Check this out

04 Jan 68-  Paul H. Villarosa, SFC E-7, Recon Tm Ldr,  During a Recon mission in Laos , the team was fiercely attacked by the enemy who used flame throwers against the team. All KIA-RR. (SFC Villa Rosa was killed by the flame thrower) Remains Recoverd. my name is Tim Schaaf and I was assigned to C&C between 12/67-2/69. I was reading some of the facts related to the SOG guys that were killed in 1968 and there are some mistakes that you may want to correct. First of all about me, I was assigned to FOB4 in 12/67 and placed as one two on Anaconda team. Charlie Wilcox was the one zero and Bob Dougherty was the one one. We were housed in hooches that allowed for the Americans from two teams. Villarosa's team was the other team in our hooch and the first team to ever insert from Fob4. He was a good guy, a little strange, but a brilliant commo man. Famous at Bragg and  former commo cadre at training group, he could copy 20 words a minute in each ear, at least that was the story. He also had a tattoo of a dotted line completely around his neck with the words "cut on dotted line. As I recall he also had tattoos of A spider webs on his elbows. Being the first team to be inserted, we were all very interested and closely followed all the commo relating to the team. 3 days they had trackers on them and they couldn't shake them. Then we heard later that they were hit on he 3rd or 4th morning by a small group. Villarosa was hit with a flame thrower and the team split. I can't remember their names but we were later told that the other two Americans were picked up individually and rescued. I do remember that one was black and the other was white. They were never however brought back to FOB4. It was a hell of a way to start, it was a wake up call for all of us.

Some accounts indicates a SP/4 Ronald R. Watson was also killed as part of the above operation.  Confirmation that he was in fact with 1st Infantry Division, Division Headquarters Company and not SOG.

Sgt Anthony H Love talks about SFC Villarosa as an Insturctor in Chapter 4 on pages 45 thru 46, SOG KONTUM Top secret mission in Vietnam , Laos , and Cambodia 1968-1969; published 2022 and reprinted 2023 by Joe Parnar and Robert Dumont

05 Jan 68-John T Gallagher, SSG E-6 of Hamden, Conn, USASF, Spike Team Ldr, FOB-3, Khe Sanh, Ops 35, and Dennis C. Hamilton, WOl, Pilot, of Barnes City, Iowa; Sheldon D. Schultz, WOI, Pilot, of Altoona, PA; Earnest Frank Bridggs, Jr., SFC E-7, Crew chief, of Devine, TX and James D. Willamson, SP/4, Door Gunner of Tumwater, Washington assigned to 411^th Transportation Detch, 176th Avn Co, 14th Avn Bn, Americal Division, Ops 32/75 (Air Studies Branch/Group) all MIA?s (The helicopter was 20 miles inside Laos south of Lao Bao and about 4,000 feet when it was observed to be hit by ground fire and exploded and burst into flames upon impact with the ground. Four attempts was made into the area but had to be aborted due to heavy enemy fire; however, no part of the aircraft was recognizable, finally a team was inserted several days later and found nothing). NOTE: Another source says the helicopter was 2,000 feet and hit by 37mm anti-aircraft fire.  Note: RELEASE NO. #06-16 May 2, 2006 JPAC TEAMS DEPLOY TO LAOS TO SEARCH FOR MISSING AIRCREWS- Personnel from JPAC and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic are conducting recovery operations focusing on four American aircraft crews. One case involves a Special Forces reconnaissance team that disappeared Jan. 5, 1968 , after ground fire showered their UH-1D Helicopter and sent it plummeting to the ground. The aircraft exploded on impact. Five Americans are unaccounted-for from this incident. {Posted 4/14/07 : Hi Guys.   Kelly Brouwer is Dennis Hamilton's cousin.  As you know these guys crashed in Laos on Jan-5-68.  For you SF guys, SFC John Theodore Gallagher and several Bru were killed on this slick also.  May God grant their families peace and closure.  Dave Sebright,  Minuteman 17 ----- Original Message ----- From: "kelly brouwer" <[email protected] Subject: Final result of the site excavation of 66-01172. Hi all,  Copying everyone I have spoken with since originally posting on the guest  board of the 176th web site in 2003 that the gov had requested dna of Dennis Hamiltons mom. Dale Weiss and Bob OConnell also responded but I  think I heard both have since passed away. If not, please forward. I got a letter from my aunt (Dennis's mom) this week. His mom is in her  late 80s now and although her handwritting is as clear and steady as ever,  the thoughts can kind of jump around before the sentence she was working on was complete sometimes. But this is what I got from it. In Feb and part of March 2003 the crash site in Laos was excavated. In May or June they requested a sample of dna from Dennis's mom and sister and told them that they had Dennis's dog tags in Hawaii . A year later my aunt  wrote them a letter and they responded that they were being processed. After another year she wrote again and asked "well, do we get his dog tags  or do we not". About 6 weeks later a Army rep hand delivered them to their home in Texas . Their was a big article in the local ( Iowa ) paper when that happened. The next summer (2006) they sold their house in Texas and moved  back to Iowa . This past Tues. March 27th they came again to their new place in Iowa with the final results. They apparently delivered some bone fragments and more personal effects of Dennis. She said they spent 3 hours and had in their possession artifacts from everyone on board. They did'nt let them see it all but she did mention seeing a picture with Earnest  Briggs in it  and numerous personal items like razor, lighter, pocket knife, shoe soles, sunglasses, watch and band, and camera. They explained that much of the remains had been burnt and the site was very acidic  making it difficult to do dna and they had at least one bone that they weren't sure was of Dennis or Eldon Schultz. They were on their way to Pennsylvania (Schultz home state) when they left. My aunt and uncle are planning a funeral in "late spring/early summer" for  Dennis in Iowa . She will call me when she knows for sure. I think they are very happy to have closure before they die. Dennis's dad nearly died of cancer about 3 months ago but decided to try chemo and it worked  incredibly well. My dad and mom say he is doing great for anyone in their 90's. I don't trust what my aunt says in that regard because she has  always been one that could make a sprained ancle sound like a terminal injury. Anyway, if any of you that knew Dennis or anyone of the crew would like to write his parents, I'm sure they would like to here from you and it would  probably be read at his funeral. Hazel and Charles Hamilton P.O. box 55 Lynnville, Iowa 50153 Or email it to me and I'll get it to them. Thanks, Kelly Brouwer} All remains have been recovered 

12 Jan 68, James Derwin Cohron, SSG E-6, USASF and two Vietnamese Team Members (Names unknown), Spike Team "Indiana," FOB-1, Phu Bai, Ops 35, Spike Team Members on Recon in Laos when ambushed. MIA Presumptive finding of death. (The team moved to a predetermined location at which time SSG Cohron and the two Vietnamese were unaccounted for. Cohron was the second man from the rear of the team formation, when the team was ambushed, 1 mile inside Laos , south of Khe Sanh. Initially, the team broke contact and set up a defensive position on a small hill, after evading through a gully. The terrain was heavily vegetated with "elephant grass" which obstructed the teams view of Cohron as well as well as their ability to effect any contact with him. Air Support was requested and the team being extracted. Two days later a search team was inserted and these three individuals were not found). Remains not recovered

James Derwin Cohron,

On 24 Robert N Baker SFC CCN, KIA RR was member of a larger (assume it was a hatchet/exploitation force) was wounded on 16 Jan 68 force and evacuated to the 106th General Hospital in Japan where he remained until he expired on January 24th as a result of pulmonary embolus second to his wounds received . He received a BSMV for his actions on 16 Jan 68 .

From Bonnie Cooper: 

Recently Robert Noe asked me what I had on SOG KIA Robert N. Baker. Although I had SFC Baker on my list of casualties I never did learn his story. Noe has experience with SOG missions on Co Roc Mountain, which is where Baker was wounded and was interested to learn the story also. Steve Sherman provided Robert and I with the four awards related to the mission Baker was on. Here's the story we were able to put together. (Note: 3 of the awards, Baker, Minnicks and Cavanaugh all say those men were leaders of the patrol.)

Jan 1968 MSG Charles Minnicks was the leader of a recon patrol on Co Roc Mountain. SFC Baker was a member of the team. The RT penetrated deeply into a North Vietnamese Army command bunker complex located in a densely jungled mountainous area. While advancing through the maze of heavily fortified positions, SFC Baker was seriously wounded by a sudden burst of enemy automatic weapons fire from one of the emplacements. SFC Gilbert Secor, a medic, saw Baker, who was in an exposed area to Secor’s front, get wounded. Sergeant Secor, without regard to his own personal safety, immediately ran to the aid of the SFC Baker, exposing himself to heavy enemy fire. Shielding the wounded man with his own body he administered medical treatment which saved the soldier's life. (SFC Secor died 28 Aug 68 during the sapper attack on FOB 4.) SFC Robert Cavanaugh earned a Bronze Star for assaulting an enemy position without regard for his own personal safety, causing the enemy fire to be shifted away from his unit. This allowed them to neutralize the enemy position. At the same time, MSG Minnicks single-handedly assaulted the hostile bunker and killed two enemy soldiers charging from it with devastating rifle fire. As bullets struck all around him, he continued his attack and destroyed the bunker with a well-placed grenade, killing several more North Vietnamese troops. He then deployed his men in a defensive perimeter and directed their fight against repeated attacks by the numerically superior forces. When helicopter support arrived after an extended period, MSG Minnicks again exposed himself to the enemy weapons and directed intense gunship strikes on the hostile fortifications, which prevented his team from being overrun. SFC Baker was evacuated to the 106th General Hospital in Japan where he remained until he expired on January 24th as a result of pulmonary embolus second to his wounds received. He received a BSMV for his actions on 16 Jan 68 .

17 Jan 68- Samuel (Sam) F. Beach, Cpt USAF, 20^th Tactical Air Support, 0-1E Pilot, Covey Fac, Ops 32 (Air Studies Branch), SFC Donald L. Chaney, C&C FAC "Covey," FOB 3, CCN, MACV-SOG, 5TH SF GROUP, took off in O-2A tail number 67-21327 for a mission into Laos. Shortly after leaving the runway the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and crashed. Both men were killed in the crash when trying to land at the Khe Sanh airstrip. KIA-RR. 

29 Jan 68- Michael T. Mahoney, SP/5, and Two Bru Montagnards, FOB-3, Khe Sanh, Ops 35, KIA, Remains recovered (while on local patrol was surprised by a large enemy force and received heavy enemy automatic weapons fire, which caused the patrol to split into smaller groups to escape the battlefield. SP/5 Mahoney and the two commando's deaths were reported by radio, but due to enemy activity, their remains could not be carried by the other soldiers).   Gary L. Crone SSG E-6 USASF FOB-3, Khe Sanh, Ops 35, Assistant Senior Medic at FOB-3, due to leave country on 30 Jan 68, KIA-RR. (SSG Crone volunteered for a local recon mission in an area outside but near the camp. During a firefight with a superior enemy force, he was captured and executed. He was subsequently intentionally decapitated by the enemy and abandoned for discovery-SSG Crone death was a calculated execution).  Photo furnished  by [email protected] is on the left with the cigarette hanging in his mouth, Billy W. Wood is on the right with the Khe Sahn TOC antenna appearing to come out of his left shoulder.  

Charles Nichol Tredinnick, SFC E-7, FOB-3, Khe Sanh, Ops 35, Special Forces Det A-21 "Snake Bite" team 1st SFG Okinawa. KIA-RR (While on an "Operation Pick-up" recovery force. SFC Tredinnick led a five men assault on an enemy position capturing high ground when he saw an enemy platoon size element maneuvering to split the FOB element in half, he fired on the attacking enemy forcing them to retreat. Another American was shot and with complete disregard for his own safety exposed himself to a hail of enemy fire and ran 40 meters and dragged the wounded American to safety and when that position was threatened, he again exposed himself to a hail of enemy fire when he was mortally wounded).

"My cousin SFC Charles (Chuck) Tredinnick served with Tommy at F.O.B. 3 in Khe Sanh. Both Tommy and Chuck were killed on the same day, being 29 Jan. 1968 . I have been trying to get information about Tommy for his family who lives in Towanda , Pa. I was so glad to see that his body was recovered. This brought a closure for his family and friends. As the poem titled "A Man is not Dead until He is Forgotten", Tommy is not forgotten. May God Bless him and his family forever. Jul 18, 2007-Dennis  Tredinnick [email protected]

 Note from The Virtual Wall

The three Americans who died on the east side of Hill 471, 3 kilometers south-southwest of Khe Sanh airfield, were

·         SFC Charles N. Tredinnick, Dallas , PA (Silver Star)

·         SSG Gary L. Crone, York , PA

·         SP5 Michael T. Mahoney, Towanda , PA

As noted above, SSG Crone and SP5 Mahoney were killed in the initial ambush, while SFC Tredinnick was on the recovery team. The Defense Department announced the recovery and identification of SP5 Mahoney's remains on 08 May 1968 ; regretably, a review of the DoD casualty lists through August 1969 failed to produce a "remains identified" date for SSG Crone. Long after the action on Hill 471 Mr. Taylor edited a summary of the action on Hill 471.

4 Nov 2007

I was a Marine who served as a volunteer on the Special Forces team sent out from FOB 3 (at Khe Sanh combat base) to recover KIA and MIA personnel from MSG Bill Wood's team which was ambushed on Hill 471 on 29 January 1968. Tommy had been a volunteer on that team. He was wounded in the leg during the ambush, and the team was split. He was last seen alive on the hill trying to evade the enemy and get back to the FOB. Our recovery team encountered a greatly superior force of NVA, and suffered several KIA and WIA, eventually being forced to retire from the hill without recovering the men we set out for, although we were able to bring off our own casualties. Tommy was listed as MIA. In April 1968, after the siege was lifted, Marines found Tommy's remains on Hill 471. We remain uncertain of exactly how or when he died, but it is likely that he died from the wound(s) received earlier, and/or further enemy fire. I regret that we were unable to recover or rescue Tommy and the other men on his team. I have finally contacted his surviving family, and been able to inform them of what I knew, and convey my deepest respects and condolences to them for their loss. I did not know Tommy personally as we were in different units, but from all accounts, he was a fine, caring young man who left a safe assignment to volunteer for duty in Vietnam , and had volunteered for duty the day he was slain. Unfortunately, in the words of the ancient Greeks, "War is not sparing of the brave, but of cowards." Tommy was obviously no coward, and was trying to the last to carry on. I deeply regret the loss to his family and country. F. J. Taylor [email protected]

The below by "Rip" VanWinkle, SOA 697 GL

I would like to pass on to you comments from a yet to be completed manuscript, Lee Dunlap was the team leader of ODA 221, a "Snakebite" team from Okinawa and I was the XO.  For several years Lee had been trying to get me to write of our team's experiences in Vietnam and FOB 3.  Like all good XO's I paid lip service but never found the real desire to follow through.  I was too busy trying to put groceries on the table after retiring from the army in 1980. In most accounts written of the time period there is no mention of ODA 221 even in being in Vietnam or at FOB 3.  All of the teams mentioned arrived either just before we left or after we departed.  At the time of the SOA (Special Operations Association) Reunion in 1994, ODA 221 also had a reunion.  All of the surviving members of the team (6), Grenville Sutcliffe, and Jim Taylor, met at my home in Las Vegas . Four of the attending team members of ODA 221 had survived the firefights at Khe Sanh village on 26 January and Hill 471 on 29 January 1968 . We were able to go over, in detail of both firefights.  The account in the book was a gross misstatement of facts as they occurred.  In the book, both actions took place the same day.  That was incorrect.  They were completely separate actions with different missions and at least two different participants.  Several of the names in the book were incorrect.  It appeared that an editor or someone, had taken the Marine Daily Log and a couple of AAR 's (After Action Reports) from the Hill 471 action and tried to tie them together.  The author of the book noted was assigned to FOB 3 sometime during the siege.  I didn't know him, but I didn't know a lot of the new people arriving.  I suppose my biggest disappointment was that none of the survivors of either of those actions was ever contacted directly by the author.  He knew Lee Dunlap and Lee always knew how to contact me.  Had one removed the accounts of the two above referenced actions (and we, as members of HF Denver, took part in several others) one would have thought ODA 221 was never present at FOB 3. SFC James "Jim" Fusco (Deceased), LCPL Lacy Lahren, USMC volunteer, and 3-4 Bru were severely wounded during the firefight at Khe Sanh village.  It is my understanding that two of the Bru later died.  SP5 John Frescura, SOA 1137 GA, earned the Silver Star for a one-man assault up Highway 9 to relieve pressure so that we could extract the pinned down point element. SFC Charles Tredinnick, KIA 29 January 1968 was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions on Hill 471.  Other casualties on or near Hill 471 that day included SSG Gary Crone and 4 Bru KIA; SP5 Mike Mahoney and 3 Bru MIA, and 1LT Grenville Sutcliffe, MSG Bill Wood, CPT "Rip" VanWinkle, 6 Bru WIA. I don't know if any of this helps you but it did get a little off my chest. 

The following by CPT "Rip" VanWinkle: In a letter dated 10 March 1997 , Bill Wood wrote the following:  "At 0830 hrs we left the front gate of FOB 3: me (Wood), Don Voorhees, Gary Crone, Xon, To, Tu, and seven other Bru. Mike Mahoney accompanied us as a straphanger wanting to gain some experience.  I think he and Gary Crone had known each other somewhere before and Gary asked if it would be OK if Mike came along.  Voorhees and 6 of the 7 Bru were new to the team and this would be their first patrol out of the FOB.  Our objective was to move about two kilometers from the FOB to the small peak southeast of Hill 471 to take a look around. "There was a heavy fog that morning and that was one of the reasons that I was agitated about our late start and the reason I was hurrying.  The fog at Khe Sanh usually lifted between 0900-0930 hrs. and I wanted to be close up under the hill mass before it lifted.  We moved directly toward the hill, across the shallow valley that extended west and southwest from our perimeter.  To (the point man) chose a path where the weeds were shorter (Avoiding the taller weeds where some others and I had spread some gasoline the day(?) before) and we moved right along.  Still, we were too slow.  The fog lifted while we were in the middle of that open area, still 900 or more meters from the foot of Hill 471.  We continued to the hill and mounted it sort of diagonally, up across Hill 471 to the saddle between 471 and the small peak to the southeast.  I noted the grass, which was everywhere about 2 1/2-3 feet high, had been mowed in a swath 300 or more meters wide on the east slope of 471 itself.  The fire lanes I had experience with were usually from 1-3 feet across, so I ignored the short grass."There was plenty of evidence that the AF had bombed Hell out of the general area in the past couple of days.  Those bomb craters had not been there two days before."Upon reaching the saddle between Hill 471 and the small peak we stopped, or rather the Bru stopped so the rest of us, perforce, stopped also.  The Bru could best be described as agitated, saying, 'No! No! Beaucoup VC!'  They were all huddled together.  After some minutes of talk I said ' Well, let's go' and started walking toward the small peak.  In the saddle and on the nearest slope of the peak the grass was normal length--2 1/2-3 feet high.  The crest of the peak was only 6' or 8' higher than we were, but that ridge got higher to my right front; and (this occurred to me at the Casualty Clearing Point at the airstrip) I was walking on a path.  It was not a bare-earth path but a trace where the grass had been worn down and beaten off by passing feet.  At the time I never thought anything of it.  It was not my most perspicacious day. "About 12 or 15 meters along something caught my attention and I took a couple of steps to my left for a closer look.  All of the grass on the east side of the peak was mowed as well.  This was a fleeting glimpse because as I stepped aside, we took fire from directly ahead of us, from a range of about 5 meters.  I returned two magazines full auto but don't think I hit anyone.  About the time I finished firing a few (3-4) M-79 rounds hit the top of the peak.  I looked back to find I was alone again.  Crone lay face-up some 3-4 meters behind me and I could hear a lot of firing back about where we had stopped to talk.  No more M-79 rounds came past me.  I scrambled back to Crone to find he had been shot in the right cheek, the right eye, and the right forearm, which was broken.  He may have had other wounds as well.  As I tried to find signs of life, I noticed that his head was intact: the bullets hadn't exited although there was a large pool of blood under the back of his head.  (Crone had been carrying the radio and the cord to the PRC-25 handset had been shot in two.  There were no other radios with the patrol). "I started to drag Crone back to the rest of the team but a grenade came in and knocked me loose.  I scuttled back to where the rest of the team was to find Xon wounded in the ankle, one Bru dead (the M-79 gunner) and only Voorhees and 3 Bru firing at the top of Hill 471.  Now we were taking fire from the small peak as well.  I counted two MGs and a couple of AKs there.  I told Voorhees that Crone was dead and asked after Mahoney and the rest of the Bru.  Voorhees stated that he didn't know, that they had disappeared when the shooting started, presumably downhill, back to the east or northeast.  Then he told me that Xon was killed.  I remarked that in my opinion, it was about time we left, and suddenly I was alone again, but not for long.  After a hurried scan of the area (during which I spotted out not less than four automatic weapons positions on the military crest of Hill 471) without sign of Mahoney or the rest of the Bru, I was gone too. "I caught up with Voorhees and crew in a bomb crater 20-25 meters from the crest of the saddle.  We may have been in defilade again, as the NVA had stopped firing.  I mentioned that a bomb crater, unless you could see out, was a poor position.  Everyone scrambled out and we ran the roughly 50-60 meters to the foot of the hill, across the small dry stream bed there, and continued across the flat for 75-80 meters to a thin hedgerow at the foot of a fallow field. "Voorhees and two Bru, in the lead, got through this hedgerow but Tu, apparently beat out, slowed to a walk just before reaching it.  I slowed, too, put my hand on his shoulder when more than one automatic weapon opened fire behind us.  I think we had come out of defilade and one weapon was aimed directly at Tu and me.  I could see the bullets striking just ahead of us--I think one or more rounds went between my legs and between Tu and me.  One went through my knee (It felt like someone had slapped me with a ruler) and several hit Tu in the abdomen and chest.  I pushed Tu through the hedgerow and dived through myself.  the firing stopped again. "After ascertaining I couldn't help Tu I took out my CAC pad from the last mission (the only paper I had) and printed on the back of it:  'In deep trouble.  Team split.  Some wounded.  Need out.  Wood.'  This I gave to the Bru and in my best pidgin Bru, mangled English and hand and arm signals, told them to take it to the camp and give it to an American.  They left, moving carefully along the hedgerows and not hurrying."  That left Wood and Voorhees alone at one location and no sign of Mahoney and the other Bru.  The message turned out to be unnecessary.  Back at the FOB someone had heard the firing and had launched a gunship to investigate.  After finally locating and identifying Wood and Voorhees, LT Thieu picked them up in his H-34.  SFC Robert Scully (Deceased), the senior medic at FOB 3 was on board, and returned to the FOB. It was at this point that HF Denver  became involved.  ODA 221 was manning the American positions on HF Denver.  We were scheduled to rotate back to Okinawa within a week or so and I had received permission to depart early as my family was arriving on Okinawa on 31 January.  We were told that Wood had run into a reinforced squad and that we were needed to go out and recover all of the bodies and locate Mahoney.  I took SFC Charles "Chuck" Tredinnick (KIA on the mission), SGT Don Rumph, SGT Craig Lansing, and SP5 John Frescura from ODA 221, SFC Scully, 1LT Grenville Sutcliffe (WIA on the mission) and PFC Jim Taylor (USMC volunteer) and 16 Bru.  We landed atop Hill 471 and found all kinds of bad guys.  We were not successful in locating any of the bodies nor did we see any sign of Mahoney.  After a prolonged firefight and medical evacuation of our casualties, what was left of us withdrew down the north face of Hill 471 and walked back to the FOB.  We met Bob Cavanaugh with about a platoon of volunteers about one kilometer south of the FOB.  That reinforced squad was more likely at least a reinforced company and FACs flying overhead and directing air strikes all along the crest and reverse slope of Hill 471 spotted what appeared to be a battalion size unit moving north between the small peak and the large (abandoned) Bru village just northwest of Khe Sanh village.  Another "large" formation of NVA were spotted on the south side of Hill 471 west of where we landed. I didn't start out to tell a "war story" but to set the record straight about Gary Crone.  He was not captured or purposely decapitated.  When the body was recovered in April 1968, it was suggested that natural deterioration along with the head wounds he suffered had perhaps caused the head to break loose from the rest of the remains.  Hammond Salley, SOA 977 GL, was present when they recovered the body and he did not indicate any decapitation when I spoke with him at a SOAR 8-9 years ago. If there was anyone captured, it would have been Mike Mahoney.  I have no idea what happened to him.  I have heard all kinds of stories that he was seen trying to reach us by helicopter pilots flying overhead.  If that is true none of them passed that information on to me.  "Rip" VanWinkle SOA 697 GL

