1968
04 Jan 68; Paul
H. Villa Rosa, SFC E-7,
Recon Tm Ldr, David R.
Simons, SGT E-5; Ronald
R. Watson, Sp/4 E-4; Frank
0. Taboada, PFC E-3;
FOB 4, Da Nang, Ops 35, USASF. 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).
05 Jan 68; John
Gallagher, SSGT E-6 of
Hamden, Conn., USASF, Spike Team Ldr, FOB-3, Khe Sanh, Ops 35, and Dennis
C. Hamilton, WO-1,
Pilot, of Barnes City, Iowa; Sheldon
D. Schultz, WO-1,
Pilot, of Altoona, PA.
Earnest Frank Bridges, Jr.,
SFC E-7, Crew chief, of Devine, TX. and James
D. Willamson, SP/4,
Door Gunner of Tumwater, Washington assigned to 411th Transportation
Det., 178th 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.)
12 Jan 68; James
Derwin Cohron, SSGT
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 SSGT 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.
17 Jan 68; Samuel
F. Bench (Officer, rank
unknown), USAF, 20th Tactical Air Support, 0-1E Pilot, FAC
"Covey," Ops 32 (Air Studies Branch), Killed in crash while
trying to land at the Khe Sanh airstrip. KIA-RR.
29 Jan 68; Michael
T. Mahoney, SP/5, and two
Bru Montagnard's,
FOB-3, Khe Sanh, Ops 35, KIA, Remains not recovered. While
on local patrol were 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.
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, MIA- "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
Paksa, 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 Khe 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 closest 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 ancestor 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}
29 Jan 68; Charles
Nichol Tredinnick, SFC
E-7, FOB-3, Khe Sanh, Ops 35, Special Forces Det A-21 "Snake Bite"
team 1st SFGA 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.
29 Jan 68; Gary
L. Crone, SSGT 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. SSGT
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. He was
subsequently intentionally decapitated by the enemy and abandoned for discovery-SSGT
Crone's death was a calculated execution.
29 Jan 68; Charles
Edward White, SFC E-7,
of Bessemer, AL, USASF Medic, FOB-5, Ban Me Thuot, Ops 35.MIA-Presumptive
finding of death. 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", 28 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, Crow 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}.
02 Feb 68; Gilbert
L. Harnllton, 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
19 Feb 68; Douglas
J Grover, SSGT E-6 of
Cortland, NY, USASF, FOB-2, Kontum, Ops 35 and
Melvin
C. Dye, SGT E-5 of Carleton,
Mich. and Robert S.
Griffith, SGT E-5, of Hapeville,
GA, door gunners, and four
SCU Team Members, RT
Main; MIA, Presumptive finding of death. An unidentified
pilot 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, Crow 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}.
21 Feb 68; Paul
Melvin Douglas, SSGT
E-6, US Army Long Range Reconnaissance Spike Team Leader, FOB-3 Khe Sanh, Ops
35, KIA-RR. Presumptive finding of death. SSGT
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.
21 Feb 68; Robert
N. Baker, SFC E-7,
USASF, FOB1-KIA
27 Feb 68; Duane
H. Snyder, SFC E7,
USASF, B-56, 1ST Co Cmdr-KIA
29 Feb 68- Harold
C. Whittaker, SSGT E-6,
USASF, B-50-Recon Mission-KIA
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 his own claymore while on security patrol outside of
FOB-3.
06 Mar 68; Robert
Lopez, Maj 04 of
Seattle, WA, USASF, Commander FOB-I, Phu Bai, Ops 35 with William
Henry Seward, Maj 04,
USMC of Atlanta, GA and Gary
Lewis Colombo, Lance
Corporal (LCPL, E-4), USMC, Aviation Branch, Ops 32 (Air Studies Branch) were
aboard a CH-46. Maj Lopez-KIA-RR, Maj Seward and LCPL Colombo KIA-Remains not
recovered. 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 started to descend then fell to the
earth, exploded, and burned.
22 Mar 68; Estevan
Torres, SFC E-7, Recon
Tm Ldr; Linwood Martin,
SFC E-7, Asst Tm Ldr; John
C. Wells, SP/4, Recon
Tm Radio Operator, USASF and
"Scout, (names
and ranks not known), FOB 5, Project OMEGA (B-50)-Operation "Daniel
Boone" Ban Me Thuot, Ops 35. KIA'S-RR. The
team was conducting Recon mission in Northern Cambodia and was destroyed by
enemy action. FOB-5's first men to die. The camp was named "Camp
Torres" in honor of the team leader. 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 SSGT Jason "Woody" Woodworth: "I was a good
friend of Estevan "Toro" Torres for 187 days. I can remember the day
we were told he was KIA. Butch Fernandez, a real close friend and team mate of
Toro's 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]
27 Mar 68; Johnny
C. Calhoun, SSGT E-6 of
Newman, GA, USASF, FOB-I, 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. SSGT 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 did 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 SSGT Calhoun was not made.
