TO LISTEN TO GEORGE JONE'S 50,000 NAMES ON THE WALL
64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 71 | 72 | 73 |
1970 |
01 |
9 |
E-5 SGT |
Richard A. |
Thomas |
11B4S |
KIA |
Cam; CCS, w/ RT??, w/ SFC Bartlett (this was a 5-man team) |
1970 |
01 |
9 |
E-7 SFC |
Larry P. |
Bartlett |
11B4S |
KIA |
Cam; CCS, w/ RT??, w/ SGT Thomas (this was a 5-man team) |
9 9 Jan 70- Larry Paul Bartlett, SFC E-7 and Richard Alan. Thomas, SGT E-5 of CCS, KIA’ed-RR My friend and long time SFTG roommate Richard Thomas who was KIA along with SFC Larry Bartlett.. They were on recon in NE Cambodia for CCS. Richard was a very kind guy, well liked but shy; he will always remain in my memory as a true friend. SFC Bartlett was 32 years old and was not married. Larry died from multiple fragmentation wounds SGT Thomas was 22 years old and was married. Richard Thomas died from small arms fire and was born on in Fresno, California.-John Hanscom, SF' Extracted from Page 454, Green Beret Commandos in Cambodia by Fred Lindsey, LTC, USA(RET) "It was speculated that staying in their RON for a long period of time may have let the enemy find their location. Then they proceeded directly from the RON to an LZ, rather than the the recommended zig zag approach may have contributed to their discovery."
The
pic in the bar is of from left to right; UI, Rich Thomas, Mike Buchanan,
Rich(?) Joecken, Carl Franquet (me). We were all in the O&I course
together and went to town for a few brews. Taken either in late ’68 or
early ’69.
Photo by Carl [email protected]
For additional photo's click-->Photo's (He's at the bottom of page 8 of the photo gallery) |
1970 |
01 |
10 |
E-7 SFC |
James Henry |
Zumbrun |
91B4S |
KIA, fixed wing shotdown |
Laos; CCC, Covey, in O2-A #68-6863 20 miles west of Dak To while supporting a team on the ground |
10 Jan 70- Henry J Zumbrurn, SFC B-7, USASF CCC, Kontum, Ops 35, and 1LT John A. Lehecka Covey Forward Air Controller assigned to the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron at Da Nang.Killed-RR while engaged as a Covey Rider supporting a SOG recon team. Remains Recovered
|
1970 |
01 |
13 |
E-6 SSG |
Glenn E. |
Tubbs |
11B4S |
MIA-PFD, drowned |
SVN; CCS, 1st Exploit. Co, Pleiku Prov., YA675330, Se San River crossing 17 km WNW of A-253 Duc Co |
13 Jan 70- Glenn Ernest Tubbs; SGT E-5 of Amarillo, TX, USASF, CCS, Ban Me Thout, Ops Assigned to Recon Co - MIA-Presumptive finding of death. SGT Tubbs, a member of a river crossing team, was lost in the swift current in a river crossing of a deep channel of the San River close to the Cambodian border 12 miles northwest of Duc Co. One team member took the rope across and the other team members used the rope to assist in the crossing; however, Tubbs, the last member to cross, begin to have trouble when he was near the center of the river, losing grip of a rope, he was swept away, observed going under a six times after being carried over some deep rapids about 50 feet downstream from the rope. The team member chased after him, two by swimming back across the stream, he had disappeared and was not seen again.
REMAINS NOT RECOVERED
1970 |
02 |
7 |
E-5 SP5 |
Steven M. |
Kuster |
11B4S |
KIA |
SVN; CCC, Hatchet Force Sqd Ldr; jeep ran over a mined 122mm at A-244 Ben Het, Kontum Prov. |
07 Feb 70- Steven M Kuster, SP/5, USASF, CCC-KIA. Kuster was one of my squad leaders. (I was a platoon sergeant in Co A.) Kuster had taken his squad up to Ben Het (I think, might've been Dak Pek), I forget exactly why; maybe just for additional security or to secure the landing strip during a lull in the frequent sieges up there. This was a special assignment; usually we never detached a squad to do anything, much less support someone else's camp. But those were the orders. I couldn't remember when this happened, real late in my tour. I came back in February '70, and his date of death is Feb 70 also .. so it must've been within a week or so of my return. We used to joke about Kuster's name (although not in front of him; he was just a young NCO, buck sergeant I believe, and pretty new to SF and all this). You know, "Kuster" and Custer, Little Big Horn, etc. But you know SF humor, usually pretty dark. We never dreamed ...Kuster had his entire squad piled onto an M-151 jeep, going to take them down to the river below the camp for a quick bath. The jeep ran over a buried (either 122mm rocket or 155mm howitzer round, I forget which now), I'm told command-detonated. It blew the jeep to crap, and everyone on it. SF team heard the explosion, sent people to investigate, found the platoon interpreter hobbling up the dirt road for help, hurt leg but otherwise basically unharmed. They went down the road, found the jeep upside down, blown to hell, bodies scattered all around in the middle of a grass fire. They put out the fire, recovered the bodies. I don't want to receive any email, calls or letters from begrieved family members. I have nothing to tell them that would make them feel better, or make his loss worth while. David Kirschbaum, SGM, USA SF (Ret), Plt Sgt, Co A Hatchet Force CCC NOTE: BEING THAT HE WAS A SQUAD LEADER IN A HATCHET FORCE, ALL HIS MEN WOULD HAVE BEEN INDIGENOUS.- RLN
1970 |
02 |
12 |
E-7 SFC |
Walter K. |
Dennis |
96D40 |
DNH, heart attack |
SVN; SOG20, Gia Dinh Prov. |
12 Feb 70- Walter K. Dennis, SFC E-7, USASF, SOG20, NCOIC-Non-hostile, died of illness
1970 |
02 |
25 |
E-7 SFC |
Bobbie R. |
Baxter |
12B4S |
DNH, vehicle crash |
SVN; B-53, Bien Hoa Prov., S-4 NCOIC |
25 Feb 70- Bobbie R. Baxter, SFC E-7, USASF, B-53 Camp Long Thanh-Non-hostile, died of Vehicle loss or crash Bien Hoa Province, South Vietnam
1970 |
02 |
28 |
E-7 SFC |
William |
Boyle |
91Z4S |
KIA, BNR, helicopter shotdown |
Laos; CCC, FOB2, YB586188, Chase Medic, CH-34 shootdown, 16k south of Leghorn |
28 Feb 70- William (Bob) Boyles, SFC assigned to the Medical section of CCC of Waltrous, PA, and approximately Special Commando Soldiers (Exact Number unknown) USASF CCC; Konturn, Ops 35; a Vietnamese Choctaw helicopter pilot, and a Co-Pilot, and Door Gunner form the 219th Vietnamese Air Force, Da Nang, Ops 32-All listed as MIA, Presumptive finding of death. This Vietnamese crew had volunteered to perform a resupply and pick up wounded men of Hatchet Force Company B, Kontum, in the mist of a fire fight in Operation Halfback in Laos, on top of the same hill Hatchet Force Company A had occupied back on 4 March 69. Having just loaded the wounded Commandos the helicopter was hit by a B-40 rocket. SFC Boyles was last seen standing inside the aircraft. The area was searched thoroughly, but remains were found after the fire.
William (Bob) Boyles is pictured on the right, Fred Zabitozky, CMH Recipient is far left, and Warren (Bud) William center. Photo by Bud William |
William Boy
ler05 March or 5 May 1970 (official records say 5 March)- Charles Garvin Dougan, CW2 & Robert Ira Rabb,1LT, James Laurence Howell, SGT, Crew Chief , James Delvin Smith, SP4, Gunner of the 195th AHC-KIA-RR due to helicopter crash in support of CCS Operation UH-1H tail number 68-15525 was shot down in the vicinity of the Quan Loi Air field-Some members of the believe that all 4 men mentioned above were KIA in the same aircraft crash, Phuoc Long, SVN out of Quan Loi into Cambodia. It was a gun ship that was hit with a rocket and went down killing all crew (Note: on the same date and that the records are mistaken - which date is correct is a matter of contention. [Filed by Tyler Furbish-195th historian]
C |
1970 |
03 |
6 |
E-7 SFC |
James W. |
Finzel |
11B4S |
DNH, drowned |
SVN; CCN, RT Moccasin, drowned while at the beach at CCN |
06 Mar 70- James W. Finzel, MSG E-8, 35yo, USASF, CCN, Da Nang, Ops 35 Non-Hostile (Drowned at CCN)-RR The following is submitted by Col. Larry Greene: "I remember Sgt McKee was swimming with SSG Finzel the day Finzel drowned. (Finzel) was a big, muscular guy who owned a monkey that had a taste for rum and coke (the monkey). There was another NCO swimming with them but I don't remember his name. He could have been Finzel's 1-1. I had just gotten to know Finzel before he died. Both of our teams had been at Phu Bai in isolation trying to get into the AO, but either the weather or activity on the LZs had prevented it. Finzel's team finally got in and stayed for about 5 days or so. My team got in and got shot out after a few hours. We had come back to Da Nang about the same time.
