In Memory of ....... LTC William James Brashear.
*** Lieutenant Colonel Brashear was a member of the 557th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 12th Tactical Fighter Wing. On May 8, 1969, he was the bombardier/navigator of a McDonnell Douglas Phantom II Fighter (F-4C) on a mission near Chavane, Attopeu Province, Laos when his aircraft was shot down. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
*** Bill was the Aircraft Commander AKA Pilot not a bombardier/navigator.
Contributor: Lee A. Hillard

You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!

WILLIAM JAMES BRASHEAR - Air Force - LTC - O5
Age: 34
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth Mar 1, 1934
Born: Los Angeles, California, United States
From: CHULA VISTA, CA
Religion: METHODIST
Marital Status: Married to Elizabeth (Liz) Louise Brashear, Born Sept. 23, 1940. Sons, Troy D. Brashear, Born Dec. 31, 1962 and Todd J. Brashear, all of Tucson, AZ.
Parents: Father, Troy (Tray) Brashear Born Feb. 4, 1903 in Viper, (Perry County), Kentucky, (Also known as Mason Creek) and Mother, Adaline Louis Zike Brashear, Born Dec. 9, 1902, Born in Kansas and Died Nov. 14, 1976 in San Diego, CA. Was from Chula Vista, CA.
* Paternal Grandparents: James J. Brashear, (FAG #107033814) Born: August 12, 1872, Viper, (Perry County), Kentucky and died July 5, 1934 in London, (Laurel County), Kentucky. Buried at Brashear's Family Plot in Portersburg, (Clay County) Kentucky. James J. Brashear was married 3 times: 1st wife, Minnie Lee Hughes Brashear in 1894 and died December 25, 1900. Her burial plot is unknown. They had 2 children: Ray, April 18, 1896 and Sarah in 1897, she died sometime before 1900). ***He married his 2nd wife Sallie (Mullins) Brashear, February 5, 1902, Viper, (Perry County) Kentucky. She was born on August 2, 1876 and died July 21, 1918; buried in Portersburg, (Clay County), Kentucky. They had 8 children, Troy Brashear, February 4, 1903; Siblings: Vida, September 12, 1904 (FAG #107033814), Pearl, September 27, 1906, Tilden, June 3, 1908, Arnold, November 25, 1909, Dora, August 13, 1911, (my mother), Forest, July 19, 1913 and Clayton, December 9, 1916. All born in Viper, (Perry County), Kentucky expect for Clayton, born in Portersburg, (Clay County), Kentucky). James J. Brashear married 3rd wife: ***Sarah "Sallie" Ann Depew, November 14, 1918, Manchester, (Clay County) Kentucky, she died November 26, 1956 Hamilton (Butler County), Ohio, buried at Cedar Grove, Lawrenceburg, Indiana. They also had 8 children: Siblings to Troy: ***Alpha 2-18-1920, Zona 8-17-1921, born in Porterburg, (Clay County), Kentucky. Dorothy 2-5-1923, Cleo 1-18-1925, Elmer 11-14-1926, Hazel l2-20-1929. They were born in Hamilton, (Butler County) Ohio, Maggie 7-13-1931 and James Jr 8-27-1933. They were born in Portersburg, Kentucky. Janet (McGuire) Mello - Daughter to Dora (Brashear) McGuire-Lintner.. **Provided by Janet Mello.
* Maternal Grandparents: Grandfather, Luther W. Zike and Grandmother, Elsie M. Lewis Zike.

***** United States Census, 1910
Name: James J Brashear - Your GRANDFATHER
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1910
Event Place: Masons Creek, Perry, Kentucky, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 36
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Birth Year(Estimated): 1874
Birthplace: Kentucky
Father's Birthplace: Kentucky
Mother's Birthplace: Kentucky
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
James J Brashear Head M 36 Kentucky
Sally Brashear Wife F 34 Kentucky
Ray Brashear Son M 13 Kentucky
Tray Brashear Son M 7 Kentucky - YOUR DADDY.........
Vida Brashear Daughter F 4 Kentucky
Pearlie Brashear Daughter F 3 Kentucky
Tilden Brashear Son M 2 Kentucky
Arnold Brashear Son M 0 Kentucky

***** Major William James Brashear was born on March 1, 1934. His father was a retired Naval Officer and lived in Chula Vista, California. Major Brashear went to Chula Vista Junior High School, Chula Vista High School and graduated from San Diego State University.

***** Bill was in my F-4 RTU class at Davis Monthan AFB in 1968. He and Liz lived in the same apartment complex with me where we became good friends. You will always be remembered. Rest in peace.
Lee A. Hillard
Added: Jul. 18, 2014

***** William J Brashear in household of Troy Brashear,
"United States Census, 1940"
Head Troy Brashear M 37 Kentucky
Wife Lillian Brashear F 37 Kansas
Son William J Brashear M 6 California


His tour began on May 8, 1969
In LZ, LAOS
Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND

Body was not recovered
Panel 25W - Line 21

Other Personnel in Incident: Henry G. Mundt II (missing)
William J. Brashear

On May 8, 1969, Major Brashear and Lieutenant Mundt departed Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam, in one of a flight of four F4C aircraft on a mission over Laos.

Their aircraft was hit by hostile fire while over the target area near Chavane Airfield, Saravane Province.

One parachute was seen to have deployed and a second floated. A search and rescue helicopter reported voice contact with one survivor but could not identify him.

The survivor reported he was badly burned and had an injured leg. One member of the SAR flight identified the voice as that of Major Brashear.

Lieutenant Mundt was declared dead/body not recovered, in February 1979. Major Brashear was also declared dead/body not recovered.

At that time William Brashear and Henry Mundt were immediately listed Missing in Action.


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