Capt John Dudley Wiley, 30, Margaret Road, was killed in action on August 3, according to official notification by the US Air Force. Yesterday word as received that he was missing in action and it was later reported that he had been killed aboard a Caribou C-7A aircraft making a landing approach at Ha Tranh, Vietnam – when the aircraft was accidentally hit by American artillery fire.
He was married to the former Patricia Morrison of Iredell County and the couple have two children, John Malcolm, 6, and Jane Agnes, age three and a half. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his mother, Mrs E.V.Wiley of Charlotte, a sister, Mrs Robert H Brown of Charlotte and his maternal grandmother, Mrs Dora Dunlop of Charlotte. He was born in Mecklenburg County May 26, 1937. His father was a Presbyterian minister and formerly served the Concord Presbyterian Church in Iredell County. He grew up in Waxhaw and Norwood and moved with his family to Loray in 1953, when his father became pastor of the church there.
He attended Scott’s High School and Darlington Preparatory School, Rome Ga. He attended Davidson College and Mars Hill College. He joined the US Air Force in 1957 and was commissioned an officer in 1960. He was married in September of that year. Funeral arrangements are incomplete but he will be buried in the Concord Presbyterian Church in Statesville. Bunch Funeral Home will be in charge of the arrangements and details will be announced later. On Thursday this newspaper published a picture on the Front Page of an American Aircraft falling apart in the Air after being struck by American artillery, 45 miles north of Duc Pho. The information at that time was that three men were killed in the accident. It has been definitely established that Capt Wiley was one of those killed.
He is the Son of Mr Ewell Van Wiley and Mrs Agnes Dunlop Wiley. Husband of Patricia Morrison Wiley. Father of John Malcom Wiley, Jane Agnes Wiley and Brother to Dora Lee Wiley.
He served with the 459th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing, 7th Air Force.
He was awarded Army Pilot Wings Insignia, The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Air Force Longevity Award(s), The Vietnam Service Medal, The Vietnam Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation, The National Defense Service Medal and the Air Medal with 21 Multiple Oak Leaf Clusters.