1970n 03 26 O'Neill, Thomas P SSG E-6 Maritime Studies Group OP 37
1970 |
03 |
24 |
O-2 1LT |
Jerry L. |
Pool |
31542 |
MIA-PFD (remains ID'ed 06/2001) |
Cam; CCC, RT Pennslyvania, YB484003 38k SSW of Leghorn, Ratanakiri Prov., on UH-1H #68-15262 |
1970 |
03 |
24 |
E-7 SFC |
John A. |
Boronski |
12B4S |
KIA, BNR (remains ID'ed 06/2001) |
Cam; CCC, RT Pennsylvania, YB484003 38k SSW of Leghorn, Ratanakiri Prov., on UH-1H #68-15262 |
1970 |
03 |
24 |
E-6 SSG |
Gary A. |
Harned |
05B4S |
MIA-PFD (remains ID'ed 06/2001) |
Cam; CCC, RT Pennsylvania, YB484003 38k SSW of Leghorn, Ratanakiri Prov., on UH-1H #68-15262 |
24 Mar 70- Jerry Lynn Pool, 1LT 0-2, RT one-two of Freeport, IL, John Arthur Boronski , SSG E-6, Tm One-Zero, of Ware, Mass, Gary Alan Harned, SGT, Tm One-one, of Springboro, Pa USASF and Special Command commando Scouts (Number and names unknown) CCC, Kontum, RT Pennsylvania, Ops 35 and Michael Davis O'Donnel, Cpt, Pilot of Springfield, Ill, John Charles Hosken, Co-Pilot, WOI, 0-2 of Chagrin Falls, OH; Rudy Morales Becerra, SP/4 of Richmond, TX and Berman Ganoe, Jr. SP/4 of Belleview, FL US Army UH-IH Helicopter Crew from the 170th AHC, Tail # 262, Ops 32/75-MIA, Presumptive finding of death. A recon team which had been engaged with an enemy force in Cambodia for three days, requested extraction. The UH-1H, 170th AHC responded in support of the team. The landing zone in the tri-border area 14 miles inside Cambodia, had enemy forces closing in, the pilot, ignoring his own safety attempted the extraction. The helicopter set-down on the LZ , the entire team boarded the aircraft and having just loaded the recon team, and in an effort to depart, the helicopter started its assent reaching an altitude of about 100 feet when an explosion was observed in the aircraft. The aircraft continued to fly for about three hundred meters when another explosion occurred. No bodies were seen being thrown clear of the exploding aircraft. The aircraft crashed and burned uncontrollably. No rescue was attempted due to heavy enemy fire. See "No Name Creek" Tales from SOG, Also see the "Into the Killing Zone, Mar 24, 70," Tales from SOG Subj:
RT Pennsylvania/Bikini Red Three Funeral and Interment Services From: (Clyde Sincere). :
Crash site |
J |
On 24 March 1970, RT Pennsylvania, MACVSOG OP-35 from CCC consisting of three U.S. and five Indigenous long-range reconnaissance patrol members were being extracted while under heavy enemy contact by a UH-1H helicopter flown by members of the 170th Aviation Company, 17th Aviation Group, lst Aviation Brigade. Immediately following the extraction, Major Michael D. O'Donnell transmitted that he had the entire eight man team on board and was departing the area. As the aircraft began its ascent, there was an explosion in the aircraft. The helicopter continued for about 300 meters when another explosion caused the aircraft to crash. Aerial search and rescue efforts were initiated, however, there was no sign of life at the crash site. In January of 1994, a joint search team interviewed Le Thanh Minh of Kontum. Minh reported that in April 1993 while searching for aluminum, he located a crash site in Cambodia. He stated he found human remains, three dog tags, a first aid kit and a rucksack. He also heard that people from Laos had discovered a watch, a gold ring and an AR15. He further indicated that the crash site was spread over a 100 meter area. He stated that the tail section of the aircraft was visible and engraved with the number "262". He gave the dog tags to the team, two were Berman Ganoe, Jr. and one belonged to John C. Hosken, (both crew members of the Huey). In January of 1998, a joint search team entered the area of the crash site and this time they were successful in locating the aircraft. The remains of all of the crew and team members were recovered, along with dog tags, weapons and other personal effects. After many years, the brave men of Bikini Red Three and RT Pennsylvania were on their way home. At 1300 hours, 16 August 2001, A group funeral service was conducted at the Old Post Chapel, Fort Myer, Virginia the for: Michael D. O'Donnell - Major, Aircraft Commander, 170th AviationCompany. John C. Hosken, CWO-3, Pilot, 170th Aviation Company. Jerry L. Pool, Captain, RT Pennsylvania - "One-Zero"; John A. Boronski, SFC, RT Pennsylvania - "One-One"; Gary A. Harned, SFC, RT Pennsylvania - "One-Two"; Berman Ganoe, Jr., SSG, Door Gunner, 170th Aviation Company; Rudy M. Becerra, SSG, Crew Chief, 170th Aviation Company.
Interment at Arlington National Cemetery followed the funeral service. There was one casket containing the remains of some of the above honored men. There were some family members who elected to have their loved ones remains interred near their homes of record. For instance, SSG Rudy Beccera's family is having him interred at Greenlawn Cemetery in Rosenberg, Texas with full military honors on Sunday, 19 August 2001 at 1400 hours. Family members of both the aircraft crew and RT Pennsylvania participated in the services with full military honors. Seven National colors were presented to family members in a very somber interment service.
A number of SOA and SFA members were also present to honor these fallen comrades: Michael Ash, SOA # 1432-GL; Robert Bechtoldt, SOA # 146-GL and his son John; Neil Coady, SOA # 565-GL and his wife Kathy; William Deacy, SOA # 1303-GL; R.J. Graham, SOA # 184-GL and his wife Joan. Also two friends of R.J. came: John and Ryan Long; Wally Johnson, President, Chapter XI, SFA; Robert Jack, SOA # 414-GL; Al Keller, SOA # 1488-GL; William Lueders, SOA # 664-GL; Gene McCarthy, SOA # 256-GL; Lloyd O'Daniel, SOA # 1469-GA; Clyde Sincere, SOA # 010-GL; Michael Wilson, SOA # 1338-GA; James L. Young, Pending SOA Membership, his wife Candy and daughter Elizabeth. Additionally approximately 60-75 family members and guests were in attendance. Regards, Clyde
REM
ARKS: SURVIVAL UNLIKELY - PER SARSYNOPSIS: By early 1967, the Bell UH1 Iroquois was already the standard Army assault helicopter, and was used in nearly every "in-country" mission. Better known by its nickname "Huey," the troop carriers were referred to as "slicks" and the gunships were called "Hogs." It proved itself to be a sturdy, versatile aircraft which was called on to carry out a wide variety of missions including search and rescue, close air support, insertion and extraction, fire support, and resupply to name a few. It usually carried a crew of four.
Military Assistance Command Vietnam - Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG) was a joint service high command unconventional warfare task force engaged in highly classified operations throughout Southeast Asia. The 5th Special Forces channeled personnel into MACV-SOG through Special Operations Augmentation (SOA) that provided their "cover" while under secret orders to MACV-SOG. These teams performed highly classified, deep penetration missions of strategic reconnaissance and interdiction that were called, depending on the time frame, "Salem House," "Daniel Boone," "Shining Brass" or "Prairie Fire" missions.
The NVA had enjoyed years of sanctuary in Cambodia and Laos, free from the war in Vietnam, with the exception of the ever-present threat of MACV-SOG teams who roamed the rugged mountains in search of them. Major hospitals, training centers, and rest and recuperation areas had been established in these areas, free from artillery barrages, attacks by ground troops, and while subjected to bombings, free of the massive bombing runs that racked North Vietnam daily. 1970 was to be the year the NVA were to lose their sanctuaries, as well as their safety from American and allied troops. With the Prince of Cambodia deposed, and the new Prime Minister, who was an avid enemy of the NVA, movements began immediately to seize control of the Cambodian countryside, thus denying the NVA their long-held supply routes and sanctuaries.
Plans were already underway to invade Cambodia with joint forces of American and ARVN forces later in the year. MACV-SOG teams from all three areas of operation - Command and Control Central (CCC), Command and Control North (CCN), and Command and Control South (CCS) - were to reconnoiter the interior of both Cambodia and southern Laos in preparation for the invasion, code named "Lam Son 719." Some of the most concentrated efforts of these initial reconnaissance missions were aimed at the communist's major sanctuaries in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia. This province was covered with triple canopy jungle that shielded most ground activity from aerial view. Coupled with the high and treacherously steep mountains that covered the entire sector, this made ground reconnaissance a necessity, as well as a dangerous and often fatal venture. Insertions and extractions were nearly always carried out by aircrews negotiating their helicopters over "hover holes" in the jungle canopy that required pilots to tightly maneuver and weave to enter and exit them. Rope and ladder or landing zone extractions that were located inside canyons and narrow valleys often appeared to be custom built by the enemy for cross fire ambushes that no amount of aerial coverage could prevent.
On 21 March 1970, just 3 days after Prince Schanouk was removed by the parliament and Lon Nol was installed as the Prime Minister, then 1st Lt. Jerry L. Pool, team leader; SSgt. John A. Boronsky, assistant team leader; Sgt. Gary A. Harned, radio operator; and 5 Montagnard Commandos, comprised "Reconnaissance Team (RT) Pennsylvania," which was inserted by helicopter into Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia. The team's mission was to determine the size and movements of the NVA force that was seizing control over the province as well as the suspected NVA movements in neighboring provinces.
Within an hour of being inserted, RT Pennsylvania had been located by highly trained NVA Counter-Recon Hunter teams who were aggressively following them. Moving in a southwesterly direction away from their insertion point, the team fought through heavy jungle and the steep mountain terrain at an exhausting pace. Each time the team stopped, the pursuing NVA would catch up with them and a brief firefight would ensue. During these encounters, the NVA pushed the team deeper into the mountains to avoid capture.
The first night RT Pennsylvania managed to set up a small encampment and gain some much needed rest. However, by first light the team was moving again, this time with the NVA even closer than before, and frequently seemingly right behind them. By nightfall of the second day, 1st Lt. Pool and his team were on a constant dodge and ambush routine with a large force of pursuing NVA. All the team's efforts to evade the NVA failed. Finally at a point when the team reached a state of nearly total exhaustion, the communists incorporated dogs into their search effort.
On the morning of 24 March 1970, the members of RT Pennsylvania were losing ground fast. Jerry Pool radioed for an emergency Prairie Fire Extraction. His team had gone as far as they could and needed to either abort the rest of the mission or face death or capture. Under the circumstances, they could not evade much longer. After relaying their dire situation, the team resumed its evasive tactics up the side of the next mountain.
The Forward Air Controller (FAC) Air Force Capt. Melvin Irvin, pilot; and MSgt. Charles Septer, observer; call sign "Covey," flew over RT Pennsylvania's position. MSgt. Septer was in constant radio contact with the Americans on the ground. 1st Lt. Pool reported they had been "running and ambushing all morning, but their pursuers were right behind them." Charles Septer knew he had to get relief for the team or they were not going to make it. He called for close air support and soon a flight of A1-E Skyraiders, referred to as "Spads" when functioning as attack aircraft, arrived on the scene. With the protective air cover dropping CBU (cluster bomb units) and napalm around the team, they were able to place some distance between themselves and the advancing enemy.
