A DIFFERENT DAY HIGH FLIGHT/LOW FLIGHT SOS

By: Maurice A. “Maury” Lange, CCS/Green Hornet Pilot, ’69-’70, 09/03/06

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DEDICATION:  Many reasons prevented telling this story for 37 years.  The United States Air Force (USAF) had two unusual helicopter Special Operations Squadrons (SOS) attached to Military Assistance Command Vietnam - Special Operations Group (MACV-SOG or simply SOG) during the Vietnam War.  My unit, the 20th SOS “Green Hornets,” was detailed to serve SOG’s Command and Control South (CCS) base at Ban Me Thuout East (BMTE) in the South Vietnamese Central Highlands near Ban Me Thuout and its cross-border mission in Cambodia.  Another squadron, 21st SOS was based in Thailand to support SOG’s cross-border mission in Laos.  Amazingly dedicated, talented, and highly trained Special Forces teamed with indigenous warriors for long range reconnaissance patrols (LRRPs) in enemy territory. 

First, absolute silence surrounded our international, joint unconventional warfare task force, MACV-SOG, for some 30 years . . . a Top Secret name we were not even allowed to whisper . . . we were compelled to use the cover name, Military Assistance Command Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group (still, MACV-SOG).  Second, geopolitical sensitivities of our combat operations within supposedly neutral Cambodia and Laos against the impudence of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) operating along the Ho Chi Minh Trail make some timid souls nervous, even now.  Third, political sensitivity continues regarding USAF performing what is widely perceived even today as an Army mission.  The term “USAF armed helicopters” still causes both USAF and US Army leadership to grind their teeth; however, the 20th SOS continues to put an end to this parochial traditionalism by its PERFORMANCE.  It is wonderful to be loved and respected; it is even greater to be THE BEST . . . THE ROLE MODEL!!! 

Fourth, we owe a loyalty of silence to those who did not return; such stories are often not ours to tell . . . even now, some of these stories belong to the Special Forces.  WE CONTINUE TO BE PRIVILEGED TO SERVE THEM IN A SUPPORT ROLE!!!  Fifth, call it privacy, propriety, manners, modesty, shyness, timidity, reluctance, embarrassment, shame, lethargy, selfishness, fear, PTSD, or whatever, but God would not allow the story to be told until its time; it loses too much without sufficient facts.  Recently, I found John Gillespie Magee, Jr.’s classic World War II poem, HIGH FLIGHT, on Internet.  I instantly penned my heart’s response in my poem, LOW FLIGHT, on 3 September 2006, the 65th anniversary of HIGH FLIGHT.  Robert Noe of SOG PUB ([email protected]) challenged me to tell the mission story of LOW FLIGHT.  Sixth and finally, two men made this story possible; I never thanked them properly.  This story and poem are for the Special Forces team, Captain Reece McClanahan (home unknown), and LtCol Stephen “Steve” Von Phul (deceased) . . . “THANKS!!!”

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10 June 1969 in Vietnam for me actually began a year earlier while flying UH-1F Hueys (Minuteman Missile Site Support) at Minot AFB, ND.  “Father Time” (Captain Reece McClanahan) mentored me on how to survive a Southeast Asia tour in special operations helicopters.  Reece was a “gentle giant” who had survived a very cold, wet helicopter crash in North Korea the night the Chinese strung their first cable across the Yalu River; later, he took his toughness of spirit to Laos for highly classified special operations.  Among other things, Reece explained to me in graphic terms the resiliency of the “phenolic block” on the leading edge of the Huey main rotor, which could literally carve a tunnel through a large bamboo thicket, sufficient to rescue a trapped Special Forces team . . . if I were careful enough to BACK OUT THE EXACT SAME HOLE!!!  The maneuver required the Pilot to have VERY steady hands and TOTAL CONFIDENCE in two Gunners with nerves of steel to guide the Pilot backwards up the sloping tunnel . . . improperly done, the result would be catastrophic shredding of the main rotor blade skins.  At the time, this maneuver did not appear in any recognized USAF helicopter training syllabus as an approved maneuver; I’m sure that it could have resulted in a court martial . . . perhaps so even today.  God was in charge . . . He continues.

I was “in country” barely one month and mission qualified for only a couple of weeks; our Army brothers would say that I was still a “Newbie.”  This day I was detailed as Duty or Standby Pilot at BMTE/CCS as the bulk of our force of UH-1F “Slicks” and UH-1P “Gunships” plus our Forward Air Controller (FAC) were on strip alert at Duc Lap near the Cambodian border to extract teams maneuvering “across the fence.”  When the field phone rang that afternoon, I could barely hear the voice that said, “This is Colonel                          in Saigon.  Do you have a mission-ready Slick at your location?”  I stammered and said, “Yes, Sir!”  He firmly replied, “You’ll get your orders from your TOC in a few minutes!” 

I immediately sent for the temporary Mission Operations Officer (MOO), LtCol Stephen “Steve” Von Phul.  When he hurried into the “MOO Shack,” I told him that we were alerted for launch orders as the phone rang again with the request that he come to the TOC right then.  LtCol Von Phul confirmed that he would be Aircraft Commander, and I would be Co-Pilot.  He told me to form a crew, preflight our Huey, start the engine, and wait for his return with our orders.  I found the Crew Chief/M-60 Gunner and recruited another qualified M-60 gunner; we completed Preflight and started the engine as Von Phul arrived.  He took off and turned towards southwest of Ban Me Thuout City, midway to Duc Lap and the Cambodian border, briefing the crew on interphone with orders direct from SOG. 

