Photo By Douglas Stutz | Lending a hand… Chief Hospital Corpsman Piotor Juchniewicz (second from left) takes...... read more read more
There’s a small, immaculate, reserved dining table in Naval Hospital Bremerton’s Terrace Dining Facility.
It symbolically offers a place setting for one, and a table for all.
The POW/MIA table has been a tradition in honor of America’s prisoners of war and those missing in action since the end of the Vietnam War.
Chief Hospital Corpsman Piotor Juchniewicz has been in formal dedications during his career recognizing POW/MIAs, but never on such a mission which he recently participated in to help find those gone but not forgotten.
Juchniewicz, born in Poland and raised in Seymour, Conn., served as independent provider for Recovery Team 2 during the 142nd Joint Field Activity (JFA), Mission 21-2VN, in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Feb. 21 to April 18, 2021.
“I have taken part in previous ceremonies such as the Hospital Corps Ball and Marine Corps Ball honoring our missing service members and have reflected about helping bring a missing in action servicemember home to be able to sit at that table,” said Juchniewicz, chosen for his independent duty corpsman skills to support the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) mission.
Juchniewicz found himself in the central Vietnam province of Quang Nam, approximately three hours southwest from the sizable coastal city of Da Nang. The rolling hills and valleys were a backdrop for ground as well as air combat during the Vietnam War. It was there, amidst tropical jungle terrain and rugged mountain setting where search efforts were conducted for a helo pilot missing since 1969.
“It had already been determined that there was a particular area to look. We had dig sites on an eroding cliff-face, which was not easy, and in the surrounding jungle and river valley,” explained Juchniewicz.
Although Juchniewicz was intricately involved in actual recovery efforts for the missing servicemember, his primary duty was ensuring the medical health and well-being of the team.
“We were in an austere environment. It was always hot, so monitoring potential heat casualties was paramount. There were snakes, leeches, killer [giant murder] hornets. We had torrential downpours a few times. Did a lot of PMT – preventive medicine technician – duty for hygiene, field sanitation, and also established a MEDEVAC [medical evacuation] plan, which wasn’t easy because the only flat enough area was up the side of a mountain. Getting there was a challenge enough. Hauling a person up in a stretcher was very strenuous,” Juchniewicz said.
According to U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Paul R. Johnson, Recovery Team leader, Juchniewicz’s leadership, experience and attention to detail made him an invaluable asset.
“His ability to simultaneously manage numerous environmental risks such as gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal issues, heat considerations and wildlife threats is a testament to his professional competence,” wrote Johnson.
The team was led by a DPAA forensic anthropologist Katie Rubin who took the mission lead at the site in setting up the coordinates and leading the team in their daily responsibilities.
“Even before the test sites to search were set up, a few EOD [explosive ordnance disposal] techs would go through the area to make sure it was safe, flag anything of possible worth, and make sure there was no unexploded ordnance or ammo,” said Juchniewicz.
If there was any hits – old fragments, expended munitions, wreckage remains – a test site such as a 4 (foot) by four grid would be established and workers would dig into that specific area. The dirt would be excavated and screened for any possible evidence of human remains.
“We would work the day shifts digging and then sifting through the dirt. We all did the same work as our Vietnamese counterparts and the 90-plus locals who were also there to assist. There were some debris found,” related Juchniewicz.
“The locals were great. Very helpful and really an integral part of the mission. Just talking, laughing and smiling with them was a great experience,” added Juchniewicz.
Juchniewicz was cited for his contributions on the joint recovery team.
‘He has now set the standard what is expected from our future medical personnel. All medical issues that arose during the mission were handled decisively and effectively resulting in minimal lost time for team members. His work ethic and initiative significantly contributed to the team’s mission accomplishment. His positive attitude and unwavering commitment to the mission helped facilitate the strong partnership between 15 U.S. personnel, nine Vietnamese officials and local workers. His physical and mental endurance were great assets when conducting excavations in arduous conditions in an austere environment. His efforts ensured that DPAA made great strides in obtaining the fullest possible accounting of U.S. military personnel who remained unaccounted,” noted Johnson.
As of Memorial Day, it is estimated that there are more than 38,000 Americans unaccounted for who have been deemed recoverable, dating back to World War Two up to Operation Iraqi Freedom. In fiscal year 2020, 120 former missing personnel were recovered, with 82 from the Second World War, 36 from the Korean War and two from the Vietnam War. In this fiscal year, with travel still impacted worldwide by the pandemic, DPAA has still accounted for 94 missing service members.
| Date Taken: | 06.14.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2021 11:15 |
| Story ID: | 398962 |
| Location: | VN |
| Web Views: | 233 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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