22 Jul 2003 At about 3 AM on the morning of 26 Jan 1969 two CH-46s launched from Marble Mountain on an emergency medevac mission. The pick-up aircraft, CH-46D BuNo 153997, was crewed by 1st Lt John F Meyer, pilot 1st Lt David W Sterling, copilot LCpl David P Dolan, gunner LCpl James E Hannibal, gunner LCpl Michael J Schickel, gunner HN Richard M Lubin, Corpsman PFC Charles L Peddy, crew chief There was no moon and visibility was limited by haze. As the flight proceeded to the west at an altitude of 3,000 feet, Meyer's aircraft ran directly into the side of Ba Na Mountain, the only terrain feature in the area that extended above 3,000 feet. While it couldn't be proven, it was postulated that Meyer probably was flying instruments and depending on the Danang TACAN for navigational purposes. Other aircrews had experienced Danang TACAN errors of 40 degrees or so in the vicinity of Ba Na Mountain, and post-crash reconstructions of the flight route indicated that a 40 degree lock-off would place the aircraft exactly at the point of impact on Ba Na. The chase aircraft, piloted by 1st Lt Don Robbins, attempted to lower crewman LCpl Curtis P. Knox to the crash site to check for survivors, but when the jungle penetrator cable was fully extended Knox was still 50 feet above the ground. Robbins abandoned the attempt, only to find that the hoist retract was inoperable and Knox could not be hoisted aboard. Knox dangled below the CH-46D while Robbins flew six miles to the nearest secure landing zone, where he gently lowered his aircraft until Knox was safely on the ground. Jimmy Hannibal was better known as "Jiminy Cricket" ... this photo was taken while he was in "A" School, NAS Jacksonville, in the spring of 1967. These seven men, and the other Purple Foxes who served in Vietnam, are remembered by the women who waited at home, whether mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, or friends. Those women, the Purple Foxy Ladies continue to support today's Purple Foxes of HMM-364 as they serve our country. Visit the Purple Foxes on-line or go to our unit page on The Virtual Wall A memorial initiated by the Purple Foxy Ladies Foxyladiesgroup@aol.com

 

21 Feb 2004 I was in Boot Camp and ITR with Jimmy. We called him the "Acorn" for reasons I won't mention. After training, we went our separate ways and I didn't know where Jim had been assigned. I did a tour with Hotel, 2/5 where I survived the Battle for Hue during the Tet 1968 Offensive. Years later, while trying to locate Jim, I learned of his death. Such a tragedy. He was a wonderful human being, a great friend, and a true Marine. God bless you, Jim. Semper Fi! From a friend, Jeffrey Ault maxxbruno@aol.com

 

12 Jul 2006 Jimmy was my first cousin although I never net him (I was just 7 when he died). He was the only son of my aunt Ethel Edwards Hannibal Weber. Jim's dad, Hank, died of a self-inflicted wound about a year after Jim was lost in Vietnam. His mother, Ethel, continued to live in the Mountain View/Sunnyvale CA area for many years. She remarried a retired United pilot, Ed Weber, and after his death moved to the Fargo-Moorhead (MN/ND) area in 2000 to be near her family. Our family, although most of us never knew Jimmy because he grew up so far away, have always felt his loss. From a cousin, Kristi Edwards kristi.edwards@comcast.net

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