The napalm slowed down the NVA, but it also started numerous fires in the dense growth of the jungle, these fires soon became as much of a threat as the advancing NVA. Jerry Pool reported that now both the fires and NVA were closing in on them. As the Spads worked overhead, Charles Septer devised an extraction plan. He radioed instructions to the team leader directing the team to move to the nearest available extraction LZ that was southwest of their position, near the bottom of a narrow valley with steep canyon walls. 1st Lt. Pool acknowledged the transmission and again emphasized the NVA were closing in and they were going to need more aerial coverage. At roughly 1130 hours, MSgt. Septer called Dak To for additional close air support.
Capt. Michael D. "Mike" O'Donnell, aircraft commander; then WO1 John C. "Hippie" Hosken, pilot; SP4 Rudy M. Becerra, crew chief; and SP4 Berman Ganoe, door gunner; comprised the crew of a UH1H helicopter (serial #68-15262), call sign "Red 3," in a flight of 4 Huey and 4 Cobra gunships conducting the emergency extraction mission for the RT Pennsylvania. All 8 of the helicopters were assigned to the 170th Aviation Company, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade.
WO1 James E. Lake, who flew the aircraft that originally inserted RT Pennsylvania, and veteran pilot/former Green Beret Johnny Kemper, flew Red Lead, the flight leader for the Hueys. WO1 Hosken, while shy and retiring, received his nickname from the little round glasses he wore. SP4 Berman and SP4 Ganoe were both veterans of many clandestine missions "over the fence" into the politically denied areas of Laos and Cambodia. Capt. O'Donnell was Red platoon leader, but flew Red Three because while senior in rank, he was junior in experience, so he flew in the wingman position rather than lead. This was because on many MACV-SOG missions, experience equated to survival for the aircrews and teams alike.
After an approximately 20-minute flight, the four Cobras and two slicks arrived at the team's location. The Spads still circled in the sky above. Below them, the Covey Rider pointed out RT Pennsylvania's location to the gun team, and then gave coordinating references to the enemy positions based on the reports from 1st Lt. Pool. Immediately, the lead Cobra dove down to fire rockets along with its 40mm cannons and miniguns into NVA positions around RT Pennsylvania. The other gunship and the two Hueys orbited 1500 feet above the site, waiting for the team to reach the extraction LZ. The first Cobra soon expended its rockets and ammunition. The gunship withdrew from the area and flew to Dak To to rearm and refuel. On the ground, the situation facing RT Pennsylvania was deteriorating. Jerry Pool reported that they were back in contact with the enemy. They were moving as fast as possible, but the NVA were right behind them. To reach the LZ from their position, the team had to descend to the valley floor before moving southwest some distance.
In the sky above, WO1 Lake noted that he had a bit more than one hour of fuel remaining. Considering Pennsylvania's progress, he judged that it would reach the extraction LZ at about the time the two Hueys would be forced to return for fuel. He instructed Capt. O'Donnell to remain on station as long as possible to provide air cover for the team on the ground while he returned to Dak To to rearm, refuel and collect the other two Hueys for the extraction. Racing back to Dak To, James Lake and Johnny Kemper discussed the best way to perform what was sure to be a red-hot extraction. Landing in Dak To, WO1 Lake briefed the other two aircrews on their situation. Not only was RT Pennsylvania in desperate need of extraction, but by the time they could return, Capt. O'Donnell and the other Cobras would need to refuel. Time was critical.
Approximately 45 minutes later, WO1 Lake and the other two Hueys were enroute back to the LZ. WO1 William H. Stepp and WO1 Alan Hoffman were the pilots of the two Hueys. Neither pilot had extensive experience and WO1 Hoffman was also new to Vietnam. Because of this, neither of them totally appreciated the situation until they were airborne and had crossed into Laos. The reality set in as the flight raced westward. The aircrews monitored the radio transmissions between the FAC and 1st Lt. Pool as the team's situation continued to deteriorate even further.
Those 45 minutes had been harrowing ones for RT Pennsylvania. In continuous contact with the enemy, they were running through the dense jungle toward the LZ. The extraction birds were now ten minutes away. As the team stumbled down a steep slope towards the valley floor, Jerry Pool fell injuring his ankle. He reported that the enemy was right behind them, the fires were closing in, and he could not move further. He asked MSgt. Septer where the extraction birds were. Charles Septer replied they were on their way. 1st Lt. Pool looked up to the sky and saw Mike O'Donnell's Huey orbiting the LZ, he desperately radioed, "You ain't got no balls at all if you don't come down and get us right now!"
The aircrews supporting MACV-SOG operations had a creed they lived by: "You take them in - you get them out!" Without hesitation, Mike O'Donnell told Charles Septer that he would make the extraction alone. James Lake heard the transmission and told Capt. O'Donnell the rest of the extraction force was minutes away and to wait for them to arrive. Mike O'Donnell's reply was simple, the men on the ground didn't have a few minutes and he was going in. Followed by a Cobra gunship, Capt. O'Donnell dropped down between the canyon walls, slowed and hovered over RT Pennsylvania. He waited at a hover while the team scrambled through the dense undergrowth toward his aircraft. As the minutes ticked by, James Lake and the others arrived overhead. After roughly four minutes on the ground - an eternity under the circumstances - Mike O'Donnell started to pull up and away from the LZ. Slowly gathering speed, he climbed skyward. At an altitude of approximately 200 feet above the ground he reported, "I've got all eight, I'm coming out." The other aircrews heaved a collective sigh of relief. Suddenly and without warning, Mike O'Donnell's helicopter exploded in flames. Raining parts as its momentum carried it forward; the Huey continued some three hundred meters beyond the point of contact before it crashed in the jungle.
After a moment of stunned disbelief, the first voice over the radio was that of Cobra pilot Capt. Michael Jimison who was following Mike O'Donnell's Huey down the valley. He said, "I didn't see a piece bigger than my head." Capt. Jimison stated that he would move in for a closer look at the crash site. Making a wide, high-speed orbit of the site, the two Cobras flew back to the head of the valley, and began a run down the valley at a speed of close to 200 knots. Suddenly, the canyon walls lit up with muzzle flashes and tracer rounds. From the northern wall of the canyon, WO1 Lake watched a white streak flash behind the lead Cobra exploding against the far wall of the canyon. At the end of the pass, Capt. Jimison reported that he could see nothing in the heavy jungle of the valley floor except smoke and fire. Suddenly, a red flash of light followed by a column of dense black smoke rose from the crash site. Fires began to burn furiously in the jungle in and around it. James Lake decided to make a closer investigation of the crash site. He ordered the other helicopters to remain in high orbit while he descended through the veil of smoke toward the crash site. As he approached the valley, he watched thousands of tracer rounds begin their seemingly lazy looking arcs from the jungle on the canyon walls to flash by all sides of his aircraft.
The crash site was located at the bottom of a valley with steep walls that was populated by hundreds of NVA soldiers who were pouring out small arms and automatic weapons fire. From their position on the walls of the canyon, the NVA could shoot down at any aircraft attempting to fly through the valley near the burning wreckage. There was nowhere to land and hovering was certain death. James Lake and Johnny Kemper agreed there was nowhere to go, and nothing left they could do. From what they saw on the pass through, with what lay below them in smoke and fire, neither man believed that any person could have survived the explosion aboard the Huey or the 200 foot fall that followed it. WO1 Lake made a max power climb-out from the valley, and reluctantly turned away and ordered the flight to return to Dak To. At the time the immediate search effort was terminated, Mike O'Donnell, John Hoskins, Rudy Becerra, Berman Ganoe, Jerry Pool, John Boronski and Gary Harned plus the indigenous team members were immediately listed Missing in Action. Due to the area of loss being deep within enemy held territory, no further search and rescue/recovery operation was possible.
The Huey's wreckage was also located approximately 3 miles southeast of the Cambodian/Lao border, 15 miles west of the Cambodian/South Vietnamese, 23 miles southwest of the tri-border junction to Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam and 35 miles west-southwest of Dak To, South Vietnam.
On 16 November 1993, during JFA 94-2C, a joint team under the auspices of the Joint Task Force for Full Accounting (JTFFA) traveled to Cambodia to investigate this loss incident. The team landed by helicopter on the top of the small hill about 500 meters south of the valley in which the Huey's wreckage was located. As the team moved to the crash site through the dense jungle and rugged terrain, it took them 2 ½ hours to travel the distance of only one-kilometer. The team searched the area, but found no evidence of a crash site.
On 18 January 1994, another JTFFA team interviewed Le Thanh Minh, a Vietnamese resident of Kontum, South Vietnam. Le Thanh Minh reported that in April 1993 he found the crash site in Cambodia while looking for aluminum. He said he found human remains, three dog tags, a first aid kit and a rucksack. He heard that people from Laos had discovered a watch, a gold ring, and an AR15 gun. He also reported that the crash site was spread over a 100-meter area and the tail section was visible and engraved with the number "262." He gave the dog tags to the team, two belonged to Berman Ganoe and one belonged to John Hoskins. The remains consisted of 15 small bone fragments.
Later in 1994, a JTFFA recovery team located and began excavating the crash site based upon information provided by Le Thanh Minh. As the work progressed, the American team members noted that the site had obviously been heavily scavenged over many years. Other joint teams returned to the site twice in 1995 and once again in 1998 to complete the excavation. During the various trips to Cambodia, US personnel also interviewed a variety of local residents of the region about the crash site and the fate of its crew and passengers. When questioned, the villagers would frequently say things like, "Oh yes, we've gotten some stuff from there," then they would produce remains, equipment and/or wreckage.
In January 1998, the recovery team entered the crash site for the final time. At the time the excavation site was closed, the team members believed they were able to recover all human remains, dog tags, weapons, other personal effects, pieces of equipment and aircraft wreckage that was left at the crash site. In addition to the material recovered during the excavation, on several occasions human remains and material was recovered from local villagers as well as Vietnamese bones brokers. One bone fragment associated with this loss was actually sent into the Defense Prisoner and Missing Office (DPMO), Washington, DC; and from there it was sent via US mail to the US Army's Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CIL-HI).
