Vietnam
-
MIA
Fallen

Grassy Butte, ND


County:
McKenzie

Date of Loss:

Recovered:
Remains not recovered

Branch of Service:
Army

Rank:
Staff Sergeant

Company / Ship / Flight or equivalent:
B Battery

Battalion / Task Group / Squadron or equivalent:
7th Battalion, 15th Artillery, 52nd Artillery Group

Division / Fleet / Air Force or Equivalent:
7th Cavalry Division

Circumstances:

In KONTUM, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, GROUND CASUALTY

Declared deceased Oct 5, 1978

From DPAA:

On February 28, 1971, a four-man artillery forward observer team attached to an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) unit operating in South Vietnam came under attack by enemy forces and was forced to take a defensive position. The next day, March 1, the unit’s position was overrun and the survivors were forced to evade enemy capture. Three men from the forward observer team managed to avoid capture and return to friendly positions; however, the fourth team member did not reach safety and was not seen or heard from again.

Staff Sergeant Deland Dwight Zubke, who joined the U.S. Army from North Dakota, was a member of Battery B of the 7th Cavalry Battalion, 15th Artillery Regiment, 52nd Artillery Group. He was the radio operator for the forward observer team, and disappeared after their position was overrun on March 1. He never returned to duty, and his remains have not been located or identified. Today, Staff Sergeant Zubke is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.

If you are a family member of this service member, DPAA can provide you with additional information and analysis of your case. Please contact your casualty office representative.