Daryl Leroy Miller was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, on December 11, 1942. His parents were Owen Hope Miller of West Chester, PA and Kathryn Emaline Fulton of Oxford, PA. The family consisted of Daryl, an older brother, Owen Hope Miller Jr. and a younger sister, Kathryn P. Miller. Daryl's father passed away on April 15, 1995 at the age of 82. His mother continues to live in Muncie, IN, with his sister Kathryn. Growing up Daryl was a Cub Scout with a love for fishing, tennis and archery in which he won several awards and medals. Daryl attended Sharon PA. grade and high schools and went on to graduate from Youngstown University in August of 1965 with a B.S. Degree in Management Accounting. After college Daryl enlisted in the army and in April of 1966 was assigned to rotary wing helicopter training as a member of class number 67-3. He graduated on April 11, 1967 and was awarded his wings and commission as a warrant officer aviator. Flight School, 1966 Following graduation from helicopter training Daryl was assigned to Vietnam. On May 24, 1967 he joined the 281st Assault Helicopter Company in Nah Trang South Vietnam where he received his initial in country training. He was then assigned to the Bandit Platoon as a helicopter pilot in support of the 5th Special Forces operations throughout the country. In early August of 1967 Warrant Officer Daryl Miller was a member of the 281st AHC Project Delta support team under the command of Captain Bob Moberg, operating out of An Hoa South Vietnam under Special Forces Operational Order 7-67, Operation Samuria. On August the 6th 1967 the crew of UH-1D 65-09919 was under the command of WO Gary Omdahl. WO Daryl Miller was assigned as the second pilot, PFC Michael Goffredo was the Crew chief and PFC John Camden Soper was the door gunner. The 281st flight, supported by the Wolfpack gun platoon was in the process of extracting a reconnaissance team in a pick up zone covered by tall trees with sparse foliage. The recon team was in sight with no reported enemy activity. However, the pick up site was located on a long grassy finger running down hill and as such the extreme slope of the site and the high grass made the approach difficult. Viewing this as a routine 281st extraction Captain Moberg released the aircraft commander to make the pick up. WO Gary Omdahl recalls that he brought the aircraft to a hover over the pickup point and was in the process of maneuvering the helicopter backwards toward the slope with the crew chief and gunner checking the tail rotor for clearance. As he moved the helicopter close to the pickup point it suddenly dropped straight down and he recalls that it felt as though it tumbled end over end before coming to a stop down the hill from the pickup point. The crew exited the aircraft and at about the same time it burst into flames. At that point the only injury was to a member of the recon team who was hit by a skid when the helicopter initially lost power. Gary recalls that the injured member of the recon team was the first to be evacuated from the site. Captain Moberg directed the crew to move back to the original pickup location and set the recovery plan in to effect. He then returned to the base camp for fuel and while refueling he was informed that a USAF CH-53 rescue helicopter was en route to the site to recover the crew and the recon team. At this point a Wolfpack gun platoon section, under the command of Captain Fred Mentzer, had refueled and was on site to provide fire support for the recovery operation. The USAF CH 53 arrived on site and begin recovering the injured individual and at least one other member of the recon team. Following their recovery WO Omdahl placed his three crew members on the hoist for pickup while he remained on the ground. As the pickup of the 281st crew got under way the pilot of the CH 53 reported that he was taking fire and almost immediately thereafter reported that he had an engine fire light. Distracted by these events he maneuvered the aircraft away from the pick up point with the cable holding the 281st crew extended and in so doing the three crew members struck a tree, causing the hoist to swing and lag behind the rescue helicopter. The Ch-53 continued in flight and the cable holding the crew was severed dropping the 281st crew to the ground. Captain Mentzer marked the crew's location and a 281st recovery aircraft approached and hovered over the site allowing MSGT Joe Singh of Project Delta to jump into the area to assist the downed crew members. The remaining members of the Project Delta recon team rushed to the location and reported that all three crew members were dead. The 281st recovered their fellow crew members and the remaining members of the recon team without incident. On 0700 hours on August 8, 1967 the members of the 281st AHC gathered at the Chapel of The Green Berets to remember Michael and his fallen comrades. CHAPEL OF THE GREEN BERETS MEMORIAL SERVICE IN MEMORIAM Warrant Officer Daryl L. Miller 12 November 1942 - 6 August 1967 Private First Class Michael A. Goffredo 7 October 1946 - 6 August 1967 Private First class John C. Soper 13 March - 6 August 1967 281st Assault Helicopter Company MAJOR ALLEN L. JUNKO Commanding 0700 Hours OPENING SENTENCES INVOCATION SCRIPTURE MEMORIAL PRAYER TAPS BENEDICTION 8 August 1967 CHAPLAIN CHAPLAIN CHAPLAIN CHAPLAIN CHAPLAIN BUGLER CHAPLAIN DETACHMENT B-52 5TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP (AIRBORNE), 1ST SPECIAL FORCES APO 96240 24 August 1967 AVGB-B-52 Major Allen Junko 28lst Assault Helicopter Co. APO 96240 Dear Major Junko: During the conduct of OPERATION SAMURIA over the period 15 July 1967 through 18 August 1967 we, the Delta / 281st Team, exacted a heavy toll from the enemy. Today, our combat team enjoys a reputation never approached before and one which my be hard to exceed in future operations. It is very clear that our successes are directly attributable to the supreme efforts of men such as Warrant Officer Daryl L. Miller, Private First Class Soper and Private First Class Goffredo who lost their lives in aggressive pursuit of their highly dangerous and demanding jobs. It is difficult to fill the void created by their absences with words of condolence; however, for the lack of any approach more effective, my men and I offer our most profound sympathy. Charles A. Allen Major, Infantry Commanding The account of this incident is based on US Army records of the operation and incident provided by Col. Bob Mitchell, Historian, 281st AHC Association and the on site observations of the following individuals: Major Robert Moberg, Commander, 281st AHC Fight in support of Project Delta. Major Barclay A. Boyd, Commander, 281st Gun Platoon (Wolfpack). Captain Fredrick Mentzer, Commander, 281st Gun Platoon Section (Wolfpack) and the 281st AHC investigation officer responsible for the official investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. WO Gary Omdahl, Aircraft Commander, UH-1D 65-09919. Benjamin G. "Ben" Sharrow, who served with Michael, John and Daryl in 1967 provided the 281st AHC Memorial Service Program and letter from Major Allen. Mr. R. L. (Bob) Lytle who grew up with Daryl and obtained his photos and background information. With the help of the above individuals this document was prepared by: Col. John W. Mayhew, USA Ret. 2021 Huntwood Drive Gambrills, MD 21054 410-451-4087 Fax 410-451-4079 E-Mail: jmayhew@huntwood.net

 

A memorial initiated by his unit association, The 281st Assault Helicopter Company Association Contact Us 28 Nov 2001

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