WATCH: Van Grubb Honors Dad and Mom at DAV Chapter 32 on National Vietnam War Veterans Day

Grubb's Father Shot Down Over Vietnam, Mother Was Co-Creator of ‘You Are Not Forgotten’ POW/MIA Flag

WATCH: Van Grubb spoke at the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 32 event held recently at the Eau Gallie Civic Center. This very special event honored Vietnam Veterans in advance of National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which is held each year on March 29. Grubb talked about his dad, who was killed in Vietnam; his mom, who was instrumental in helping to create the POW/MIA flag; a very special reunion; and patriotism, sacrifice and forgiveness.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA—Van Grubb spoke at the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 32 event recently held at the Eau Gallie Civic Center.

This very special event honored Vietnam Veterans in advance of National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which is held each year on March 29.

Grubb talked about his dad, who was killed in Vietnam; his mom, who was instrumental in helping to create the POW/MIA flag; a very special reunion; and patriotism, sacrifice, and forgiveness.

The article below appeared on Space Coast Daily on July 22, 2023:

This is a story of patriotism, heroism, and forgiveness.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Wilmer Newell “Newk” Grubb was a true American hero. He volunteered for the service during the Vietnam War and always wanted to be a pilot. So, for him, the Air Force was the place to be.

Grubb had the opportunity to leave the service after his first tour in Vietnam, but he chose to stay in. According to his son, Van Grubb, “They taught him to fly the most advanced aircraft at the time and that’s all he wanted to do.”

On January 26, 1966, Lt. Col. Grubb’s plane was shot down by antiaircraft artillery. Twenty days later, there was a photo of Lt. Col. Grubb on the newspaper’s front page – he had been captured.

That picture of Lt. Col. Grubb was shown for five years after he was captured to show the “humane” treatment that prisoners were receiving. However, in 1974, when his remains were returned to the States, the family was told he died nine days after he was captured.

After his plane was shot down, there was an incredible amount of frustration with the lack of information the family received, especially his wife, Evelyn Grubb.

According to Van Grubb, one of the “keystone moments” that got his mom involved with POW/MIA issues was when she had to go to Congress to ask for money that Lt.  Col. Grubb had set aside to purchase a boat. She was trying to raise four kids on her own, find a place to live, etc. The money was needed.

A congressman asked her, “What have you done to deserve his pay?” That moment set Evelyn Grubb on a national path to making a difference with POW/MIA.

In 1968, Sybil Stockdale, wife of former Vietnam POW and future vice-presidential candidate James Stockdale, invited Evelyn to join their organization, which campaigned for the families of Americans missing in Southeast Asia.

This organization eventually turned into the National League of Families. In 1971 Evelyn became the national coordinator, and according to Wikipedia, she “oversaw the creation of the famous “You Are Not Forgotten” POW/MIA flag.”

Wikipedia also states that Evelyn was the “liaison to the White House, the United Nations, and the Paris Peace Talks.”

Evelyn co-wrote the book You Are Not Forgotten with Carol Jose. According to Van Grubb, one of the reasons his mom wrote the book is that “she did not want the women who formed the League of Families to be forgotten.” Former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger called Evelyn “one of the bravest women that he had ever had the pleasure of meeting.”

Evelyn died in 2005 before the book was published, but her co-writer made certain it was published.

Former North Vietnamese Soldier Travels Halfway Around the World to Pay Tribute

A few years after Evelyn’s passing, this story takes a unique turn.

In Vietnam at the time of the War, there was a family with four boys, two of whom fought for North Vietnam and two of whom fought for South Vietnam. This essentially divided the family.

After the war, one of the brothers, My Pham Duc, from South Vietnam, was imprisoned for 10 years. After he was released from jail, he made his way to America.

After not seeing his brother for 25 years, My Pham Duc wanted to see his brother, Du Pham Duc. So, the invitation was extended, and Du Pham Duc made it halfway around the world to visit his brother.

When he arrived, Du Pham Duc was asked what he wanted to do in America, and according to Van, he said, “I want to find Grubb.” They were all surprised, thinking he could not have known anyone in America.

However, Du Pham Duc remembered the name because, according to Van, he said, “He was the first pilot our antiaircraft unit shot down in the war, and we captured him.” He went on to say, “He was the only man that we captured.”

Evelyn and her husband, Wilmer, are buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Family members can view their loved ones’ gravesite online at any time.

One day, Van’s brother went online to view pictures on his parents’ page, and according to Van, there was “a picture of a man in front of my mom and dad’s website sitting with an American/Vietnamese dictionary in his lap.”

He continued, “When you click the next picture, he is at the Vietnam Wall at my dad’s panel.”

Du Pham Duc had made his way to Arlington Cemetery to visit Grubbs’ gravesite. While he was there, multiple pictures were taken, and one was put on the Cemetery website.

Over a year went by, and no one knew who he was. One day, out of the blue, Carol Jose called Van and said she thought she knew who the man who visited their mom and dad’s gravesite was. She informed Van that someone was coming from Washington, D.C., with additional information and would like to meet with him.

Kevyn Settle, a documentary producer, thought Du Pham Duc visiting the Grubbs’ gravesite, and the reason for it, would make for an interesting story. Ironically, Kevyn’s co-producer’s fiancé’s father was My Pham Duc.

After investigating the authenticity of this connection, it was determined to be true, in that the man visiting the gravesite was in fact a part of the antiaircraft unit that shot down Lt. Col. Wilmer Grubb.

The Grubbs were subsequently invited to Vietnam to hear their stories. Van stated, “It was not an easy decision to make to go back to a place where your father was the only one that you knew that went there, and he did not come home alive.”

After making the decision to go, Van, his brothers Roland, Roy, and Jeff, Roland’s wife Orasa, and Jeff’s son Eli went to Vietnam for three weeks.

Van was asked what his emotions were when he first came face-to-face with the person who shot down his dad’s plane. His answer, “gratitude!” He said, “He was going to give us information after almost 50 years.”

When asked if there was any anger, he replied, “You had to give up the anger. My mom said anger will destroy you from the inside.

This story is about Patriotism – that of Lt. Col. Wilmer Newell Grubb, Heroism, Evelyn Grubb, and Forgiveness – the entire Grubb family.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia.  He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.

Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018,  Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey.

Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.

He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 25 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.

The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.

Similar Stories