Babson Jr, Mark Albert

Mark Babson Jr.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

Quick Facts

Significance:

1st Aviation Brigade, 225th Aviation Company

Place of Birth:

Rutherford County, Tennessee

Date of Birth:

March 17, 1946

Place of Death:

Tuyne Duc province, South Vietnam

Date of Death:

October 14, 1969

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

Mark Albert Babson Jr. was born on March 17, 1946 in Rutherford County, Tennessee and lived in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He was a Captain in the US Army, serving as a Fixed-Wing Aviator in the 1st Aviation Brigade, 225th Aviation Company.

He started his tour in Vietnam on May 30, 1969. On October 14, 1969, Babson, along with passenger SP4 James T Savage, flew a twin engine OV-1C Mohawk on an infrared mission in the Tuyne Duc province, but did not return. A search and rescue operation commenced and lasted for seven days before ending without finding anything. An MIA board was convened and Babson was reported as missing in action.

While he was reported as missing in action, North Korea released a propaganda film that featured prisoners of war during Christmas. His mother identified Babson in the film, though his wife did not. Eventually, the crash was located and his body recovered.

Babson is honored at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. on panel 17W, line 79 and is buried at Stones River National Cemetery in plot Q-6634.