Vietnam Helicopter Crew Member Stories: Volume 5

By H. D. Graham

This book is a collection of fascinating short stories, photos, and documents furnished by the heroic and courageous men that served as air or ground crew members in Vietnam. The chopper units were located throughout Vietnam. During the course of the war, we lost at least 5,139 helicopter aircrew members and at least 588 ground support crew members. In fact, the true number of helicopter air and ground crew members killed or missing in action will probably never be known. Those crew members accounted for a large percentage of all the enemies killed during the war. Those courageous men were American heroes then and will always be American heroes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 21, 2018
• ISBN: 9781984533913

H. D. Graham

HD Graham is a retired USAF E9 and a retired educator. He enjoyed a distinguished and exciting military career prior to turning his attention to education. During his career as an educator, he taught nearly twenty years, mostly at Harrisonville-Scipio Elementary School. He graduated from Scipio High School when he was sixteen years old. He is from a his, mine, and our family that totaled twelve boys and five girls. He traveled extensively while in the military and especially enjoyed the island nations and the people throughout the Pacific area and Southeast Asia. He has two bachelors degrees and a dual masters degree. He had six brothers retired from the various branches of the armed forces. Between his brothers and himself, they accumulated more than 170 years of military service to the United States of America.

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Copyright © 2018 by H. D. GRAHAM.

Library of Congress Control Number:      2018906701

ISBN:                  Hardcover                              978-1-9845-3389-0

                           Softcover                                978-1-9845-3390-6

                           eBook                                      978-1-9845-3391-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Rev. date: 07/25/2018

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Why I Wrote This Book

A Salute to Our Helicopter Crew Members

Jere D. Fat Albert Anderson , B Troop, 1/9th Cav Division and 179th Assault Support Helicopter Company

Robert A. Bob Barrett , HMM-164 and HMM-265

Gary A. Hawkeye Coffman , 20th Special Operations Squadron

Fred J. Cook , 20th Special Operations Squadron

John O. Evans , 173rd Assault Helicopter Company

Harold D. HD Graham , Det 1, 6222 ABS; Det 1, 23 ABG; Det 1, MAAG; 1131st USAF Special Activities Squadron

Zane O. Hendrix , 20th Special Operations Squadron

Warren J. Jackson , 173rd AHC, 223rd Aviation Battalion

Bobby L. McBride , 128th Assault Helicopter Company

Jackie A. McCourt , 129th Assault Helicopter Company

James B. Jim McKenzie, Jr , 57th Assault Helicopter Company

Charles H. Charlie Nesbitt , 57th Assault Helicopter Company

Harold W. Dan O’Daniel , 176th AHC and 14th Aviation Battalion

Lane R. Ramjet Ramsdell , 114th Aviation Company

Scott L. Scotty Schenck , 20th Special Operations Squadron

Robert P. Capt Bob Strout , 20th Special Operations Squadron

William E. Bill Tippins , 1st Squad, 4th Cav. 1st In Div & 1st Aviation Brigade

Glossary Of Terms And Military Jargon

About the Author

DISCLAIMER

T his book is a collection of factual and fascinating short stories provided by our helicopter air and ground crew members that served in Vietnam during the war there. Not only did all these men serve in Vietnam, but many of them also served in and supported our Special Forces (SF) and other Special Operations personnel. Those men were also fighting in a couple of secret wars in Laos and Cambodia with the intent of trying to destroy the enemy sanctuaries with little or no knowledge or support of the American people. Our enemies retreated to those two countries to rest, rearm, and regroup before attacking in Vietnam again. It was almost an impossible task to neutralize our enemies there because of the restrictions our forces were required to operate under. Still, our helicopter crews accounted for approximately 53 percent of all the enemy casualties during the war.

I am not personally responsible for the content in each of these stories in this book, other than my own. The personal experiences I had and the various incidents I witnessed while serving in Vietnam have convinced me that every story took place as stated. I have included all the stories that were available to me at the time this volume of the book series was sent to the publisher. If I have slighted any of the men that furnished these stories, please forgive me because it was not intentional.

