Frederick D. Herrera

August 7, 1949  – MIA March 25, 1969

Five men were missing in action after B Company, 1/8th Infantry, was engaged near the Cambodian border:

PFC Miles B. Hedglin, Mercer, PA
PFC Frederick D. Herrera, Albuquerque, NM (B Co, 4th Eng Bn)
PFC Prentice W. Hicks, Huntsville, AL
PFC Phillip E. Lynch, Williams, IN
PFC Richard D. Roberts, Lansing, MI

On 25 March 25, 1969, as their units were moving toward high ground, PFC Roberts was the point man when they again came in contact with the enemy. During the firefight, the Americans moved back down the hill and Prentice Hicks, Frederick Herrera and Richard Roberts were separated from the main element. At the time it was believed that PFC Herrera and PFC Roberts stayed behind to assist PFC Hicks. This was the last time the three soldiers were seen. Further, while Prentice Hicks was slightly wounded, both Frederick Herrera and Richard Roberts were uninjured. On 5 April, a search of the area by a reconnaissance team found some letters belonging to PFC Hicks along with the cover from a Bible belonging to PFC Herrera, but there was no sign of the three missing soldiers. Because of the heavy enemy presence in the area, it was believed by the military that it was entirely possible they were captured. At the time the formal search was terminated, Prentice Hicks, Frederick Herrera and Dick Roberts were all listed Missing In Action.

Under the terms of the cease-fire agreement, all POWs must be repatriated and all US forces withdrawn from South Vietnam by March 28. The fate of several New Mexico MIAs is still undetermined. Mr. and Mrs. Benny Herrera of Albuquerque identified a picture of a prisoner of war in North Vietnam as their son in 1971. Mrs. Herrera says she still believes the man identified in the news program was her son, MSGT Frederick D Herrera, who is listed as missing since March 1968. She said this past weekend she has been “notified of nothing” recently from the military officials, but “we still have hope. We never give up hope. She said she still believes he is alive. We just hope and pray,” she said

“Freddy was a very good friend and I think of him often. I visited with Freddy’s Mom and younger brother Joe in Albuquerque recently and have communicated with them, as well as with Freddy’s younger sister Pat, in recent years. They all went through a great deal, as did Freddy’s Dad, who passed away several years ago. Freddy will always be remembered and I try to honor him by telling others about him, his service, and his brief life. I miss you, Freddie, and I’ll never forget you.” Michael C. Crowley

“Freddy and I grew up in the North Valley, He lived way out at the corner of Chavez Rd and Rio Grande. We went to Taft Jr. High and Valley High together. I knew his sister Patricia, I remember Freddy best from Little League Baseball. He was a pitcher and could throw harder than any of us at that age. Most of us feared facing Freddy because of his fastball, lol. I went to Viet Nam in July of 1969 I never got a chance to find Freddy while I was there but he is often on my mind. I will NEVER FORGET.”
Robbie Wallace.