The remains recovered included 18 teeth/parts of teeth and a large number of bone fragments of varying sizes representing bones from every portion of the body and included some complete ribs and a scapula and were transported to the CIL-HI for forensic examination by the laboratory's staff. After a thorough examination and testing, CIL-HI forensic personnel concluded that only 3 bone fragments could be positively identified through mt-DNA to Mike O'Donnell, 3 teeth and 1 bone fragment to John Hosken, 2 teeth and 1 bone fragment to Rudy Becerra; and 5 teeth and 2 bone fragments to Berman Ganoe. No teeth or bone fragments were matched to Jerry Pool, Gary Harned or John Boronski's dental records or their family's DNA samples.
On 16 August 2001, a group burial was conducted at Arlington National Cemetery for Mike O'Donnell, John Hoskins, Rudy Becerra, Berman Ganoe, Jerry Pool, John Boronski, Gary Harned and the five Montagnard team members with the names of all seven Americans on the headstone. On 19 August 2001, those individually identified remains for Rudy Becerra were interred at the family burial plot at Greenlawn Cemetery, Rosenberg, Texas.
For the families and friends of Mike O'Donnell, John Hoskins, Rudy Becerra, Berman Ganoe, Jerry Pool, John Boronski and Gary Harned, they finally have peace of mind in knowing where their loved ones lie. For other Americans who remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, their fate could be quite different. Since the end of the Vietnam War well over 21,000 reports of American prisoners, missing and otherwise unaccounted for have been received by our government. Many of these reports document LIVE America Prisoners of War remaining captive throughout Southeast Asia TODAY.
Military men in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were called upon to fly and fight in many dangerous circumstances, and they were prepared to be wounded, killed or captured. It probably never occurred to them that they could be abandoned by the country they so proudly served.
At the same time the families of these 7 Americans were informed of the individual or group identification of their men's remains, they were also informed of the very real probability that more remains of their loved ones could be recovered from or turned over by other Asians in the future.
1970 |
04 |
2 |
E-7 SFC |
Donald G. |
Armstrong |
11F4S |
KIA |
Laos; CCC, FORD DRUM during a low-level photo mission; aircraft managed to return to base |
2 Apr 70-Donald G. Armstrong, SFC, CCC, KIA during low level photo mission over Cambodia, aircraft returned. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his heroism and extraordinary achievement while engaged in aerial flight. He served as an Infantry Operations and Intelligence Specialist (Special Forces Qualified). He was assigned to MACV-SOG, 5TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP.
See
https://army.togetherweserved.com/
1970 |
04 |
3 |
E-6 SSG |
Everette E. |
Cofer |
11B4S |
KIA, DOW |
Cam; CCS, RT Pick, mult frag wounds |
03 Apr 70- Everett B Cofer, SSG E-6, USASF, RT PICK, CCS, Da Nang, Ops 35 Remains Recovered. Everett was on a Recon Mission with RJ Graham [filed by William "Bill" Deacy]
1970 |
04 |
3 |
E-4 SP4 |
Carl J. |
Helring |
96C20 |
DNH, drowned/suffocated |
SVN; MACSOG 80, Gia Dinh Prov. |
3 Apr 70 Helring, Carl J- SP/4, attached to MACSOG 80'S from 11/01/69 until his death an interrogator from the 525th MI BN, drowned in recreational center swimming pool Gia Dinh Province, South-Non Hostile.
Helring, Carl J- |
1970 |
04 |
6 |
E-6 SSG |
Andrew T. |
Brassfield |
11B4S |
KIA, BNR |
Laos; CCN, RT Intruder, XD983057, 39k WNW of A Luoi |
06 Apr 70-Andres Thomas Brassfield SSG E-6, USASF Recon Tm Missouri, CCN, Da Nang, Ops 35, -KIA, body not recovered. On an intelligence gathering Recon mission in Laos. The team stopped for a rest and came under came under intense enemy fire and all team members were wounded and SSG Brassfield was fatally wounded. Brassfield?s remains had to be left behind in an effort to break contact with the enemy. As the team stopped for a rest, it came under heavy enemy fire. In attempting to gain better cover, Brassfield was fatally wounded. The remaining team members were unable to recover his body because they had all been injured and were unable to carry him while trying to break contact with the enemy. Brassfield was never found.
He was a personal friend of Jack Frost who was my first room mate when I got to CCN-rln
1970 04 |
15 |
E-6 SSG |
Dennis W. |
Neal |
11B4F |
KIA |
SVN; CCC, RT Montana, during Bright Light insert at LZ Orange near A-245, Dak Seang |
1970 |
04 |
15 |
E-6 SSG |
Michael V. |
Kuropas |
11B4F |
KIA |
Cam; CCC, RT Hawaii |
15 Apr 70-Michael
V Kuropas, SSG E-6
USASF and
Dennis W. Neal, SSG
E-6 CCC-KIA (Kuropas was with RT Ohio before joining VIRGINIA) both were
killed when attempting a bright light rescue of the 170 AHC. In March of 1970, Prince
Sihanouk was in
Michael V Kuropas |
In Respectful and Loving MemorySSG Dennis Neal SSG Michael V. Kuropas Then the call came to lay down their lives for their comrades in the afternoon hours of April 15, 1970. Would they take the call? The 170th Aviation Helicopter Company had in the early morning hours of April 15th started inserting reinforcements on a small hill that was nothing more than a bald knob with craters outside the perimeter of a Special Forces Camp. However, this bald knob was a strategic position, which offered a premier vantage point over the entire valley and was in demand by both the Americans and North Vietnamese. The reinforcements were to come to the aid of an isolated Special Forces Camp at Dak Seang under siege by an entire North Vietnamese Army Division. Unknown to the reinforcement element, the bald knob was already under the control of the North Vietnamese Army’s Divisional Headquarters element. The first helicopter successfully landed without incident where two pathfinders and six Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) soldiers disembarked. The helicopter departed and the two Americans pathfinders started to bring in the remaining flight of helicopters with their reinforcements aboard. The North Vietnamese waited and as the next helicopter approached and was about 50 feet from the Landing Zone (LZ), they opened up from all directions on the crew on the ground and the inbound helicopter, killing one of the pathfinders immediately. Aboard the helicopter, the crew chief was hit repeatedly as the helicopter crashed and the eight ARVN soldiers aboard were killed. The pilot, co-pilot, and door gunner survived the crash along with the wounded crew chief. As these individuals were attempting to distance themselves from their downed bird, the pilot was hit a number of times in the back and fell wounded. The co-pilot drug the pilot away from the helicopter to the side of the hill below a crater and were joined by the door gunner. The pathfinder who had survived the initial volley of fire on the ground moved to aircraft wreckage and rescued the wounded crew chief and moved back to where the wounded pilot was lying. The surviving Americans and ARVN soldiers were completely surrounded by a dug in and well Fortified enemy. As the defenders started laying down suppressive fire so they could move about, the six ARVN soldiers ran into the jungle, deserting the Americans. Throughout the day, a number of attempt were made to rescue these soldiers to no avail. The North Vietnamese were using the trapped Americans as bait to draw in other rescue helicopters. By 1:00 pm, the authorized rescue attempts stopped due to the intense barrage of enemy fire and damages sustained by the rescue aircrafts. Even with the Air Force’s fast flyers (F4's and A1E’s) strafing and dropping Napalm around the besieged aircrew, the enemy did not lose ground and those survivors were being chocked and were at the mercy of the enemy who would taunt them by firing into the dead pathfinder, who’s body was exposed. The weather was becoming worse and the risk to aircraft greater, soon they would be socked in and rescue out of the question. They were like mice being played with by a menacing cat, taking his time for the kill. The Special Forces Camp was under siege and the weather was now turning against them. Another negative turn of event was looming against their survival. The Army and Air Force commands decided rescue was no longer possible and no further attempt would be made sealing their fate to death. Two other 170th’s helicopters had been inserting SOG recon teams around 9:00am, their crews were listening to the radio traffic regarding the Dak Seang reinforcement and rescue attempts. They landed at Dak To, requested release from their mission so they could assist in the rescue and asked for a SOG brightlight team, which SOG agreed. Dak To made communication with CCC at Kontum for the team.. Two SOG recon team volunteered to mount a rescue attempt. SSG Dennis Neal, Team Leader of Recon Team Montana and SSG Michael V. Kuropas, Team Leader of Recon Team Vermont volunteer for the mission and without hesitation, as usual, their Montagnards also volunteered. They combined their two recon teams to form a brightlight extraction force and were picked up and arrived on station about 2:00pm where they watched Jolly 27 (Jolly Green Giant, CH-46 helicopter) crash. By the time the SOG brightlight team arrived and were ready for their rescue attempt, they were fully aware of what had happened. (Two 170th Huey helicopters had been shot down, six shot up, one OH6 helicopter blown out of the sky, one Jolly Green crashed and another shot up so bad it had to be scrapped after landing, and one A1E aircraft last seen leaving the area of operations with one engine on fire). The brightlight team maintained a holding pattern at high altitude watching a number of other unauthorized attempts to rescue, which were unsuccessful. At about 3:00 pm, with full knowledge of what they were about to face, a decision was at hand. It was time for a last ditch effort and as their helicopters approached the bald knob LZ, they started taking heavy machine gun fire from a quarter mile out. As the helicopter with the SSG Neal and Kuropas made it’s approach to the LZ, it came under intense enemy fire, the chopper was losing torque in their engine. Before the helicopter was forced down, SSG Neal, Kuropas, and the Montagnard Team members were all dead or dying from severe multiple gunshot wounds. The helicopter’s tail boom had been hit by a B40 rocket which did not detonate, but logged itself in the bindings of the tail-rotor controls. The chopper slammed onto the LZ hard, several of the aircrew that had been pinned down made it to the helicopter which was able to manage to regain enough power and torque to lift off and fall down the hill side away from the enemy, all the while taking a steady hail of enemy fire. Of this action, SGT Rosido Montana, pathfinder, of the 52nd Avn Bn was killed with the initial volley of fire. Eight ARVN soldiers aboard the crashed helicopter were killed and the pilot, WO Albert J. Barthelme, Jr., died of wounds before the rescue aircraft arrived. SSG Dennis Neal and SSG Michael V. Kuropas along with all the Montagnards of SOG were killed before the rescue helicopter slammed onto the Landing Zone. Sp/4 Vincent S. Davies, door gunner and Sp/5 Donald C. Summers, Crew Chief, both of the crashed helicopter, suffered multiple gunshot wounds were rescued. The co-pilot, WO Roger A Miller of the crashed helicopter was attempting to retrieve the body of WO Albert J Barthelme, Jr. and was left behind as was CPL Herndon A Bivens, pathfinder, of the 52nd Avn Bn who had positioned himself in the crashed helicopter fighting off the NVA with his M60 machine gun when last seen. The co-pilot, WO Tom Bennie of the rescue helicopter was wounded. At the conclusion of the war in 1973, WO Roger A Miller was release as a prisoner of war. He relates he and CPL Bivens were captured after spending the night and while attempting to return to friendly lines the following day. They were ambushed by the Viet Cong and CPL Bivens was wounded 5 or 6 times in he chest. The Viet Cong later told him Bivens had died after a couple of hours after being wounded. In effect, All had been either killed, wounded, taken prisoners with the exception of the pilot of the rescue helicopter, Captain Bill MacDonald. Without the heroic action of SSG Neal, Kuropas, the Special Commando’s, SOG’s disregard of command’s directives, and the men of the 170th Aviation Helicopter Company, the rescue would not have been made. See Dak Seang for complete details of this action by Col Donald C. Summers.