DEDICATION

I t is my honor and pleasure to dedicate this volume of the book series to our helicopter air and ground crew members that served in Vietnam. I have always placed the combat chopper crews alongside the outstanding group of Special Forces advisers I worked with at Qui Nhon from 29 October 1962 to 29 January 1964. The Vietnam Helicopter Crew Members and the Special Forces troops are the bravest men I know. They are also the greatest, craziest, and most patriotic bunch of men and heroes that I have ever had the honor and pleasure to work with. I don’t think it would be possible to find a finer group of men anywhere.

I also want to make a special dedication of this volume in memory of two of my closest helicopter crew member brothers, Edward I. Arthur and George A. Nutter. My brother, Ed, passed away suddenly on 25 January 2015, and my good buddy, George, passed away on 11 March 2015. Both of these wonderful men had stories in a couple of different volumes of this series of books. Even though both are no longer with us, they will be my brothers and buddies forever.

Ed was like an older brother to me for many years. He and his lovely wife, Gerry, have visited at our homes in Ohio and Florida many times over the last few years. When I would sometimes get discouraged with putting the various volumes of these books together, Ed provided the encouragement I needed to keep going. He insisted that I was doing a great service to all the men that served as helicopter crew members by recognizing them and their many accomplishments while serving in Vietnam. I miss him, his phone calls, his visits, and his encouraging words so very much.

George and I had been great friends and helicopter crew member brothers for years and years. He was the first individual to encourage me to write the various volumes about the experiences our helicopter crew members had while serving in Vietnam. George has some great stories in volumes 1 and 3. His story, titled Infantry 101, appears in volume 3 and is a classic. I have had hundreds of comments about that story. George’s world revolved around his wonderful wife, Pam; their children; and their grandchildren. I miss our phone conversations, his emails, and the humor he found in almost every situation.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to acknowledge and thank each individual that contributed to the writing of volume 5 in this series of books about the chopper crew members’ experiences in Vietnam. First, I want to thank the helicopter air and ground crew members that submitted many exciting and fantastic stories so that their amazing, heroic, and courageous contributions to our efforts in Vietnam will never be lost. The experiences these men had while serving in Vietnam are almost beyond belief, and their stories are recognized as a national treasure. To the men that served and fought there, they look upon their accomplishments with a great deal of pride, and rightly so. They were American heroes then and will always be American heroes.

Many thanks also goes to the chopper crew members for trying to keep me straight on the technical jargon used in this book. Being a USAF trooper is somewhat like being on a different planet when trying to understand some of the lingo primarily used by the chopper crews. The only exception is probably our USAF helicopter crews assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron, or our Air Rescue and Recovery (ARR) units.

I feel fortunate and extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to spend many months with the US Special Forces in Vietnam at Qui Nhon from October 1962 to January 1964. Initially, I served as an adviser to the Montagnards in weapons and tactics. I also served as a medic to the Montagnards and on the recon teams many times. I spent a lot of time with various chopper crew members and was an in-flight adviser on H-21s and Hueys off and on, starting in January 1963 until August 1963. We ferried Montagnard recruits to Qui Nhon for training and then back to their villages in the central highlands. In October 1963, I was also a crew member on an Army OH-13, dropping leaflets over a hamlet. The hamlet was on the verge of being overrun with two Special Forces medics trapped inside. Again, in 1967 and 1968, on my second tour to Vietnam as an adviser, I was on choppers many times, but only as a passenger hitching rides from location to location. Almost all those choppers were crewed by US Army personnel. During both of my tours in Vietnam, the Special Forces troops and the crew chiefs and door gunners taught this old country boy a lot of things about life and living. And for that, I will always be grateful. I fondly look upon all of them as my brothers. I am sort of getting along in years now and have forgotten many of the things they taught me, but gratefully, I remember most of the men because they have had such a positive impact on my life.

This volume starts off with some great stories from Jere D. Fat Albert Anderson, B Troop, 1/9th Cav and 179th Assault Support Helicopter Company (ASHC). Jere has an exciting story about some 105 mm and 155 mm rounds they were carrying on a mission that was nearly his last one. He also has some nice stories and photos in volume 3.

Robert Bob A. Barrett, HMM-164 and HMM-265, follows Jere with some great stories and several photos. Bob has some great stories in volume 2 also, and the stories he submitted for this volume are just as exciting. After his crew had the shoot-out at Ban Lanh, as told in volume 2, Bob’s chopper was sent to Dong Ha, north of Hue, near the DMZ (demilitarized zone). The first operation he was involved in was Operation Hastings. Most trips to Dong Ha were five to seven days. They usually flew all day long on missions, and night missions were common. Many trips were made to Razerback Ridge with five-gallon cans of water for the American troops fighting there. On a night mission that also included a stop at Khe Sanh, his chopper hit another helicopter and crashed.

