27 Apr 2006 Who was Henry Cousineau? To most, just a name on the Wall. To me, he was a hero before he gave his life for his country and for his fellow soldiers in arms. He was a father, a son, a husband, a neighbor and a hero at all of those. This country was so fortunate to have men like this and though I lost my father a long time ago - I still consider myself to be so blessed. I often wish I knew some of the young men my father spent his final moments with in that ill-fated helicopter. My thoughts and cares for the 58,000 plus families who now have only cherished memories of heroes. Brian Cousineau, Son 02 May 2006 Just to add: As to my father's exact cause of death, I believe the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's description is probable since my father flew many "missions" (as he called them) to assist his adopted service branch - the U.S. Army. I also seem to recall being told that he was the only fatality which may lend more credibility to being killed by groundfire than a crash. On October 27th, 1967 my father received from the First Brigade, 101st Airborne Division the title of "Honorary Screaming Eagle". This certificate was signed by the Commanding General (whose last name I cannot read) "in recognition of outstanding support of the First Brigade." He received the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" posthumously for meritorious achievement in aerial flight in Vietnam on 4 January 1968. From his son, Brian P. Cousineau Warwick, RI E-mail address is not available.

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 6 History for Vietnam contains the following sentence: "Earlier in the same month [Jan 1968], SIX suffered its only combat fatality of two Vietnam deployments when EO1 Henry C. Cousineau was killed by enemy fire while riding in a helicopter." The Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Association has it just a bit differently. They list Petty Officer Cousineau as follows:     "EO1 COUSINEAU HENRY CONRAD G KIA UH-1C C/2/20 ARA 1 CAV" which translates to say that Petty Officer Cousineau was flying as a door gunner in a UH-1C Huey gunship belonging to C Btry, 2nd Bn (Aerial Rocket), 20th Artillery. The 2/20 Artillery was a helicopter unit whose business was armed support for ground troops. While The Virtual Wall cannot say that Petty Officer Cousineau earned Army Aircrew wings it does seem likely that he earned an award that's unusual for a SeaBee - the Air Medal. The casualty record implies Petty Officer Cousineau was killed in a helicopter crash, but available information indicates otherwise - he apparently was hit by ground fire, but the Huey was not shot down.

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