptance of the reasons for sacrifice, heightened in others because
it is an involuntary thing. The effect of those lost lives is not only
far-reaching, but deep beyond fathoms. Those who had lost a husband, father,
or son, but now have him returned have also suffered that anguish. What
remains is a hope that all of those left here by the men who died will have
a rebirth for themselves.
If these words make sense, then let them be a tribute to those people who
suffer from uncertainty and loss, and resolve to consider your effect upon
them in showing your care.
March 1999
William Burroughs retired from the United States Air Force as a Colonel.
He and his wife Connie were married February 28, 1998. Seven children, (3
hers, 4 his) and seven grandchildren were among family present for the
celebration. They resided in Arizona, until Dave's sudden death on March 22,
1999. He had emergency surgery on Monday, 3/15, for an aneurysm. Things
were going well until another aneurysm ruptured. His wife stated "Please
send prayers for this wonderful man. I know he's in heaven tonight and more
comfortable than any of us. God bless you all."