James Richard Fortenberry

The database page for James Richard Fortenberry

02 Jan 2004 Never Forgotten James Richard Fortenberry, assigned to Headquarters Company, 15th Medical Battalion, was lost on 09-24-1970 when the rotating main blades from his UH-1H collided with the blades from another UH-1H which was parked in the adjoining revetment. James' helicopter was taxiing out of its revetment, getting ready for another mission. Upon impact the blades flexed and as James was standing outside his helicopter, the blade impacted James' body killing him. I served with James Fortenberry when we were both flying as crew chiefs with the Medevac Platoon. We lived in the same hootch. After I rotated back to the United States on August 1970 I learned of his death from a friend who had remained behind. I will always remember James. He was a fun loving red-headed Texan who was enjoyable to be around. I know he was looking forward to getting back to Texas when his time was up. But as fate would have it, I survived the war and he didn't. I will always be eternally grateful to James for doing his duty. He made the ulitmate sacrifice. I will never forget him.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is a friend who served in Vietnam with him, Lawrence M. Moss andrewjedi@iwon.com  2 Jan 2004

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 01/03/2004