REMEMBER – RECOVER – REPATRIATE
Missions in Laos was established to:
- continue research and maintain awareness of recovery efforts of MIA U.S. servicemen, and connect with our community to spread awareness of the MIA issue
- share the importance of research, investigations and the recovery of MIAs through public awareness at events and speaking engagements to veteran organizations and the public
- assist you with planning a trip to Laos because of your connection to someone who is MIA missing-in-action. You may have a desire to travel to Laos because of a connection to the Vietnam War and specifically “The Secret War in Laos” by your relationship to a loved one who served and was or is still MIA, Maybe you are a veteran who served in this war and has an interest in returning to Laos.
- provide humanitarian aid to remote villages in Laos
The background of Missions in Laos began while looking into a past mission. Susan who is the founder of Missions in Laos has spent a decade researching a USAF pilot MIA in Laos since 1969. She has a POW-MIA bracelet for over 50 years with the pilot’s name and date of loss…
“Lt. Col. Carter Luna, 3-10-69” inscribed on it.
In furtherance of her present day research Susan became acquainted with Chris Corbett, owner/operator of Lao Adv Tours in Luang Prabang, Laos. In March 2023 and 2024 she hired Chris as her guide during her trips to Laos. With Chris’ knowledge of the Savannakhet Province they were able to find the last known position of Colonel Carter Luna when he became missing-in-action in Laos on 10 MAR 69.
an excavated crash site of a USAF plane
While traveling through a remote area of the Savannakhet Province along with a guide/translator Chris and Susan also visited two crash sites. These sites had been excavated and the remains of two USAF pilots were later identified and ultimately repatriated to the U.S.
For details about “Mission: Tours”
please click here.
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PLEASE VISIT OTHER PAGES ON MY WEBSITE
For details about “Mission: Public awareness/speaking engagements”
please click here.
For details about “Mission: MIA Recovery” please click here.
For details about “Mission: Investigative research” of MIAs
please click here.
For details about “Mission: Humanitarian aid”
please click here.
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typical modes of transportation in remote Laos
Susan has taken hundreds of photographs during her trips to Laos including U.S. military aircraft crash sites, local villages and the people who live there, and photos specifically related to Colonel Carter Luna’s loss.
We invite you to visit the “Photo gallery” page by clicking here.
Also, visit the sub-page “MISSION 2025- previous years too for a diary of Susan’s current trip and previous trips to Laos and Vietnam.
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In 2024 Susan created a Go Fund Me account as a source for donations to provide humanitarian support to people in a remote village. This fundraiser is ongoing indefinitely.
This supports my goal of “Mission: Humanitarian aid”.
CLICK HERE: https://gofund.me/2226af18
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UPDATE FOR APRIL 2025
I ARRIVED IN BANGKOK THAILAND ON 06 MAR 2025 & LAOS ON 09 MAR 25. This was another successful mission into Laos where my team (guide and translator) and I worked with local village officials to gather information about possible crash sites of U.S. aircrafts, information on POWs. We also spent time at the Kok Mak school meeting the two teachers at this two room school.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS TRIP BY CLICKING HERE:
MISSION 2025- previous years too
OVER 1,500 reasons to continue to search
1,5743
MIA servicemembers UNACCOUNTED-FOR from the
VIETNAM WAR
as of 01 APR 25*
includes
280+
MIA service members UNACCOUNTED-FOR in LAOS from the
VIETNAM WAR
as of 01 APR 25**
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THIS WEBSITE IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS WHO ARE STILL
UNACCOUNTED-FOR FROM THE VIETNAM WAR
AND SPECIFICALLY IN REMEMBERANCE OF:
COLONEL CARTER P. LUNA
USAF
KIA/BNR (killed-in-action/body not recovered)
10 MAR 69
Savannakhet Province near Ban Kok Mak, Laos
“He is the reason that I’ve gone there, he is the reason I will continue to return there.”
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CONTACT SUSAN:
To contact me please e-mail or phone me.
E-MAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 828.808.1609
Click this link to my Facebook page for interesting information
that I post on a regular basis
https://www.facebook.com/missions.in.laos.past.present.future
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*Source: DPAA
*11 are in a “non-recoverable” status
Website designed by: Susan K. Crosby
Photographs by: Susan K. Crosby unless otherwise credited