Ray's History
Gone But Not Forgotten
First Lieutenant Alva R. Krogman, United States Air Force Academy Class of 1964, died on 17 January 1967 while flying an O-1F combat mission in Laos. A marker in his memory was established at the Air Force Academy Cemetery.
Ray reported to the Academy from Worland, WY via the Prep School at Bainbridge, MD. While at the Academy, he was a member of the 17th Cadet Squadron. His steady, hardworking attitude served him in good stead. His favorite pastimes were bridge, fishing and driving his new white Tempest.
Upon graduation, Ray was assigned to Undergraduate Pilot Training at Reese AFB, TX. In 1965 and 1966 he was a pilot in a military airlift squadron at Dover AFB, DE. He trained with the 505th Tactical Control Group at Hurlburt Field, FL before reporting for duty with the 504th Tactical Air Support Group at Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, where he was serving at the time of the incident.
Ray was on a forward air control mission. As he started a left turn near the pre-briefed target, he reported that his O-1F aircraft had been hit. A wingman observed a hole in the rear portion of the wing. Because of evasive action required of the wingman, the actual crash was not observed, but a crash site was subsequently located and the aircraft was observed burning.
On February 14, 2019, a Scientific Recovery Expert working on Krogman's crash site in Ban Kok Mak, Laos reported the recovery of possible remains and material evidence to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. The remains were identified as those of First Lieutenant Krogman.
Ray's remains were finally returned after 54 years. He was laid to rest in Worland, WY on 21 July 21.
(Compiled from various sources by Doug Jenkins, '64)
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