This page contains letters I have written to government officials on behalf
  of my adopted POW// MIAs, Corporal John Kieper, Captain Harry Ravenna
  III and Captain John Consolvo, Jr. More letters, and any responses I receive,
  will be posted as they become available.

 
  Sent, via e-mail, to Virginia Senator John Warner on April 15, 2002
 
  Re: Captain John Wadsworth Consolvo, Jr. - USMC


 Senator Warner,

   I am not famous; I am not rich. I am but one American, one small voice in a great sea of voices. I
 served my country in the United States Army, and my husband is currently serving in the United
 States Marine Corps. I have nothing but the utmost respect for my country and the freedoms that
 she stands for. That makes this letter that much harder to write.

   I am writing to you today on behalf of Captain John W. Consolvo, Jr., United States Marine Corps.
 Unfortunately, you won't find Capt. Consolvo's name on any military rosters; he was abandoned in
 South Vietnam on May 7, 1972. I know abandoned is a rather strong word, but I simply don't know
 what else to call it. Please let me take a moment of your time to tell you a little bit about Captain
 Consolvo.

   John Wadsworth Consolvo, Jr., was born on January 8, 1944. He attended the United States Naval
 Academy, graduating in 1966. Thus began his career in the Marine Corps.

   On May 7, 1972, Capt. Consolvo was flying a combat mission out of Da Nang, South Vietnam, when
 his aircraft was hit by ground fire. After making sure his radar intercept officer made it safely out of
 the aircraft, Capt. Consolvo crashed in enemy territory. Although it is believed he had time to safely
 eject from his aircraft, and probably did so,he has never been seen or heard from again. It is believed
 that he may have been apprehended by the Pathet Lao. Circumstances surrounding the crash indicate
 that the Vietnamese or Lao could account for his fate - alive or dead.

   Captain Consolvo proudly served his country for six years, and fought valiantly for the freedoms we
 enjoy today. He flew over 150 combat missions during his first tour of duty in Vietnam, and was
 serving his second tour when he was lost. He is from our own great state of Virginia, having resided
 in Fort Belvoir.

   Senator Warner, having been in the Navy and the Marine Corps, and having served during two wars
 yourself, I'm sure you feel just as strongly about this issue as I do. I would very much like to know
 what is being done to determine Captain Consolvo's fate, and to facilitate his return to the United
 States. In the unthinkable event that nothing is being done, I would sincerely like to know why, and
 what you will do to correct this gross oversight. On May 7, 2002, Captain Consolvo will have been
 abandoned in South Vietnam for 20 years. Please help me find a way to bring him home.

   On behalf of Captain Consolvo, his family and friends and myself, thank you very much for your
 time,  and thank you in advance for your response.

 Sincerely,
 Jade E. Ostroha
 

 
  Sent, via e-mail, to Virginia Senator George Allen on April 17, 2002
 
 Re: Captain John Wadsworth Cosolvo, Jr. - USMC


 Senator Allen,

   My name is Jade Ostroha. I have lived in Virginia for most of my life. I am neither rich nor famous. I
 proudly served my country in the United States Army, and I'm currently married to an active duty
 United States Marine. I vote. I pay my taxes. Today I'm writing to see if you can do something for
 me, and for many other Americans.

   I am writing to you on behalf of Captain John W. Consolvo, Jr., United States Marine Corps.
 Unfortunately, Capt. Consolvo can't write to you on his own behalf, because he was abandoned in
 South Vietnam almost 20 years ago. I know abandoned seems like a rather harsh word, but I can't
 think of a better one. Please let me take a moment of your time to tell you a little bit about Captain
 Consolvo.

   John Wadsworth Consolvo, Jr., was born on January 8, 1944. He attended the United States Naval
 Academy, graduating and joining the ranks of the United States Marine Corps in 1966. He completed
 one tour of Vietnam, successfully flying over 150 combat missions.
 
   On May 7, 1972, during his second tour in Vietnam, Capt. Consolvo was flying a routine combat
 mission out of Da Nang, South Vietnam, when his aircraft was hit by ground fire. After ensuring that
 his radar intercept officer had safely ejected, Capt. Consolvo crashed in enemy territory. Though his
 officers believe he had time to eject, and probably did, he was never seen or heard from again. It is
 believed he may have been captured by the Pathet Lao.

   Circumstances surrounding the crash indicate that the Vietnamese or Lao could account for Capt.
 Consolvo's fate - alive or dead. However, he has been abandoned by the United States. Senator
 Allen, I am writing to you today to plead for your help in bringing Captain John Consolvo, and
 thousands of other Americans still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, back to the United States.
 He fought so very hard for the freedoms we enjoy today - we need to fight just as hard to bring him
 home.

   On May 7, 2002, Capt. Consolvo will have been missing for 20 years. Please help me find a way to
 get him home. He doesn't deserve the fate we have dealt him.
  
   On behalf of Captain Consolvo, his family and friends, and myself, thank you very much for your
 time, and thank you in advance for your response.

 Sincerely,
 Jade E. Ostroha
 

Click here to see responses I have received to these letters.

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© 2002-2008 by Jade Ostroha
Updated February 16, 2003