Gary A. Hawkeye Coffman, 20th Special Ops Squadron also has some grand stories. Gary starts his chapter off with some background information, and then he tells us how he got to Vietnam. That is followed by a short story about how he earned his nickname of Hawkeye. Then he has an exciting story about a Vietnamese farmer taking some potshots at his helicopter, and Gary shot up the tractor the farmer was operating. His next story is about an unexploded 62 mm shell that embedded itself in the chest of one of our soldiers. Then he has another Soc Trang story about a care package from home. Next, Gary talks about his return to the States and his assignment at McConnell Air Force Base (AFB), Kansas, and that is followed by a wrap-up to his chapter.

Fred J. Cook, 20th Special Operations Squadron, has only one story to tell, but it is such a wonderful story that my readers will read it over and over again. The story is about the rescue of a MACVSOG recon team, known as RT Chisel, from a riverbank simply saturated with Viet Cong and North Vietnam Army (NVA) soldiers trying to capture the team or shoot down his chopper to wipe his crew out. I am sure this story will generate many emails and phone calls to me, not only about the heroics of the chopper crew but also about how the SOG team members and the chopper crew members are doing now. The pilot of the helicopter received the Medal of Honor for his heroics that day, and every crew member was honored with medals as well. In my opinion, each and every one of those crew members should have received the Medal of Honor.

John O. Evans, 173rd Assault Helicopter Company, has a couple of real nice stories. The first one is about losing his buddy when the helicopter crashed into the Quang Tri River in the I Corps area of Vietnam. His second story is about a very caring and loving letter he sent to his mother while serving in Vietnam. John also has several stories in volume 3.

Harold D. HD Graham, Det. 1, 6222 ABS; Det. 1, 23rd ABG (USAF Special Operations units) and Det. 1, Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) (Headquarters Command), has several nice stories, photos, and other documents. He was attached to the 1st Special Forces Mobile Training Team (MTT) at Qui Nhon as a weapons and tactics adviser and trainer to the Montagnards from October 1962 to July 1963. Then he was on a recon team until he rotated back to Okinawa in September 1963. On 10 September 1963, HD was assigned to the new USAF Advisory Det. at Qui Nhon as the noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of the orderly room. Soon afterward, he was loaned to the Special Forces recon teams, off and on, through 9 January 1964. His first story centers around the dubious welcome he received from the Special Forces when he arrived at Qui Nhon on 31 October 1962. His next story is about being trained as a weapons and tactics instructor. That is followed by an exciting story about being trained in hand-to-hand combat. He also included several other stories. HD has stories in volumes 1 and 3 as well.

Zane O. Hendrix, 20th Special Operations Squadron, tells us about his assignments in Vietnam and Thailand that were pretty much interconnected. He was initially shipped out to Nha Trang in October 1966, and his unit flew missions from Saigon to Da Nang. He also spent a lot of time at Udorn in Thailand while with the 20th USAF Special Operations Squadron (SOS). He returned to the States and went to Sheppard AFB, Texas. Then he was stationed in Thailand starting in October 1968 with the 21st SOS. While there, he was a crew member on the CH-3C as a flight engineer and door gunner.

Warren J. Jackson, 173rd Assault Helicopter Company (AHC), 223rd Aviation Battalion, has several nice stories, starting with a little background information. That is followed by a story about his assignment to Vietnam. Then he tells about his assignment at Dong Ha Air Base. Next, he talks about his first exposure to the horrors of war. Then he has a short story about a missing buddy. That is followed by a nice story about the accidental loss of a friend. Warren then tells about serving in the grades of E-1 through WO-5, followed by a story about dealing with stress and fatigue. Warren served as an enlisted trooper for many years and was then commissioned as a Warrant Officer. He retired from the US Army as a WO-5 after serving for more than thirty-two years.

Bobby L. McBride, 128th AHC, has an exciting story about hunting pigs from his helicopter and one about the discovery of a claymore mine factory. He also has a nice poem that I am sure you will enjoy. That is followed by a list of things that every man needed to learn to survive in life and also as a helicopter crew member in Vietnam.

