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Jason William Dies - Missing since June, 1991
EW3 BILL DIES - MISSING FOR 30 YEARS

CLICK TO READ THE STORY OF BILL DIES

The Vanished Podcast has featured Jason's story.

 


 

09/29/19 - LETTER TO CREW USS HORNE
Anyone with any information is urged to contact:
INVESTIGATOR MARK SMEESTER
mark.smeester@ncis.navy.mil

Desert Storm EWs

03/03/20 - If you are one of the EWs pictured here and you have not yet been in touch with NCIS regarding the disappearance of EW3 Jason William "Bill" Dies, please contact NCIS Senior Operational Specialist Mark Smeester at 850-452-4177 and/or mark.smeester@ncis.navy.mil. Thank you.

 


TO:
ALL PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THE USS HORNE 1989 - 1993
ALL PERSONNEL ABLE AND WILLING TO PROVIDE INFORMATION

IN RE: REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE
PO3 Jason William DIES, USN
USS HORNE 1990-1991

I am conducting an investigation pertaining to PO3 Jason William DIES, USN, who is MISSING. PO3 DIES was assigned to the HORNE during its Gulf War deployment (90-91). PO3 DIES was commonly known as "DIAZ", and sometimes "Bill". PO3 DIES has been missing since returning from the noted deployment. NCIS will continue to pursue this investigation until PO3 DIES is found; as it should be.

Thus far, NCIS has interviewed only one (1) person who reported seeing PO3 DIES after the HORNE's return to home port; other than that, NCIS has been unable to locate anyone who is willing or able to discuss their knowledge of PO3 DIES after the HORNE's return to port. NCIS has only interviewed a few persons who reported knowing or seeing PO3 DIES onboard the HORNE during its deployment. Any information regarding PO3 DIES during these time periods, during and after the deployment is extremely important. NCIS is expanding this investigation to ensure every person who knew and/or observed PO3 DIES or his associates are interviewed.

The lack of input so far from the HORNE community is most likely due to a common perception the information sought by NCIS is limited to "what happened to PO3 DIES", and only that. HOWEVER, NCIS is searching for ALL information pertaining not only to PO3 DIES, but everything having to do with the HORNE, crewmates and associates of PO3 DIES, the HORNE's entire crew, and San Diego in 1991 and the surrounding time.

In short, if you were on or near the HORNE in 1990 and/or 1991, NCIS needs to hear from you. The HORNE's crew numbered about five hundred (500) at any given time, so if you can limit your communication with me to e-mail, I am certain we can all work together effectively.

When you send me an e-mail, you will NOT be wasting my time. Please include your full name, year of birth (if you're willing and comfortable) and contact information, such as a telephone number. Photographs and / or documents to facilitate the information you provide are very welcome. If the information you provide is from a source other than yourself (you heard something from someone else, or you "have a feeling"), your information is still extremely important to me; please explain yourself as fully as you can, to help me understand. If you believe someone has certain information, please let me know as much as you can. If you have information you perceive you are unable to share, such as medical or pay information, please contact me and we will obtain the appropriate legal clearance, if available before you share any information. If you know what happened to PO3 DIES, or where he is right now, please don't hesitate to contact me immediately.

If you do NOT want to be named in a NCIS report, please let me know and I will discuss that with you. If you want to remain anonymous, you can submit a TIP via the "real" NCIS website (https://www.ncis.navy.mil/); click the "SUBMIT A TIP" button on the top of the home page.

If you believe you have already provided NCIS information pertaining to this case, and there is nothing else you can add, please try and find the time and energy to communicate everything you know once again and provide all information you have. Although this seems redundant, it very well might provide clarification or additional information; this will be tremendously helpful. Please be patient for your Shipmate's sake, provide all information known to you, and encourage others to do the same.


Some of the questions I would like each of you to answer, and some references to help you recall that time are listed below. Please don't limit yourself to answering just these questions. It is just as important to hear from you if you don't know PO3 DIES, never met him, never heard of him, don't know who his friends were, etcetera.

1. Did you know PO3 DIES? Please explain.

2. Please tell me everything you know about PO3 DIES, such as his hobbies, his personality, abilities, strengths, weakness, etcetera.

3. Please describe PO3 DIES, such as his physical description, scars, tattoos, physical infirmities (eyeglasses), etcetera.

4. Do you know who interacted / spent any time at all with PO3 DIES on and off the HORNE? Please explain.

5. What is the last time you observed or had any contact whatsoever with PO3 DIES? Please explain.

6. Do you know what happened, or suspect what might have happened to PO3 DIES? Please explain.

7. Do you know why PO3 DIES failed to report to his new Command?

8. Do you know how PO3 DIES planned on traveling to his new Command, if he planned to travel there, or anywhere else?

9. Did you, or anyone you know of travel east of California (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia or Florida) between Jun1991 and Nov1991, such as to PCS, on leave, or to report to a new Command or training?

10. Where did PO3 DIES stay while on the HORNE, and who was in that area?

11. Where did PO3 DIES stay, and with whom after returning to your home port / San Diego at the conclusion of the deployment?

12. Where did PO3 DIES visit, and with whom after returning to your home port / San Diego at the conclusion of the deployment?

13. Did you see PO3 DIES in the company of anyone after returning to your home port / San Diego at the conclusion of the deployment?