28 Mar 68; George
"Ron" Brown,
SFC E-7 of Holly Hill, FL; Alan
"Al" Lee Boyer,
SGT E-5 of Missoula, Montana; 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) indig's. They were assigned to
FOB 4 but launched out of NKP. They were inserted by chopper (AF 20th
Helicopter Squadron call sign "Pony Express" CH-3(?) On a wire-tap
mission several clicks NE of Tchepone. Around 11AM local time on the 28th,
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 indig's 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.
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.
10 Apr 68; Samuel
Joseph Padgett, SFC E-7
of Tulsa, Oklahoma, George
N Deverall, CAPT 0-3; Aubrey
A. Bryan, SFC E-7; Charles
F. 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, 219th
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
carrying five newly assigned team leaders from FOB-4 to MACSOG Recon School at
Kham Duc when the aircraft was disabled by enemy fire and crashed and burned.
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 Quamo was
positively identified).
15 Apr 68; Charles
M. Corry, S/5; Daniel
F. Sandoval, SP/5 and Dennis
R. Thorpe, SGT E-5,
FOB-3, Khe Sanh, Ops 35, KIA inside the compound by rocket shrapnel. KIA-RR.
18 Apr 68; Stefan
Mazak, SFC E-7, USASF,
5th SFGA, Ops 35. KIA-RR
21 APR 68; Samuel
R. Hughes, SP/5, USASF,
FOB-3, Khe Sanh, Snake Bite Team, 1st SFGA, Okinawa, Ops 35. Killed
due to shrapnel and had been slightly injured on four previous occasions inside
the FOB-3 compound and had solicited SFC Robert Skully, senior medic for Purple
Hearts, he held a dubious FOB record and had received five purple hearts for
injuries inside the FOB-3.
04 May 68; Dai
Uy "Cowboy" Loc (Sp? pronounced Lock),
Capt, 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 Capt Don Martin, Crow Six: I remember a Dai Uy 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 Uy Loc. I salute his service and his memory}.
[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.
01 May 68; Joseph
L. Shreve, 1LT 0-2,
USASF, FOB-2, Plt Ldr-KIA
02 May 68;
Leroy N. Wright, SFC
E-7 and Lloyd F.
Mousseau, SSGT 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. 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, Leroy Wright was struck in the head by a
single enemy AK bullet, killing him. Lloyd Mousseau, 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 Benavidez,
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. Benavidez then stumbled to LZ to assist those
survivors and was shot again. Five minutes later, Benavidez was shot once more
and another aircraft crashed. A lone helicopter then arrived with Ronald
Sammons, a Green Beret medic, and assisted Benavidez recover the crew members
and members of the recon team. During this process, while carrying Mousseau,
Benavidez was clubbed in the head by an NVA AK, knocking Benavidez 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 Benavidez survived to face
a year of hospitalization mending a total of seven major gunshot wounds,
twenty-eight shrapnel holes and a bayonet wound. Roy Benavidez 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 17th 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 one of the last recipients of the Medal Of Honor for the Vietnam War, being
awarded to him by President Ronald Regan thirteen years after the fact.
04 May 68; Kenneth
M. Cryan, SP/5,
Assistant Tm, Paul
Chester King, PFC E-3,
Tm Radio Operator of Waltham, Mass USASF, Spike Team Alaska, FOB-1, 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 Cryan 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.
12 May 68; Ronald
J Miller, SFC E-7,
USASF, FOB-1, KIA while on a company-sized operation.
20 May 68; Robert
D. Plato, MSG E-8,
Hatchet Force, KIA-RR. John Hartley
Robertson, SFC E-7, USASF, FOB-1, Phu
Bai, 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.