|
1970 |
04 |
17 |
E-7 SFC |
Jerry L. |
Prentner |
91B4S |
DNH, accidental self destruction |
SVN; CCS, Dispensary Medic, Darlac Prov., accidental GSW |
17 Apr 70- Jerry L Prentner, SFC B-7, USASF, CCS, Ops 35, Accidental Gun Shot- KIA-RR
|
1970 |
05 |
8 |
E-5 SGT |
Charles J. |
Hein Jr. |
11B4S |
DNH, accidental self destruction |
SVN; CCC, w/ RT Vermont, Kontum Prov.; WP grenade accident |
08 May 70- Charles J. Hein, Jr, S
GT E-5, USASF, CCC- On May 6, John and other members of his unit were getting ready to go out on maneuvers and they were getting the grenades packed. The grenade Hein was handling fell on the concrete floor and cracked. “He saw that the fuse had been detonated and so he picked it up and ran to the door to get it out of the building, but before he could get rid of it, it blew up in his hands.” John was airlifted to the hospital in Pleiku and died two days later
Charles top left |
Sidney man gave his life to
save fellow soldiers By TESS GRUBER NELSON, Staff Writer
1970 |
05 |
12 |
E-6 SSG |
Robert F. |
Preiss, Jr. |
11B4S |
KIA, DWM (recovered 06/20/95) |
Laos; CCN, RT Cobra, YC298740, 21k SW of A-102, A Shau |
12 May 70- Robert Francis Preiss, SSG E-6 of Cornwall, NY, USASF, Recon Team Cobra, CCN, Da Nang, Ops 35 KIA - Body recovered. While on a recon mission in Laos, the team was engaged by a North Vietnamese Army squad size unit while the team was on a rest break and SSG Preiss was mortally wounded. Due to the enemy situation, the team was enforced to withdraw leaving Preiss's remains behind. A search team was inserted on the 18th and it appears the battle area had been sterilized and a large rock slide had occurred. The only indication of Preiss? presence is the smell of decomposing flesh from beneath the rock slide.
Preiss center |
1970 |
05 |
25 |
E-6 SSG |
Robert L. |
Coleman |
11B4S |
KIA, DOW |
Laos; CCN, RT New Jersey |
25 May 70- Robert L. Coleman, SSG E-6, USASF, RT NEW JERSEY, CCN, Da Nang, Ops 35, KIA-RR Coleman, a member of a team on a recon mission in Laos. The team was attacked by a North Vietnamese Unit and Coleman was shot in the spleen and bled to death before medical assistance could be provided.
30 May 70- Brian J DeVaney CWO
aka B.J, of the 17Oth AHC, a native Canadian, who's last day of flying was the day before. One of his last missions was to insert a SOG recon team from CCC in the BRA area of the Ho Chi Minh Trail on 28 March. On the 30th, he learned the team was now in trouble and need to be extracted from the area, he felt it was his responsibility to extract the team since he had inserted them and therefore took the mission. Upon the approach to extract the team, the helicopter came under intense fire from a RPD Machine Gun, raking the chopper from front to rear while it hovered in an effort to pick up the team under fire. Several rounds entered from the rear of the aircraft. Two rounds hit SP/4 John P. Martin, Of the 17Oth AHC, crew chief, sitting directly behind the pilot DeVaney, one round hit Martin in the left thigh and one hitting the left tibia and going through the right Femur. One of these rounds that hit Martin passed through about a 1/4" inch crack in the Armor Plating protecting the pilot hitting CWO DeVaney’s armor chest plate bouncing back into his heart killing him instantly. The aircraft rolled, crashed and burned. SP/4 Martin came to from being unconscious, he was under the fuel cell of the aircraft, as he began to crawl away, Lt John W Naurot, of CCC's Recon Team, left the safety of the bomb crater and retrieved Martin by pulling him to safety in the crater. How the other crew members consisting of the Co Pilot Taylor and B.J got to the crater is not clear, Either the Co-Pilot and other members got to the crater themselves or the other members of the Recon Team exposed themselves to the hail of bullets by crawling out and pulling the crew back to safety. One SCU scout was also KIA in this incident. All members were rescued by another 170th Helicopter who lost 4" of tail rotor in the extraction. (Information provided by John P. Martin and edited by Robert Noe)
1970 |
06 |
4 |
O-2 1LT |
Mark H. |
Rivest |
31542 |
KIA |
Laos; CCC, Reaction Company, Plt Ldr; small arms fire |
04 Jun 70- Mark H. Rivest, 1LT 0-2, USASF, Reaction PLT LDR CCC-KIA in Laos
1970 |
06 |
10 |
O-2 1LT |
Vyrl E. |
Leichliter, Jr. |
31542 |
KIA |
Cam; CCS, w/ Exploitation Force, Platoon Ldr; small arms fire |
10 Jun 70- Vyrl E. Leichlieter, 1LT 0-2, USASF, CCS, Plt Ldr-KIA small arms fire
30 Jun 70- William Stephen Sanders CPT 0-3, Pilot, FAC, of Winthrop, Maine USAF, 23rd Tac Air Spt, and Five crew members of an HH53, Captain Leroy C. Schaneberg, pilot; Major John W. Goeglein, co-pilot; SSgt Marvin E. Bell, flight engineer; SSgt Michael F. Dean, pararescueman; and MSgt. Paul L. Jenkins, pararescueman 40TH ARRS, 3RD AIR RESCUE GROUP, 7TH AF , Ops 32,MIA. His aircraft was shot down while providing support for a SOG recon team in Laos. The back seat rider escaped and was rescued. (Filed by William "Bill" Sheldon: CPT William Sanders, USAF, was flying a mission out of MLT 3, NKP. Back seater was SFC Albert Mosiello, USASF, CCN, MLT 3. Mosiello stated they were hit in the side by apparently a 37mm AAA round. He debriefed that the explosion probably killed CPT Sanders. Mosiello ejected, and was under canopy for 4 - 10 seconds. An HH 53 Jolly Green from 37th ARRS was launched from Danang to recover Mosiello. Sandys (A1s were covering). As the HH53 made an approach to hover, an NVA fired an RPG into the rotor of the HH53. The aircraft rolled out of the sky and exploded in a huge fireball. All 6 crew members were presumed KIA. 56th SOW commander, COL Sam Crosby informed me the 37th was launching another HH53, and asked if I desired to arm the A1s with tear gas for fire suppression. I affirmed, and as soon as the tear gas was down, the 2nd HH53 picked Mosiello out on a penetrator. I flew an electronic search of the crash site the following morning, with CPT Fred Parrot, FAC pilot 23rd TASS. No radio signals detected, no movement in or near the site. An NVA company was observed moving to the area. We pickled 2 pods of HE rockets into the NVA, and then departed the area. I sat on a KIA/MIA board. CPT Sanders was presumed to be KIA, but as I recall the status remained MIA for a long time. His status is still Body not Recovered; however, the five crew members of the HH53 Remains have been recovered.
|
On 30 June 1970, Captain William S. Sanders, pilot, and SFC Albert E. Mosiello, observer, were conducting a visual reconnaissance mission in an OV-10A (tail number 68-3807, call sign "Nail 44"). Due to mission requirements for handheld photography NAIL 44 was flying below the usual minimum of 1500 feet. The aircraft was taken under fire and hit by a 37mm AAA shell in its left side adjacent to the pilot's position. With his pilot unresponsive and the OV-10 no longer airworthy, Mosiello ejected. The OV-10 had gone down in heavily forested, rugged mountains about 3 miles west of the Lao/South Vietnamese border and 12 miles south of the demilitarized zone (DMZ). A second FAC in the vicinity heard SFC Mosiello's emergency beeper and made radio contact with the downed observer. He then initiated Search and Rescue operations. A HH-53C JOLLY GREEN helicopter from the 40th Air Rescue/Recovery Squadron (ARRS) at Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, was immediately dispatched to the area of loss. The HH-53 crew consisted of
Captain Leroy C. Schaneberg, pilot; Major John W. Goeglein, co-pilot; SSgt Marvin E. Bell, flight engineer; SSgt Michael F. Dean, pararescueman; and MSgt. Paul L. Jenkins, pararescueman.
As the aircraft hovered over SFC Mosiello's position, it was hit by a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) in the rotor head. The rotor assembly separated from the fuselage, which rolled over and crashed in a fireball on the ground. No emergency beepers were heard from the helicopter's crash site and the FAC could see no signs of survivors. Although nightfall was approaching, a second effort was staged using a helicopter from Da Nang and A-1E SANDYs for fire suppression. SFC Mosiello was picked up. In his debriefing statement, SFC Mosiello stated a belief that Captain Sanders had been killed by the AAA hit and that he did not see Sanders eject or another parachute deploy. Search efforts for the Captain Sanders and the HH-53 crew continued through the next day, but no beepers were heard, no contact with the downed aircrew was made, and there were no visual sightings of survivors. SAR efforts were terminated and the six men were listed as Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered. In December 1992, a US/Lao team surveyed and excavated the HH-53 crash site. Human remains were recovered and on 7 March 1995 the US government identified the remains as those of the five HH-53 aircrewmen. Efforts to locate the OV-10 crash site were unsuccessful due to the terrain and dense jungle.