29 Jan 68-White, Charles E., SFC E7, USASF, TDY from Det A-213, Co B, 1ST SFGA (Okinawa) Project OMEGA (B-50)-Operation Daniel Boone, of MIA Remains not Recovered-  The Recon team had made contact with the enemy and had shot their way out and was in the process of being extracted 16 miles inside Cambodia west of Kontum via McGuire Rig with team members Nang and Khong when SFC White reported over the radio, "I'm having a problem with the rig." A passenger on the helicopter looked out and saw SFC White fall into the jungle below from 200 feet. He was a large man, 6'4", 280 lbs. After getting into the rig and as the chopper started lifting off, he turned upside down and fell away. A search team was inserted to look for him the following day, which discovered a path that a falling body made through the jungle canopy into thick bamboo, which was surmised as being enough foliage to have safely broken his fall, however, no trace was ever found of him. Due to increased enemy activity no further search was possible. Although, the Defense Department officially listed him as dead, Fred Zabitosky's bright light team felt he was still alive and a POW. White had only 3 days left in country before being rotated back home). {Filed by Don Martin, Crox Six:* I was in another, nearby area on a separate mission when that incident happened, but my gunships were diverted by operations/commander to the area where he fell. I coordinated with slicks (Hueys) from the 119th's "Yellow" platoon (2d Platoon ?) and we performed an aerial search with no results of any significance. Seems to me as if we looked until darkness or near darkness, then returned to base for fuel and RON. The opinions of the slick drivers and their crews with whom I talked later, who had seen SFC White fall, was that he could not survive such a fall. They also felt he had been "shot off of the rig." However, those opinions are unofficial and may or may not be close to the truth}. 

Charles E White

 "White was a member of a reconnaissance team that came under heavy hostile fire. During the team's extraction from the area, Sergeant White fell from a McGuire rig attached to a helicopter with two other personnel at an attitude of approximately 60 meters between 75 and 200 meters. The incident occurred in the vicinity of grid coordinates YB489072, approximately 15 kilometers southwest of Pakha, Ratanakiri Province , Cambodia . Other individuals involved in the incident saw Sergeant White fall through the dense jungle vegetation. [inserted-->"According to the helicopter crew, the three personnel seemed secure at liftoff. SFC White indicated he was having difficulty holding on to the rope, then fell..."] On 31 January 1968 , a ground rescue team searched the incident location and the surrounding area. The search team located the spot on the ground where the body had impacted, as well as a path through the jungle from the point of impact. Additional evidence discovered by the ground team indicated that the area had been searched by hostile forces the previous day. No body was located and no freshly dug grave could be found. [It was assumed that the Bamboo was thick enough to cushion the impact of SFC White, and that he could have survived the fall. No fresh grave sites could be located; and it is doubtful the enemy would carry a body any great distance before burying or otherwise disposing of it--neither blood trails were found nor equipment recovered.]"--JCRC Case 1006 Narrative. [In the original correspondence (letter) from LTC Baldwin III to Sgt White's family, to protect the secrecy of the areas of operation it was reported "Charles was on a patrol outside the town of Kha Sanh on 29 January 1968 when the patrol came under heavy enemy fire. During the ensuing fight he became separated from the rest of the patrol"]. On 15-18 November 1993, a joint US-Cambodian team flying over the loss location determined that it would take 3 days to travel to the area from the closes LZ due to the dense jungle and "...the steep slopes, greater than 70 degrees throughout the area, made it impossible to establish an intermediate LZ to support the investigation. The vegetation was so thick that visibility was extremely limited, less than five feet in many cases. Time distance factor to case 1006 prohibit safe movement on the ground. It is not feasible to leave Americans overnight on the ground in this remote, rugged area since there is no means to extract the team in an emergency. The security Force was unwilling to move on their own without the presence of Americans. The foremost reason was their inability to navigate to the reported location. Proven on the ground, GPS does not function consistently in this dense, triple canopy jungle; therefore GPS would be of no use in assisting the Cambodian Security Force. In summary, time and distance factors to the loss location, vague circumstances of the loss location, lack of any landing zone, no witnesses and safety preclude any further action in case"-- 1006. [Extracted from JTF-Full Accounting 28 Mar 94 ] (A note in White files relate: "If the fall was from 200 feet actual altitude and the bamboo was beginning to mature it is felt that SUBJECT may have been impaled. Although the board members opined that the enemy would probably not carry WHITE for any distance prior to burial. it is a known fact that many Vietnamese are ansetor worshippers and give even an enemy the best possible burial so that his spirit will not wander the area bothering the living. ) {Documentation furnished by CSM Grady F. Miles}

[Filed by Jim Kreutz, Avenger 8: Regarding the narrative on Charles White I believe it is essentially correct but maybe I can add a little more background---but please remember it was 32 years ago.  We were assigned to fly gun cover for the Emergency Extraction. There was some confusion when we got on site, When we called for smoke, smoke of all the colors came up in somewhere between 4-6 locations.  So it took a couple of passes to verify team location. The slick reported fire inbound and we were taking some but my sense was it was scattered small arms mostly to the south of the pick up spot.  Almost as though they had formed a line of pushers to move the team. We got the call after lift-off that someone had fallen, it might have been from the altitude in the narrative but the figure I remembered was 50'.  We escorted the slicks up to altitude and although I am not certain believe we came down and made one more pass but couldn't spot anyone. We then returned to Kontum.  By that time it was dusk and as I remember the plan was to put a Bright Light team in the next morning.  However, the 29th was the night the Tet offensive was launched at Kontum and Pleiku so the Bright Light couldn't get back in until the 3rd of Feb. Fred Zabitosky was 10 for the Bright Light]

02 Feb 68-  Gilbert L. Hamilton, SFC E-7, USASF, Spike Team, Ops 35 while on a recon in Laos , the team came under fire from a superior enemy force. KIA-RR  The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Gilbert Lee Hamilton, Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, while serving with Command and Control Detachment (North), FOB 1 (Phu Bai), 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. Sergeant First Class Hamilton distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 17 January 1968 as Special Forces advisor to a Vietnamese unit conducting a reconnaissance mission in enemy territory. The patrol had taken a defensive position on high ground while waiting for helicopter extraction from the area of operations. Sergeant Hamilton volunteered to lead a seven-man security team outside the unit's perimeter to search for signs of possible enemy activity around its position. While moving through heavy elephant grass, the patrol was savagely ambushed at close range by insurgents firing automatic weapons. Sergeant Hamilton was severely wounded by a burst of enemy bullets, but returned fierce fire killing at least one enemy soldier. He then quickly organized his trapped troops into a tight perimeter and directed their counterfire against the surrounding hostile elements. Although he was struck three more times by enemy bullets, he continued to direct the defense of his men. He made radio contact with helicopter gunships in the area and skillfully adjusted their supporting fires on the enemy positions to prevent the attackers from overrunning the small team. His gallant and determined actions in the heat of battle were responsible for saving his comrades from annihilation. Sergeant First Class Hamilton's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

19 Feb 68- Douglas J Glover, SSG E-6 of Cortland, NY, USASF, FOB-2, Kontum, Ops 35 and Melvin C. Dye, SGT E-5 of Carelton, Mich and Robert S. Griffith, SGT E-5, of Hapevile, GA, door gunners,, and four SCU Team Members, RT Main; MIA, Presumptive finding of death. The pilot, John W. Cook, WO, 57th AHC in Kontum died 10 days later from extensive burns.  Died of wounds. Grover was the team leader (One-Zero) with Fred Zabitosky "Zab" as the One-One, and Purcell Bragg as the One-Two and six SCU were inserted into a target Zulu Nine in the Bra, (Zab was the official 1-0; however, for this mission the role was reversed). The team discovered a bunker, which NVA ran to man and began firing on the team. Glover relinquished the one-zero status to Zab. Zab directed Grover to take the team back to the LZ while he initiated a delaying action. Shortly thereafter, a NVA platoon came upon Zab's delaying action and he stopped them with claymores, grenades, and his CAR 15. Zab then joined the remainder of the team at the LZ, with Grover calling in air strikes. The team was fighting off a large assault and the enemy's numbers were growing with four NVA companies converging on the team. Two Hueys arrived and Brag with two of the SCU boarded and were lifted off to safety. Zab and Glover and four SCU boarded the second Huey and it lifted off, almost clearing the LZ when it was hit by an RPG sending the helicopter spinning the tail boom into the main rotor and splitting the helicopter into two pieces and crashing into the ground ablaze in flames. Zab was thrown clear, but and as he regained consciousness he found his clothes on fire. He suffered severe burns, shrapnel wounds and several crushed vertebrae and ribs. Rolling to extinguishing the burning clothing he was able to extinguish his burning clothing. The pilot and copilot were still strapped in their seats in the burning in helicopter which had snapped into behind the pilot's section. The troop compartment was in completely inflamed and the final cries of the men trapped therein were heard by Zab, but there was nothing he could do. Realizing the flames had not completely engulfed the pilots, Zab, utilizing everything he had and entered into the flames to recover the copilot who had all his clothing burnt off and then returned to rescue the pilot. Movement was observed on the ground by another SOG soldier (Luke Nance) who was aboard a Huey flying above the downed helicopter. This helicopter made a decent and began engaging the enemy. The SOG soldier jumped from the helicopter and joined Zab in a fire fight with the enemy and rescuing the pilot and copilot together. One of the pilots died of the wounds which had covered 85% of his body. {Filed By Cpt Don Martin, Crox Six: * Fred Zabitosky, and the shot-down Huey which burned. I led one of the gunship teams which helped defend Fred while he and others were on the ground around the burning aircraft. The extraction took quite a while, so several, perhaps as many as five, gunship fire teams worked the PZ until the final extraction, for which I was present. Someone on the ground (perhaps Fred or one of his men) communicated with me (Crocodile Six) and directed my fire and that of my wingman, as I recall into the wood line and open ground to the north and east of the burning aircraft. As I remember it, we put the rockets and mini-gun fire where it was needed and assisted in the efforts to get Fred and others out alive. A good friend of mine, then Captain, now LTC (retired) John (Jack) Koshinsky "Gladiator Three," flew (pilot-in-command) the slick (Huey) which picked up Fred and others from the PZ. Fred Zabitosky, then SFC, I believe, deserved and received the Medal of Honor. Also, the incident did begin in Laos around the "Bra," an area with which I was very familiar at the time, but it ended just inside Vietnam, near Ben Het, I think just east of Hill 990, so the aircraft, though torn to Hell by enemy fire prior to going down, was able to limp back inside Vietnam before it crashed. The fact that it made it that far is a credit to its crew}.  (The pilot was previously unidentified, he was the roommate of Ken Haan who provided the identification)

21 Feb 68-  Paul Melvin Douglas, SSG E-6,  US   Army Long Range Reconnaissance Spike Team Leader, FOB-3 Khe Sanh, Ops 35, KIA-RR. Presumptive finding of death (SSG Douglas was not a member of SF nor Airborne qualified, however, he had volunteered for SOG and based upon his vast Recon experience, a man who had proven himself and assigned to FOB 3 where he was killed by an enemy mortar round explosion just after rising from a night's sleep, he removed his protective flak vest in order to change into a shirt for day time duty uniform and was in the process of slipping off the sweater when the mortar round exploded).

Paul Melvin Douglas

1968 02 27 Duane H Snyder, SFC, "listed as CO, XO, Plt Ldr of the 1st Service Company (Reaction/Exploitation of the "Airborne Commando" (Reacdtion) Battalion.  We learn of  the action from Snyder's citation to the Silver Star award excerpt...'He was SF advisor to the mobile  strike force company conducting a search an destroy mission in enemy territory. His unit was lifted into the area by helicopters, and SGT Snyder quickly deployed his  troops in a defensive perimeter on the landing zone. After organizing several recon teams, he led one patrol out in search of the enemy. Savage small arms and automatic weapons fire suddenly erupted  from concealed positions in a tree line on the defensive position of the troops remaining behind. realizing that his men were in the killing zone of an Ambush. SGT Snyder fearlessly exposed himself to  a hail of bullets and raced fifty meters across open terrain to  rejoin the beleaguered soldiers.  He rallied his comrades and, yelling words of encouragement, led a fierce assault on the  hostile position. As the enemy  began to fall back in disorder, he directed his men in an aggressive pursuit of the fleeing insurgents. He was mortally wounded by enemy automatic weapons fire while leading his troops in close combat...'(Per USARV GO#1137, dtd 03/22/68)"    "[Ed. Note: Before becoming a part of -50 Omega, the A503 Reaction Element Detachment supported Omega out of the Nha Trang FOB. On or about 09/67 the A 503's First, Second and Third Companies moved to  Man Me Thout and were redesignated as the Exploitation Companies of CCS.]" Extracted from page 131, Secret Green Beret Commandos in Cambodia by Fred S. Lindsey, USA  (RET)

29 Feb 68- Harold C. Whittaker, SSG E-6, USASF, B-50 CCS Conducting a supply mission in Darlac Provance when the military vehicle he was driving went out of control and turned over.   Died through non-hostile action, vehicle crash

01 Mar 68- Jeffery McClatchy, Jr, SP/5, USASF, Snake Bite Team, 1st SFGA, Okinawa, Hatchet Force Advisor, FOB 3, Khe Sanh, Ops 35, KIA-RR (SP/5 McClatchy was killed by a claymore while on security patrol outside of FOB-3). (Click on Newspaper article below that appeared in the El Campo, Tx requesting input for Jeffery-He and his older brother were both killed in Vietnam).

I saw this in today's ( Mar 5, 2011 ) ECLN.  I am sending it your way to see if your readers may be able to assist VVFM & the ECLN. I am not familiar with this family.  Couldn't tell you if my dad knew of the McClatchy brothers?  My guess is this family probably left El Campo/Wharton County prior to us moving here in 1976 or perhaps live in another community in our county? Noel Benavidez (Son of Roy Benavidez)

NOTE:  Some SF and SOG riders had scheduled a Motorcycle ride to El Campo to honor Roy Benevidez and let the family know he has not been forgotten for 28 May 2012 .  Just before the trip, received the above newspaper article from Noel Benavidez. Using various sources, was able to make contact with one of Jeff surviving brother to learn that Jeff had a son. Arrangements were to have his son brought to El Campo and meet us at the Roy Benavidez National Guard Armory.  I brought along a copy of the Presidential Unit Citation for SOG and a Presidential Unit Ribbon to be presented to the son. I had to go to Comanche Texas the for funeral services of my aunt on my motorcycle, after the ceremony, I rode to El Campo that day arriving in Houston, spent the night and the following day, met up with a number of Hispanic motorcycle riders who were friends of Roy' Benevidez's family, including his daughter and son-in-law who took us on a long ride showing us the country  arriving at the Roy Benavidez' National Guard compound, there we met up with the some of Jeff's family members including Jeff's son. Upon learning that his son knew little to nothing about his father because his mother refuses to talk about it and that the son was crippled and in a wheel chair.  I met with the female 1Lt Company Commander of the company who were present at the Armory for their weekend duty and explained our situation and asked her if she and her company would like to participate in the award ceremony.  She agreed and had the company fall out in formation, I had her read the Presidential Unit Citation while the unit's First Sergeant call the son forward and he made the pinning ceremony while the citation was being read with the full company giving a hand salute thought out the presentation. There were tears among the company and on-lookers.  After the ceremony, those SF and SOG riders had an opportunity to talk to the son and tell him about his father and what type of soldier he was and the unit that he served with.  Aft wards, all the riders and some of Roy 's family with the Company Commander and First Sergeant went to a restaurant for a meal.  It was during the meal that the family committed to stay in touch with Jeff's son and bring him into their fold.  I prepaid a Letter of Appreciation to the Commander, First Sergeant and members of the unit, signing it in behalf for the Special Forces Association and Special Operations Association -  Cpt Robert L. Noe, USASF, Retired

06 Mar 68- Robert Lopez, Maj 04 of Seattle, WA, USASF, Comrnander FOB-I, Phu Bai, Ops 35 Remains recovered 1994 with William Henry Seward, Maj 04, USMC of Atlanta, GA Remains recovered 1994  and  Gary Lewis Colombo, Crewchief Lance Corporal (LPCL, E-4), III Marine Amphibious Force, 1st MAW, MAG 15, HMM 164 USMC, Aviation Branch, Ops 32 (Air Studies Branch) KIA Remains Not Recovered were aboard a CH-46.  (Their helicopter was the lead helicopter of a flight of two CH-46's that was supporting a SOG insertion attempt. Their aircraft was hovering above an 80' canopy and started receiving enemy fire and stared to descent then fell to the earth, exploded, and burned).

09 Mar 68 SFC Dale R Karpenske, SFC 441st MI Det, 1st SFG(A) ( Okinawa ) who was TDY to Vietnam and serving with MACV-SOG, 5TH SFGA.. He died March 9, 1968 in Bien Hoa. His cause of death is listed as "accidental self-inflicted injury" and “accidental self-destruction”. Grenades he was wearing accidentally detonated. SFC Karpenske left behind a wife and daughter and he is buried in Amery Cemetery , Amery , Wisconsin .