22 May 68; Jerry
Lee Chambers, MAJ O4 of
Muskogee, Okla., William
Thomas Mc Phall, CAPT
0-3 of Chattanooga, Tenn., Thomas
B Mitchell, CAPT 0-3 of
Littleton, CO; Calvin C
Glover, SGT E-5 of Steubenville,
OH; William Hender
Mason, SSGT, E-6 of
Canden, AZ; Gary Pate SGT
E-4 of Brooks, GA; John
Quincy Adam, AFC E-3 of
Bethel, KS; Thomas E
Knebel, AFC E-3 of
Midway, AZ; Melvin D
Rash, AFC E-3 of
Yorktown, VA; USAF C-I 30 Blackbird Aircrew and one
passenger, Ops 32 all
classified as MIA. Operating
out of Nakhon Phanom and Ubon RTAFB, Thailand flying a mission over Laos crashed
into a heavy jungle area. Another aircrew observed a large fire on the ground in
a mountainous area with heavy jungle foliage, enemy anti-aircraft fire prevented
a closer look; however, Airborne search A/C and night photography could not
confirm the fire was the results of a crash, but did believe the fire pattern
fit that of an aircraft crash. No evidence of any parachutes or emergency
distress calls.
23 May 68; Glenn
Oliver Lane, SFC E-7 Tm
Ldr, of Odessa, TX;
Robert Duval Owen, SSGT
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 20th, 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 22nd, 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.
30 May 68; Robert
H. Sanders, SSGT, E-6,
USASF. 5th SFGA, Det B-56, Project SIGMA, FOB-6, Ho Ngoc Tao, Ops 35, KIA-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.
03 Jun 68; John
Salazar, SFC E-7, Ops
35, FOB 6 (Ho Ngoc Tao) Project SIGMA B-56, KIA-RR
13 Jun 68; John
J. Kedenburg, 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 Kedenburg
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 Kedenburg’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.
15 Jun 68; Francis
B Manuel, MSG E-8,
USASF, PLT LDR, RIF, KIA
21 Jun 68; Charles
D. Boyer,
SFC E-7, USASF, C&C, Sqd. Ldr,-KIA
02 Jul 68; Clarence
C. Ratliff, MAJ 04,
USASF, 5th SFGA, Ops 35, KIA-RR
04 Jul 68; John
B Reed, CAPT 0-3,
USASF, 5th SFGA, Ops 35, KIA-RR
23 Jul 68; Thomas J. Tomczak, SGT
E-5, USASF 5th SFGA Ops 35, FOB-2. Kontum, KIA-RR
05 Aug 68; Thomas
0. Hudson, 550, B-6,
USASF, 5th SFGA, FOB, Marble Mountain, Da Nang, Ops 35, KIA-RR
23 Aug 68-;Talmadge
H. Alpin, Jr., SSGT
E-6, William H. Bric,
III, PFC E-3, Thadeusz
M Kepezyk, SFC E-7; Donald
R Kerns, SFC E-7, James T Kickliter, SGT
E-5; Charles R. Norris,
MSG E-8; Richard E. Pegram, Jr. 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; James W. Smith,
SGT E-5; Robert J.
Uyesaka, SGT E-5 Howard
S Varni, SSGT E-6, Harold
R. Voorheis, SFC, E-7; Albert
M. Waker, 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).
23 Aug 68; Stanley
L. Sieting, SGT E-5.
USASF. 5th SOA. CCN. Ops 35. KIA-RR (He
was killed in another action and in an other area than those during the attack
on FOB-4 (CCN) compound).
24 Aug 68; John
B Miller, 1LT 0-2,
USASF, Marble Mountain, KIA
30 Aug 68; Tadeusz
Sosniak, MSG E-8,
USASF, 5th SFGA, SOG, Saigon, KIA-RR
02 Sep 68; James D. Peoples, 1LT
0-2, USASF, FOB-1-KIA
05 Oct 68; James Daniel Stride, SSGT
E-6 of Denison, TX; USASF 5th SFGA, FOB-4, Da Nang, Ops 35 and Albert
Dwayne Wester, MAJ,
Helicopter Pilot of Terrell, TX; Gregory
Paul Lawrence, SGT E-5
of Mineral Point, Missouri USAF, 2Oth 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
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).
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.
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, SSGT Robert
Loe, the team leader aided Copley evade the enemy. Loe then administered 1st
aid, the enemy continued to pursue the team, Loe ignored the enemy and continued
1st 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 16th without success. See individual
memorial this site.
23 Nov 68; James R.
Golding, SSGT E-6. USASF. CCC.
Kontum, Ops 35, Killed-RR. Killed by a
Terrorist Viet Cong hand grenade in a village outside of the CCC compound wile
celebrating a successful recon op with some of his Chinese Nung team members.
Although armed, SSGT Golding was caught off guard by a Viet Cong who observed him
in the restaurant.