17 Nov 2002
I rode in his airplane. We slipped those surly bonds and faced the dangers of combat together. He was a very good pilot, and a Forward Air Controller who did a superb job supporting the men of SOG on the ground. He died way too young, and his body has yet to be recovered. But I shall always remember him as such a good man, a good pilot, a great FAC, and a friend. God bless you Bill Sanders, NAIL 44. From a friend and comrade-in-arms, Bill Shelton [email protected]
(?) Jul 70, A Special Commando Scout, Bru, PIt Ldr, Co A, Hatchet Force This SCU was killed while he and some of the PIt Scouts along with SFC Robert Noe were were on the South China Beach of CCN compound after being returned from an extended tour of security duty of Hickory Radio Relay site. While in the water with some of his Plt members, a hand grenade was thrown into their midst and exploded resulting in his death. Correction: Interestingly enough, I was about 20 feet from this guy when the grenade went off, retrieved him from the surf and ended up taking him to the 95th Evac where he was pronounced dead, then on to the Morgue at the Da Nang...My take on the event (according to the other SCU wounded), was that the subject was fishing with a grenade in waist deep water, had just pulled the pin to throw it when he dropped it (his hands were wet), he bent down hoping to retrieve and throw it in time, but didn't quite make it... which accounted for the massive wound to his forehead. Hadn't thought about that in years.... RT Hanna --Don't know which version is true, but you are correct, there was massive damage done to his head. Went to the morgue and transported his body back home. Maybe the version I got was because I was the American PLT Sgt and the Yards didn't want me to know they were fishing with explosives or the other yards didn’t know what he was doing and though someone threw the grenade at them???? Note: This was the day we got back from Hickory and that afternoon was sent on the Co Roc mission.. RL Noe
1970 |
07 |
4 |
E-7 SFC |
Charles F. |
Bookout |
11C4F |
KIA, BNR |
Laos; CCN, RT Colorado,YC362495, 16k west of Ta Ko |
04 Jul 70- Charles Franidin Bookout. SFC E-7 of Oklahoma City, OK, USASF, RT COLORADO, CCN, Da Nang, Ops 35 KIA, Body not recovered. The team was on Recon in Laos which was ambushed where he was wounded, examined by a team member who found a single bullet hole in Bookout?s back. A few moments later stopped breathing. Because of the tactical situation, his body could not be extracted at the time. (Added by Fred Wunderlich, "Lightning": The team?s 11, Oliveras, confirmed a head shot) Body not recovered as of 25Jan2023 He was a personal friend of Jack Frost, my former room mate. rln
On the Fourth of July in 1970, SFC Bookout was conducting a reconnaissance mission when his unit was ambushed in Laos. The team's position was near the border of Laos and South Vietnam, south of the South Vietnam city of A Shau, in Saravane Province, Laos. On the first burst of fire, SFC Bookout was wounded. He was examined by one of the squad members, and a single bullet hole was found in the left side of his back. About 10 minutes later he stopped breathing, and no pulse could be found. Due to the tactical situation and the intense enemy fire, the team was instructed to move to a clearing for extraction. SFC Bookout was left behind, because it would have slowed the progress and endangered the lives of the rest of the team to try and carry him to safety. It was believed that he was dead. The rest of the team was extracted safely at about 1900 hours that day. No search teams were inserted to recover Bookout because of impending darkness and the enemy situation. For every insertion like SFC Charles Bookout's that was detected and stopped, dozens of other commando teams safely slipped past NVA lines to strike a wide range of targets and collect vital information. The number of MACV-SOG missions conducted with Special Forces reconnaissance teams into Laos and Cambodia was 452 in 1969. It was the most sustained American campaign of raiding, sabotage and intelligence gathering waged on foreign soil in U.S. military history. MACV-SOG's teams earned a global reputation as one of the most combat effective deep-penetration forces ever raised. The missions Bookout and others were assigned were exceedingly dangerous and of strategic importance. The men who were put into such situations knew the chances of their recovery if captured was slim to none. [Taken from pownetwork.org]
1970 |
07 |
5 |
E-8 MSG |
Richard L. |
Smith |
unk |
KIA |
SVN; CCC, HQ Co Club Manager, Kontum Prov., w/ SFC Lishchynsky ambushed returning from Pleiku |
1970 |
07 |
5 |
E-7 SFC |
George |
Lishchynsky |
11B4S |
KIA |
SVN; CCC, HQ Co, Kontum Prov., w/ MSG RL Smith ambushed returning from Pleiku |
05 Jul 70- Richard L Smith, MSG E-8 and George Lishchynski (also spelled Lishcnynsky), SFC USASF, CCC-KIA On July 5, 1970, SFC George Lishchynsky and MSGT Richard L. Smith were returning from Pleiku in a jeep along Highway 14 with two other persons (Dusty Moore and Jan Novy) when they were ambushed by a band of Viet Cong. Both SFC Lishchynsky and MSGT Smith suffered fatal wounds in the attack. [Taken from specialforceshistory.com]
1970 |
07 |
13 |
E-7 SFC |
David B. |
Hayes |
05B4S |
KIA |
SVN; CCC, RT California, Kontum Prov., hit at first light when leaving RON site |
13 Jul 70- David B. Hayes, SFC E-7, USASF, RT CALIFORNIA, CCC-KIA SMALL ARMS FIRE
20 Jul 70 Cpt David W. Ayers, Co Pilot, US Army Helicopter 68-16550, Co A, 101st Abn Bn, 101st Abn Div. KIA body recovered. When attempting to insert a Hatchet Force Platoon from Co A, CCN on top of Co Roc Mountain. Air loss Shot down in Laos on insertion, his aircraft was the first aircraft attempting to land and came under immediate fire, was hit by a RPG and fell off the top of Co Roc, down the steep clift and crashed, died on impact, helicopter burned before body could be removed. Cpt Ayers, 25 years old from Simi, Ca., arrived in country Jun 70 and this was his initial checkout flight with Co A. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Click on --> CoRoc (Cpt Ayers remains have been recovered and returned back to the US).
NNOTES BY Robert Noe, Platoon Sgt:
1. WO Curtis Bodin was scheduled to be the Peter pilot on this mission on the AC that crashed with the loss of Cpt Ayers. The morning of the mission he reported to Operations and saw that his name had been crossed out and Cpt Ayer's name written in. He went to Cpt Ayers and told him that he was suppose to be the Peter Pilot, he says that Cpt Ayers told him that Rank has its privileges. Curtis says he was upset and Cpt Ayers was new and this would was first mission, but after all these years realizes that it would have been him instead of Cpt Ayers that was killed.
2 2. At the TOC Operation's briefing to the PL Ldr and Sgt it was stated there were teams inserted below the top with the mission to climb up to the top of Co Roc, but they got shot out almost immediately upon insertions so this mission was to insert the Exploitation Platoon on top of the mountain. The Plt Sgt asked why would they insert on top when the teams were all getting shot out below the top, the response was not to worry because they would be conduction bombing missions 24 hour before the insertion. Remembering WW2 pre-invasions prep with bombing and shelling, after which the enemy would emerge in full force for a defense...thus, it was determined this would be a suicide mission. Some years later, the Plt Ldr said that he had been informed the insertion would be in advance of a NVA Regiment moving in to occupy Co Roc and the regiment beat us there. It is my personal opinion that the saving grace for the Platoon was the emergance of that on NVA who fired the RPG which hit the lead chooper and the chopper fell off the mountain down the clift instead of crashing on top, thus preventing a repeat of the LZ ORANGE mission with the loss of Michael V Kuropas and Dennis W. Neal ON April 15, 1970 http://www.macvsog.cc/dak_seang_15_apr_70.htm#Dak Seang
1970 |
07 |
25 |
E-5 SGT |
Peter M. |
Vanderweg |
11B4S |
KIA |
Laos; CCC, Exploitation Force Sqd Ldr, ??where?? |
25 Jul 70- Peter M. Vanderweg, SFC E-7, USASF, Co A, Exploitation Force CCC-KIA died outright small arms fire
10 Aug 70-John
E. Crowley, Sp4, D Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, Americal Div.,
assigned to Shining Brass mission. Remains found under overturned wreckage of a
Huey. Ground loss was Aug 10, 1970, Laos. From: Neal Riley
<[email protected]>
JTFFA-Full Accounting, Oct 6, 2008.
On 10 August 1970 D Troop, 1/1 Cavalry, was tasked with inserting a Special Forces reconnaissance team into Laos about 26 kilometers west of Ngok Tavok. The aircraft, UH-1H tail number 68-16520, When the helicopter lost power and crashed when it was about 25 feet above the ground in the landing zone. SP4 Crowley and one passenger were trapped inside the aircraft. A medic from another helicopter entered the wreckage and managed to free the passenger, but Crowley was firmly wedged between the aircraft and the ground. After two or three minutes of effort, the medic gave up trying to free him. The medic determined that Crowley was dead, as there was no pulse and he could get no response from him. All personnel were extracted and another rescue team was inserted just before dark, but was unable to get back to the wrecked aircraft because of enemy activity. The second team was extracted the next day, and no further efforts were made to go back to the crash site. SP4 Crowley was classed as Killed in Action, Body Not Recovered. His remains were recovered on 26 June 1998 and officially identified on 22 April 2000.
