Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Larry Michael Jordan Collection

Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: VAH-4 (Heavy Attack Squadron), USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63)
- Location of Service: Pensacola, Florida; Corpus Christi, Texas; Whidbey Island, Washington; Pacific; Southeast Asia
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Commander
Drafted into the Navy two weeks before his college graduation, Lieutenant Commander Larry Michael Jordan was serving aboard the USS Kitty Hawk in 1966. Known as Mike to his family and fellow servicemen, he was returning to the Kitty Hawk from the Philippines when his plane was shot down over China on April 12, 1966. Along with his crew, he was declared as Missing in Action. His VHP collection includes letters he sent to his family during the early days of his service, as well as poignant reminiscences from his wife (pregnant with twins at the time he was shot down) and his daughter. Taken as a group, the material paints a haunting picture of the loss and lingering questions that military families experience when a servicemember goes missing.
More Resources
Show more resources (75)
About this Item
Title
- Larry Michael Jordan Collection
Names
- Jordan, Larry Michael
- Jordan, Janet
State of Birth
- WY
Headings
- - Jordan, Larry Michael
- - Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Navy.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- Veteran
Service History
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
- Branch of Service: Navy
- Unit of Service: VAH-4 (Heavy Attack Squadron), USS Kitty Hawk (CVA 63)
- Location of Service: Pensacola, Florida; Corpus Christi, Texas; Whidbey Island, Washington; Pacific; Southeast Asia
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Commander
- Dates of Service: 1963-1966
- Entrance into Service: Enlisted
- Military Status: Veteran
- Service History Note: The veteran was listed as Missing-in-Action (MIA) in April 1966, and his status was changed to presumed Killed-in-Action November 19, 1973. Reports later confirmed the he was shot down in his KA3B aircraft over China on April 12, 1966.
Materials
- Manuscript: Periodicals [1 item] -- Typewritten document (collected 2/22/1983)
- Manuscript: Printed matter [5 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1981 - 1996)
- Photograph: Digital print [12 items] -- Photograph (collected [1958 - 1984])
- Manuscript: Clippings [2 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1992)
- Manuscript: Creative works [4 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1982 - 1993)
- Manuscript: Correspondence [15 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1964 - 1991)
- Manuscript: Biographical information [1 item] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 04/26/1966)
- Manuscript: Military papers (orders, personnel/201 files, etc) [27 items] -- Mixed (handwritten and typewritten documents) (collected 1961 - 1993)
- Manuscript: Memoirs [2 items] -- Typewritten document (collected 1966 - 1991)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/54025
Cite as
- Larry Michael Jordan Collection (AFC/2001/001/54025), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image