With Doug's passing we lost a great soldier and a true hero. It is with deep gratitude that we are remembering SFC Douglas Glover and all the others who served and died in times of war so that we may enjoy the Freedom and Liberties that make the United States of America great. THE MISSION A UH-1D (hull number 66-16282) of the 57th Assault Helicopter Company, 17th CAG, was assigned to an emergency extraction mission 4 miles inside Laos west of Dak Sut. They were to extract a reconnaissance patrol team consisting of three US Special Forces personnel and 3 indigenous personnel. SSG Melvin Dye (crew chief) and SSG Robert Griffith (door gunner) of the 57th AHC were two of the four aircrew. As the helicopter picked up the team it received heavy small arms fire. The aircraft nosed over, impacted the ground and exploded, bursting into flames. The pilot, co-pilot and one passenger managed to leave the aircraft. Because of the fire and exploding small arms ammunition, rescue attempts for the others were futile. Six U.S. and three indigenous personnel remained aboard the helicopter. When search teams reached the site the same day, they could not account for the other U.S. personnel. Five were accounted for, but could not be recovered because of intense heat. SSG Dye, SFC Glover, and SSG Griffith were classified as Missing In Action. From the POW Network

 

A memorial from a comrade's friend, Clark T. Ballard, Jr., M.D., Colonel, U S Army (Ret) 66 Leschi Drive, Steilacoom, WA 98388-1514 n6qg1@yahoo.com  8 Jul 2001

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