24 June 2003 A neighbor, friend, and brother in arms. AN HONORABLE MAN I grew up with Gerry and knew his family well. The Vilas family are some of the finest people you would ever want to know, and it showed in Gerry. He served his country with a deep sense of loyalty, profesionalism, honor, and respect. When he died , this country lost one of its finest sons, and God took home to heaven an honorable man.

 

Notes from The Virtual Wall On 19 Sep 1971, a UH-1M (tail number 65-09493) of the 335th Assault Helicopter Company was shot down in Kien Giang Province, RVN. Three of the four crewmen died in the incident, while the copilot (name unknown) survived. The dead were WO1 Gerald Frank Vilas, pilot; died of gunshot wounds after the crash SP5 Lynn Jones, gunner; died in the crash SP5 Fredrick Anthony Thacker, crew chief; died in the crash The bodies of the three men were recovered. Gerald Frank Vilas was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery, St. Clair County, Michigan. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross with OLC; the Bronze Star; the Air Medal with 19 OLCs; and the Purple Heart.

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