TO LISTEN TO GEORGE JONE'S 50,000 NAMES ON THE WALL
04 Jul 67 Marlin J. Goodhue, SFC, Thomas L. Terry, SFC and 4 Vietnamese Commando Team Members from CCC/FOB 2 died as a result of a mid air collision of two H-34 helicopters after the team was extracted from a mission. There were no US H-34's involved in a crash that day nor any pilots killed thus the two were possibly Veitnamese H-34's. The below Prarie Fire Top Secret Report provides details of their demise.
"From: Edward Thatcher <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
They both died on 4 July. I was with them in Da Nang at the C and C hq that
morning. We had few in from FOB #2 at Kontum for a radio class and some R & R. I
had been with them but got separated the night before and didn't see them again
until the choppers were going to leave that morning. I decided to stay another
few days. I remember giving Terry my last pack or Newport cigarettes as he ran
out. They were both my close friends. Me and SSG Miller, John B. stay behind
that day. I few hours later we heard the the the choppers had collided in mid
air. They were mercinaries vietnamese flying them I believe. Terry, Miller, and
me were legs that volunteer for a top secret
assignment. We were not special forces at the time. SGM Desoto sent us to jump
school at Da Nang and later we were awarded the "S" before leaving Viet Nam. I
served until 1991 in Special Forces and Retired as a SGM. SGM Edward Lee
Thatcher
[email protected]"
DETAILS:
Air Force Historical Agency Declassified 4 Feb 93 SEA Declassification & Review Team Report:
TOP SECRET LIMDIS PRAIRIE FIRE
FROM: COMUSMACV (COURIER)
TO: JCS (COURIER)
COMCISARPAC (COURIER)
CINCPACAF (COURIER)
TOP SECRET LIMDIS PRAIRIE FIRE JPCCO MACSOG 3043
Subj: PRAIRIE FIRE Weekly Report 1 - 7 Jul 67 (U)
1. (TS) Highlights:
a. There were ten Spike Team missions in the PRAIRIE FIRE area of operations during the period 1-7 Jul 67.
b. Aircraft supporting PRAIRIE FIRE missions received increased amounts of 12.7 mm, .50 Caliber, and, primarily 37mm AA fire during this period. One mission had to be aborted due to the intensity of 37mm AA fire in the target area.
c. There were 75 TAC air sorties and 45 B-52 sorties in the PRAIRIE FIRE AO during this period.
2. (TS) SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
a. Spike Team IDAHO landed in the vicinity of target MIKE-3(YD090010) at YD071013 ON 301140Z Jun 67. During the night of 30 Jun-1 Jul 67 the ST heard an undetermined but large number of heavy trucks moving in both directions on Route 922 in the vicinity of YD074025 to YD093025. The ST also heard an estimated enemy company searching the area around the RON location and speaking in a North Vietnamese dialect. On 1 Jul 67 the ST moved to YD078014 and was extracted on 010935Z Jul 67. During the extraction a large secondary explosion with thick, black smoke resulting from an airstrike was observed in the vicinity of YD081012.
b. Spike Team TEXAS landed in the vicinity of target CHARLIE-7 (YB509302) at YB513303 on 010700Z Jul 67. The ST observed the Dak Xou river from YB513303 to YB575323. This portion of the river is not navigable due to a series of rapids. On 3 Jul 67 the ST encountered an estimated NVA Company. The enemy personnel were wearing khaki uniforms, pith helmets and rucksacks. They were carrying AKs or some type of unidentified automatic weapons.During the ensuing fire fight the ST became split and one USSF [Leo E Seymour] and three VN team members were initially MIA. Before extraction one USSF team member found approximately 50 shallow one man foxholes at YB570325. Two USSF and three VN team members were extracted from the vicinity of Target CHARLIE-7 at YB541321 on 031000Z Jul 67. SAR Operation continues.
c. On 3 Jul 67 an attempt was made to insert one Spike Team in the vicinity of target AS-5 9 (YD160020). However, intense 37mm AA fire in the target area caused the mission to be aborted.
d. Spike Team NEW YORK landed in the
vicinity of target ROMEO-6 (YC472010) at YB461983 on 010400Z Jul 67. Shortly
after leaving the LZ the ST observed five enemy personnel wearing black pajamas,
straw coolie hats, pistol belts without packs or other web gear, and carrying
semi-automatic weapons. The ST observed a 12 foot square bunker with no overhead
cover at YB457990. While attempting to emplace two M7A vehicle mines at YB443987
the ST was observed by four enemy personnel wearing black pajamas. One of the
enemy was wearing a baseball cap and carrying a pistol, the others were wearing
black bush hats and carrying rifles. The ST was extracted from the ROMEO-6
target area at YC436001 on 030955Z Jul 67. While the ST was being flown from the
launch site in SVN to the FOB at Kontum, a mid-air collision between the two
CH-34s resulted in the death of two USSF and four VN team members and two
helicopter crew members in one helicopter, injuries to the remainder of the ST
in the other helicopter, and the destruction of both CH-34s......"
(Note: The only USSF Personnel that died in South Vietnam on
July 3 and 4, 1967 were SFC Marlin J. Goodhue, SFC Thomas L. Terry, and SGT Leo
Earl Seymour. Therefore, deduction leaves the only possible SF personnel to have
been Goodhue and Terry) SFC Terry's OMPF file
shows: HHC5thSFG(ABN) 1stSF MACSOG...LT WPNS LDR...22May 67 (and had previously
been with 1/35 - 25thID). Reg Manning has him correctly coded to CCC/FOB2.
since they were flying from the launch site to Kontum I suspect the guys would
have been with FOB2 or later known as CCC. The report indicates they actually
died on 7/3/67......but the Army didn't report them KIA until 7/4 when the
170AHC got there to retrieve the remains. This information was compiled by
Bruce Swander Washington, DC USMC/66-70 and Robert L. Noe