22 Mar 6  Martin, Linwood SFC E-7, 1-0 Tm Ldr;  SFC, Estevan Torres,1-1 and SP4 John C Wells RTO, and "Scouts" B-50 Recon. The team was conducting Recon mission in Northern Cambodia . The team destroyed by enemy action.  The patrol discovered a freshly-dug enemy bunker and tunnel complex. The team then conducted a thorough reconnaissance of the area then moved into a defensive night defensive position. During the night, an unknown size NVA force closed on three sides of the friendly position and, at daybreak raked the team with heavy automatic weapons fire. Braving the withering enemy fire, the team moved through the enemy's flank without a casualty and quickly established a hasty defensive perimeter on a ridge line to await helicopter extraction. The NVA pursued the team, completely surrounded it and unleashed a savage attack which resulted in these men being killed. [Filed by SSG Jason "Woody" Woodworth: "I was a good friend of Estavan "Toro" Torres from 187 days. I can remember the day we were told he was KIA. Butch Fernandez, a real close friend and teammate of Toros and myself were working at RECONDO School at the time. The info we received that Toro's aircraft was approaching the insert LZ and ground fire hit the 40mm round in his over and under M16. He was bleeding profusely from the groin area as his weapon was on his lap, he died from loss of blood]. Photo is Estevan Torres  

Extracted from Secret Green Beret Commando's in Cambodia by LTC Fred Lindsey, USA RET, Page 133 "We do  not have the records with particulars about this specific mission, except for the excerpt  of SFC Martin's Distinguished Service Cross citation, ...Sergeant first Class Martin distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 03/22/68 as team leader of a small Special Forces long range reconnaissance team operating in enemy controlled territory. On 21 March, his patrol discovered a freshly dug enemy bunker and tunnel complex. SGT Martin thoroughly reconnoitered the area and then moved his men to  a  night defensive perimeter and, during the night, an unknown size Viet Cong force closed on three sides of the friendly position and, at daybreak, raked the team with heavy automatic weapons fire. Braving the withering fusillade, SGT Martin fearlessly led his troops through the enemy's flank without a casualty and quickly established a hasty defensive perimeter on a ridgeline to await helicopter extraction. The Viet Cong pursued the team, completely surrounded it and their positions. SGT Martin gallantry charged down the ridge and sprayed the advancing insurgent ranks with fierce rifle fire, killing many of the Viet Cong. Before his team members could come to his aid, SGT Martin was over-powered by  the enemy force and mortally wounded. His dauntless and courageous efforts enabled the rest of the patrol to hold off the enemy arrived  and extracted them to safety"

(Ed Note - The Virtual Wall data shows Torres was evidently killed in a helicopter crash, yet these men were in the same action according to their standing in THE WALL location. They were obviously on the same RT and same helicopter. THE WALL information shows Torres in a 'Helicopter, non-crew, Air Crash over land', Martin's DSC says they got extracted to  safety , But his Virtual Wall data sheet shows he as a ground casualty in Binh Dinh Province or across its Cambodian border. Evidently they lifted off the LZ with Martin being mortally wounded and their helicopter was hit badly enough to  crash somewhere enroute back to  their  base. Torres was listed as being in Det. B-56 Project Sigma. Torres was promoted posthumously to E-7 MSG. .....SP4 Wells was from Dearborn. MI and had two  years of  service prior to being killed on this Recon Mission...."

 Linwood Martin, SFC E-7,  Tm Ldr, RT Delaware, CCC, KIA-RR. SFC Martin was the 1-0 and I, the 1-1 on an operation which commenced on  21 Mar, 1968 .  The team was Delaware and there were 9 Montagnards on the team.  The operation was a recon of an area in country.  It was requested by the CG 4^th ID since his LRRPS were incapable.  We were inserted in the afternoon and everything was more or less uneventful.  We were looking for a road/train and possible crossing point of a medium sized river.  Around 1700 we came upon a classic high-speed trail.  It was about 4-6 feet wide and smooth and clean.  We also found some fresh bunkers looking over the trail and river.  While the indig got water I found some “rabbit holes” dug into the bank.  These rabbit holes were squared off – apparently man made. It was getting late so we decided to pull back and observe the trail over-night.  One of the yards planted a toe-popper on the trail.  We heard the mine go off and decided to pull further into the jungle.  One NVA happened upon us.  We killed him and a small fire fight ensued until we could break contact and pull as far into the jungle as possible to RON. All night the NVA probed and threw rocks and sticks trying to get us to betray our position.  In the morning they started making noise, beating sticks, blowing whistles, etc.  They had us surrounded on three sides with the river being the fourth side.  Martin and I discussed the situation and decided that the best course of action was to slip through a flank, rather than go where they were pushing us.  We managed to evade without a shot being fired. Linwood decided to go back to the bunker complex and take pictures.  I was dead against it.  My every instinct said not to return to the hornet’s nest we had just left. I said that if they wanted pictures I’d draw some foogin pictures.  Martin, being the 1-0 prevailed. Upon arrival at the bunkers we found the shoe of the individual who had stepped on our mine.  It still had the foot in it along with a letter from home. We were just getting situated and setting up a perimeter when we took a high volume of fire.  I was face to face with Martin and a round from the first burst hit him over the left eye.  I was going to apply a dressing but when I reached behind his head it was obvious he was gone. I immediately panicked and started screaming on the radio after a few minutes I realized the antenna was laying on the ground.  I set it up and got Covey and we declared a Prairie Fire Emergency.  We couldn’t go back into the jungle so we pulled into a clearing and set up a “wagon Spoke” perimeter with me in the middle.  I imagine we looked like Custer and his last stand from the air.  We were in the center of a football sized field.  We couldn’t go anywhere but the NVA had to cross the open to get to us. This exposed them to CAS and ground fire from us. I got support from gun ships as well as 2 F-100’s.  The F-100’s had napalm and I for one liked it at the time.  My standard correction was: “Put it in the same place but on the other side.  After three attempts they finally managed to extract us.  I grabbed yards by the collar and seat and literally tossed them into the choppers. After we lifted off, the crew chief wanted to know who was on the first ship.  I asked him why and he said it had gone down.  My stomach turned flips and I could see the looks on the yards faces.  However we found out the ship hadn’t been shot down.  One of the indig caught his gear on an extinguisher and the crew saw the smoke and thought they were hit.  They unloaded, realized the ship was OK and reloaded and joined us. In MACV-SOG.com they say Martin was with Torres and Wells out of FOB-5.  This is wrong. The account of Torres’ mission is similar to mine.  I don’t know what happened but I was with Martin when he died.  We were ST Delaware."  By Terry Dahling  

Linwood Martin,

Estevan Torres

John C. Wells,

27 Mar 68- Johnny C. Calhoun, SSG E-6 of Newman, GA, USASF, FOB-3, OPS 35,KIA-Remains not recovered (While awaiting extraction from a successful recon mission in Laos, the team was attacked by a superior enemy force 1-1/2 miles inside Laos south of Ta Bat in the A Shau Valley.. SSG Calhoun ordered a withdrawal and stood between the team and enemy providing cover fire for the rest of the patrol and while ordering the other five members of the team to withdraw, he was hit 3 times in the chest and stomach, fell to the ground and not move( witnessed by Ho-Thong, interpreter, Calhoun slumped to the ground, pulled the pin from a grenade, clutched it to explode among the advancing enemy). His ultimate fate is unknown because of the actual retreat of the survivors. Twenty six hours after initial contact, the team was finally extracted. Due to enemy hostilities, a further search for SSG Calhoun was not made).  

28 Mar 68- George  R "Ron" Brown, SFC E-7 of Holly Hill, FL; Alan "Al" Lee Boyer, SGT E-5 of Missoula, Monana RR; Charles Gregory "Greg" Huston of Sidney, OH, USASF, Spike Team ASP, FOB-4, Da Nang, Ops 35, MIA-Presumptive finding of death (On a recon mission 20 Kilometers northeast of Tchepone, Laos. These three Americans were being extracted by rope ladder due to the terrain preventing landing, these individuals were on the rope ladder when the CH-34 helicopter came under intense enemy fire and the helicopter had to depart when the ladder became caught in the trees and had to be cut away. When last seen these three individuals were seen alive and appeared to be unharmed. A search team was inserted on 01 Apr 68 but failed to find any evidence of the three Americans. ST Asp consisted of three Americans and six (seven) indigs. They were assigned to FOB 4 but launched out of NKP. They were inserted by chopper (AF 20^th Helicopter Squadron call sign "Pony Express" CH-3(?) On a wire-tap mission several klicks NE of Tchepone. Around 11AM local time on the 28^th, they were compromised and requested emergency extraction. The Pony Express chopper could not land and lowered a rope ladder. Five of the six indig successfully climbed the ladder to the chopper. As the sixth indig was going up, Boyer started up. At this point the ladder either broke or was cut by ground fire and the indig and Boyer fell back to earth. According to the chase medic on the extraction chopper, SGT Dave Mayberry [also from FOB 4], his last sighting of Brown and Huston before turning his back to treat one of the wounded was that they were still alive and returning fire. That was the last they were seen. The Pony Express chopper apparently did not try another extraction and requested assistance. Several Jolly Greens were placed on stand-by at NKP to help and others were diverted from another mission. In addition, several A-1 Sandies were alerted. By early afternoon, there was no further communication with the team and the follow-up rescue effort was called off. This would lead me to believe there was no air support involved in the extraction attempt. On 1 April SGT Chuck Feller [also from FOB 4] launched out of NKP on a mission to search for Asp. They were inserted by Pony Express and immediately came into contact with enemy forces. Feller called for an emergency extraction and a ladder had to be used. In fact, one of his indigs dangled from the ladder all the way back to NKP. While on the ground, they found no evidence of Asp.-email, 9/27/99 , John Kull). NOTE: RT ASP WAS ALSO COMPLETELY LOST AGAIN ON 10 MAY 71 . "I knew Brown, boyer and Huston. Boyer and Huston were especially good friends." By Tim Schaaf  REMAINS OF BOYER AND HUSTON NOT RECOVERED FOR THESE 3 INDIVIDUALS

Roger Albertson: A master sergeant, a PFC and HALO By Roger Albertson, Undated: 05/23/2009   http://www.twincities.com/ci_12431887?source=most_emailed

In August 1964 I was assigned to 'C' Company, 1st Special Forces Group on Okinawa . As a private first class, I had just left Fort Bragg after graduating as a demolitionist. While waiting for a slot on an 'A-Team' headed for Vietnam , I volunteered for a specialized Army parachute course called HALO. HALO is an acronym for High Altitude-Low Opening, and at that time was a relatively new military parachute technique. By using free-fall insertion from altitude, a 12-man Special Forces A-Team could infiltrate hostile territory undetected by enemy radar. It was there that I met Master Sgt. George Ronald Brown. Ron Brown was the jumpmaster for 1st Group's HALO school. He was quiet, unassuming, non-excitable and detailed in everything he, or we, did. The requirements for graduation were simple. Pass all classroom instruction and ground training and make 25 jumps. The jumps were divided into 10 at low level (5- to 10-second delay) and the rest at 8,000 feet and higher, with at least one of the higher to be at night with weapons, rucksacks and oxygen. During our 10 low-level jumps I managed to: open my chute while upside-down, make a tree landing (the only tree on the drop zone), severely damage a farmer's lattice-covered vegetable garden (he was very angry) and wreck my stopwatch and altimeter while giving myself a concussion. But as I told Brown when he jokingly questioned my acumen, "Top, I think I'm gettin' the hang of it." All of our HALO chutes had a barometrically operated automatic opening device. When armed, it would automatically pull your rip-cord 10 seconds after falling past a preset altitude. It's there in case a jumper is in some way incapacitated and fails to pull his "blast handle" manually. On our first high-altitude (8,000-foot) jump, my device failed in the aircraft. Brown was spotting from the C-130's tailgate. Just before he gave the "go" sign, I felt my backpack open and the pilot-chute spill out. If it got into the wind, it would drag the whole chute out the tailgate. I'd be dead and the plane would probably crash. Instantly, as per our training, I reached around and grabbed the pilot chute while backing into the skin of the aircraft. Brown watched the other trainees free-fall as long as he could, got up and walked back into the aircraft. At first he couldn't see me because I was in the shadows. When he did, he thought I had quit and grabbed me so I couldn't do anything foolish. He tried to say something, but at 150 knots and with the tailgate down, I couldn't hear him. Turning slightly toward the tailgate, I motioned with my eyes to look down. He did and turned white. After he closed the tailgate, I took the chute off and we discovered that the device leaked air. After landing and explaining what happened, we all chuted up for the second drop of the day. Boarding the aircraft, Brown asked me if I would be comfortable skipping 8,000 feet and going straight to 12,500. By skipping that pass we would have time for two more jumps. It was fine by me, and that's what we did. The following Saturday, for our third jump from 12,500, I showed up at our 5 a.m. pilot's briefing with my 35mm camera taped to my right wrist. Brown didn't notice it until we were "chuting up." When he did, he pulled me aside and asked what I planned to do with the camera. I said, "If it's OK with you, I'd like to take some photos in free fall." He thought about it for a moment, then walked away shaking his head. Our 22nd jump was from 20,000 feet, at night, with weapons, rucksacks and oxygen. While on our drop approach and going through our equipment check — disaster — my altimeter's light bulb had burned out. That was it. Brown looked at me, and drew his finger across his throat while shaking his head. I wasn't going. No-go, no-graduate. Everyone crowded around to see what had happened, including the C-130's loadmaster. The loadmaster saw the problem, took out his flashlight and held it to the altimeter's face for a few seconds. Its numbers and hands glowed almost as bright as day. Brown looked at the loadmaster, then looked at me and nodded OK. Ninety seconds later, the last thing I saw as I did my tailgate pirouette while stepping into ink was the loadmaster reaching for the flashlight I had tossed back to him. To this day, I am grateful that Brown let me make that jump. I know it was against regulations, and if something had happened he would have been court-martialed. A master sergeant took a chance on a PFC, and I would never have a chance to thank him for it. In May 1966 I was discharged and went back to school. Twenty-six years later, at a reunion, I was told Ron Brown had been lost MIA in Laos on March 28, 1968 . Declassified records show that during the North Vietnamese Army's 1968 Khe Sahn siege, Master Sgt. George "Ron" Brown, Sgt. 1st Class Alan Boyer and Sgt. 1st Class Charles Houston all went missing while conducting a Studies and Observation Group mission as part of Khe Sanh's defense. Compromised, they called for extraction and were on the rescue helicopter's rope ladder when it was severed by heavy ground fire. Seconds later both Brown and Houston were last seen on the ground, running, and appeared unwounded. In May 2003 Brown's daughter, Ronda Brown-Pitts, was notified by the Army that her father's remains had been found. The remains consisted of a single tooth, but dental records provided to her showed that her father's tooth had a filling, and the tooth recovered did not. She demanded a DNA test but it was refused based on the Army's policy of "body desecration." A DNA test would destroy "all of the remains." His remains have since been delivered to her in Dayton , Texas . In the history of our nation's wars there are thousands of stories similar to this one. Each has its dead, maimed, survivors and families. We must never forget that this horrible collective loss was borne to keep the United States free. This is, and always will be, the price of our freedom.  So this Memorial Day, and every day, for that matter, when you see a veteran, stop and thank him for his service. Even if he says nothing, I promise you he will be grateful.  You see, for some veterans and their families, every single day is, or will be, a memorial day of sorts. Roger Albertson served in U.S. Army Special Forces from 1963 to 1966. He lives in Trade Lake , Wis. His phone number is 715-327-4518. His e-mail address is [email protected].

REMAINS OF ALAN BOYER RECOVERED: SEE REMAINS RECOVERED 

04 Apr 68- Robert L. Taylor, SFC E-7, USASF, Spike Team "Bear" Team #7, FOB-3, Khe Sanh, Ops 35, Originally listed as MIA but the finding changed to KIA-RR  

POSTED ON 3.31.2019

POSTED BY: BONNIE L COOPER

SFC ROBERT L TAYLOR'S LAST MISSION

SFC Taylor died while a member of ST Bear, FOB-3 (Khe Sanh) during the Battle at Hill 471. A small Hatchet Force (HF) was from FOB-3, formed by two recon teams, were given the mission to kill an enemy artillery spotter team which was adjusting artillery fire from the sanctuary of a bomb crater on Hill 471.
The twenty-five man SOG element included seven American Special Forces , eighteen Bru Montagnards and a One-Three (1-3) strap hanger American. On April 4th, 1968 , at 0200 hours the team moved out of the FOB’s main gate, turned left, and moved along the frontage road into the jungle. After about 10 hours of movement, the team entered one of the two bomb craters on top of Hill 471, about 100 feet from the crater holding the artillery spotter.
Soon the SOG force was discovered and was committed to combat from the sanctuary of their bomb crater. While fighting from the bomb crater, SFC Robert L Taylor (Spike Team Bear) exposed himself above the craters rim to throw a hand grenade at a group of attacking soldiers. As he reared back to throw the grenade his body went limp and he fell to the bottom of the crater. Harv Saal dove after Taylor body as it rolled to the bottom of the crater. He still held the hand grenade with its pin pulled, clutched in his right hand under his chest.
Taylor had been shot in the head. When Saal spoke to him he did not respond, but he kept hold of the grenade’s safety lever. Saal and one of the ‘Yards pried the grenade out of Taylor ’s hand and tossed it out of the crater. Taylor was bleeding excessively from his head wound so Saal bandaged his head and got an IV started but soon he had no pulse, quit breathing and his entire body shuddered in the death rattle, then went limp.
When no helicopter could come to the teams aide, they had to start walking out. Bob Taylor’s six-and-a-half foot, two-hundred forty pound frame couldn’t be carried through the jungle back to the FOB so his body was left in the crater.
Bob Taylor was also a Lieutenant in the Army Reserves, and the next day the NVA contacted the FOB by radio and said they “had captured an Army Lieutenant – alive”. It became obvious that Bob Taylor had gone into combat with his reserve ID card. Although he had died the day prior, for whatever reason, the NVA reported that they had captured him alive. After much confusion by the SOG and MACV higher-ups he was listed as being missing in action (MIA), and not killed (KIA).
A while later the NVA verified that Bob Taylor was dead when they found him and admitted that his remains were still in the bomb crater and agreed not to interfere with his recovery.
Bob Taylor was buried in Lafayette Memorial Park , Fayetteville , North Carolina . For unknown reasons his death date is incorrect on his grave maker.

10 Apr 68-George N. Deverall Cpt, of Arlington Co, VA;  Samuel Jospeh Padgett, SFC E-7 of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Aubey A. Bryan, SFC E-7; Charles E. Wilcox, Jr. SFC E-7, USASF, FOB-4, Da Nang, Ops 35; Crecencio Cardosa, SFC E-7; and a Vietnamese Pilot, Co-Pilot and door gunner, names and ranks unknown CH-34 (Kingbee) Aircrew, Vietnamese Air Force, 2l9^th Vietnamese Helicopter Squadron, Da Nang Air Base, Ops 32. All KIA-RR and identified except for SFC Padgett who is listed as MIA-Presumptive finding of death. (Aircraft was caring five newly assigned team leaders from FOB-4 to MAC SOG Recon School at Kham Duc when the aircraft was disabled by enemy fire and crashed and burned). "Charles Wilcox was my first team leader and I knew all who were killed with him. My good friend Pat Watkins went in to find the bodies and when they were brought out, it was difficult to tell them from the animals that were being transported along with them on the Chopper. We didn't know if it was shot down or just flew into the mountain. I ran 2 missions with Charlie, launched out of FOB2, into Sierra 3 and Hotel 9. Pat Watkins was a straphanger on the H-9 mission and it was quite a day. I don't know why I remember the designations of those missions, but I do." BY Tim Schaaf.  Click-->See witness statement of this incident by SSG Patrick N. Watkins below.   

All other research shows that Deverall was KIA'ed, not on this aircraft.  With that being said, there is a possibility he was because of the nature of SOG.

14 Apr 68- George Quamo, Maj 0-4, US Army Infantry, Project Elephant Commander, FOB-3, OPS 35 and a Vietnamese U-17 Pilot and Co-Pilot, Vietnamese Air Force, Da Nang Air Base, Ops 32. KIA-RR While transporting SOG documents, he was picked up by two Vietnamese pilots at the Khe Sanh Airstrip and has not been heard from since. He graduated from High School in Averill Park , NY , 1958, enlisted in the Army and attended OCS, Airborne, Pathfinder, and Ranger training. MIA-(Note; Jun 26, 7 4 three bodies and the wreckage of a U-17 aircraft were recovered and the remains of Maj Ouamo was positively identified).  he was transporting SOG documents from Khe Sanh to Da Nang aboard a Vietnamese Air Force U-17 aircraft (tail number XT 14502) flown by a Chinese contract pilot when the aircraft crashed in Quang Tri province. Initially listed as Missing in Action, his remains were later found and returned to U.S. soil on June 28, 1974, and positively identified August 15, 1974. MAJ Quamo was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. [Taken from pownetwork.org and macvsog.cc]

      Added Information:  In December 1967, Major George Quamo and I flew to Khe Sahn. My interest was that I had taken over STRATA operations in North Vietnam and was preparing for the 1968 Launch season from NKP and other potential sites. Quamo said, " Speedy, you were a Marine!" I replied, "Yes" and Quamo proceeded to walk with me to examine Marine Corps north perimeter and eventually meet Col. Lownds in the 26th Marine CP. The Colonel, learning I had been a Marine, asked me what I thought of his position at Khe Sahn. I replied candidly, "Colonel, we lived like dogs 25 years ago (in the Corps/Okinawa) and your troops are living like dogs now. Your bunkers cannot withstand a direct hit from anything larger than an 81mm mortar. Large rats are running in and out of the bunkers. Heaps of garbage abounded in the perimeter area. I said I had looked through a BC scope and the "bad guys" were everywhere and trenches were being dug. He responded by informing me that Force Recon units could take care of the patrolling in enemy preoccupied areas. I also told him that the SF unit on the west end of the perimeter were digging bunkers down to 20 feet and that very large timbers were being emplaced. I expected Col Lownds to chew my ass for my direct comments. However, he said," my problem is that my good squad leaders and platoon sergeants are receiving field commissions and that good replacements were hard to find." With those words, Quamo and I departed after agreeing the "Marines were going to get their ass wiped." Sadly, just a month later, George Quamo went MIA but received the DSC for his heroics at Lang Vei.  Quamo, Bulldog Smith and I finished that day at the Sporting Bar and received a very timely tip from Mama Bic. She said that more than fireworks would be heard at TET.  By: BG “Speedy” George Gaspard (Major at the time).