13 Aug 70 Alan Browne Cheesman, Cpt; George D. Henry, Cpt; Terry D. Reams, SSG; and William L. Ripley, Sgt, USAF, 21 St Special Ops Sqd, Ops 32, Nakhon Phanom RAFB, Thailand, performing a CH-3E helicopter (Tail # 63-9681) Thailand-KIA-RR "extraction mission in Laos was damaged due to heavy enemy fire and on returning back to base the aircraft suddenly turned upside down and burst into flames, and crashed" -Info by Jim Williams, 361st AHC & 2nd source, Mike Taylor; also [Harve Saal's Legends who has the incident as "day/month unknown, 1969"]). (Special Note: Filed by Maj William "Bill" Sheldon, Cmdr of MLT-3: The crash of an HH3 killing Cheeseman, Reams, Henry and Ripley, was not Prairie Fire related. The HH3 was on a training flight inside Thailand. The crew and AC were daily SOG assets. On this mission, Cheeseman, an experienced PF pilot, was acting as IP for a couple of new pilots. Apparently, they were shot down north of Ubon RTAFB by a 12.7, 14.5 or 50 cal, in Thailand. The AC did land upside down, and as I recall there was one USAF pilot, (the student I believe) escaped through the canopy hatch.)
08 |
14 |
E-5 SGT |
John A. |
Premenko |
05B4S |
KIA |
Laos; CCS, w/ RT?? |
14 Aug 70- John A. Premenko, SGT E-6, USASF, CCS, Recon Tm Radio Op-KIA in Laos. He was transferred to CCN and was the first of those transferred from CCS to CCN to be KIA'ed. A few days after "he arrived at CCN he volunteered to strap hang with a CCN Recon team where he was killed. The team was inserted into the area of operation and operated one day without being detected by the enemy . While leaving the defensive perimeter that they had established during a rest break, the team was attacked by a superior sized force and well-armed force of enemy soldiers. In the initial exchange of fire SGT Premenko was critically wounded. Despite the facdt that he was seriously wounded, SGT Premenko reacted quickly and returned a savage burst of fire. This provided enough cover for the fellow team members to be able to find covered positions and return fire on the enemy. As the team members fired on the enemy, they moved forward to SGT Premenko's position in a valiant effort to save his life. His wounds proved too severe, however, and he died almost instantly. Though suffering from a mortal wound, SGT Premenko had managed to provide the covering fire necessary for the other team members. (Per 5th SFGA GO #1758, dtd 09/04/70)" EXTRACTED FROM pagte 641 and 642, Secret Green Beret Commandos in Cambodia, by LTC Fred S. Lindsey, USA Ret, dated 11/6/2012
11 |
1970 |
08 |
21 |
E-6 SSG |
James E. |
Holder |
11B4S |
KIA |
SVN; CCN, RT Asp, in the DMZ. He was the 1-2 and was on his first mission. |
21 Aug 70- James E. Holder, SSG E-6, USASF, Recon, CCN-KIA
1970 |
08 |
31 |
E-7 SFC |
Charles H. |
Gray |
11B4S |
KIA, fixed wing shotdown |
Laos; CCN, Covey, in OV-10 #68-3798, approx 60 miles SW of Da Nang |
31 Aug 70 - Michael John Mc Gerty, CPT 0-3, 20TH TAC AIR SPT SQDN, 504TH TAC AIR SPT GROUP, 7TH AF Ops 32/75 and Charles H Gray, SFC E-7, FAC Covey Rider, Ops 35, KIA-RR. OV-1O aircraft was shot down in Laos. However according to reliable sources, the aircraft was flying low in clouds attempting to locate a recon team and hit a mountain top. (Having met SFC Gray a number of times while I was on Bright Light standby duty at the Mobile Launch Site in Quang Tri. Charles would come into the briefing room and later we'd drink a beer together, I found him to be a very dedicated and likeable person who enjoyed what he was doing. I felt I could rely on him coming to my rescue, regardless of the circumstances -RL Noe)
4-7 Sep 70-Three unnamed SCU Hatchet Force Company B, Operation Tailwind, Kontum Operating deep in Laos, within 45 miles of Chavane, Company B performed one of the most successful Hatchet Force operations. In this operation, 3 SCU Montagnard killed, 33 wounded and all 16 Americans wounded. For their efforts, they secured the most important intelligence find on the NVA 559th Group since the war. Details by Ben Lyons Sep 5, 2006.
1970 |
09 |
15 |
O-2 1LT |
William R. |
Goolsby, Jr. |
31542 |
DNH, accidental self destruction |
SVN; CCS, Khanh Hoa Prov., grenade accident at CCS compound at BMT |
15 Sep 70- William R. Goolsby, 1LT 0-2, CCS, New Assignment (arriving on Sep 10, 70) and assigned as a Platoon Leader, Exploitation element, not Recon-Death Non Hostile. Killed in the Recon Company billets when a fragmentation grenade that was either sabotaged in shipping, no pin installed, or he accidentally pulled the pin while rigging up his web gear exploded. Details by Ben Lyons, Sep 5, 2006.
"Lt Goolsby of B Company was killed by self-accidental discharge of a grenade in his room as he was packing to go on a recon mission. He was just newly assigned to CCS, BMT. Goolsby was killed, his roomate was med-evac'd, REecib CO Troy Giley reported, 'If I remember correctly his roommate was 1LT Gary T. Christian, then the XO of Recon Company, Christian returned within two weeks to get his gear and then went to the US for eye surgery.' No further details available" Extracted from: Page 607, Secret Green Beret Commandos in Cambodia by LTC Fred S. Lindsey, USA (RET)
Note: He arrived on the 10th and killed on the 15th, only 5 days with CCS, it is highly unlikely we was going on a Recon Mission with 5 days with the unit. I'd speculate that he might have been going on sometype of orientation, but no way would he be actually going on an actual mission without being properly trained. This is not something any specialized unit would do. RLN
1970 |
09 |
20 |
E-6 SSG |
Anthony B. |
Appleton |
91B4S |
DNH |
Okinawa; CCN, during stand-down on Oki |
20 Sep 70- Anthony B. Appleton, CCN, Da Nang, Ops 35 died as a result of a non hostile action as a result of a self inflicted wound - not on the wall. As I remember, the word was he had gotten a "Dear John" letter and he was distressed. Anthony was a great guy and I like him and thought of him as a friend. so I was deeply sadden to learn of his loss. -rln "SSG Anthony B. Appleton, CCN (OP 35) who died of a self-inflicted wound on September 20, 1970. SSG Appleton was in Okinawa on a HALO training mission. For this reason, his name does not appear on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial." Special Operation Association
1970 |
10 |
5 |
E-5 SGT |
Fred A. |
Gassman |
11C4S |
KIA, BNR |
Laos; CCN, RT Fer de Lance, YC227912, 28k WNW of A-102, A Shau, w/ Davidson |
1970 |
10 |
5 |
E-6 SSG |
David A. |
Davidson |
11B4S |
KIA, BNR |
Laos; CCN, RT Fer de Lance, YC227912, 28k WNW of A-102, A Shau, w/ Gassman |
05 Oct 70 - David "Babysan"Arthur Davidson, SP/5, Tm Ldr of East Riverdale, Maryland, and Fred Allen Gassman, SGT, Asst Tm Ldr of Ft Walton Beach, FL and Two Special Commando Scouts of RT Fer-de-Lance, CCN Da Nang, Ops 35 on Recon 12 miles inside Laos west of Ta Bat--KIA, Bodies not recovered. After the team was inserted in Laos, it made contact with an enemy force. Gassman contacted an aircraft and reported that Davison had been hit by a long burst of enemy fire and had fallen off a cliff and that the team was receiving ground fire from three sides. Gassman was requesting an airstrike when the FAC heard him say "I?ve been hit - and in the worst way." Gassman fell to the ground groaning with a large hole in his back. Two SCU escaped and provided a graphic detail account of the other's deaths. A search was attempted, but prevented by the heavy enemy presence in the area. (Added by Fred Wunderlitch "Lighning": Gassman ran with Lighning on several missions but could not resist running with his old buddy "Babysan" who came up from CCC to CCN). [Photo featured page 104-105, Project Omega, Eye of The Beast, by James E. Acre]
On October 5, 1970, SSGT Davidson and SGT Fred A. Gassman were members of a joint American and Vietnamese reconnaissance patrol operating about 12 miles inside Laos. The patrol had established their night position west of Ta Bat when they were attacked by a hostile force. According to the two surviving indigenous patrol members, Davidson was hit once in the head during a long burst of enemy fire while the team was attempting to evacuate the area, and fell down a ridge, after which he lay motionless with what appeared to be a fatal head wound. At about 1300 hours, Gassman radioed the overhead aircraft that they were being hit from three sides, and that they were low on ammunition and requested an emergency extraction and air strikes. As he attempted to retrieve the homing device, he stated on the radio, "I've been hit, and in the worst way", followed by several groans before the radio went dead. The surviving indigenous patrol members said that they last saw Gassman lying motionless with a large hole in his back. One unsuccessful search and recovery attempt was made shortly after the incident, but further attempts were curtailed due to the difficult tactical situation in the area. Davidson and Gassman remain missing. All other team members were successfully extracted. [Taken from pownetwork.org]
By report, Recon Team "Fer-de-Lance" was inserted into Laos west of the A Shau Valley on 05 Oct 1970. The team was led by SSgt Davidson with Sgt Fred Gassman as number two and an unknown number of indigenous troops. The team was attacked on the night of 05/06 Oct while in a night defensive position just south of Route 922 near the village of Ta Bat. SSgt Davidson was hit and apparently killed early in the fight. Sgt Gassman and the surviving troops attempted to break contact, but were tracked and engaged by NVA troops. The last contact with the patrol was at about 1300 on 06 Oct, when Gassman reported that he had been hard hit. Two of the indigenous troops were sucessfully extracted and during their debriefs reported that both Davidson and Gassman had been fatally wounded. Although an immediate effort was made to recover the missing team members, the recovery team was unable to locate any of them before being forced from the area by NVA troops.
By report, Staff Sergeant Davidson was serving his fourth tour in South Vietnam at the time of his loss. While there can be no doubt that he was heavily decorated, The Virtual Wall has not been able to obtain information on his awards and can display only the "basic four" awards received by everyone wounded or killed in Vietnam.
