05 Dec 2007 John, I remember you as smiling, always a cheerful guy. You made friends easily and you were well liked. I remember the time you asked us to walk with you to upper levels of the Port Authority in New York. I didn't blame you. I wouldn't have wanted to make that walk alone at that time of night either. That was right after we graduated from Lakehurst Flight Equipment school. The last time I saw you was at Quang Tri and you were anxious to start flying as a door gunner on CH-46 helicopters. We chatted for a while and wished each other luck. I never saw you again. I wish I had taken the time to know you better. You were one of the good guys. I know Walt, John, Melvin, Billy, Mitch and I all thought so. And, I know like me, you've been in their thoughts all these years too. You were truly a good Marine and a good human being. You'll never be forgotten. Semper Fi, buddy. George skrg45@earthlink.net

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall The HMM-161 Command Chronology contains the following entries: "17 Oct 68: 1 aircraft missing in marginal weather at last known position was YD0437, time 1855H." "18 Oct 68: The missing aircraft since 161855H [sic] was located at 1130H position YD042374. The aircraft was believed to have hit ridge line in clouds and rain showers with 6 persons on board receiving fatal injuries." while the Air Group 39 Chronology contains "17 October 1968. On a medevac mission in mountainous terrain, the CH-46 Med-evac aircraft went inadvertently IFR and crashed. The wreckage was not located until the following day due to weather." CH-46D BuNo 154794 crashed on a ridgeline about 12 kilometers southeast of Ca Lu. The six men who died were HMM-161, MAG-39 Capt Joseph L. Powell, Alexandria, VA, copilot 1stLt James N. Sweet, South Lima, NY, pilot Cpl John R. Ferrazzano, New Hyde Park, NY, aircrewman LCpl Robert M. Cheek, Wolcottville, IN, crew chief LCpl William D. Frantz, Schuylkill Haven, PA, gunner H&MS-39, MAG-39 HM2 Dayne Y. Scott, Hawthorne, CA, Corpsman

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