1515 Apr 68- Charles M. Corry, S/5; Daniel F. Sandoval, SP/5 and Dennis R. Thorpe, SGT  E-5, FOB-3, CCN, Khe Sanh, Ops 35, KIA.  During the defense of Khe Sanh, FOB-3 consisted of 50 green berets and 500 motagnards at Khe Sanh along with 6,000 marines, surrounded by 20,000 NVA.  These thee men left the safety of their bunker, running to the aid of one of their comrades and were killed by incoming rocket shrapnel. [See pg 410, John Plaster's book, SOG Photo History of the Secret War]  "I was with Corry ,Thorp ,and Sandeval,they where killed by incoming 152rd,fm Col rock....."Jim Phil Brown 

18 Apr 68-  Stefan Mazak, SFC E-7, USASF, 5th SFGA, Ops 35. B-56 KIA-RR while a 11 on a recon mission upon landing on a LZ, he was putting out a claymore when he got stitched right up the middle by an AK-47. He was in B-56 (project Sigma). Prior to Vietnam he was in B Co.10SFGP (Lenggries) Germany . Also he was a former French Foreign Legion veteran-Bob Charest 646-Gl...In regard of SFC Sefan Mazak ,Kia 18 April 1968 Stefan was with me in the rescue mission in the Congo in1960. During our stay there we rescue over 200 Caucasians stranded in the jungle. On one of the operation I was facing a group of rebels ready to kill all white people when out of nowhere Mazak showed up and put the rebels in full retreat ,Saving me and 13 evacuees of sure death . Because of the political situation SF was not suppose to be there. Stefan received a Green Winee. State Dept. did not want publicity !!!  If you need more info just call, Take Care, Sully  

Based on the below information from Fred Jones, his assignment is changed from Hatchet Force to Recon

01 May 68- Joseph L. Shreve, 1LT 0-2, USASF, FOB-2, Plt Ldr-KIA  Our brother, Joseph Linwood Shreve Jr, was at FOB 2, 1 May 1968, when he was KIA by small arms fire.  

posted 3/13/2016    

This mission is detailed in Chapter 1 on pages 9 thru 13, SOG KONTUM Top secret mission in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia 1968-1969; published 2022 and reprinted 2023 by Joe Parnar and Robert Dumont. The below narrative is extracted with permission of the author and presented below.

Joseph was a Platoon Leader in the Hatchet Force,Co B that received orders to conduct a road interdiction mission, a Mining Operation on Highway 110, a branch of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in eastern Laos. A recon team was to insert and scout out the area before the Co was inserted. 

"On the morning of May 1, a demolition team led by platoon leader First Lieutenant Joseph L Shreve, Jr. went down the hill to the road. The  team consisted of members of Shreve's platoon and ST Iowa led by Van Hall and Davidson, along with their  four indigenous personnel in the point position. There was a small open area alongside the road where the explosives to be used on the operation were placed in a pile. Lieutenant Shreve moved out with one of his squads to provide flank security to the left of where the road was to be mined.

First Lieutenant Paul S Spilberg led a second element that was to provide flank security to  the right. As the security elements began to get into position, AK-47 and RPD (Ruchnoy Pulemyot Degtyaryova) automatic weapons fire erupted from across the road followed by  grenades, rifle grenades and possibly B-40 rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) rounds. Shreve's security squad and the Iowas point element were the hardest hit.

Sergeant Davidson was wounded in the leg by grenade fragments, as were seven Vietnamese personnel. Davidson witnessed one of the company's indigenous M60 machine gunners get hi in the head befor he could fire a single round in return. Shreve had also been seriously wounded and was now lying on the road"

"John Probarr (medic with the hatchet force) "I immediately realized I could do nothing for Lieutenant Shreve. It appears that he had been struck not only by automatic weapons fire, but also had taken hits from grenade, rifle grenade, or RPG fire. I decided to start treating those who could be saved and began moving the wounded away from the ambush site because it would be wiser to  provide first aid in the safely of  the RON position"

Joseph's and a number of Vietnamese commando  remains were recovered.  A number of the Hatchet Force and Recon Team were wounded and evacuated the following day.

I was with Iowa in T-7 [ Laos ] and had a successful mission which resulted in several secondary explosions after calling in an airstrike. Iowa was then designated the point element for a hatchet force inserted for exploitation. Shreves was killed by small arms fire 10 yards from the Ho Chi Minh trail in T-7. I remember well because he was from Bismarck , ND and I am from Minot , ND and he was within 5 yards from me when killed.      

I was with RT Iowa in late '67-'68 and also rode Covey. In '71 was with RT California as 11 and later as 10 after Walker DEROSED. submitted by Donald Davidson, Payette , ID

We are searching for any information we can find regarding him or his death. My husband's father was divorced from Joe's mother, and it was not the most amiable divorce. My husband was eight years old at the time, however, he vividly recalls the event as they heard of Joe's death on the evening local news. Joe's mother told Joe Sr not he, nor any of his family were welcome to attend the funeral, in fact she was guilty of even giving inaccurate information as to Joe's burial site, etc. When my husband and I were married three years ago, I started researching Joe's military history. We have been able to obtain his military records, even have received Letters he wrote to his friend Karen from Viet Nam . We have hopes you may know something about Joe as Mr. Gene Williams suggested we write to you in that hope. I have looked at your MACSOG website, and his name is listed on your alphabetized page, but details aren't given in the Chronological page. We have attached Joe's picture in hopes it might help you find information about him through your website. We would dearly appreciate anything you might could tell us about him.    Sincerely, SSgt Roy & Sunny Shreve, USMC Ret, P.O. Box 1154 , Hayden Lake , Idaho 83835

2 May 2005

Joseph Linwood Shreve is buried in Plot S-3038 at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno , California . He was the beloved son of Joseph Linwood Senior (Army WW2), and is greatly missed by his stepmother Millie; sisters Margie, Lynn, and Dorothy; his stepbrother Jim (Army); and his brothers Robert (Air Force), Earl (Marines), Roy (Marines), and Jeff. He gave the ultimate price for his country, his death due to small arms fire as a ground casualty in South Vietnam . We all have admired him, felt his absence, and long to know more about him. Anyone with any information about him, please contact us.

02 May 68- Leroy N. Wright, SFC E-7 and Lloyd F. Mousseau, SSG E-6, USASF, and four (+) SCU Nungs, B-56, Recon Mission-KIA The team of three Americans and nine SCU Nungs was inserted into the Fishhook, Cambodia. Larry S. McKibben, WO1;  Michael D. Craig, SP4;  & Nelson E.Fournier, SP4 of the 240th AHC (Their photo's and personal inforamtion can be viewed at the 240th ACH Memorial. The team  Immediately upon insertion, engaged an enemy squad, shooting their way clear only to be engaged by a platoon size element a half hour later. The team was able to work their way back to the LZ; however, due to a massive number of NVA and heavy enemy fire pinned the team down and forced away any rescue attempt. The team was now engaged by several enemy companies using mortars, RPG, and machine guns. The team leader, Leory Wright was struck in the head by a single enemy AK bullet, killing him. Lloyd Moussea, one-one, and Brian O'Conner, one-two, were wounded several times. Half of the SCU Nungs were dead and the other half wounded. A one-man bright light team arrived, Roy Benavides, a heavy set Yaqui Indian, wounded immediately in the leg, continuing his rescue, bandaged the wounds and injecting morphine the best he could as he called in air strikes when wounded in the thigh. As he attempted to recover Wright's body, he was wounded again through a lung, he pulled himself to his feet to discover a Huey lying on it's side. Benavides, then stumbled to LZ to assist those survivors and was shot again. Five minutes later, Benavides was shot once more and another aircraft crashed. A lone helicopter then arrived with Ronald Sammons, a Green Beret medic, and assisted Benavides recover the crew members and members of the recon team. During this process, while carrying Mousseau, Benavides was clubbed in the head by an NVA AK, knocking Benavides to his knees only to be butt-stroked in the face and then bayoneted through his left arm by the NVA soldier. Mousseau died on the helicopter and Benevides survived to face a year of hospitalization mending a total of seven major gunshot wounds, twenty-eight shrapnel holes and a bayonet wound. Roy Benavides died December 1998 of those wounds he suffered so many years ago and I believe his last written correspondence was to me where he wrote on the 17^th day of November 1998, among other things he wrote: "I still have a dream which I look forward to fulfilling: as you know, Love for our Country and freedom for our loved ones runs deep in the American soldier's blood. Prayerfully, I look forward to the time when a movie may be made of my life. There is so much to tell the American youth about struggles and perseverance that I firmly believe the real message could so easily reach them in a movie (story) of my life."  Roy was the last recipient of the Medal Of Honor for the Vietnam War, being awarded to him by President Ronald Regan thirteen years after the fact.  Robert Noe  (PLEASE click--> "COMPROMISED, FIGHT TO THE DEATH" a memorial to Leroy with details of this mission).

A Note from The Virtual Wall

Detachment B-52, 5th SF Group, also known as "Project Delta" was located at Nha Trang but was tasked with providing special-area and cross-border patrols throughout much of South Vietnam. On 02 May 1968 Det B-52 lost two men:

·         SFC Leroy N. Wright, Newark , NJ (Dist Svc Cross)

·         SSG Lloyd F. Mousseau, Cudahy , CA (Dist Svc Cross)

While the casualty database indicates both died within Military Region 2, South Vietnam , several privately operated Internet sites indicate their patrol unit actually was operating across the border in Cambodia in the "Fishhook" area. The Valor Remembered Foundation site has two linked pages regarding the incident in which SFC Wright's team was assaulted by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops. In summation, SFC Wright led a team composed of three Americans, two ARVN officers, and seven CIDG troops. The team was inserted by helicopter into an area thoroughly controlled by the NVA. Shortly after insertion, the team encountered two NVA troops and killed both - but not before one of the NVA got off a shot, thereby warning his comrades. Wright's team continued, but then encountered and in a brief but noisy fight killed (without injury to themselves) a 12-man NVA patrol. An emergency extraction was initiated, but the extraction helicopters (from the 240th AHC) came under fire about five miles before reaching the pick-up zone and themselves suffered losses. At this point, SFC Wright was severely wounded; he then rolled onto a hand grenade in order to protect his troops and was further injured when it exploded; and finally was killed by gunshot. SSG Mousseau, the second in command and himself badly wounded, took command. A 5th SF Group relief team led by Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez was introduced in a second emergency extraction effort, during which three crewmen from the 240th AHC were killed:

·         WO Larry S. McKibben, Houston , TX , pilot (Dist Svc Cross)

·         SP4 Michael D. Craig, Rosemead , CA , crew chief

·         SP4 Nelson E. Fournier, Schenectady , NY , gunner

According to the VHPA, these three men were

"shot while waiting for wounded to be loaded on board by SSG Roy Benadvidez, who won the last Medal of Honor on this day. NVA were charging the aircraft, but McKibben would not leave without the wounded. He was [posthumously] awarded the Distinguished Service Medal."

The VHPA indicates the helicopter, UH-1H tail number 66-00699, was "capable of one time flight" and the surviving pilot, CW2 William Fernan, apparently flew it out. Of the 12-man recon team, six were dead or dying - SFC Wright, SSG Mousseau, and four Vietnamese. The only American survivor, radioman Sp4 Brian O'Connor, was severely injured and was evacuated from Vietnam before his superiors could fully debrief him on the mission. Although Sp4 O'Connor recovered, it is not known whether the remaining five Vietnamese team members survived their wounds. 

04 May 68- Dai Uy "Cowboy" Loc, (Sp? Pronounced Dai Wi Lock) Cpt, CH-34 Kingbee Pilot, of Air Marshal Nguyen Cal Ky's 219th Vietnamese Air Force-KIA. Cowboy had worked many SOG Operations, including the first operation where Cpt Larry Thorne was lost. On 4 May, Cowboy volunteered to extract a SOG Reconnaissance team in trouble and needed an emergency extraction in Laos when all the US Helicopter Pilots refused to attempt the extraction. Cowboy made the extraction, saving the entire team and delivered them to FOB-2, Kontum, when attempting to return to his base, became disoriented in the heavy overcast and crashed into a mountain and was killed. Cowboy left a young wife and child (boy). According to Harve Saal, who reported in one of his books, she later married an American airborne bachelor and when last seen, they were happy and expecting a child of their own. {Filed by Cpt Don Martin, Crox Six: I remember a Dai Wi Loc very well. He was a superb leader and pilot, rather flamboyant, though a man of few words (at least in English). He was a nice looking young man, rather stoutly built for a Vietnamese, muscular, and wore a white scarf (WW-I) style when he flew. He had a lot of guts, a winning smile, seemingly no fear, and though it appeared he flew "cowboy" style, somewhat recklessly, he never put a dent in his chopper the whole time I flew gun cover around him. I can clearly recall his radio transmissions just prior to going into a LZ / PZ to drop off or pick up teams, "I go down now!" He was always in and out quickly and safely, though his style of flying was a bit scary, and he got all one could get out of those old CH-34s, including putting them into places where they barely, barely fit! I have heard for years that he was missing in action, so the pilot named in your web site may just be Dai Wi Loc. I salute his service and his memory}. Cowboy was involved with in the extraction of the 1st SOG recon mission during 1965-See A Walk In The Indian's Camp in the Tales from SOG section. [From all SOG members: We pray for his soul and may his spirit soar in the heavens. Seconded by Tom Hunter]). Note: Cowboy is featured with a photo on pg 105, SOG A Photo History of the Secret Wars by John Plaster.

      Additional Information:  "Cowboy"  I just finished reading "S. O. G.", by MAJ John Plaster.  In summer of 1962, I was Platoon Commander , Airlift Platoon (CH-19& CH-34), B. Company, 501st Aviation Battalion, 1st Armored division, Ft. hood, TX.  I was told to report to BN CO for a classified task.  I showed and he introduced me to a USAF MAJ and four VNAF officers--in uniform.  My task was to train and qualify the 4 VNAF guys in the CH-34. I rogered him.  He sent the USAF & VNAF officers to the BOQ to get settled.  As soon as they departed, I asked my CO what was going on?  Why did they not go to Ft. Rucker and go through the CH-34 transition course just like I had done in 1958?  CO looked me and said, "Shut up and train them."  I saluted and left. Next day, I took each of the VNAF officers on an evaluation flight to see what aptitude they had for flying.  As usual, one was lousy, two were fair and one was good in the air. (No pun intended)  I took the good one as my student, farmed the two fairs out to two of my CWO's and the lousy one I gave to my Company CO.  We started training. “Cowboy" for lack of a better name was one of few naturals I had ever flown with.  I would demonstrate a maneuver, he would iterate as good as mine and the second time he did it, he was better then me.  We skipped a lot of intermediate training and I asked him what would he be doing with the helicopter when he got back home.  He thought about it for a minute and said, "I'll be hauling recon teams AROUND VN." I said OK.  We will do what you think you need to practice and I will show you some stuff I think you  will need.  We went from there.  Hovering out of ground effect motionless over a point on the ground.  No jungles or mountains at Ft. Hood, but while he would hover over a spot  and take instructions from the crew chief to hold his position, I would scream at him, slap him on the hands and forearm, kick the pedals, jerk the cyclic stick and collective pitch.  He would have to overcome my interference  and stay over the spot on the ground.  I quickly found out that he was a lot stronger than I expected and never got shook.  He kept a smirking smile on his face--like "You can't mess me up!" After these sessions--if no firing in the impact area--we would go low level and chase deer all over the impact area.  Another game we played was "Chicken".  I would split the needles--roll the throttle back--to initiate a forced landing.  He could set his stick trim on the cyclic and use his foot pedals to maintain direction, but we folded our arms over our chest and rode it down until one of us would grab the controls and call out "Chicken!"   Pretty soon, he and the other 3 VNAF guys were calling me Captain Chicken.  The guy was so good, that I practically let him train himself.  His sense of humor was crazier than mine.  One afternoon, early on, I announced that we were going to practice slope landings on a fairly steep hillside.  He looked over at me and said "All of my landings are slope landings."  It took me a second or two to realize what he had said.  We damned near crashed. We finished their training and they went back to VN.  I didn't think anything more about them.  In May/June. 1965 my gun platoon was missioned to support Delta.  We landed at Bien Hoa and walked over to the old house just off edge off airfield.  Delta was using this house for their ops/control-whatever.  As we approached the house, we noted three VNAF(?) H-34's parked beside the road.  I saw three pilots--guys in flight suits of unusual color and cut.  We walked on by and then I heard a loud voice saying, "Captain Chicken!"  I new immediately who was yelling. We hugged each other, shook hands, introduced all around and then he starting telling his guys how crazy I was and I was telling how crazy he was.  We broke it up and went inside the house to get briefed.  I believe that COL Strange, SF was running the show.  I remember the name because a lot of guys I knew in SF were stange.  The mission was to pick up a 4-man US team from a location about 200 yards off the west end of the abandoned runway at Rang Rang.  We flew over, contacted the team the H-34 set up a hover, dropped the ladder and sat there.  My armed helicopters were in a circular pattern around the H-34.  We started getting pretty good ground fire--small arms only--and I called "Cowboy" to see how he was doing.  The reply from him was,  "Don't sweat it.  The team is getting on the ladder.  I was looking at the H-34 and something strange was happening.  Pieces of the H-34 were flying off into the air.  I called The H-34 again and said, "You are getting shot to shit.  Get the team and get out of here.  My ships are taking hits also."  Pretty quick like, Cowboy pulls out and takes off for Bien Hoa.  Our Huey Gunships could not stay with him.  My Playboy One-Three tells me he's shot in the right leg and could we please stop at the hospital.  I allow it. WO Kent Paxton had not so serious wounds, but they kept him in hospital until next day.  The rest of my Playboy platoon landed at Bien Hoa and went to Delta ops for a debrief.  We passed Cowboy and his crew chief laughing their asses off at the battle damage to his Kingbee. I worked with Kingbees some at Ban My Thuot later on.  Didn't see Cowboy again. He--whoever he really was--was one of a kind.  He probably saved more SF/SOG/MIKE/etc. guys than penicillin.  Bill Fraker

04 May 68- Kenneth M. Cryan, SP/5, Assistant Tm Remains Recovered, Paul Chester King, PFC E-3, Tm Radio Operator of Waltham, Mass USASF, Spike Team Alaska Remains Not Recovered (Note: Cryan's team was Alabama not Alaska. I took over Alabama team as one zero after this mission-Tim Schaaf), FOB-1, CCN, Phu Bal, Ops 35 and Five Indigenous Team Members (Names unknown), MIA-Presumptive finding of death (Spike team Alaska was inserted on recon in the A Shau Valley, Laos to penetrate an area thought to conceal an NVA division. The team leader, John Allen, and a SCU Nung moved away from the team, creeping some distance and discovered enemy activity consistent to an NVA headquarters. They rejoined their team and attempted to move away from the location when they were detected by the enemy. The team was then engaged by the enemy as they went into a full run in an effort to evade, suddenly Cryan collapsed, holding his right thigh, grunting he'd be alright but could not stand. Cryan had been hit with an AK round which shattered his femur. One Nung was hit and died. The team then moved to a bomb crater, carrying Crayn and the dead Nung. The design of the crater afforded the team sufficient cover from direct fire to permit an adequate defense from direct attacks. King had been down in crater tending to the wounded Cryan and trying to establish radio contact with Covey as the team leader manned the defense with the Nungs, until a stalemate was achieved. King then made radio contact and the team leader moved down into the crater with King moving up to assume the defense. As the team leader began talking, King peeked over the brim of the crater and was immediately struck by a bullet, flipping him backwards, his skull blown away. The fight continued with Air support providing the required fire support by dropping 500 lb bombs, cluster bombs, and napalm. Huey's arrived, but refused to extract the team because of the enemy activity in the area, even when the enemy was placed on the run by air support, the choppers refused to come to the team's rescue. The fighting had continued into the hours of darkness. The enemy was throwing grenades into the crater and the team was picking them up and throwing them back into the enemy before they exploded. Now dawn was approaching, with the team leader railing the Nungs, as the NVA attempted a final assault. The team leader and the five Nungs stood at the critical moment to repel the assault, cutting down a line of NVA, seconds before they could over run the team. Within a few seconds, the assault was over and the team leader stood alone with one surviving Nung and the wounded Cryan. Finally, a Jolly Green arrived dropping a three-seated jungle penetrator but because of the thin air at the altitude, only two men could be extracted. The team leader remained, with Cryan and the Nung to be extracted. As the two men were being lifted out of the crater, the enemy focused all their fire power on the two individuals being hoisted away, killing them. The team leader then called an air strike on himself, he burred himself among the dead for protection. Once the bombing halted, the team leader slipped away from the crater, running directly into the enemy, killing many as he passed among them. Shortly a Kingbee came into to extract Allen, but was hit, crashed, and exploded. Using all his wit, the sole survivor of RT Alabama managed to finally evade the enemy and was rescued.

(Note:  John Allen was at Long TAhn as a One Zero Insturctor and was the evaluator of the Team which I was on when we were shot out of the area which was suppose to have been secured--May 1970)  Robert Noe

From the Wall:  URVEILLANCE TEAM ALASKA

On 3 May 1968 , a nine-man reconnaissance team, ST ALASKA , was inserted into an area just over the SVN/Laotian border west of the A Shau Valley. The area of operations was believed to be occupied by a North Vietnamese Army division that had been forced to withdraw from the A Shau Valley. The team consisted of

·         SSgt John Allen, team leader;

·         SP5 Kenneth Cryan, assistant team leader;

·         PFC Paul C. King, Jr., medic/radio operator; and

·         Six Nung tribesmen, names unknown.