In an effort to help you recall PO3 DIES, the Gulf War deployment and your Shipmates during that timeframe, photos of PO3 DIES AND HIS CREWMATES, gleaned from the HORNE's Cruise Book dedicated to the noted deployment are attached; PO3 DIES was an Electronic Warfare Technician (EW). Also included are photos of the OPERATION SPECIALIST CREW and the SONAR TECHNICIAN / TORPEDOMAN'S MATE CREW, who I believe worked the closest with PO3 DIES' EW Crew; therefore, they will most likely be able to provide terrific insight regarding PO3 DIES. I apologize for the low quality of the photos. Below are lists of those assigned to the noted Crews. I apologize if I missed anyone.

EWC John Allan WILLIAMSON, USN EW3 Richard Mark CHRISTENSEN, USN
EW1 Michael Brian MCNIEL, USN EW3 Jason William DIES, USN
EW2 Christopher Robert ENGLAND, USN EW3 John August SLOAN, USN
EW2 Helmut Siegfrid DUDA, USN EWSA Stephen James HARRICK, USN


OCCS WECKESEER OS3 GRATT OSSN FAZ
OSC HANSEN OS3 HILTON OSSN JESSUP
OS1 CRAWFORD OS3 JACKSON OSSN MCCLUNG
OS1 MYRICK OS3 NELSON OSSN PEREZ
OS2 BAKER OS3 ROBLES OSSN PHILLIPS
OS2 DELPH OS3 SANDERS OSSN RED
OS2 INGRAM OS3 SCHUTTEN OSSN RHODEN
OS2 LINDLEY OS3 SPITTELL OSSN SOUTHARD
OS2 ROBINSON OS3 TORRES-PEREZ OSSN THOMAS
OS3 CERVINI OS3 WHITTEN OSSN GILLILAND
OS2 SKILES OSSN ALVAREZ OSSA GRAHAM
OS2 WASSON OSSN BURNETT OSSA PARSON
OS3 ADKISON OSSN CAMPEAU OSSA THOMPSON
OS3 BROYLES OSSN COOLIDGE OSSA WHITMIRE

STGCS CALLAHAN STG2 ALLEN STGSN WOLF
STGC SHUGARS STG2 MATHIS STGSN GARCES
TM1 HARRY STG2 KIRLIN STGSN GEDDIE
STG1 FENNELL STG3 NGIN TMSN WILLIAMS
STG1 LAMB TM3 TYUS STGSN GILLILAND
STG1 GILMORE STG3 D'ANGELONE STGSA ROBERTS
STG2 RAY STG3 RICHARDSON STG2 LONIGRO
STG3 BRUZZESE    

We are hoping to learn everything we can about the HORNE, PO3 DIES, and San Diego from each and every one of you.

Thank you for your service. Thank you for considering to help your Shipmate, PO3 DIES and his surviving family members. Please accept this correspondence as an invitation to contact me regarding ANY knowledge you might have. Everything matters.

Respectfully,

Mark


Mark SMEESTER
Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)
Senior Operational Specialist
NCIS Cold Case Homicide Unit - Investigator
NCIS Resident Agency Pensacola
821 San Carlos Road
Building #3813 Naval Air Station Pensacola
Pensacola, FL 32508
O: 850-452-4211
F: 850-452-4282
mark.smeester@ncis.navy.mil

EW CREW  
EWC John Allan WILLIAMSON, USN EW2 Christopher Robert  ENGLAND USN  
EW3 Richard Mark CHRISTENSEN USN EW3 John August  SLOAN, USN  
EW3 Jason William Dies EWSN Michael Brian MCNIEL, USN  
EWSA Stephen James HARRICK, USN    

STs & TMs
OS

 

01/05/19 - Special Agent Sean Keefe with the NCIS Cold Case Homicide Unit
gave the following briefing at the Horne Reunion in San Diego.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact:
INVESTIGATOR MARK SMEESTER - 805.452.4211
mark.smeester@ncis.navy.mil

 


   
11/03/17 
NCIS has conducted several interviews after locating some of Jason Dies' shipmates. Thank you for your help. The investigation continues.

If you are one of the EWs pictured below and you have not yet contacted or have not been contacted by NCIS, please contact NCIS Special Agent Thomas Keller at 850-452-4211 and/or thomas.keller@ncis.navy.mil, or NCIS Senior Operational Specialist Mark Smeester at 850-452-4177 and/or mark.smeester@ncis.navy.mil.

If you know the whereabouts of any of the EWs pictured below or have contact information for them, please contact NCIS Special Agent Thomas Keller at 850-452-4211 and/or thomas.keller@ncis.navy.mil, or NCIS Senior Operational Specialist Mark Smeester at 850-452-4177 and/or mark.smeester@ncis.navy.mil."

If you knew Jason or have any information about his disappearance, please contact NCIS Special Agent Thomas Keller at 850-452-4211 and/or thomas.keller@ncis.navy.mil, or NCIS Senior Operational Specialist Mark Smeester at 850-452-4177 and/or mark.smeester@ncis.navy.mil."
It will be very much appreciated.
   
07/19/17 
NCIS has opened a cold case investigation into the 1991 disappearance of our Horne Shipmate, EW3 Jason "Bill" Dies. NCIS is requesting any information relative to Jason's EW shipmates pictured below. If you were an EW during the 1991 Horne Desert Storm Deployment, please contact NCIS Special Agent Thomas Keller at 850-452-4211 and/or thomas.keller@ncis.navy.mil. If you have any information on the whereabouts of any of the EWs pictured, or if you knew any of these EWs before, during or after the Iraq-Pac Deployment, please call or email Special Agent Thomas Keller with that information. It will be very much appreciated. You may also contact me if you prefer and I can pass information along to Special Agent Keller. Thank you very much.



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