Photo sought of Iowan killed in Vietnam War

A public appeal is being launched to find a photo of an Iowa soldier who was killed in the Vietnam War.

A total of 851 Iowans died in Vietnam, and photos of all of them have been located except for Staff Sgt. David L. McCombs, 26, of Oskaloosa, a U.S. Army soldier whose date of death was Oct. 11, 1969.

Records show McCombs was a combat engineer serving with Company B, 65th Engineer Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, who was killed in hostile action in Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam.

Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds were joined Monday at their weekly news conference by Iowa Newspaper Association Executive Director Chris Mudge, who said the photo is needed for the Vietnam Memorial Fund's "Wall of Faces" electronic memorial.

"As a Vietnam-era veteran and as governor of the state, I want to ensure that Iowans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation are properly recognized and honored," said Branstad. "Iowa has always been supportive of our military members and I am hopeful that we can work together to locate a photo of this brave soldier before Memorial Day."

Individuals who believe they may have a photo of McCombs or may know someone who would have a photo may contact Missy Miller with the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs at Melissa.Miller2@iowa.gov or by phone at 515-727-3443.

Mudge said state, federal, school and community archives have been searched without success in an effort to locate a photo of McCombs. His military photo was reportedly destroyed in a fire at a federal military personnel records center, she said.

The missing photo was brought to the governor's and lieutenant governor's attention by Mudge at a March meeting. Mudge informed the governor's office that her organization had been working with Iowa newspapers to locate photos of fallen soldiers from the Vietnam War. When the search began, the photos of 47 Iowans who died in the Vietnam War were sought and all have been found except for McCombs, Mudge said.