Jackie A. McCourt, 129th AHC, volunteered to serve in Vietnam while attending the Helicopter Mechanics School at Fort Eustis, Virginia. He arrived in Vietnam just before the Tet Offensive in 1968. Although he was initially assigned as a helicopter repairman, the unit was so short of crew chiefs and door gunners that he was placed on flying status and became an aircrew member during the Tet Offensive. The various choppers he crewed were shot down three times, but he escaped with only being shook up and perhaps a few bruises. He earned six Air Medals while working as a crew chief and door gunner.

James B. Jim McKenzie Jr., 57th AHC, starts his chapter with a brief introduction, followed by a short story about getting to Vietnam. That is followed by a mission in Laos and how the mission turned sour. He continues with the location and launch of the helicopters. Then he goes into the actual rescue and how the mission continued. He also has a nice wrap-up to his chapter. I personally know Jim, and he is a great guy. Jim retired from the US Army, as a Lieutenant Colonel, with more than twenty years of service.

Charles H. Charlie Nesbitt, 57th AHC, was on the same mission with Jim and was the pilot of the aircraft. His own version of the rescue is somewhat longer and in more detail. I am sure both accounts of the mission will be especially enjoyed by other crew members with similar experiences. After serving on active duty, Charlie served in the National Guard for a number of years. Charlie was also a very successful politician in the state of New York for many years.

Harold W. Dan O’Daniel, 176th AHC, has some very nice stories, and they begin with an introduction that is followed by a short story about his basic training. Then he has a nice story about being selected for escort duty. That is followed by a story about how he got his assignment and headed to Vietnam. Then he talks about his duties at Chu Lai and becoming a door gunner. He also has a nice story about working with the 176th AHC and how much he enjoyed being a part of that great unit. Dan also has several great stories in volume 3. His chapter ends with a nice wrap-up.

Lane R. Ramjet Ramsdell, 114th AHC, has some great stories that you are sure to enjoy. He starts off with an introduction and then tells about basic and tech training. Then he talks about his mother asking him not to go to Vietnam and that his dad was a little upset as well. He really enjoyed his thirteen months with the 114th AHC deep in the delta area of Vietnam. Next, he explains his worst experience while in Vietnam and also a big mistake made by his crew when they assumed that a farmer would not be a threat. He then has a story about a trail bird going down and that is followed by a great story about a very strange mission. He finishes his chapter with some information about his lovely wife and children. He also includes a couple of nice photos.

Scott L. Scotty Schenck, 20th Special Operations Squadron, furnishes some information about himself and then about going to Vietnam. That is followed by his responsibilities when he first arrived at this highly classified unit. Then he has a short story about several hours spent on a US Navy gunboat that was also enjoyed by three of his USAF buddies. He ends his chapter with some final comments. I personally know Scotty and his wonderful wife, Judy, and they are an awesome couple.

Robert P. Captain Bob Strout, 20th Special Operations Squadron, has several great stories starting with a little about Captain Bob. Then he has a short story about traveling to Vietnam and being assigned to a highly classified USAF helicopter unit. Next, he has a nice story about the 20th Special Operations Squadron that not many people knew even existed at the time. That is followed by his first rescue of a downed aviator. His next story is about the rescue of six Special Forces troops that were on a mission in Laos. It ends with the story about heading home after the successful rescue. Captain Bob wraps up his chapter by telling the readers about his life and his family after leaving the USAF. I have met Bob a couple of times, and he is a great guy. He is also a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel.

William E. Bill Tippins, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, has some very exciting stories. His dad, Gene Tippins, was a First Sergeant during WWII and was then commissioned as a Warrant Officer in the early 1950s. In the first story, Bill talks about an incident that happened at Phu Loi during refueling and rearming of his chopper. He received the Soldier’s Medal for his heroics during that incident. That is followed by several other great stories.

Again, thanks to all the helicopter air and ground crew members for their many exciting and wonderful stories and the great photos and other documents that are included in this volume. Without those inputs, the various volumes that make up this series of books would not have been possible.

* * *

Author’s Note—Because of extremely serious health problems I have, I expect volume 5 will be the last one written by me in this series of books.

INTRODUCTION

I t seems to many of us Vietnam veterans that our involvement in that war was just yesterday. For a lot of us, our nightly dreams even confirm that belief. However, if we stop and