27 Nov 68; Richard W.
Casey, SGT E-5, USASF CCS, Ban Be Thuot, Ops 35, KIA-RR.
30 Nov 68; Samuel
Kamu Toomey, III, Maj 04, CCN
S-3, Operations Officer; Raymond
Clark Stacks,
1LT 0-2 of Tenn.; Klaus Dieter Scholz,
SSGT E-6 of Texas; Arthur Edward Baden Jr. SGT E-5 of New Jersey, Richard
Allen Fitts, SP/5 of
Mass.; Michael Howard
Mein, SP/4 of
New York; Gary Russell Labohn, 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 fire, crashed and exploded 10 miles
inside Laos east of Tchepone. No ground search was initiated 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.
13 Dec 68; John
Scoff Albright II, 1LT 0-2 of Huntington,
WV; Joseph Peter
Fanning, 1LT 0-2 of Long Island City, NY; Fred Lee Clarke,
Tech-SGT of Troutman, NC; Morgan Jefferson
Donahue, 1LT 0-2 of Alexandria, VA; Samuel F
Waler, Jr., SSGT E-5, USAF,
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.
14 Dec 68; Unidentified
American Lieutenant, (Note: See 15 Dec 68, Lt Lenchner) USASF, CCN, Ops,
35, Killed in Action. 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 booby trap 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 severely 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. Col Nicholson takes the event and
distorts them to fit his book, and inserts himself in the action in a number of
actions when he was not involved making the book a very limited resource as a
reference.
15 Dec 68; David A.
Lenchner, 1LT 0-2, USASF, CCC (?), KIA (NOTE: Lt
Lenchner
may be the Lt killed referred to in the narrative regarding the unidentified Lt,
killed on 14 Dec 68-see above).
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.
19 Dec 68; Ben Ida,
CW-2, Co-Pilot/Gunner, Cobra Gun Ship, 361st Aviation Company Escort (ACE), Pink
Panthers, 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 Ida 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.
29 Dec 68; Robert
Francis Scherdin, PFC E-3, USASF, CCN, Da Nang, Ops 35 MIA-Presumptive
of death. PFC Scherdin was the Asst Tm Ldr operating 4 miles inside Cambodia
west of Dak To when Team Leader took 4 men to check out an area and left PFC
Scherdin with the rear element. The rear element came under heavy automatic
weapons fire as they were moving up to the Team Leader’s position when he was
wounded. Montagnard Commando Nguang was Scherdin fall on his right side, tried
to help him stand, but Scherdin only groaned and would not get up. The Commando
was then wounded himself at which time he realized he had also been left by the
Vietnamese and then left Scherdin and was extracted with the team. The Team
Leader’s element was extracted first, then the rear element, but PFC Scherdin
was not recovered and left behind at the time due to the heavy enemy activity, a
search of the area the next day could not find PFC Scherdin and the rescue team
had to evacuate due to heavy enemy activity.
30 Dec 68;
James R
Jerson, 1LT 0-2, USASF, Hatchet Force, PIt Ldr, CCC,
and an
unknown number of SCU, Kontum, Ops 35, KIA-RR. Lt Jerson and his
hatchet force with SFC Robert "Bob" Howard was inserted into the area
where PFC Scherdin, who was lost the day before, to recover PFC Scheridn’s
remains. Knowing they might be ambushed, they both climbed a hill, a Chinese
claymore exploded, wounding Howard and Lt Jerson, leaving them without a weapon.
When Howard regained consciousness, he observed the NVA using a flamethrower on
the SCU’s bodies. Howard confronted these NVA and they walked away, he then
moved Lt Jerson to an area with thick brush as NVA passed them to engage the
main SOG force and then worked his way down hill where he found a single Green
Beret. Securing a .45 from the Green Beret, he and the SF trooper fought their
way back to where Lt Jerson was hidden, killing a number of NVA. After six hours
of fighting on the hill, Howard, Lt Jerson was back in a friendly perimeter,
urging Howard to keep up the defense and denying morphine for his pain. Howard
had once again been wounded a number of times and was in severe pain (Howard had
been wounded in several other engagements with SOG previously). The hatchet
force was assaulted a number of times during the night with Howard calling fire
from the "Spectre" C-130 through the defensive position, twice that night. A
night extraction was executed via light provided by dropped parachute flares.
Howard was the last aboard and lying aboard the aircraft, holding Lt Jerson
until he passed out. When Howard became lucid he learned Lt Jerson had succumbed
to his injuries. (Note: Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor).