The insertion was unopposed. As the team moved through the jungle, they came upon what appeared to be a major headquarters. SSgt Allen and one Nung moved close enough to photograph the NVA buildings and then withdrew to rejoin the team. Almost at once, the team's presence was detected and NVA forces began pursuit. SP5 Cryan was severely wounded and one Nung killed in the first exchange of fire. Carrying the two casualties, ST ALASKA attempted to break contact, and when that failed took up a defensive position in a bomb crater that provided open fields of fire in all directions. They immediately came under attack from the encircling NVA forces. PFC King was able to raise a COVEY forward air controller by radio. King and SSgt Allen changed places so Allen could coordinate tactical air support with the FAC. King raised his head above the crater lip to fire on the enemy and was immediately struck in the head and killed by enemy fire. The COVEY FAC was able to bring in TACAIR to discourage the NVA and an extraction attempt was made. As the UH-1 Huey approached the crater it took multiple hits and was forced to withdraw. Tactical air strikes continued until nightfall. ST ALASKA stayed in position through the night, fighting off several NVA assaults. During the last NVA assault, just before dawn, four of the five surviving Nungs were killed, leaving SSgt Allen, one unwounded Nung, and SP5 Cryan in the crater. When COVEY and supporting tactical air arrived they discovered the NVA had placed a ring of .51 caliber and 37mm anti-aircraft guns around the crater. Almost immediately an F-4 PHANTOM was hit and downed (the crew was later recovered). A larger USAF SAR helicopter then came on scene and allowed that while they could not land they could lower a 3-man penetrator seat ... but that conditions precluded lifting more than two men at one time. SSgt King agreed, the penetrator seat was lowered, SP5 Cryan and the surviving Nung boarded, and the lift began. As the two men were hoisted into the air they received heavy fire from the surrounding NVA forces; both died from multiple gunshot wounds. Now alone on the ground, SSgt Allen decided his only chance was to make a break for it, and he did so while the supporting aircraft were strafing the NVA positions. He was able to find his way to a sheltered area; from that position he asked COVEY to saturate the surrounding area with bombs and gunfire. Immediately after the strikes, a SVNAF 219th Special Operations Squadron H-34 attempted a pick-up; it was shot down and exploded on impact, killing its entire crew. A US UH-1 Huey also was shot down; its crew was rescued. SSgt Allen was able to evade the pursuing NVA troops and move away from the area of the flak trap and was finally picked up by another SVNAF 219th SOS H-34. The sole survivor of ST ALASKA had been extracted and the bodies of two others recovered. The crater held the other members of the team: PFC King and five Nungs. Their bodies could not be recovered, nor could those of the downed SVNAF H-34.

Visit John Dennison's
Medics on the Wall
memorial which honors the
Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen who died in Vietnam .

12 May 68-  Ronald J Miller, SFC E-7, USASF, FOB-1, KIA while on a company-sized operation. Misadventure (Friendly Fire) Recorded circumstances attributed to Hostile Died of Wounds, Ground Casuality.  Six days prior to his demise, he suffered serious wounds, see citation below: 

POSTED ON 4.24.2019 

POSTED BY: BONNIE L COOPER

BRONZE STAR CITATION

Bronze Star for Heroism: For heroism in connection with operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam . Sergeant Miller distinguished himself by valorous actions on the morning of 6 May 1968 while on an operation in the vicinity of Phu Bai, Republic of Vietnam . At first light, Sergeant Miller's section of responsibility of the perimeter defense came under an aggressive attack by a reinforced Viet Cong squad. Although seriously wounded in the initial volley of hostile fire, Sergeant Miller moved and crawled among his men reassuring them and directing accurate fire against the advancing Viet Cong. With complete disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Miller continuously exposed himself to hostile fire in order to encourage his troops to repel the enemy attack. Because of Sergeant Miller's heroic and selfless actions, his section of the perimeter held until reserve elements could be brought forward and the attack repelled. Sergeant Miller's personal bravery and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Special Forces and the United States Army.

20 May 68- Robert D. Plato, MSG E-8, Hatchet Force, KIA-RR John Hartley Robertson, SFC E-7, USASF, FOB-1, Phu Bai,CCN Ops 35 and a Vietnamese Pilot, Co-pilot, and door gunner names unknown) SFC Robertson and the Vietnamese, MIA-Presumptive finding of death. (These individuals were on a kingbee helicopter, CH34, 4 miles inside Laos, south of A Shau; on a medical evacuation helicopter and to resupply a recon team and hatchet force in combat with the enemy when the helicopter came under intense enemy fire, smashed into the trees, and caught fire in the A Shau Valley, Laos. SFC Robertson was the Covey rider who supported RT Alabama on 4 May 68 ). (+++JOHN HARLEY ROBERTSON MAY HAVE BEEN FOUND ALIVE AND LIVING IN VIETNAM AND WANTS TO COME HOME. POSTED FEB 27, 2009 . - THIS IS FALSE, THE GUY IS A FAKE AND Robertson remains missing in Action) 

I was on the HF re-supply mission on 20-May-68 that took the lives of SFC Robertson and the 3 H-34 Kingbee Crew-members. I was in the Black Angel 15 Gunship (101st Abn). We were escorting 3 Kingbees launched out of FOB1to a mountainside in Laos just west of the A-Shaw where the HF was located. The area had been very quiet and there had not been recent enemy contact so the re-supply was expected to be somewhat uneventful. We took our SOP low & slow pass at the LZ and everything was quiet so we picked up the lead Kingbee and started our approach to the LZ. As we escorted (from the rear right) the first Kingbee (with SFC Robertson on board) the Kingbee was on approach to the LZ at treetop level when a 12.7mm opened up on it and it also took a single direct hit from an RPG. The Kingbee burst into flames and a moment later it exploded "before" hitting the ground.  The immediate report from the ground was that there were no survivors. Due to the severity of the air explosion we knew before being told that there could be no survivors, I have this event recorded in my notes entered on 20-May-1968 .  Roger F Lockshier # 2982 GA email: [email protected]

SEE--->A POSTER POSING AS JOHN HARTLEY ROBERTSON, THE FORGOTTEN.  

John Hartley Robertson

The GI FILM FESTIVAL is showing a film documentary, UNCLAIMED, by producer of this Documentary a Mike Jorgenson and Co-Resident of the Film Festival have been put on notice this piece of work is a fraud in advance of its showing; however, they still intend on showing it with a caveat that the US Government says the man is not John Harley Robertson and claiming:

The GI Film Festival is aware of the controversy surrounding the film Unclaimed and the fact that some POW groups and activists strongly believe a man featured in the film claiming to be a POW is a fraud. The government, for its part, has conducted an investigation into the matter and has come to the same conclusion. The festival will still screen the film — and will issue a statement prior to the screening to let the audience know about the objections to the film and its content — because one of the film festival’s jobs is to screen interesting stories that stimulate public debate and foster conversation.Whether fact or fiction, Unclaimed is a fascinating story about a Vietnam Veteran, Tom Fraunce, who dedicates himself to bringing home someone he believes to be an American GI left behind. Even if he is chasing a myth, we feel his story is compelling and worth telling, as long as it is accompanied by a disclosure to viewers about the controversy surrounding it. In the interest of representing a counterpoint to this film, we include below a link to the government’s official report regarding the man in Vietnam claiming to be a POW. The opinions expressed in the film Unclaimed, and in the report, do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the GI Film Festival.

The individuals who went on this journey to find the alleged SFC Robertson were informed back in 2009 this man was a fake, but they still continued to push this fraud/scam on the American people and the Family of SFC Robertson and other families by causing them to believe there are MIA's running around Vietnam, their loved ones.  Let me say, the title of the film, UNCLAIMED, is totally correct, because we do not claim him and know he is a fraud.

The GI FILM FESTIVAL has been advised by a number of people, the classification of the film must be changed non-fiction to fiction, they refuse.  Thus, regardless of what the GI FILM FESTIVAL is or does, it is not an organization that is set out to truthfully represent the men and women who have fought for our country, but seeking only the bottom line, the dollar.  In reality, the film should be "pulled" and burned, never shown the light of day.  The creditability of the GI FILM FESTIVAL is tainted and no longer a respected organization for truth.  

CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION TO THE GI FILM FESTIVAL:

In a message dated 5/6/2013 9:28:29 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: 

The Special Forces Association Board of Officers has considered all the information provided by the agencies charged with all matters involving Vietnam Era POW/MIAs, has consulted members with members who know SFC John Hartley Robertson, and can only conclude that this movie and its producers are aware that the individual now claiming to be SFC John Hartley Robertson is a phony, and that their production is a hoax.

Jack Tobin

President

Special Forces Association

“Croich Honorah”

 John H Robertson fr SF Honor Roll

     Correction Info by SFC Emmett W. (Boots) Porter:  Msg Robert Plato was killed on the ground in Hatchet Force on operation with Lt. Trumbo. Thomas Pahel was with him when Bob was killed. Plato was not on our team but was attached to us from the 1st.  Me and Bob went back to Okie on RR first. He just got back and went out on the mission. He had 3or 4 kids and wife was 8 months pregnant at that time. Bob was a real fine man. If I remember correctly he only had about 2 weeks left to DER0S.

23 May 68- Glenn Oliver Lane, SFC E-7 Tm Ldr, of Odessa, TX; Robert Duval Owen, SSG E-6 Radio Operator of Chatham, Mass; Nine Chinese Nung members names and ranks unknown of RT Idaho operating in Laos west of A Loui.. USASF, FOB-I, Phu Bai, Ops 35 are listed as KIA or captured, MIA Presumptive finding of death and one indigenous Recovery/Search team member of RT Oregon KIA. On May 20^th, a 12 man recon team was inserted during the morning hours and at 1024 hours made their last radio contact reporting they could not talk because they had NVA all around them. On May 22^nd, another 12 man recon team was inserted [RT Oregon] and detected an area about 50 meters away which showed signs of a fire fight with concussion grenades had exploded. This second team was attacked by a Company size element and was extracted with one indig killed and 7 members wounded.

      Correction Information:  Harve has always called this team Nungs. They were Vietnamese. The team was ST Idaho. It was a six or eight-man team...NEVER 12. The Brightlight, I don't believe was 12 either. George Sternberg was on that Brightlight and could tell us the exact number. They never got outta the bomb crater, they got hit with CAR-15 fire and M-26 grenades. By John Meyers, CCN, (Recon Tm Ldr) One-Zero for ST/RT Idaho from 10/68 to 4/69 and 11/69 to 4/70?

01 Oct 2006

My name is Tim Kirk. I was a member of MACV-SOG and a member of RT Idaho with Glen Lane . In January of 1968, I was taken from FOB#1 and RT Idaho to reinforce the SOG camp at Khe Sanh. Subsequently, I was involved in the rescue of A-101, the Special Forces team that was overrun at Lang Vei on 7 February, 1968 . Had it not been for our daring rescue, no one at that camp would have survived. Although I am proud to have been a member of that rescue force, my heart was broken when Glen and Robert disappeared that day. We had horrendous losses that occurred in FOB#1 in late 1967 and early 1968. As a veteran of the Korean War, Glen Lane was a mentor to me and many others. He will always be a hero of mine. I recently returned from the Special Operations Association reunion. Each year I am reminded by myself and others of the sacrifices that Glen and the men of SOG made for our country. My heart continues to go out to his family, and Robert Owen's family. I don't know why I made it. I only know that I cherish life each day with my family and I know they would want that. Tim Kirk MACV-SOG FOB#1, 1967-1968, 1222 Main Street , Elk River , Mn 55330, [email protected]

Notes from The Virtual Wall

Recon Team Idaho , consisting of team leader Sergeant First Class Glen O. Lane , Staff Sergeant Robert D. Owen , and four Nung troops, was inserted by helicopter in Laos west of the SVN town of A Loui . At 10:24 on the morning of the insertion the team made a single radio call to their supporting Forward Air Controller. When no further contact could be made with RT Idaho, a 12-man response force (Recon Team Oregon ) was inserted into the same landing zone. The search team found and followed a recently-made trail from the LZ and came upon what seemed to be the site of a firefight, although no bodies were seen. Before a thorough search could be conducted, Oregon came under attack by a company-sized NVA force and began a fighting retreat back toward the landing zone. Although Oregon had one member killed and most others were wounded, the survivors were successfully extracted. However, the area was judged too "hot" to continue ground searches for RT Idaho and Idaho 's six men were classed as Missing in Action. The two US servicemen were held in MIA status until the Secretary of the Army approved Presumptive Findings of death, Master Sergeant Lane on 03 Jun 1974 and SFC Owen on 15 Nov 1973 . Their remains have not been repatriated.

30 May 68- Robert H. Sanders, SSG, E-6, USASF. 5th SFGA, Det B-56, Project SIGMA, FOB-6, Ho Ngoc Tao, Ops 35, DNH-RR (Killed by friendly helicopter fire as he was dressed in "black pajamas" and mistaken as an enemy soldier when he ran into an open field to signal and guide incoming helicopters. Due to the tactical situation, the pilot was firing at everyone in enemy uniforms). - This description of events is incorrect, see below.

THE ABOVE POSTED ON 5.27.2015 POSTED BY: C TUTHILL-KARNY SSG SANDERS DOCUMENTED MISSIONS SF SIGMA DET B-56

***** "Secret Green Beret Commandos in Cambodia(CCS) and Its Air Partners, Republic of Vietnam, 1967-1972" Was written by retired Special Forces Lt. Colonel Fred Lindsey. ******
In this work SSG Robert H. Sanders is named 6 times in the first 3 Chapters, between Nov 1967 and his death May 30th, 1968 . If you served with SSG Sanders please contact us. Thank You  

03 Jun 68- John Salazar, SFC B-7, A native of Honolulu,  Ops 35, FOB 6 (Ho Ngocv Tao) Project SIGMA B-56, KIA-RR while on a Co sweep of an area of operations, he took a direct hit from an RPG.He too was in B-56 Project Sigma)-Bob Charest 646-Gl   

13 Jun 68- John J. Kednburg SP/5, USASF, FOB 2, Kontum, RT Nevada, Ops 35, KIA-RR, Medal of Honor Winner. The team was attacked and encircled by a Battalion sized enemy force. SP/5 Kendenburg assumed command of the team and broke out of the encirclement. The team moved to an possible extraction point and Kedenburg conducted the rear guard action against the enemy. His action allowed the team to reach the LZ with of one SCU unaccounted for. A perimeter defense was established and TAC air support and extraction helicopters arrived. Half of the team was extracted leaving Kendenburg and 3 indig personnel who harnessed themselves to the slings and as the helicopter was about to lift off when the unaccounted forth man appeared. SP/5 Kedenburg gave up his place on the sling, directing the helicopter to leave. Witnesses aboard the helicopters watched Kedenburg engaged the enemy single handily, killing six enemy soldiers before he collapsed, mortally wounded. The last air strike went on top of Kedenbur?s location. (Note: Kedenburg was on the operation with RT Nevada on 15 Dec 67 when One-Zero, Dan Wagner, Jr. was killed. Somehow, Kedenburg was able to get Wagner's body out and earned the leadership position of RT Nevada). ***See Kedenburg's Britelite for the real details of his body recovery.

This mission is detailed in Chapter 3 on pages 27 thru 42, SOG KONTUM Top secret mission in Vietnam , Laos , and Cambodia 1968-1969; published 2022 and reprinted 2023 by Joe Parnar and Robert Dumont 

15 Jun 68-  Francis B Manuel, MSG E-8, FOB 1,USASF, PLT LDR, RIF , KIA He was on the Hatchet Force at Phu Bie. He was with Cpt. Gebby's TDY team from the 1st SFG. Boots Porter and I were in charge of another plt. We were all out in A Shau Valley on top of a mountain. We had been in the area a couple of weeks. I was told to go down a trail and link up with a company from the 101st Abn. So Boots and I left to make the link up and MSG Manuel took a patrol down the trail on the other side of the mountain. When I got back, Cpt Gebby told me that MSG Manuel's point man had tripped a mine and had blown his legs out from under him and MSG Manuel was trying to get to him under fire. MSG Manuel raised up from behind a log and a NVA  shot him in the top of the head.  We could not land the Medavac chopper as there was not enough room so we had to lift the dead and wounded up to the chopper to get them out. MSG Manuel was due to go back to Okey (1st SFG) when we returned from the operation. I will attach a photo taken as soon as we got back in from that operation. I wish I could tell you more. I hope it helps a little.   MSG (Ret) John C.McGovern

21 Jun 68-  Charles D. Boyer, SFC E-7, USASF, FOB4, C&C, Sqd Ldr,-KIA via Explosive Device 

02 Jul 68-  Clarence C. Ratliff MAJ 04, Deputy Commander Command and Control North (FOB1) 5TH SFG(A), Ops 35 and was lost in the crash of a LOH-6 helicopter.

04 Jul 68-  CPT 0-3, USASF, FOB 4 CCN, Ops 35, KIA-RR  

POSTED ON 6.2.2019 

POSTED BY: BONNIE L COOPER

SILVER STAR CITATIONS FOR CAPTAIN REED

For gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam : Captain Reed distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 4 July 1968 as the Special Forces leader of a reconnaissance team conducting a mission in enemy territory. After leading his men for several hours through extremely heavy jungle growth, Captain Reed halted them for a rest before entering a suspected enemy bivouac area. They were immediately brought under intense small arms and automatic weapons fire. Captain Reed, disregarding his safety, remained exposed to the fusillade to direct his team's counter fire. He then moved around his team's perimeter to the side which was receiving the most fire and directed his men in momentarily suppressing it. When the insurgents resumed their attack, he continued to maneuver about the small perimeter, engaging the enemy until he was mortally wounded. Captain Reed's gallantry in action, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United State Army.

05 Aug 68-  Thomas G. Hudson, FOB 4, USASF, 5th SFGA, Ops 35, Multiple Fragmentation Wounds KIA-RR. Serving his second tour of combat duty in Vietnam, returned to action recently after recuperating from back and leg injuries received when enemy fire struck equipment strapped to his body.  S-4 KIA while serving on RR Site Security detail.

23 Aug 68- Talmadge H. Alpin, Jr, SSG E-6, FOB4,  William H. Bric, III, PFC E-3, Tadeusz M Kepczyk, SFC E-7; Donald R Kerns, SFC B-7, James T Kickliter, SGT E-5; Charles R. Norris, MSG B-8; r SGM, E-9, Paul D Potter, 1LT, from FOB2 (Kham Duc) at CCN for a conference; Rolf E. Rickmeyers, SFC E-7; Anthony J Santana, SP/4; Gilbert_A Secor, MSG E8; Robert J. Uyesaka, SGT E-5 Howard S Varni, SSG E-6, Harold R. Voorheis, SFC, E-7; Albert M. Walter, SFC E-7; Donald W. Welch, SFC E-7; USASF, 5th SFGA, FOB4 (Command & Control North), Marble Mountain, Da Nang, Ops 35 and 16 Indigenous Personnel and camp workers laborers, and team members ALL KIA-RR, Several of those killed were assigned to FOB's and were at the FOB-4 (CCN) compound for a conference. The CCN compound was attacked by enemy demolition, suicide element of more than 100 NVA which had infiltrated into the compound throwing satchel charges and firing away with AK rifles. The fighting raged on for more than three hours. (One source, reports 28 Americans and 41 Montagnard Commandos were killed).  "We all came to FOB-4 that day because they were holding a promotion board. Of course it was canceled. Bob Donoghue FOB-3 Mai Loc.   

VIDEO ON ATTACK OF FOB 4  https://search.aol.com/aol/video?q=chronicle+macv+sog&v_t=loki-tb-sb&s_it=loki-url#id=1&vid=622d98d9293418c583ecc220f0fd3e10&action=view

 See Secrets of SOG: An Unheeded Warning in Tales from SOG 

Thanks to Pat Watkins a lot of us survived that night. Also, Lt Potter, because he took the room that Pat & I had wanted, as most know Lt Potter was blown out of his bunk and killed by a satchel charge that night. I had borrowed Pats Swedish-K and went to House 22 Pat was left with only a.45 cal pistol. Pat stayed two doors down from Lt. Potter. I returned from House 22 during the end of the battle when I learned that Pat had killed some sappers and retrieved an AK-47 from one of them. He hugged me then chewed my ass for taking his Sewdish-K .Pat then took charge, we picked up a few survivors cleared the area located near the RT hooches then set up a 60MM Mortar. When daylight came I took some photos of the Sappers on my Kodak instamatic camera-- gave S-2 a copy thinking some of the Sappers could be identified. I still have photos if anyone wants a copy. UV, Spider

--See attached letter from--> the brother of William H. Bric, III, requesting help, dated Dec 26, 05...The book On The Ground, The Secret War in Vietnam, By John Stryker Meyer? There are 3 chapters devoted to the 23Aug68 attack on the CCN compound,  See 15 Dec 68 below regarding the capture of one of those involved in the attack.  [Gentlemen, I Woke up this morning  and the date hit me: Aug. 23 (2013). 45 years ago today, we suffered the highest number of Green Beret casualties in our short history at FOB 4. Tonight I'll raise my glass in silent salute to those we lost and those who braved the fury of that day and to lift up all in prayer. Can't write this note without mentioning Larry Trimble and his team on the mountain, Mandolin, Joe "Pigpen" Conlon, George Bacon, John T. Walton. A somber day indeed. Tilt (Meyers)

"Tilt": Thank You. I added Travis Mills and Chuck Pfeifer to your list of recipients. Travis spent almost a year in the hospital following his ill-fated engagement with a "phony" guard that nite. Chuck Pfeifer was instrumental in saving lives that evening. There also were others there that evening that time and age has caused me to forget their names. Ironically, Roy Bahr, Frank Jaks, Bill Shelton and I had departed Da Nang early on the morning of 23 August following a Commander's conference held by CCN CO Jack Warren only to learn later that nite of the attack. I will also always remember those super young soldiers that served with me at Mai Loc that I had sent to Da Nang that were KIA that evening, unable to state their case before their respective promotion boards scheduled at the SF "C" Detachment. Thank you again for remembering our Comrades-In-Arms.  Regards, C.J. Sincere, Jr.

