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Faces Bio

MICHAEL D CHWAN

MICHAEL D CHWAN - CAPT

  • HOMETOWN:
  • bayonne
  • COUNTY:
  • Hudson
  • DATE OF BIRTH:
  • October 26, 1938
  • DATE OF CASUALTY:
  • September 30, 1965
  • BRANCH OF SERVICE:
  • Air Force
  • RANK:
  • CAPT
  • STATUS:
  • RR
  • COUNTRY:
  • North Vietnam

Biography


Michael D. Chwan was born on October 26, 1938. His home of record is Bayonne, NJ. He graduated from Bayonne High School and attended the Stevens Institute of Technology. He enjoyed classical music, chess, sketching and puzzles.

Chwan met his future wife, Dana, an English teacher from Georgia, in October 1964. They married in February 1965.

Chwan entered the US Air Force where he attained the rank of Captain (CAPT), and was sent to Vietnam in July 1965.

On September 30, 1965, at the age of 26, Chwan's F-4 jet fighter was shot down over North Vietnam. After his death, his wife learned that she was pregnant.

For the next 20 years, Chwan was listed as missing. The remains of Capt. Michael D. Chwan were repatriated on March 20, 1985, and positively identified on April 8, 1985, 20 years after he was shot down during a bombing raid over what was then referred to as North Vietnam. There was no funeral until April 1985, when a box with 42 pieces of bones, including a 3-inch section of jaw with two teeth, was returned. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Chwan was awarded the Purple Heart and a Silver Star.

Sources: Newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.

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