[ Bio Submitted Courtesy J. Poe Jr.]

       SPEICHER, MICHAEL SCOTT        

Name: Michael Scott Speicher

Rank/Branch: Lt.Cdr./US Navy
Unit: USS SARATOGA
Age: 33
Home City of Record: Jacksonville FL
Date of Loss: 17 January 1991
Country of Loss: Unknown
Loss Coordinates:
Status: Missing in Action
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: FA18

Other Personnel in Incident: (none missing)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 09 March 1991 from one
or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources,
published sources, interviews. Update by the P.O.W. NETWORK.

REMARKS: OPERATION DESERT STORM

SYNOPSIS: Scott Speicher was raised in Kansas City. When he was in high
school, the Speicher family moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Scott continued
his education at Florida State University, receiving a degree in accounting
and management.

Speicher went on to join the U.S. Navy and receive flight training. During
the Mid-East Crisis, Speicher was one of 2,500 airmen assigned to the USS
SARATOGA in the Red Sea. Speicher was part of a fighter squadron and flew
the F18 "Hornet" fighter/bomber.

On January 18, 1991, Speicher's aircraft was hit by an Iraqi SAM
(surface-to-air missile) and crashed during the first Coalition offensive of
the war dubbed "Operation Desert Storm." Initial reports by Defense
Secretary Dick Cheney stated that Speicher had been killed. One military
source said reports indicated the aircraft had "exploded to bits" in the
sky, apparently having suffered a direct SAM hit.

Iraqi officials soon announced the capture of American pilots. It was
originally believed the chances of Speicher's ejection were slim, but the
books were not closed on Speicher. He was the first American to be listed
Missing in Action. Most recent media reports indicate that he was probably
"confirmed killed." Although Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney has said
Speicher was killed, he is still officially listed missing in action.

The Methodist church in Florida where Scott Speicher has been a Sunday
School teacher has held prayer and candlelight vigils for his safety. They
have not given up hope that he is still alive.

In the first days of March, 1991, 21 American POWs were released by the
Iraqis. Scott Speicher has not yet been released.

Those who recall the abandonment of American POWs in World War II, Korea and
Vietnam are watching carefully, determined that men like Speicher will be
returned alive, or fully accounted for, before American troops leave the
Middle East when hostilities cease.

Scott Speicher and his wife Joanne have two children, a daughter, age 3, and
a son, age 1. All live in Jacksonville, Florida. Speicher's father, Wallace
Speicher, was a Navy pilot in World War II.

As of May 1997, Michael Speicher is still unaccounted for. His statsu,
Missing in Action, changed to KIA shortly after his incident. Although
the USG has excavated what they believe to have been the plane's crash
site, no remains were found. The USG also stated, prior to the
excavation, that all men were accounted for.

Graphic Courtesy
Bear317