In a message dated 8/23/2013 12:10:28 P.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:

Clyde , Tilt & All; I need to make a correction to Clyde 's comment. Clyde , Frank, Jaks & I had been at CCN on 21 & 22 Aug for the Commanders conference. We left by chopper o/a 1700 hrs on the 22nd. I had wanted to stay, but Frank had already laid on the choppers' so we went back to Phu Bai.----Fate !.The next day,23 Aug, Frank & I went back to CCN to see if we could help, but the people at CCN had everything under control.

RE – August 23, 1968 … FOB 4 (Robert) left you a voicemail a few hours ago, and I called John Meyer as well... August 23rd used to always be a time when I would think about and miss my brother Bill so very much... and my focus was entirely on him and the tragic loss that our family suffered (and of course the hell that Bill went through)... Now, however, because of the gift of finding you fellas and learning so much about the men with whom we served, I focus today upon those who somehow survived and came home, I celebrate the fact that I have been given the chance to learn about your mission and how the impossible was often accomplished, AND about the special men with whom went in Harm's Way... He was so very proud of his Green Beret and the men with whom he had the privilege of serving.... And now you all have given me a reason to smile on this date.... You see, Bill gave me the gift of YOU.... And you have given me the chance to understand a world that so very few will ever know... And so today I smile when I used to cry... Because I am honored by being allowed inside your circle for a bit and knowing so clearly why his dream was fulfilled when he joined SOG... I rejoice in your safe return and I trust that somehow that night he helped in some small way to make that possible.... With the Thanks and Respect of the entire Bric family....Steve Steve Bric

In a message dated 8/23/2013 11:19:23 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:

Frederick Barbour was indeed wounded in the cave as he and I were on the same CCK flight that flew back to RVN early the day before Christmas 1968. Rick and I always joked how we had blown so much money for so little in Taipei . The NCO's were much smarter and went on to CCK. We stayed in the same hotel in Taipei , went almost everywhere together, and; he had to go to the MAG compound to get his wounds checked. He had had grenades dropped down on him for some time. Rick never thought he's get out. He said he got out on the last attempt they were going to make. Rick was last a PHD in ECON and head of Burke Marketing in Cincinnatti , OH . Prior to that Rick was ECON professor at UT Knoxville. Rick never mentioned any CPT with him. He complained about a Viet or ARVN. He had issues with two senior officers at CCN. The one who laid the bodies out, plus some drunk major who fired everyone on the staff. He left CCN after the bodies were laid out.

Rick and I were roommates at Bragg in late 69-early May 70 when I went to UNO for two years.

Jon

In a message dated 8/24/2013 11:21:05 A.M. Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:

Gentlemen, Pigpen called me on the 23rd and we went over that night again & again. We both agreed that without the brave medics of FOB#4 & FOB#1, there would have been many more dead. We need to thank and remember all the true warriors and real heroism: George Bacon III WIA, Ron Jungling, Roscoe Henderson WIA, Howard Varni KIA, John Walton, Howard Fedor, Robert Scully WIA- "my great friend", who died years later, partly due to his wounds and also the brave medic who drove the jeep throughout the camp while we were under attack and picked up wounded and took them to the dispensary. This man deserved the MOH for putting his life on the line for 6 hours. Mandolin

31 Aug 68-  Stanley L. Sieting, SGT E-5. USASF. 5th SOA. CCN. Ops 35. KIA-RRFGA, FOB-4,  Da Nang , Ops 35 

POSTED ON 10.17.2015 

POSTED BY: [email protected]

FINAL MISSION OF SGT STANLEY L. SIETING

On August 31, 1968 , SGT Stanley L. Sieting of Recon Team Georgia , Forward Operating Base 1, Command and Control Center (CCC), MACV-SOG, was part of an operation into Laos . On the fifth day of an unremarkable mission, the team was awaiting extraction when they were overrun by what was estimated to be a reinforced platoon. SGT Sieting was killed along with an ARVN Sergeant. A number of the team were wounded. The team rallied and repelled the bad guys, while awaiting for an incredibly brave and slick pilot to come to their rescue. The pilot navigated by hitting the skids on the tops of the trees. The team was flown to Quang Tri to take care of their wounded and returned back to Mai Loc with SGT Sieting’s body. (Narrative from Douglas N. Godshall) [Taken from macvsog.cc] 

05 Oct 68- James Daniel Stride SSG E-6 of Denison, TX; USASF 5th Special Forces Group, Fob4, Recon Team Alabama Remains Recovered, and Albert Dwayne Wester, MAJ, Helicopter Pilot of Terrell, TX; Gregory Paul Lawrence, SGT E of Mineral Point, Missouri USAF, 2O^th Special Operations Squadron Ops 32 (Air Studies Branch).-Officially MIA, Presumptive finding of death (A "Bright Light" mission on body recovery operation where SSG Stride was the team leader. After moving about 100 meters from the touch down point, the team was ambushed during the burst SSG Stride was shot three times and the team medic determined he had been killed. The team split and forced to leave Stride behind. Maj Wester and SGT Lawrence, members of a gunship, were aiding the recovery and their helicopter was shot down and they were killed, both Remains not recovered. 

POSTED BY: [email protected]

FINAL MISSION OF SSGT JAMES D. STRIDE

SSGT James D. Stride was assigned to Command and Control North, MACV-SOG in Vietnam . On October 5, 1968 , Stride was the team leader, SP4 Steven D. Engelke, assistant platoon leader, SP4 Lynn M. Black, Jr., radio operator on a reconnaissance patrol in Saravane Province , Laos near the border of South Vietnam , and just about 10 miles south of A Shau. The platoon, in addition to its Special Forces members, consisted of an unspecified number of indigenous personnel. Upon the team's insertion into Laos , the team made contact with enemy forces. SSGT Stride ordered the team off the landing zone in order to break contact and to continue the mission. A hundred yards from the LZ, the team was ambushed. In the initial burst of fire, Stride was mortally wounded. The team recovered the body and formed a perimeter. Two hours later, the team was forced to exfiltrate, but Stride's body was left behind. Because the area was hostile, it was not possible to return for Stride. [Taken from pownetwork.org] 

Page 76, Across The Fence, by John "Striker" Tilt Meyers. RT Alabama was compromised upon landing with several AK-47 firing at the Kingbee Helicopters before they landed with one crashing after the insertion. Stride refusing to listen to the other team members and as the one-zero refused to have the team extracted and ordered  Hoa, point man, to walk down a well-traveled trail away from the Landing Zone violating the first rule of recon with Stride following a short distance behind him. "As the team went down the trail, it moved parallel to a small rise on its right that was about 10 to 20 feet above the team. On it, an NVA colonel had quickly assembled a force of 50 NVA soldiers, who set up a classic L-shaped ambush." The NVA troops opened fire...killing Hoa and Stride. Due to the intense enemy activity and ongoing firefights, their bodys were left behind. James Stride forced his team to walk down a trail and paid the price. Sadly two good Vietnamese team members of ST Alabama were killed during this mission. There was no medic on the team. Lynne Black was listed as the One-Two but took over the team when the One-One ran and hid. Wester and Lawrence were in a Jolly Green HH-3F. Not in a gunship. The pilot lives in New Orleans . The team members fought among a division-strength NVA element for an entire day before extraction at last light. By John Meyers, CCN, (Recon Tm Ldr) One-Zero for ST/RT Idaho from 10/68 to 4/69 and 11/69 to 4/70?

 "SSGT Stride was killed in Ahshau 2, (spelling may be wrong), Stride just took over for me on this mission. Lynn Black was the one two who took over and became a hero that day. Nine hours on the ground, H-34,jollyGreen, A1E skyrader all shot down. Bad day for Alabama team. Doan Khanh "cowboy" is the only indig alive from Alabama Team and he happens to be living in San Jose Ca. It took him years to get out of V.N. after the war but he made it. A true hero , and an unbelievable life." By Tim Schaaf

    ---Men, 10/4/08
Ordinarily, I simply send a short note to Lynne, asking him if he remembers where he was on Sat. Oct. 5, 1968 . Last year, busy, he forgot. However, tomorrow Oct. 5 2008 is exactly 40 years ago that ST Alabama entered the A Shau target with 9 men in the morning, and left with only 6, at last light, through the heroics of a Jolly Green Giant crew and the creative, fearless leadership of a young Sp-4, with the 173rd combat patch, Lynne M. Black Jr. It'll be a day, a mission that those of us who shared it tangentially from a distance, or participated in it, or read about years later - first in Soldier of Fortune, that we'll never forget. It was a day in SOG none of us will forget. It was another reason that I, and every recon man I know, hold Lynne in the highest regards today. I'm sure that my modest comrade-in-arms would forget again about this day in C&C history, but I wanted to share this moment in time with you and to salute Lynne from afar. And, a salute to all the aircrews, Coveys and Covey riders -- Spider almost had a mid-air collision that day, support, especially The Judge & The Executioner, from the 176th, the Kingbees and the men who died that day on the ground and in the air, fighting to save ST Alabama. God speed to all.  Respectfully, Tilt

 -- Thanks to all of you for telling the "rest of the story."  Albert Dwayne Wester, Major, USAF was my CH-3C Helicopter Training Class Seat Mate at Sheppard AFB, TX, Sep-Dec 1987.  When he was killed less than a year later, it was a sobering reality check for the rest of our class (most in the pipeline ultimately for the 20th SOS Green Hornets).  Unfortunately, most of us never heard any details of his death other than it had happened.  Tilt is right in aircraft ID as HH-3C, NOT gunship.  Regrettably I don't recall ever having the privilege of knowing Sgt Lawrence.  I believe they only  had door slung M-60s for defense. Warmest regards, Maurice A. "Maury" Lange CCS, Green Hornets, UH-1P Slicks and Gunships
Major, USAFRes (ret)

A Note from The Virtual Wall

On 05 October 1968 a MACV-SOG recon team - RT ALABAMA - was inserted into the SVN/Laotian border area due west of Danang. The team, which was made up of US Army Special Forces and indigenous troops, barely got out of the landing zone before they found themselves under attack. The team leader, SSG James D. Stride, was killed in the first exchange of fires. The other team members formed a perimeter around his body and called for an emergency extraction, but were unable to bring SSG Stride with them as they broke contact to make their way to a pick-up area. Pick-up responsibility had been given to the Air Force's 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Danang, which promptly dispatched two JOLLY GREEN HH-3E helicopters. On arrival, the "low bird" went into a hover for a hoist recovery of RT ALABAMA but was badly shot up by the NVA and forced to abort the pick-up. As the first two HH-3s headed back to Danang - one limping, one escorting - another pair was dispatched, while RT ALABAMA attempted to break contact and the SAR cover tried to discourage the NVA from following. On arrival, the "low bird" - JOLLY GREEN 10, HH-3E tail number 65-12782 - once again went into a hover and was immediately hit and crashed in flames. The high bird was able to make contact with JG 10's pararescueman and right-seat pilot, who had managed to escape the burning wreckage and join up. It was decided the high bird would attempt a pick-up of the two JG10 survivors as well as the RT ALABAMA team, provided that the recon team could get to the pick-up point in a hurry and that the SAR cover could suppress the NVA. The plan worked and all surviving aircrew and recon team members were hoisted aboard. The JG10 survivors confirmed that the other two crewman were dead, and the senior US trooper in RT ALABAMA confirmed SSG Stride's death. Since there was no hope of recovering any of the bodies, the SAR effort was terminated and the three men were declared Killed in Action/Body not Recovered. The three men wereTheir remains have not yet been repatriated

30 Oct 68-  Gary L. Matson, SGT E-5, USASF, FOB-I, Phu Bai, Ops 35, Killed-RR (SGT Matson in advertently entered a minefield at FOB 3, Mai Loc, and set off an antipersonnel).  Correction: Gary Matson -- if his parents read this they would cry in shame because it's  dead wrong. Matson and Jeffrey Junkins were installing mines in the Mai Loc launch site mine field when Matson accidentally tripped a bouncing betsy, which killed him instantly. Jeff said he pulled pieces of human bone from his hair afterwards. Junkins landed on a mine and it took several hours before they got to him and pulled him from the minefield.  (Note: Jeffrey Junkins was not killed in Vietnam , but he was just as much a victim of his experience there causing his death on May 19, 1999 .  John Meyers writes:  You won't find Junkins' name on the wall in Washington , D.C. , where more than 58,000 American names are etched in dark granite. But it should be, because although he didn't die in Vietnam, his five tours of duty in Southeast Asia, including several with the Special Forces in top-secret operations, haunted Jeff until that May day when his mother found his lifeless body on the floor of their La Jolla condominium, face-down where he had landed. In his hastily scrawled suicide note, Junkins wrote, "My (green) beret goes with me. Anything else, toss it. ... My ass is in the USA , but my soul is in Nam ." An only child, Junkins ended the note: "Thank you mom. Really do love you. Just running on empty." Three days earlier, during a counseling session, on a form titled "What I Want for Myself," Junkins wrote, under Immediate Goals: "Better understanding of myself, i.e., I am not in Vietnam !" Under Dreams, he wrote: "Keep playing baseball" ---- he was a catcher in an over-30 baseball league ---- and "Get married (happily)" and "to be a good father and husband and a sober one."On that cloudy Friday when she found him, his mother, Maggie Junkins, told me, " Vietnam had a grip on him. It haunted him. I never understood what it was about Vietnam , but he couldn't escape it. And now it's killed him." Junkins flew with me when I returned to Vietnam in October 1969 for my second tour of duty; Junkins was going back for his fifth; it would be his last. His duty with America 's Green Berets came to an abrupt end in the middle of 1970 when an explosion blew him from a helicopter that was extracting him and his reconnaissance team from Laos under heavy enemy fire. For years afterward, injuries sustained that day would hurt him to varying degrees ---- from crippling back and thigh pains to embarrassing immobility. Often in recent years, Junkins couldn't move his legs in the morning. His mother would have to pick up his thick legs and place his feet on the floor, helping him to rise to a new day of pain and wrestling with the demons that haunted his mind. Junkins was a fearless warrior who prided himself on being Special Forces-qualified and for having served under the elite command of Military Assistance Command Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group ---- a harmless-sounding name for the special operations detachments in Vietnam, including several top-secret Green Beret, Navy SEALs, Marine Force Reconnaissance  (Note:  Marine Force Recon was never an element of SOG) and CIA programs and missions into North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Virtually every conversation I had with Junkins since 1970 eventually meandered back to Vietnam and his abiding love for the local people who worked on the Special Forces recon teams, fighting side by side with the Green Berets. Those of us who served with Junkins knew him as an intense, brilliant and sometimes tormented soul. However, when it was time to run a mission, regardless of how dangerous, Junkins always prepared rigorously for it before strapping on his web gear, backpack, weapons and hand grenades and boarding the helicopters that took him and his recon teams deep into enemy territory. The adrenaline rush from surviving those missions was second to none. It was a natural high fraught with deadly danger. His comrades in arms remember Junkins as a fearless recon man, a surfer from La Jolla 's famed Windansea beach and a man of incredible strength. Thus, when a handful of us gathered at Eternal Hills Mortuary in Oceanside the day before Junkins' body was cremated, we looked at him with disbelief, finding it hard to believe that such a once-mighty warrior had fallen by his own hand. Afterward, I talked to a former Green Beret who had run a mission into North Vietnam with Junkins. As we discussed him, our thoughts turned to Vietnam , our missions, and the men we served with during those tumultuous years. We talked about how Vietnam haunted Junkins, and that former trooper said, " Vietnam impacted all of us. ... It haunts me to this day, like it does others we have served with. But for the grace of God, there go I," he said, nodding toward the mortuary. By John Meyers, CCN, (Recon Tm Ldr) One-Zero for ST/RT Idaho from 10/68 to 4/69 and 11/69 to 4/70?

"I was at Mai Loc when Gary Matson was killed and I flew with his body back to Phu Bai." By Tim Schaaf

12 Nov 68-Spencer, Daniel E. Jr., CCN drowned while swimming at the beach. CPL Spencer reportedly was recreational swimming at a Da Nang area beach in Quang Nam Province , RVN, when he was caught in the undertow and drowned.

15 Nov 68- James Douglas Birchim, 2LT 0-1, of Independence, CA, USASF, CCC, Kontum, Ops 35 and one Special Commando Unit Team Member, Operating in Laos on a recon mission. (The recon team was engaged by enemy forces and a Commando Team Member was Killed in a pitched battle with an enemy force. Upon extraction, during the hours of darkness Lt Birchim and a young SF NCO, both wounded, managed to latch themselves together in a single McGuire rig. As they were dangling from a rope through a violent, heavy tropical storm, holding on to each other in pitch blackness. Upon landing in South Vietnam, there was only ice laden clothes and gear and an unconscious, shivering young NCO passed out with rope burns cuts deep into his hands where he had tried to hold onto Lt Birchim.. Lt Birchim was gone, falling to the jungle floor below and listed as Presumptive finding of death).

The letter below is from the young man who tried to hold on to Birchim; however, circumstances beyond his control prevented him from doing so:

I'm old and I'm tired of this mess.  My wife says I should not send this letter, but being like a mule I will (it's only opening up old wounds).  Mrs. Birchim is wrong on so many counts about Lt. Birchim and me.  She's put together too many small pieces of info (all coming from different sources).  And now she thinks it's a big conspiracy because some of them don't match.  She basically calls me a liar (page 209 in her new book) or a stooge for the government.  I assure you that I am neither.  I served with CCC, 5th Special Forces, for 2 tours of duty (on page 36 she gets it wrong).  You can see my DD214 if you must.  It's clear to me that she wants her husband to be alive.  No matter what.  Here's my explanation: 

I was the E-4 along with Lt. Birchim.  I was the last man to see him alive (and I really do believe this point).  I wish his wife would let it go-phone calls, seeing her, and now a book.  I am involved in the first 37 plus pages.  (24, 26, 33, 37, 209)  I've talked to her many times, most recently about 15 years ago.  THIS IS NOT ABOUT JIM, IT'S ABOUT HER!  I think she makes the incident (with innuendo) bigger than it was.  He fell off of the rig-it's that simple!  Everything went wrong.  It was getting late (now or never); we were in constant contact; our people had run on us (we were the only 4 left); I had dragged Jim to the LZ (ankle injury and fragmentation wounds in his back); 4 rigs dropped (only 3 were available-1 getting stuck in the canopy); we were not lifted up, but were dragged through the canopy (me upside down with Jim on my back); the flight was through a terrific storm; it was dark; the pilots decided to fly to Kontum; and we were both in extreme pain for what seemed to be at least an hour.  Was it my fault? I don't know.  This was my first time in the field.  Jim and I were both pretty green.  His 1-O was on R & R, or something.  I had never met Jim or the team.  We were only going to the field to find a body.  Simple enough.  It was far from simple.  We picked up trackers immediately.  They ambushed us after a day or so.  From the moment we were ambushed until the time of our extraction we were in constant contact.  Was it my fault?  Some say no, but I have to live with the question each and every day.  About me-there are many truths, half-truths, and just plain lies and innuendos.  I don't want to get into a shouting match with her.  She says that I met with her in 1990.  True.  Unless she taped our conversation, I don't remember it exactly as she promotes it.  She has quotes around certain points in our conversation.  Are they accurate?  She had a map drawn by someone in authority (as she put it).  She could have followed that trail at any time. The Lt. was hurt before he got on the rig; I was hurt during the ride.  We were up high enough that when I landed I was iced, wet to the skin, hurt, shaken, and drifting into and out of consciousness.  The Lt. fell off sometime during the ride.  We were both fighting for comfort (the rig was not meant for 2 people).  I had said that at one time I had pushed Jim off of me, trying to get comfortable, and he fell sometime after that.  She takes little points and runs them together. I have detailed this combat exercise so many times.  It was 36 years ago-I don't remember some things, and some things I remember just like they happened yesterday.  To be truthful: I want to forget.  It was a terrible day for Jim and myself.  We both won medals for this action; and Purple Hearts. Mrs. Birchim used to complain that she was being followed and that there was a tap on her phone.  I hate to inform her of the fact that our mission was not that important in the War (we were searching for another Green Beret).  I can't help but feel that all of her problems revolve around the fact that she has been given too much information (reports by people who weren't there or didn't see anything, for example); and that she figures she's being lied to because some of the information is contradictory or is just hard to understand. Sincerely, Frank Belletire

Frank, thank you for this information as it is important to correct her misstatements. This was a "War" and people die, no one is at fault, we did our best under very trying circumstances. I have on many occasions talked to the survivors of missions and many feel as you. The question "was it my fault, did I do everything I was supposed to, did I fuck up," haunts them combining that with the guilt of surviving when others died.
Split second decisions are made as bullets are flying, adrenaline is flowing and fear at it's zenith. If we had a minute, two minutes, a half an hour, an hour, a month, a year, ten years, we might have made a different decision -That was not the case! As life and death is being decided in micro seconds, any decision or action was better than none because no decision meant certain death for all. Welcome home, thank you for your service and for what you did for our nation. You didn't run, you didn't hide, you stood by her in times most Americans were burning draft cards, refusing to serve or hiding in other countries. No one can understand what we did or what we faced other than our own and I say the "Hell" to them, I find no fault with you. Have peace within yourself my friend. I have also interacted with many family members of our KIA/MIA's, some have accepted the fact their loved one was in a war and was lost, honor their memory and take pride the loss was for our nation. Other, as Ms. Biricham, take another approach, that their loved one was sacrificed, killed or lost, by intentional design, was in some super secret unit where the government is covering up everything, even to this date. They are paranoid of everything, being stalked, their phone being tapped as though the mission continues...They will go to their graves with this cloak and dagger syndrome of the cold war haunting them...they will believe nothing that does not fit their beliefs.  Robert

Wife of Vietnam MIA tells of search for truth. Tale opens reader's eyes to frustrations, agonies endured by grieving families.

http://www.lincolnnewsmessenger.com/articles/2005/08/11/news/arts_and_entertainment/01listening.txt  (more) By: Alison Morgan, Special to The News Messenger  Thursday, August 11, 2005 9:26 AM PDT  

It is a story often told: a soldier disappearing in Vietnam and leaving behind a grieving family. However Barbara Birchim's book (written with Lincoln resident Sue Clark), "Is Anybody Listening?," is a rarity in that it opens reader's eyes to the true frustrations and agonies endured by the families of men declared "Missing in Action" during the Vietnam War. "When one American is not worth the effort to be found, we as Americans have lost." This quote (Page 54) explains the motivation behind Birchim's 35-year quest to discover as much information as possible concerning her husband's disappearance. Birchim's husband, Jim, a Green Beret, was declared MIA in 1968 on a tour of duty in Vietnam . He left Birchim with two children and a firm resolve to investigate all of the circumstances of his disappearance for herself. The book details her arduous search for any possible information. The inability or the unwillingness of the federal government to provide her with answers only steeled her determination to leave no stone unturned. An unshakeable feeling that her husband needed her help and that the government was deliberately withholding information made her unwilling to accept the "presumed dead" title assigned to her husband with nothing (no additional information or remains) save the passage of time to confirm it. Book Info: Is Anybody Listening?: A True Story About Pow/mias in the Vietnam War (Paperback)
by Barbara Birchim , Sue Clark

    I received a copy of your e-mail to JAKESOA regarding Barbara  Birchim's book "Is Anybody Listening?" and I read it with great interest for reasons which will become clear in a moment.  I was deployed to RVN  in the summer of 1968 arriving in-country on 7/10/68 .  After processing into the 5th SFGA at Nha Trang I was ordered to the Recondo School down the wire from 5th Group HQ.  While there I attended the 5th Group's  in-country Combat Orientation Course (COC).  Jim Birchim was my bunk mate. I DEROSed on 7/10/69 and returned to civilian life immediately thereafter.

