GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Gold Star Family Members are immediate family members of service members who were killed in combat, through an act of terrorism, declared missing in action or a prisoner of war. The recognition of these family members allows them to maintain a connection to the military service and legacy of their fallen service member.
Mrs. Patricia Wacek is the sister of Captain Francis Setterquist who was declared missing in action in August 1968. Setterquist was an aircraft commander whose aircraft was believed to be shot down during a low altitude night reconnaissance mission over North Vietnam. Setterquist was not found and not among the prisoners of war released from North Vietnam in 1973.
Wacek was recognized as a Gold Star Family Member during her visit on June 7, 2019 to Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. Wacek also witnessed the mission of the 319th Air Base Wing through a tour of the 319th Communications Squadron’s High Frequency Global Communication System, 319th Operation Support Squadron’s air traffic control tower and radar approach control center, and a 69th Reconnaissance Group’s RQ-4 Global Hawk.