21 Feb 2005 REMEMBERED

 

Notes from The Virtual Wall A UH-34D helicopter (BuNo 145802) from HMM-363 was shot down while involved in a troop lift during Operation TEXAS. Ten Marines are known to have died in the crash: HMM-363 1stLt Thomas A. Bird, Pittsburgh, PA GySgt Calvin K. Chow, Honolulu, HI GySgt Benito Igarta, Honolulu, HI 1stLt Noah M. Kraft, Gainesville, FL K Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Marines Pfc Louis A. Ambrose, Sewaren, NJ LCpl Dennis R. Andrew, Easton, PA LCpl James H. Cavicchi, Weymouth, MA Sgt John A. Mitchell, Columbus, OH Pfc Bruce L. Watkins, Atlanta, GA Pfc Billie J. Williams, Kansas City, KS However, the HMM-363 Command Chronology contains the following entry: "At 21:1610 Hours thirty UH-34D's from HMM-261, HMM-363, and HMM-364 escorted by four armed UH-1E's of VMO-6 lifted two companies plus a command group (405 troops) of 3rd Bn., 1st Marines from Ky Ha Air Facility to an unsecure LZ at BS 494 806. Automatic weapons and .50 caliber fire was received from numerous areas in close proximity to the LZ. One HMM-363 aircraft was hit by a severe burst of fire as it approached the LZ, and rolled inverted and crashed at BS 495 815. Three crew members and seven troops were killed upon impact. The aircraft exploded and burned upon impact with the ground. The pilot was thrown clear, and was lifted to Bravo Med. at Chu Lai, but subsequently died." All four crewmen and "seven troops" died - but only ten men can be identified. Who was the eleventh? Nine additional men from 3/1 are known to have died that day; all are coded as ground casualties. But if the HMM-363 Chronology is correct, one of the following men actually died in in the crash of 145802: H&S Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Marines Sgt Marvin E. Glassburn, Marion, IN HM3 Garold A. Hann, Aumsville, OR K Co, 3rd Bn, 1st Marines Pfc William G. Blanchard, Syracuse, NY Pfc Stephan J. Martin, Los Angeles, CA LCpl Michael G. Murray, Richmond, VA Cpl Stanley Riffle, Columbus, OH Cpl Walter R. Shortt, Augusta, MO LCpl Walter G. Shults, Oakland, CA Pfc Richard D. Swayze, Santa Maria, CA Additional information is available on the Pop-A-Smoke site.

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