I remember Birchim pretty well for a number of reasons.  He was shorter than I (probably 5' 8" or 5' 9") and outweighed me by probably 15 pounds. He was a tough, gritty guy full of enthusiasm.  My branch was
Infantry, his Chemical Corps, a branch which I did not expect to find in SF.  Ironically, the Chemical Corps guy volunteered for SOG; the Infantry guy didn't.  I confess that felt a bit shamed by Birchim's  irrepressible enthusiasm for getting in the fight in contrast to my more sober approach to warriordom.  I guess having spent three years in law school before going on active duty turned me into something of an Infantry weeney on my way to getting in the fray.

    Anyway, I remember vividly attending mail-call one evening after a grueling day "at the COC office."  Birchim and I were sitting together on a sandbagged bunker overlooking the rice paddies running west to the foot of the Dong Boh mountians which rose dramatically out of the flats to the west of Nha Trang.  Birchim had told me before that evening that his wife, Barbara, had been expecting when he left to deploy and that he hoped to a dad soon.  That evening he excitedly opened a letter from Barbara and produced a photograph of his new daughter.  He could not have been more delighted.

    After COC, Birchim went off to CCN and I became the Acting JAG of 5th Group.  In that capacity, I was charged with having to review MIA reports for all units AdCon to the 5th including the SOG units which were OpCon MACV.  In 11/68, I received CCN's MIA report issued on Birchim.  Because I had come to know Birchim personally, the news of his having gone missing was a shock.  As you can imagine, because of my acquaintanceship with Jim, I reviewed the MIA report very carefully hoping to find some flaw which would permit me to dissent from the CCN recommendation that DOD carry him as "Missing but Presumed Dead."  I found no such flaw.  What was especially tragic was that Jim's team was on a Bright Light mission to try to locate the body of another American (a One-One, as I recall) of a Recon Team which had gotten ambushed a day or so before 80 kilometers north of Me Doc in Laos.  Birchim's team never really had a chance to find the guy they had been sent in to look for because they were shot out of their mission, as I remember it, the morning after their insertion at last light a day or so after their
quarry had gone missing.

    Birchim's Bright Light team comprised himself as One-Zero, his American One-One, and four or five Nungs.  After making contact with the NVA, Birchim's team ran their break-contact drills and, with the help of "covey," tried to achieve separation between themselves and the pursuing NVA so they could be extracted.  Several additional fire fights occurred during the day as Birchim continued on the run.  By last light, Birchim could account only for himself, his One-One and two Nungs of the three or four Nungs.  The weather was closing in.  Birchim had broken his ankle in a rocky stream bed and the other three with him were all shot.  Covey decided to try one more time for an extraction using "the strings" right at last light in a driving rain.  Swiss seats were dropped out of a VNAF CH-34.  Only two of the four seat penetrated the triple canopy.  Birchim put one Nung in one seat with the second Nung straddling him.  He put his shot One-One in the other seat and straddle him.  Feeling weight on the lines, the extraction helicopter tipped its nose to get lift thereby dragging the team through the trees.  In that process, Birchim apparently became unseated while being dragged through the trees.

    As the extraction helicopter tried to achieve altitude, Birchim's One-One was coming in and out of consciousness as the helo sought to gain altitude.  The darkness and the driving rain made it impossible for
the folks on the extraction helicopter to know what was going on in the seats more than one hundred feet below them. The team One-One later reported that, when he would come to, he sensed that Birchim was lower and lower on his body hanging on.  Eventually, he came to and Birchim was gone.  Because of his variable consciousness, he said in his declaration that he had not sense of time and was thus unable to tell how long after extraction Birchim had fallen from the rig.  Since the helicopter flew the 80 kilometers back from the extraction point to Me Doc at 6,000 feet, there was no chance that Birchim could have survived the fall from the rig and there was no way of knowing where along the 80-kilometer route he had gone into the jungle.  For those reasons, no Bright Light team was ever launched to try to find his body.

    I have not read Barbara's book so I have no idea what other reports she may have received which have caused her to doubt what she has been told the truth about the circumstances of Jim's disappearance.  In addition, 37 years have gone by since I reviewed Jim's MIA report.  I am human and thus my memory is not perfect.  Nevertheless, I have retained what I have about the circumstances of Jim's disappearance because I greatly admired him for his grit and his passionate commitment to defending his country no matter the risk.  I have always had an acute sense that Jim Birchim was a better man than I would ever be, and that I would do well to try to live up to the example set by the memory of him.  In my poor way, I hope that I have managed to do that.  Jim's family has a great deal to be proud of about Jim.  He was the "real deal" in a world filled with phonies and wannabees.  Jim Birchim and the men who served with him in SOG were the finest Americans I have ever met and, for almost everyday of almost forty years, I have felt proud and humbled to have served with them, even from a distance.  by Tom Wilson

16 Nov 68- William Michael Copley, SP/4 of Northridge, CA, USASF, CCC, Kontum, Ops 35, MIA-Presumptive finding of death -The Recon Team was inserted in Laos on 13 Nov and was engaged by the enemy where SP/4 Copley was shot that day in the initial burst of enemy fire, SSG Robert Loe, the team leader aided Copley evade the enemy. Loe then administered 1^st aid, the enemy continued to pursue the team, Loe ignored the enemy and continued 1^st aid until Copley?s face turned white, Loe and the remaining team was then forced to retreat and were extracted. Search procedures were conducted through Nov 16^th without success. See individual memorial this site.

I was with Bill and graduated with the class of '67 at Chatsworth High School . I was with Bill when we enlisted in the Army; he intended to go into Special Forces and I into Electronics. I was with Bill when we went to downtown LA for our physicals; he passed and I failed due to my corrective eyesight. I was with Bill when he cracked up his Dad's beloved Mustang leaving the theater ... it was not his fault as the car that struck us on his side had no head lights on. I was with Bill when he came home from special forces training following his tour at boot camp ... his Mom cooked Dad, his sister Cathy, Bill and his two best friends (Tom and I) a welcome home steak dinner. I felt as though it was really meant for family but his Dad wanted Bill to enjoy his friends' company. I was with Bill on his leave when we went to the "White Castle"-like  hamburger joint in Chatsworth and got 10 burgers for $1, albeit it cost us twice as much each in soda's to wash those heavy-on-the-bun and lite-on-the-burger's down. I was with Bill when we drove to Long Beach and I ended up so gawd awful drunk on beer as every person at the bar kept buying him picture after picture of suds. Bill drove us home in my car and we both slept off a forgettable night at his house after sneaking in as quietly as possible.

I was with Bill when he tried to teach me how to use throwing knives and "ninja" stars into the tree trunk in his back yard (Dad was not home that afternoon).

I was with Bill with he gave me one of his green army issued t-shirts. He was going to bring me another when he returned again. I kept that t-shirt until it was finally worn out from washing and completely faded. I was with Bill when his Dad took the photo now posted on the virtual wall (I recall it as just off his front yard in Northridge) before he was to return to duty. I was not with Bill when he was declared MIA ... his family took it hard [to say the least] and I thought it best no visitors, especially just another of his old chums. I regret that I followed that self-advice to this day.

 I left California in late 1972 to seek my fortune in the world. I never forgot. Still I did not find out what happened to Bill until after the proliferation of the Internet. It seems ironic to me that he was officially declared dead on my 24th birthday and I didn't find out that fact until after I was 48 and retired.  

I have his MIA bracelet dated 11/13/68 ... I keep it next to my computer keyboard and great it daily. Not a time goes by when I hang the flag I do not quietly thank Bill for the sacrifice he made for us all. It will have been 39 years in two days. He missed the growing up, the girl friends, the wife, the family and subsequent events that the rest of life allowed us to enjoy. I have given up waiting for that second army t-shirt. I will never give up on wanting and waiting for Bill to come home. His good friend and one who has not forgotten, Shaun Carlson, Punta Gorda , Florida

23 Nov 68-  James R. Golding, SSGE-6. USASF. CCN. Kontum,Ops 35, Killed-RR  

Submitted by John McGovernSSG Golden's death 11/23/1968 , was not the result of a drunken brawl. It was caused by an ARVN LT's calculated murder of an American Soldier. I look at how his death is portrayed and all the memories come flooding back. I had introduced SFC McGlon and SSG Golden the night before in the club, having known both on pevious assignments. McGlon and I had both worked at Gia Vuc, A-103 in early 1967, and Golden and I had worked together at Kha Sahn FOB-3. We had decided to get together for breakfast between 9am and 10am . No one was drinking alcohol as we were there to discuss a possible local operation, ambush, etc. as a shake down mission for Golden's team in the local AO since they had just come down from FOB-4 and were new to the area. We decided on a soup cafe in Kontum city for breakfest. We had just ordered our meal when one of Golden's Indig ran up bleeding from the nose and mouth. He was followed soon after by an Arvn Lt who had pistol whipped the Indig. The ARVN was from an Arvn Artillary unit passing through Kontum. The Indig started shouting at Golden in Vietnamese of which Golden was pretty fluent. The ARVN LT slapped Golden and Golden responded by cold konking the LT with his fist. An ARVN NCO hit me in the face with a metal folding chair, requiring three stitches. I made a quick assessment of the situation, and saw a no win solution. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Golden was chasing down two Arvn into a meat market. I followed them and grabbed Golden and pulled him outside. As we went outside we saw McGlon get shot by the original ARVN LT with the .45, it seemed like it happened in slow motion to me. He was shot point blank and we saw Mcglon do a complete back flip in front of this ARVN. A 3/4 ton truck was trying to get in gear to run over him. Both Golden and myself jumped on the back of the truck. I was one step ahead of Golden and grabbed the driver around the neck. I hollered for Golden to pull McGlon out of harms way. He jumped off the truck heading towards the front and I saw the Lt grabbing a .45, from another soldier, the LT turned and came back to shoot down Golden, who was trying to pull Mcglon up on the curb out of harms way. In the meantime, the driver of the truck started to grind gears again to run over both McGlon and Golden. So I turned and grabbed him around the neck and pulled him off the truck with me banging his head on the tail gate. I ran to the front of the truck and found Golden sitting on the curb. His first words to me were, "Brownie he killed me" I made a quick look at his entrance wound and could find no exit wound. I next looked at McGlon who was bleeding from his ears, nose, and mouth. The bullet had hit his coller bone and deflected down through his lung. In the mean time, a large crowd had gathered. I saw two American jeeps making their way thru the crowd. I remember the first jeep had a black NCO from the FOB commo section. He had a Swedish K sitting between the seats. I grabbed this up intending to shoot into the crowd of Vietnamese. As I chambered a round, I turned to fire and saw a young Vietnamese girl (approximately 12 to 14 years old) standing next to her mother. The girl locked eyes with mine, they seemed as big as saucers, I couldn't pull the trigger. With the help of the NCO we got McGlon in the first jeep and Golden in the second. Once we got back to the FOB I watched the head medic, Lou Maggio, operate on McGlon. At the same time on the other table, I watched Golden go from a yellow color to a pasty white. I was told he was going into shock. In the mean time, a chopper arrived to take them to Plaku. I was told Golden didn't survive the trip. The next day they flew me down to Plaku for identification. I assumed it was to ID the ARVN LT. When I arrived they took me straight to an autopsy room where they had Golden opened up and his intestines laid out beside him. Two smirking Sp4s where on either side of him. Then CID took charge and led me into a separate room where they read me my rights under article 31. If the chief of police for Kontum Province had not been sitting in an adjacent restaurant and able corroborate everything I said, I would probably still be in jail. No one at FOB-2 to this day, has asked me what happened on the day Golden died. Two years ago, I met with Jim Golden's wife to return to her his recovered dog tags. We gave his daughter a Green Beret with the 5th group flash on it. Mrs. Golden shared with me how shabbly the VA and the Army, as a whole, had treated her upon her Green Beret's death. After reading the report on your web site, I understand the reason. Seems like some officers were too lazy and worried about thier own careers to write up an accurate report about a decent NCO (Golden) saving another soldier's life (McGlon). Instead of receiving an award, he and his family have been ridiculed after his death.///phil PS: Jim Golden's wife never remarried and she and their daughter live in Connecticut .

submitted by Phllip M Brown,SGM retired with 30 years service 1960-1991,At the time of Golden's death I was a SSG, 10 of team New York .

 NOTE:  "I was with Jim Golden when he was shot down, he wasn't killed in a bar, and he hadn't been drinking as alleged,I"......Jim Phil Brown 

    As told by James McGlon: As for James Golding,  he was killed in Kontom on the 23 Nov.  We were eating at one of the restaurants, and a SVN  recon  platoon came around and had been beating on Goldings interpreter,  you know how Jim was about his people,  the Vietnamese Lieutenant and his men started throwing chairs and hit both me and Jim Phil Brown with them.  Golding and I were both shot Phil was missed...    When those South Vietnamese  troops beat up on his (Golding's interpreter) and the interpreter pointed out the ones that had beat him and told Goldie (Goldie could speak Vietnamese & a couple of Yard dialects), he went after them and when I pulled him off one of them, we started to leave, that's when the shooting started.  I went down first, then Goldie.  I rolled over as the bustard shot at me again for a head shot, but it hit me in the lung.  Phil Brown was with Goldie and Goldie said to Phil, "they have killed me."  Goldie was hit in the lower back.  Not a day goes by that I don't think about when they covered him up at the hospital. I asked them three times, "Did he make it? Finally, the nurse told me he was gone, and I said, "Why didn't you tell me the first time I asked you?"  Note:  Viet Cong were infiltrated into all walks of Vietnamese life, including their military structure, from the "top" to the "bottom." 

ADDED: By Gene Williams.  Here is an e-mail exchange I had with ret. LTC Sam Sanford who was CO or DCO of FOB 2 in November 1968.  He has a slightly different version on the death of SSG Dicky Golding per below.  Don't know whether he is on your list but I'm forwarding this fyi.  Its close enough to two versions I've heard to have the ring of truth. "First, let me say that I did not personally know Golding. Here is the story I got, which as you can imagine may not be the entire truth. It was the custom for some of the RT people to go downtown into Kontum on Sunday morning to have Chinese soup for breakfast. Since reading your email, I wonder if it was actually 33 beer instead (but who cares?). I was told that the group was in an open-to-the street cafe eating when one of the 'Yards on Golding's team walked by and saw him. The 'Yard walked in to speak to him. An ARVN troop in the cafe was said to have ordered the 'Yard out, but Golding intervened and told him he could stay. The ARVN left in a huff, having "lost face." Later, when the GIs left the cafe (?) bar(?), the ARVN was waiting outside, shot Golding and took off. My recollection is that our guys were not armed. I was not made aware that anyone else had been wounded, and I think I would have been, as I was the CO of CCC. The others apparently threw Golding into the vehicle and hightailed it back to the compound.   It was only minutes after hearing this that I saw a deuce and a half full of GIs with a CAPT in the cab ready to leave the compound. They were armed with everything they could get their hands on, and it was obvious they were headed for Kontum with killing on their minds. Wanting the skin of that ARVN nailed to a wall every bit as much as they did, I nevertheless knew that this trip was going to end badly. I ordered them to stand down, which they reluctantly did. It was good they did. I later learned that the province chief, knowing that GIs would come to town ready for trouble, had immediately ordered an ARVN tank to cover the bridge into Kontum. As it was, we lost Golding, but we could have had a real slaughter if they had proceeded. It has always bothered me that we had no feasible way to respond, and I was never able to learn if the assassin was even identified, much less punished. It has been a lot of years, but this incident was engraved on my mind, so I am pretty sure that I have told you essentially what I was told. You will have to make your own judgment about which version is nearer to the real truth. I expect that some, if not all, of those who wanted to go downtown on that truck will have no use for me because I stopped them. That is the price I was and am still willing to pay to prevent a much greater tragedy. I was later the deputy commander and CO of troops when LTC Frederick T. Abt was assigned as CO. Two officers I remember are Clyde Sincere and (can't remember first name) Jax. I treasure the time that I spent with some of the best people I have ever known or worked with. I still grieve for those who were lost. I did get one good job while there. I was the senior officer on the pre-commissioning board that interviewed MOH winner SFC Robert Howard. He got his commission!

POSTED ON 8.17.2015 

27 Nov 68-  Richard W. Casey, SGT E-5, USASF CCS, Ban Be Thuot, Ops 35 -RR ,and Gene P. Stuifbergen, 20TH SPECIAL OPS SQD, 7TH AF
 MIA Remains not Recovered

A note from The Virtual Wall

"Sergeant Richard Casey, 5th Special Forces Group, died when the helicopter carrying him was shot down in Cambodia , and the records indicate that his body was not recovered until some time after he died. Only one US helicopter is known to have been shot down in Cambodia on 27 November 1968 - a UH-1F of the 20th Special Operations Squadron based at Ban Me Thuot. The 20th SOS Huey was carrying ten men, 4 crewmen and a 6 man US/Vietnamese Special Forces reconnaissance team. The team was to be inserted in Rotanokiri Province , Cambodia , 10 miles west of Duc Lo, SVN. As the Huey began its approach to a ten foot hover, it came under heavy enemy fire, crashed in the landing zone, and burned. Three crewmen and two US recon team members escaped the wreckage and were recovered, but the other five men died in the crash. Several attempts were made to recover the bodies of the other men but were unsuccessful due to stiff enemy resistance. One helicopter and two Americans were lost in Cambodia that day ... Air Force Staff Sergeant Gene P Stuifbergen is the crewman who died aboard the UH-1F; his remains were never recovered. While it cannot be said with absolute assurance, it seems likely that Sergeant Richard Casey also was aboard the helicopter."

30 Nov 68- Samuel Kamu Toomey, III, Maj 04, CCN's S-3, Operations Officer; Raymond Clark Stacks, ILT 0-3 of Tenn; Klaus Dieter Scholz, SSG E-6 of TX; Arthur Edward Bader Jr. SGT E-5, FOB-1, of New Jersey, Richard Allen Fitts, SP/5 of Mass; Michael Howard Mein, SP/4 of New York; Gary Russel La Bohn, SP/4 of Michigan, USASF, CCN, Da Nang, Ops 35 (All were aboard a Vietnamese Air Force CH-34 helicopter returning from a visual recon of target areas based on a "Spot Report" by RT Sidewinder of a NVA cache across the boarder. The aircraft was shot down from an altitude of 3,000 feet by 37mm antiaircraft fir, crashed and exploded 10 miles inside Laos east of Tchepone. No ground search was initiated because due to the crash site being in a denied area. On Mar 23, 1990 these seven American soldiers remains were buried in Arlington National Cemetery their remains were recovered from the crash site in Mar 89).  Regards to Kingbee shot down in Nov 69 with LaBohn, Mein, Toomey and others killed in crash. They are buried in mass grave in Arlington however-- Original gravestone had LaBohns name on it but his sister never believed he was dead and had his name taken off the headstone. I visited their grave about 6 months ago, and have several time over the years, and Labohns name is still not on it. Eldon Bargewell, Maj Gen (Ret)

      Correction:  They were reroute to an Elder Son mission loaded with Elder Son and Soap Chip ammo...I was running out of FOB 6 TDY when it happened. Some sort of AA weapon hit the Kingbee and destroyed the ship on impact.” I knew Art Bader Jr., and several other guys. The remains have been returned and Bader was buried in the USA ..  By John Meyers, CCN, (Recon Tm Ldr) One-Zero for ST/RT Idaho from 10/68 to 4/69 and 11/69 to 4/70

"I knew Mike Mein and all of the guys that went down on that H-34. They were going to kick out some "elder son" and got hit with a rocket. I was at Mai Loc with them and played cards with most of them the night before I went into North V.N. with a team including John Smith, Jeff Junkins and some idiot blond haired captain. We came back 3 days later and there was only Clyde Sincere and some radio operator waiting on the chopper pad. Clyde told me that all those guys got shot down and the other team that had inserted the day after us got the shit shot out of it. Mai Loc was only a launch site and there weren't but about 15 Americans there during that time So it seemed empty. I had gone out with Mike Mein on his only mission." By Tim Schaaf

I was at CCN when Toomey’s Kingbee went down.  As I remember it, they were on a mission to insert Italian Green mortar ammo. For unknown reasons, the Kingbee did not follow the planned route of flight. I was the Asst. S-2 at the time – our intel books on the target area clearly showed heavy antiaircraft guns in the area.  The Kingbee flew into a ring of radar fire controlled 37mm AA guns.  Why they did that, we’ll never know, but we knew the guns were there and the mission had been planned to avoid the guns. Anyway, I was stationed in D.C. and attended the funeral ceremony at Arlington when he was buried, about 1989. His father (I think he was a retired Army guy) sang a Hawaiian song in the ceremony. Sometime during my tour with CCN (Nov 68 – Jun 70), we got in some intel photos, showing the success of our program.  One was of an NVA mortar position with the tube peeled back like a banana and bare dirt all around as a result of the blast. Regards, Randy Givens

TOOMEY, SAMUEL KAMU III
Remains Returned - ID Announced 08 February 1990

Name: Samuel Kamu Toomey III; Rank/Branch: O4/US Army; Unit: Armor, Special Operations Group, Headquarters, MACV-SOG, (some accounts
list Toomey as "Special Missions Officer"); Date of Birth: 30 December 1935 (Honolulu HI); Home City of Record: Independence MO; Date of Loss: 30 November 1968; Country of Loss: Laos; Loss Coordinates: 163852N 1062514E (XD515410); Status (in 1973): Missing In Action Category: 4;
Refno: 1333

Other Personnel in Incident: Gary LaBohn; Michael Mein; Klaus Scholz;
Raymond Stacks; Arthur Bader (all missing); Richard Fitts (remains returned)

Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 01 April 1990 with the assistance of from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK 1998.