12 Mar 2004 Davidson was respected by SFC Jerry "Mad Dog" Shriver and rivaled Shriver in having made an incredible number of trips across the "red line" into Cambodia and Laos. Davidson had a previous tour with SOG. His nickname was "Babysan" because he had a youthful boyish face but in the field he was incredibly proficient and cool. Like Shriver he just kept going out until the odds caught up with him. One report was that on his last mission the final radio transmission was "I am hit and in the worst way..." His remains were never recovered from Laos. I only met him once, he was with Shriver, in the Moose's Lounge, a bar in the B-23 compound in Ban Me Thuot in the spring of 1968. He may have been operating out of the SOG compound at East Field about 7 clicks outside of Ban Me Thuot at the time. By the time Davidson bought it late in 1971 the NVA "hunter-killer" teams really had SOG's number. The NVA placed so many trailwatchers on potential LZ's getting "on ground" undetected was practically impossible. The odds were definitely against them and he just kept going out. Davidson had courage but went into denied areas once too often. It had to end as it did. He had incredible courage. One of the very best to wear the green beret, Davidson was a legend to those who knew of him. Between the two of then, Shriver and Davidson may have done more over the line insertions than any other 30 men combined. Rest in Peace "Babysan", Rest in Peace... Je me souviens....... From a member 5th Special Forces, 1968. |
1970 |
10 |
19 |
E-7 SFC |
Peter J. |
Wilson |
11B4S |
MIA-PFD |
Laos; CCC, RT South Carolina, YB618135, 28k SW of A-244, Ben Het |
19 Oct 70 - Peter Joe Wilson, SSG E-6, USASF, Recon Tm Ldr, CCC, Kontum, Ops 35 MIA-Presumptive finding of death. Team Leader of a Recon team in Laos, which made contact with a numerically-superior enemy force two miles inside Laos in the tri-border area southwest of Ben Het. The team made four contacts, which forced the team to abandon the battlefield with the hostile force in close pursuit and then Wilson directed the team to head in an easterly direction. This is the last time Wilson was seen by Sgt John M. Baker when Wilson directed him to the front of the patrol. Wilson was covering the rear and tending to the wounded soldier, Djuit; later Baker heard Wilson transmit "May Day, May Day" on his emergency radio and the sounds of a firefight from the direction of the separated patrol element.. An intensive search of the area was made without success. Brightlight: RT Texas was brightlight during this period. Covey reported hearing the emergency signal from SSG Wilson's radio. It was decided to deploy our team to try and find SSG Wilson. We had two slicks with accompanying gunships. I (Sgt Don Green) was the one-two and radio operator on the team. I was in the second slick in the left door. VC had set a trap and were waiting for us. They fired Rockets flying just under the skids of the lead chopper. The mission was aborted.
Received Mar 3, 2005 "Hi, My name is Pamela Jo Wilson (Brownfield)I as named after my Dad. SSG Peter Joe Wilson. MIA on 19 Oct 1970 two days after my 5th Birthday. I was just looking on the internet and found my Dads name. I never know there was anything out there about him. I don't know much about him. My mother passed away about tens ago. She never told me much. I read today that his nick name was "Fat Albert" I never knew that. I sure would like to learn more if I could. Anyways it was kinda nice knowing something about a man I never remembered. My email address is [email protected]"
1970 |
11 |
14 |
E-5 SGT |
Leonard P. |
Allen |
11B4S |
KIA |
Laos; CCN, RT Anaconda |
14 Nov 70- Leonard P, Allen SGT E-5, USASF, CCN, Da Nang, Ops 35, KIA-RR. On a mission in Loas as a member of RT ANACONDA. former Det B-55 (5 Mike Force) Remains recovered
1970 |
11 |
24 |
E-6 SSG |
Martin I. |
Arbeit |
11B4S |
KIA |
Laos; CCN, Co. A, (Nung Company), near Co Roc, west of A-101, Lang Vei |
24 Nov 70- Martin I. Arbeit , SSG E-6, USASF, CCN Da Nang was on operations with Co A, Hatchet Company and was KIA,-RR. SSG Arbeit was every bit a professional soldier. He use to have a monkey that he cared for that accompanied him until May of 1970 when he was in Long Than, B-53 drawing ammunition for a mission. SFC R.L. Noe was also drawing C-4 and the monkey jumped off Arbeit's shoulder and grabbed one block of C-4 explosive and carried it to the rafters of the warehouse where the monkey took a bite and then shortly thereafter fell dead. The last I saw of Arbeit was at the CCN TOC in Aug 70 where I suggested he seek a desk job because the way he was going, he would not survive Nam. During the 2005 Special Forces Association, Samuel Snyder stated that Martin had ran past him and got hit in the leg opening up the femoral arty and he bled to death before he could be evacuated.-RL Noe.. I read what you had about Marty Arbeit-he was a great guy. I had been the medic inserted on his previous mission when the medic was sick. Also I had wanted to go on the mission when he was killed but they had someone else assigned and I could not bump in. I was the chase medic that was sent, they had trouble hooking Marty to the ladder for extract. I climbed down to help but he had sustained several hits. I latter wrote a paper at Loyola University about that mission- wishing only that I got there sooner or had been the medic on the mission. I ended up with Marty's car-15 for awhile and gave him and his spirit some credit for helping me stay alive [by Bob Woodham] .
Click on image to enlarge |
Dear Mr. Noe,
1970 |
11 |
28 |
E-7 SFC |
Ronald E. |
Smith |
11B4S |
KIA, BNR |
Laos; CCC, RT Kentucky, YB650174, 24k WSW of A-244, Ben Het |
28 Nov 70- Ronald E. Smith, SFC E-7 USASF CCS, Ban Me Thuot, Ops 35 MIA in Cambodia while on Recon patrol. as of 2023 Body not recovered
On 28 November 1970 Recon Team Kentucky was conducting a long-range reconnaissance mission in Attopeu Province, Laos, near the tri-border area of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. In mid-afternoon, the team, which consisted of two US Special Forces soldiers and a number of ARVN Special Forces personnel, was attacked by a company-sized enemy force. The initial attack split the recon team and wounded SFC Smith. The team leader made his way to SFC Smith and found that Smith had been hit in the head and torso by automatic weapons fire. As he and an ARVN team member attempted to recover Smith's body, a rocket-propelled grenade exploded nearby, killing the ARVN soldier and knocking the team leader unconscious. The remaining team members broke contact, carrying the wounded team leader with them but leaving their two dead behind. After extraction, the team leader reported his belief that SFC Smith was dead. The enemy presence precluded insertion of a ground team to search for and recover the two bodies. While available information indicates that SFC Smith was carried as Missing in Action for a time, it also indicates that an annual review board eventually recommended, and the Secretary of the Army accepted, a finding that SFC Smith had been killed in the 28 Nov 1970 action. His present status is Killed in Action, Body not Recovered
"I am the niece of SFC Ronald E. Smith USASF. He is still very loved and missed by my entire family. I would love it if you could put me in touch with anyone who knew him. Pics and stories are all we have of him for now and I would love to have more info on him. Thank You - Crystal [email protected]
I have extended contact to the family. I went to his funeral. -B. Kuhlman GL 2881 (Posted Via email Jun 8, 2011)
FINAL MISSION OF SFC RONALD E. SMITH
1970 |
11 |
29 |
E-7 SFC |
John R. |
Bean |
11B4S |
KIA |
Laos; CCC, A Company, 3d Platoon (Hatchet Force) |
29 Nov 70 - John R. Bean, SFC E-7, USASF, CCC, Kontum, Ops 35, KIA-RR~ Body escorted to the United States by 2Lt Robert Noe on 7 Dec 70. The operation lasted from Nov 25-29, 1970. SFC Bean was killed in the morning of the 29th before the extraction. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star for his actions during the operation. The operation is officially listed as a search and clear operation. The platoon was sent into the area to determine what was there. In early November an RT was sent into the same area. On the first day they ran into a company sized NVA unit which tried to capture them. The NVA used bull horns and fired rpg’s over their heads in an effort to capture them rather then kill them. My platoon was sent in to find out what was really there. We made contact on our first day. The conversation that the NVA unit had just prior to the initiation of combat was they were expecting an RT. The platoon was in and out of combat everyday during the operation. Besides large cashes of rice and other food the platoon discovered a bomb making factory late in the day of the 28th that was 20 meters wide by 50 meters long. Slightly after the discovery of the factory an NVA company made contact and chased the platoon until dark. During the night the platoon hid by staying in a river with the search being conducted on both sides of the river. Intelligence determined that we probably ran into the 66th NVA Regiment. All members of the platoon were wounded and there were 5 Montinards killed as well as SFC Bean. Another Sergeant on the operation was awarded the DSC. After the extraction an arc light was done the same day. By Steve Feldman. As I was rotating back to the US, I was designated to escourt his remains back to the in early December 70. RLN
1970 |
12 |
4 |
E-6 SSG |
George C. |
Green, Jr. |
05B4S |
KIA, BNR |
Laos; CCC, RT Washington, YB671492, in Charlie 3, 16km NE of Leghorn |
04 Dec 70- George Curtis Green, Jr. SGT E-5, USASF, CCC, RT Washington, Kontum, Ops 35 MIA, Presumptive finding of death. The recon team operating in Laos, after insertion and spending the night. The next morning the team killed a sentry, shortly thereafter they were engaged by an company size enemy force. The team began evasive maneuvers, having shaken the enemy for a short time. At the extraction LZ, in a burst of enemy fire, Green was killed with three wounds in his back with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. Green was hit three times in the back with small arms fire and killed instantly. The intensity of the enemy attack forced the team to leave Green's remains behind during the extraction. As of 2023 body not recovered
1970 |
12 |
28 |
E-6 SSG |
Roger L. |
Teeter |
11B4S |
KIA, DOW, fixed wing shotdown |
Laos; CCN, Covey, aboard OV-10 #67-14661, near Ban Bamran, 48Q XD509615, just west of the DMZ |
28 Dec 70- James Smith, Pilot, CPT, USAF 20TH TAC AIR SPT SQDN, 504TH TAC AIR SPT GROUP, 7TH AF, Ops 32 and Roger L. Teeter, SSG E-6, USASF, CCN Da Nang, MLT 3 Covey, Ops 35 KIA while performing operations to extract a recon team which had been surrounded by enemy forces. (By Fred Wunderlitch, "Lighning": Teeder was a personal, close friend and he stayed pass his DEROS date to fly the Covey mission).
Webmaster: [email protected]