16 April 2004 I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you. I miss you every day of my life - and I will always be thankful for the time we had together and for our two sons. They are a credit to you. We now have 5 grandchildren - all extremely smart and good to me. Please watch us from above and keep us safe. We love you dearly. Forever . 31 May 2004 My Dear Gary, It is thirty four years today since your fatal accident. Time passes so quickly but the emptiness lingers on. We all miss you and love you dearly. Our PIK group is getting smaller and smaller but we stay in touch as best we can. You are always in my thoughts and prayers. May you stay close to the Lord and watch over us from above always ... Yours forever ... Elita From his wife, Elita Hults Gregory elitahults@yahoo.com Photo courtesy of his son, Christopher Hults chrishults@yahoo.com

 

Notes from The Virtual Wall On 31 May 1970, a UH-1H (tail number 68-16528) of the 120th Assault Helicopter Company was tasked to provide transportation for an airfield inspection team from the 834th Air Division. The UH-1, call sign DEAN 528, departed Long Binh at 0725 enroute Saigon to pick up the team and departed Saigon at 0745 enroute Vung Tau. The flight proceeded without incident, stopping at Long Binh, O'Rang, Bu Dop, and Loc Ninh. When DEAN 528 departed Loc Ninh enroute Saigon at about 1625 there were thunderstorms in the area. At 1800 the Capital Air Traffic Control Center advised the 120th AHC Operations Center that DEAN 528 had not requested or received flight following enroute Saigon. The 120th AHC initiated telephone and radio searches, but DEAN 528 was not located. Nightfall and adverse weather conditions precluded airborne searches until about 1000 01 June, when the 120th AHC and other units commenced search operations. A 1st Cav Div OH-6A helicopter located DEAN 528 at approximately 1330; the UH-1 had crashed and burned. A 120th AHC UH-1 landed near the wreckage as soon as it was secured by ground forces. The 120th AHC crew removed the bodies of nine men from the wreckage: Aircrew, all 120th AHC CWO John C. Burris, El Dorado, AR, pilot WO James D. Griffin, Blackshear, GA, copilot SP5 Bruce Richardson, Bellport, NY, crew chief PVT Robert P. O'Brien, Whittier, CA, gunner Passengers LtCol John S. Bonner, McAllen, TX, 834th Air Division LtCol Harold J. Shea, South Hadley Falls, MA, 834th Air Division Major Benton F. Asbury, New Albany, IN, 834th Air Division Captain Gary D. Hults, St Louis, MO, Det 11, 1131st Special Acty Sqd SSgt Durwyn L. Wolf, Forest Park, IL, 834th Air Division There were no signs of hostile action against the helicopter and it was supposed that it had gone down as a result of the previous evening's adverse weather. Gary Dean Hults, Captain, U S Air Force, was buried on 10 June 1970 in Site 19, Section H, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri, among other men of honor and integrity.

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