REMARKS:
SYNOPSIS: Major Samuel Toomey was born in Honolulu , Hawaii on December 30, 1935 . He entered the Army in April 1956 after service in the Marines. In Vietnam , Toomey worked with Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG) which 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 (though it was not a Special Forces group) through Special Operations Augmentation (SOA) which provided their "cover" while under secret orders to MACV-SOG. These teams performed deep penetration missions of strategic reconnaissance and interdiction missions in Laos and Cambodia which were called, depending on the country and time frame, "Shining Brass" or "Prairie Fire" missions. On November 30, 1968, Sgt. Richard A. Fitts, Sgt. Arthur E. Bader, Cpl. Gary R. LaBohn, SSgt. Klaus D. Scholz, Maj. Samuel K. Toomey, Cpl. Michael H. Mein, 1Lt. Raymond C. Stacks were passengers aboard a Vietnamese Air Force CH34 helicopter (serial #14-4653) as their team was being transported to their reconnaissance mission area in Laos. Details of their mission was classified at that time, and remains classified in early 1990. However, information received from some of the family members indicates that the mission was related to disarming an enemy munitions store. This same account includes the information that Maj. Toomey was a chemical warfare expert. Other information states that he was a communications officer. Toomey's family identified his job as one that he could not talk about, but that he was an "Advisor to the Special Forces." The helicopter was flying at 4,000 feet when it was struck by 37mm anti-aircraft fire, went into a spin, crashed in a mass of flames and exploded. The helicopter crashed about 10 miles northwest of Khe Sanh, just into Laos east of Tchepone. The crash site is in heavy jungle, near a stream. From the time the aircraft was hit until the time it impacted out of view, the helicopter was under observation and no one was seen to leave the aircraft during its descent. No ground search was initiated because the location was in a denied area. Later visual search indicated that the pilot's hatch was open, and his helmet was seen 25-30 feet from the helicopter, but no survivors or bodies were seen. All the personnel aboard the aircraft, however, were not declared dead, but were were declared Missing in Action, which was procedure when no proof of death existed. When the war ended, and 591 Americans were released from prison camps in Southeast Asia , not one man who had been held in Laos was released. Although the Pathet Lao stated publicly that they held "tens of tens" of Americans, no negotiations occurred which would free them at that time, nor have any occurred since. In March 1988, the area in which the helicopter crashed was excavated by a joint Lao/US technical team. Human remains consisting of 17 teeth and 145 bone fragments, none measuring over two inches, were recovered. The remains were returned to the U.S. Army Central Identification (CIL) in Hawaii . On January 3, 1990 , it was announced that the remains of Richard Fitts had been positively identified from the material recovered at the crash site. That identification was determined by the government's conclusion that two of the 17 teeth belonged to Fitts. Fitts' parents, after having an independent analysis conducted on the teeth, felt assured that the teeth belonged to their son, and subsequently buried them in Boston , Massachusetts . The remaining 15 teeth and 145 bone fragments were said to be unidentifiable. Barely a month later, on February 8, 1990 , the Department of Defense announced that the remainder of the crew had been positively identified and would be buried, along with the Vietnamese crew, in a mass grave in Arlington National Cemetery . Fitts' name was included on that tombstone along with the other Americans because the Pentagon believed some of the bone fragments belonged to Fitts. Thus, even though the remains were scientifically unidentifiable, the cases were closed on these individuals. Critics of the U.S. Government's identification of the entire crew of the helicopter point to a similar incident some years ago. In 1968, unidentifiable remains attributed to a group of U.S. Marines killed near Khe Sanh on February 25, 1968 were buried in a mass grave in St. Louis . One of the deceased was identified as being Marine Sgt. Ronald Ridgeway. Five years later, Ridgeway was released from a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp, giving rise to considerable speculation as to the validity of the positive identification of the other remains buried in St. Louis .
 

A Note from The Virtual Wall

Major Samuel Toomey entered the Army in April 1956 after service in the Marines. In Vietnam , Toomey was assigned to Headquarters, MACV-SOG - the "Studies and Observation Group" (MACV-SOG). Despite its innoculous name, MACV-SOG was engaged in a variety of unconventional warfare tasks, to include ground reconnaissance and surveillance missions in Laos and Cambodia . Relatively few people were actually assigned to the Studies and Observation Group; most personnel were formally assigned to the Special Forces and were informally sent to work at MACV-SOG. This approach was very similar to that used with other clandestine organizations, such as the "Raven FACs" who worked in Laos and the Air Force personnel who operated close-hold radar stations situated within Laos itself. It served several purposes, not least being the low profile usually associated with any unit which has only a handful of people. MACV-SOG's subordinate structure consisted of three area commands - Command and Control North, C&C Central, and C&C South - each with several operating bases located within their assigned areas. On November 30, 1968 , Major Toomey - by one report, the C&C North Operations Officer - accompanied a team into Laos . The team consisted of six Americans (seven counting Toomey) and the Vietnamese crewmen who flew the helicopter, a UH-34 (BuNo 144653) belonging to the 219th VNAF Squadron - 11 men in all. The Americans were

·         MAJ Samuel K. Toomey

·         1LT Raymond C. Stacks

·         SSG Klaus D. Scholz

·         SGT Arthur E. Bader

·         SGT Richard A. Fitts

·         CPL Gary R. LaBohn

·         CPL Michael H. Mein

The team's mission still is unknown, and there is conflicting information on whether the hel went down enroute to or during its return from the target area. One source says the purpose of the mission was to "salt" an enemy arms cache with defective and booby-trapped munitions, while another says "returning from a visual recon of target areas based on a Spot Report by RT Sidewinder of a NVA cache". In any case, the UH-34 was hit by 37mm antiaircraft fire, crashed, and exploded, killing all eleven men on board. Although the crash was witnessed by escorting aircraft, which made a number of low passes to examine the wreckage, the enemy presence precluded a ground examination of the crash site. Since there was a remote possibility that one or more of the men might have survived an apparently unsurvivable crash they all were classed as Missing in Action and retained in that status until the Secretary of the Army eventually approved Presumptive Findings of Death. In March 1989 the crash site, located about 35 kilometers west of Khe Sanh, was excavated and fragmentary remains recovered. Although the only individually identifiable remains came from SGT Fitts, the Armed Services Identification Review Board concluded that all available evidence indicated the 11 men aboard the aircraft had died in the crash and that the recovered remains, although individually unidentifable, comprised what could be recovered of them. The comingled remains were buried in Arlinton National Cemetery .

13 Dec 68 - This event consists of 9 Air Force Personnel. John Scoff Albright II, 1LT 0-2 of Huntington, WVA; Joseph Peter Fanning, 1LT 0-2 606th Air Commando Squadron, 56th Special Operations Wing of Long Island City, NY; Fred Lee Clarke, Tech-SGT of Troutman, NC; Morgan Jefferson Donahue, ILT 0-2 of Alexandria, VA; Samuel F Walker, Jr., SSGT E-5,  Samuel F. Walker, Jr., SSG of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ;  Douglas V. Dailey, SSG  of Waterford, MI.;   Major Thomas W. Dugan, Maj, Pilot of the B57 of Readign Pa; Major Francis J McGouldrick, co-pilot, Cpt of New Haven CT (Note: all of the 8 above BNR) and 1st Lt Thomas M. Turner from the C-123 - was rescued. 

 606TH SPECIAL OPS SQDN, 56TH SPECIAL OPS WING, 7TH AF, C-123, Blackbird, Ops 32 (Air Studies Branch), MIA-Presumptive finding of death (These men became missing as a result of colliding with another US aircraft in Laos )..AIR COMMANDOS.

POSTED ON 11.11.2014

POSTED BY: [email protected]

FINAL MISSION OF 1LT JOSEPH P. FANNING

On December On December 13, 1968 , the crew of a C-123K was dispatched from Nakhon Phanom Airfield located in northern Thailand near the border of Laos on an operational mission over Laos . The C-123, a converted WW II glider equipped with two engines, was assigned night patrol missions along the Ho Chi Minh trail. Flying low at 2000-3000 feet, the job of the seven man crew was to spot enemy truck convoys on the trail and to light up the trails for accompanying B-57 bombers which were flying overhead. The crew on this particular mission included the pilot (name unknown), co-pilot 1LT Joseph P. Fanning, navigators 1LT John S. Albright and 1LT Morgan J. Donahue, and crewmembers SSGT Samuel F. Walker, SSGT Douglas V. Dailey, and TSGT Fred L. Clarke. At 0330 hours, as the aircraft was flying about 30 miles southwest of the Ban Karai Pass in Laos , the crew of the C-123 was jolted by a blow on the top of their plane in the aft section. An overhead B-57 that had been called in for an air strike from Phan Rang Airbase had collided with the control plane. The B-57B was flown by pilot MAJ Thomas W. Dugan and co-pilot MAJ Francis J. McGouldrick. The C-123 lost power and went out of control. The unnamed C-123 pilot, stunned by a blow to the head, lost consciousness. Because of its glider configuration, the C-123 did not fall straight to the ground, but drifted lazily to the ground in a flat spin which lasted several minutes. When the pilot regained consciousness, he noted that the co-pilot (Fanning) and navigator (Donahue) were gone. Donahue's station was in the underbelly of the plane where, lying on his stomach, he directed an infrared detection device through an open hatch. The pilot parachuted out, landed in a treetop where he remained until rescued at dawn. On the way down, he saw another chute below him, but, because of the dark, was unable to determine who the crew member was. The six other members of the C-123 and the two crew members of the B-57 were listed as Missing in Action. [Taken from pownetwork.org]

Notes from The Virtual Wall

On 13 December 1968 a C-123K PROVIDER of the 606th Special Operations Squadron launched from Nakhon Phanom RTAFB, Thailand , on a night FAC mission over the Ho Chi Minh Trail area. The low-and-slow C-123K's mission was to obtain visual or infrared sightings of traffic along the Trail and to act as a controller for bombers - in this case, B-57 CANBERRA bombers from the 8th Tactical Bomber Squadron, Phan Rang AB, SVN. Weather conditions along the Trail were good - clear with a half moon, ground fog, no wind and no cloud ceiling. At 0300 hours, as a B-57 was executing an attack against ground targets, the B-57 collided with the upper surface of the circling C-123K. Both aircraft - and nine aircrewmen - went down. Only one - 1st Lt Thomas M. Turner from the C-123 - was rescued. The others simply disappeared into the Laotian jungles about 30 miles southwest of the Ban Kari Pass. A ground search was impossible due to total enemy control of the area, but airborne search-and-rescue operations continued until termination on 15 December, when the formal SAR effort was terminated. At that point, the crewmen and their status were as follow:

· 606th SOS, C-123K 54-0600, call sign CANDLESTICK 44

o1st Lt Thomas M. Turner, pilot, rescued;

o1st Lt Joseph P. Fanning, co-pilot, MIA;

o1st Lt John S. Albright, II, navigator, MIA;

o1st Lt Morgan J. Donahue, navigator, MIA;

oSSgt Douglas V. Dailey, flight engineer, MIA;

oTSgt Fred L. Clarke, loadmaster, MIA; and

oSSgt Samuel F. Walker, Jr., loadmaster, MIA.

· 8th Tactical Bomber Squadron, B-57E 55-4284, call sign YELLOWBIRD 72

oMajor Thomas W. Dugan, pilot, MIA, and

oMajor Francis J McGouldrick, co-pilot, MIA.

None of the men returned with other POWs in February 1973, nor did any of the released POWs have knowledge of the CANDLESTICK or YELLOWBIRD crewmen. As time passed, the Secretary of the Air Force approved Presumptive Findings of Death for the eight missing crewmen.

The eight men have not been repatriated.

15 Dec 68 - David A. Lenchner, ILT 0-2, USASF, CCN, Company A, Exploitation,  KIA (NOTE: Lt Lencher was the Lt killed referred to in the narrative regarding the unidentified Lt, killed on 14 Dec 68- .).  Col. (Then Cpt) Givens writes: I was wounded in the caves of Marble Mountain on 14 Dec 68 . We lost a Lt from CCN up on the side of the mountain that day (sorry, I don't remember his name). A couple of months later, we lost a SCU in the village on the north side Marble Mountain (American officer, left to watch truck during changing of teams on Chinstrap, wandered away and a boobytrap was placed on the truck). I was the "new kid on the block." I got in country about 14 Nov 68 , went thru Camh Ranh Bay , then to Nha Trang. My orders from 5th Gp to CCN are dated 22 Nov 68 with an EDCSA (Effective Date of Change of Strength Accountability) of 23 Nov 68 . My citation, and supporting documents, for a BS w/"V" and Purple Heart show that the action in Marble Mountain was 14 Dec 68 . As you can see, I had been at CCN for maybe 3 weeks when the Lt was killed. The 14 Dec action was to recon the caves of Marble Mountain .... we had a prisoner the USMC had picked up, who had participated in the Aug 68 attack on CCN. He directed us into a long passageway that opened up into a huge cavern... which was still occupied. We had just found a big pot of rice, still steaming, when the shooting started - about noon on a Saturday. There were only 9 of us in the cavern when the shooting subsided and we counted noses, the rest of the folks had apparently withdrawn down the passageway. They tried to fight their way back in, but couldn't. We ended up with about everybody in the cavern wounded, some pretty bad. Finally, we were able to make contact with the outside through a "chimney" or or hole in the roof of the cavern. USMC CH-46's then started lifting us out, one at a time, using a pair of stokes litters rigged into a clamshell. The clamshell arrangement allowed the severly wounded to be lifted out without having their face scraped off on the side of the chimney. The airlift continued until dark, when they brought in a "Firefly" so the pilot with the rope could see to hover over the hole without crashing into the mountainside. Lt Fred Barbour and I were the last two out of the hole. As soon as we got out, they cut the rope because the CH-46 was running out of gas. We spent the night on the mountain and walked down the next morning. I was sent to the 95th Evac and stayed there about 5 days. Our CCN Dr. convinced the 95th Evac to allow me to return to CCN because we had clean conditions, showers, etc. But, I was gone from CCN the 5 days following the action. Anyway, the story I got was that, as the CCN folks were trying to figure out how to get us out of the cave, they were searching the mountainside for the hole in the cavern roof. During the search, an officer was shot and killed. I think his body was not recovered until the next day - which could account for 15 Dec being given for his date of death. My citation lists: 1LT Frederick L. Barbour (in the cave with me) ARCOM w/"V"; 1LT Brett A. Francis , ARCOM w/ "V"(he was with the company actually running the operation); and was signed by MAJ James T. Robinson, Commanding FOB #4. Maybe one of then can tell you the name of the guy that was killed - sorry, I just don't remember. NOTE by Noe: Even in Col. Nicholson's book, 15 Months in SOG he writes of the Lt killed on Marble Mountain . I have determined, Col. Nicholson's book contains "A number of real events" that had happened in CCN.  During the 2005 Special Forces Association, this incident was mentioned, but the name of the individual was not revealed. (The results of extensive research: only losses for SOG FROM 13-15 Dec is Lt Lencher, he may have been wounded on the 14 and succumbed to his injuries the following day).

19 Dec 68-  Norman Payne, SGT of Cleveland , OH . USASF. CCN, Da Nang , Ops 35 MIA-Presumptive finding of death (While on operations inside Laos west of the A Shau Valley. The team became split as they were setting up their RON position, they were attacked by 15 enemy soldiers. SGT Payne was last seen moving away from the position to join the other element by sliding down an embankment. He was last seen by the Team Leader, SP/4 Donald C. Sheppard. Sheppard later followed the same route along a creek bed, but efforts to locate Payne failed. During the extraction, the team leader heard garbled emergency radio transmission, the last word sounded like "bison", code name for Payne. No further search was permitted by the hostile forces in the area.

Norman Payne Fr SF Honor Roll

27 Aug 2000

Norman Payne (code name Bison) was on a reconnaissance team with MACV-SOG that conducted a deep penetration behind enemy lines into Laos on December 18, 1968 . The team was ambushed by a superior enemy force at last light splitting it into two elements. Bison was last seen moving away from the main element while continuous enemy fire prevented any link up. Several team members were wounded and evaded the enemy until extracted the next morning. Although a radio signal was reportedly heard from Payne, no further contact was made and enemy strength in the area prevented further search. Bison joined the team at the last minute to replace another member that became ill. Although the team did not have the benefit of knowing him well, we would like to pay tribute to a brave man who risked everything to carry out his orders; his courage will always be remembered. David Siciliano [email protected]

MEMO: I contacted Berg Garlow on 19 Dec 2022, the anniversary of Norman's loss, who was on the mission, he tells me that he made contact with the 3 children of Norman back in 2018 and the SOA Bright Light program paid for the 3 children to attend the 2018 Special Operations Association reunion where members of the SOA was able to provide insight to the children of what SOG was about and what their father did giving the family some closure from the unknown information surrounding the classified nature of SOG that prevented many family of being informed of the operations of the unit. 

Norman Payne-Bison-on my second tour in CCN 71-72 I read a CIA report that a African American was reported alive-POW-in Western DMZ. Report stated he had been captured near/in Achau Valley around time Norman went missing----???> Not 100% verified, Eldon Bargewell, Maj Gen (Ret)

A Note from The Virtual Wall

According to the biographies on the POW Network and Task Force Omega sites, additional ground forces were inserted on 19 Dec and remained in the area until extracted on the 20th. Although the search team did find evidence that Sergeant Payne was alive after last being seen by his teammates, they did not find him or his body. Sergeant Payne was carried as Missing in Action for ten years; the Secretary of the Army approved a Presumptive Finding of Death on 21 Sep 1978 , changing his status to Died while Missing/Body not Recovered. During that period he was promoted to Master Sergeant. His remains have not been repatriated. UPDATEThe Defense Department has announced that Master Sergeant Payne's remains were repatriated on 28 Oct 2004 , with identification made on 05 Oct 2006 .

19 Dec 68-Ben H Ide, CW-2, Co-Pilot/Gunner, Cobra Gun Ship, 361st Aviation Company Escort (ACE), Pinkpanthers, KIA-RR, The 361 was flying Escort for the 170th AHC (Bikini) who had inserted an RT out of FOB-2, Kontum into target H-6 without incident and was involved in a secondary mission to destroy a newly constructed 30 meter bridge on route 96, which had been recently discovered by a SOG Recon Team operating in the Bra area. The lead gunship A/C was CPT Gary Higgins with WO1 Mark Clotfelter as copilot (who was later KIA on 16 June 69 with WO1 Michael A. Mahowold, providing convoy cover between Dak To and Ben Het - for SOG but not "over the fence"). The wing gunship A/C was 1LT Paul Renner with CW2 Ben Ide as copilot. While attacking the bridge, they started taking heavy 12.7 & 37 mm fire. The wing ship went down and Bikini 29 went in and brought them out after the slick crew and Paul was able to get Ben out of the front seat. He died shortly after their arrival back at Dak To - See Secret War and It's Secret Heroes in the "Tales from SOG" section for full details. (Filed by: Cpt Gary Higgins and Robert McFall of the 361st) 

Excellent website - the best. I noted in the Memorial section there is a KIA listed on 12/19/68 as Ben Ida, a co-pilot, gunner, with the 361st AHC. I believe the correct spelling of the name should ben Ide. (It may have been pronounced Ida.)  I was the chase medic on that day and gave mouth to mouth and external heart massage to Ben unsuccessfully on the ride back to the 4th Div. Med. Bunker at Dak To. I have read Gary Higgins' description of the incident and he is right on. I have written a description of the incident from the Chase Medic's perspective in "SOG Medic." - Chapter 17. I checked the Memorial Wall in Washington 's spelling and they have it as Ben Ide. Also Gary Higgins refers to him with the spelling that way. I really enjoyed reading Gary 's account as I never realized so much was going on. I learned more about the pilots perspective on what was happening from Gary 's narrative than I ever got from being there. .Regards, Joe Parnar