MACV-SOG MIA/KIA Chronological List

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, 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, 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, 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).

17 Jan 68-Samuel F. Bench (Officer, rank unknown), USAF, 20^th Tactical Air Support, 0-1E Pilot, FAC "Covey," Ops 32 (Air Studies Branch), 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 not 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).

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- "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}

29 Jan 68- 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).

29 Jan 68- 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).

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, 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}. 

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, 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. 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, 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 woodline 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, 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).

21 Feb 68- Robert N. Baker, SFC E-7, USASF, FOB1-KIA

27 Feb 68- Duane H. Snyder, SFC E7, USASF, B-56, 1^ST Co Cmdr-KIA

29 Feb 68- Harold C. Whittaker, SSG 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, Comrnander FOB-I, Phu Bai, Ops 35 with William Henry Seward, Maj 04, USMC of Atlanta, GA and Gary Lewis Colombo, Lance Corporal (LPCL, E-4), USMC, Aviation Branch, Ops 32 (Air Studies Branch) were aboard a CH-46. Maj Lopez-KIA-RR, Maj Seward and LPCL 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 stared to descent 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 "Scouts" member, names and ranks not known), FOB 5, Ban Me Thuot, Ops 35. KIA'S-RR (The team was conducting Recon mission in Northern Cambodia. The team destroyed by enemy action. FOB-5's first men to die. The camp was named "Camp Torres" in honor of the team leader).

22 Mar 68- Torres, Estevan , 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 "Scouts" member, 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. The team 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 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 team mate 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]

27 Mar 68- Johnny C. Calhoun, SSG 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.. 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 "Ron" Brown, SFC E-7 of Holly Hill, FL; Alan "Al" Lee Boyer, SGT E-5 of Missoula, Monana; 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.

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 Jospeh Padgett, SFC E-7 of Tulsa, Oklahoma, George N Deverall, CPT 0-3; Aubey 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, 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).

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).

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 Wi "Cowboy" Loc (Sp? pronounced 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}. [From all SOG members: We pray for his soul and may his spirit soar in the heavens. Seconded by Tom Hunter]).

01 May 68- Joseph L. Shreve, 1LT 0-2, USASF, FOB-2, Plt Ldr-KIA

02 May 68- Leory 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. 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.

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.

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 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.

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 MePhall, CPT03 of Chattanooga, Tenn; Thomas B Mitchell, CPT 0-3 of Littleton, CO; Calvin C Glover, SSG E-5 of Steubenvill, OH; William Hender Mason, SSGT, E-5 of Canden, AZ; Gary Pate SGT E-4 of Brooks, GA; John Ouincy 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, 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.

30 May 68- Robert H. Sanders, SSG, 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 B-7, Ops 35, FOB 6 (Ho Ngocv 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 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).

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, CPT 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, FOBA, Marble Mountain, Da Nang, Ops 35, KIA-RR

23 Aug 68- Talmadge H. Alpin, Jr, SSG E-6, William H. Bric, III, PFC E-3, Thadeusz M Kepezyk, SFC B-7; Donald R Kerns, SFC B-7, James T Kickliter, SGT E-5; Charles R. Norris, MSG B-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, SSG 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 SSG 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 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

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, 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.

23 Nov 68- James R. Golding, SSGE-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, SSG 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 S-3, Operations Officer; Raymond Clark Stacks, ILT 0-3 of Tenn; Klaus Dieter Scholz, SSG E-6 of TX; 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 Russel 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 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).

13 Dec 68 - John Scoff Albright II, 1LT 0-2 of Huntington, WVA; Joseph Peter Fanning, 1LT 0-2 of Long Island City, NY; Fred Lee Clarke, Tech-SGT of Troutman, NC; Morgan Jefferson Donahue, ILT 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 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. 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, ILT 0-2, USASF, CCC (?), KIA (NOTE: Lt Lencher 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), 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 gunshipA/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)

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).