SOG was over exposed that day with multiple teams in Cambodia west of Duc Lap PLUS another team in an emergency well inside South Vietnam (east of Duc Lap).  This team was hiding in a HUGE bamboo thicket and taking fire from 360 degrees from a North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regiment that had compromised the team; now, a regiment is a bunch of folks compared to a six man team!  We talked this over with the Gunners while arranging our rendezvous with the FAC and the pair of Gunships that SOG had released early from Duc Lap to support us.  I cannot remember, but there must have been a backup Slick from Duc Lap also while the remaining Gunships and Slick remained at Duc Lap until their teams were bedded down.   

We made visual and radio contact with the FAC about 10 km away; he gave us the grim SITREP and identified the bamboo thicket to us (now about 5 km away).  Suddenly, LtCol Von Phul said, “Maury, do you know how to do this?”  I prayed for God’s guidance and got an instant image of Reece McClanahan’s large frame leaning over me as I said “Yes, Sir!”  Von Phul shook the stick (cyclic) and said, “You have the aircraft!!!”  I returned the stick shake and answered, “I have it.”  Reece’s voice started telling me how to brief the crew and begin our rapid descent under the FAC’s control to begin penetration of the 200’ tall bamboo.  I thanked God that LtCol Von Phul had let me choose the Gunners; I knew them well enough to know that they were good and solid.  They were so smooth and coordinated that they seemed like a recording duo . . . voices carefully modulated without extremes of volume or rapid talking . . . smooth and alternating . . . each shooting his M-60 in constant suppressive fire as we descended into the fading light. 

They guided me into the bamboo at a gradual angle as the Gunships passed overhead, “hosing” both sides with devastatingly effective minigun fire; the main rotor blades shattered a tunnel all the way to within about 20’ above the team that was hiding and shooting defensive fire from the center of the thicket.  The roar of friendly and enemy fire was constant.  The Gunners ordered me to stop our descent as they kicked two rope ladders out for the team; the team snap-linked their field gear to the ladders and gratefully scrambled on board our Huey as the Gunners began steadily guiding me back out the tunnel.  Their instructions were unbelievably calm and professional; I listened carefully to everyone (the Gunners, the FAC, the Gunships, and Reece McClanahan).

LtCol Von Phul never once touched the stick or said anything until we were out of the hole enroute home when he took control again; he had total confidence in me.  No orchestra ever played with such grace and practiced harmony as our whole team that afternoon.  Our crew, the FAC, the Gunships, the Special Forces team, and SOG all collaborated to make beautiful music without a single rehearsal.  God was obviously guiding each of us to do our part . . . including bringing Reece for one more mentoring session.  God also kept things quiet for our other Brothers “across the fence” in Cambodia. 

I GREATLY REGRET THAT I CANNOT REMEMBER OUR GUNNERS’ AND FAC’S NAMES, THOSE OF THE OTHER HELICOPTER CREWS, OR THOSE OF THE TEAM EITHER.  HOPEFULLY, ONE DAY I CAN UPDATE THIS WITH THEIR NAMES, BECAUSE THEY WERE THE BEST!!!

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EPILOGUE:  In mid-April 1970, I transferred to the Defense Language Institute (DLI) at the Presidio of Monterey, CA to learn Spanish with my wife for four years in Latin America.  An annual records check showed that I had received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for this mission; the DFC had yet to be awarded (over a year later).  LtCol Von Phul was Aircraft Commander, and I was Co-Pilot on this mission; normally the Aircraft Commander received such a medal, but LtCol Von Phul (the Squadron Operations Officer) apparently deferred and awarded me the DFC for flying the mission’s “action part.”  We never discussed it afterwards . . . he was that kind of a guy . . . a good friend, quiet leader, and great gentleman who with my mentor, Reece McClanahan, gave me the privilege of serving our Brothers.  I thank them, our gunners, the FAC, the Gunships, and the CCS Special Forces who produced “A Different Day.” 

Maurice A. “Maury” Lange, CCS/Green Hornet Pilot, ’69-’70, 09/03/06

HIGH FLIGHT 

Oh!  I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds, -and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of -wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence.  Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air . . . .

 

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark nor eagle flew-

And, while with silent lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God 

John Gillespie Magee, Jr., 06/09/22-12/11/41

Pilot Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force

3 September 1941  

LOW FLIGHT 

Oh!  We’ve been leg-whipped by knives of bamboo

And tap danced in joy in the face of Death;

Now we hurtle down t’wards Earth’s very bowels

To save a team in the name of “Can Do!”

We share fear’s bile, same as the team below

Late in the post noon shadows.  Hov’ring there,

We chase the breath of Death away, and fling

Our Huey lower through surrounding fire . . . .

 

Down, down the bamboo’s dark tunnel of doom

With a hail from above of gunship brass

Where neither friend nor foe can walk

Nor see, from the depth of the grass

Where Life separates from Death, we

Lower ladders and raise up our Brothers.

 

Dedicated to our brave Brothers of MACV-SOG CCS

PLUS Captain Reece McClanahan & LtCol Stephen “Steve” Von Phul 

Maurice A. “Maury” Lange

Maj, USAFRes(Ret)

CCS/20th SOS “Green Hornets,” ’69-‘70

3 September 2006 

With appreciation to the author of HIGH FLIGHT