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HMM-364

HMM-364 - a United States Marine Corps helicopter unit - flew support missions in Vietnam for those Marines who refer to themselves as "Grunts". It is with a great deal of respect and admiration that we say, "HMM-364 supported the Grunts at the platoon level and below in Vietnam."

Nicknamed the "Purple Foxes", HMM-364 utilized two basic types of aircraft to render this support. Beginning in 1964, the Purple Foxes utilized first the UH-34 and then - after returning to the States in October of 1966 for training on the CH-46D helicopter - the Foxes returned to Vietnam to be stationed in Phu Bai in November of 1967.

In the fall of 1968 HMM-364 was in a state of transition. Personnel who had come over with the unit and completed their tours were now going home. Faced with a shortage of pilots and maintenance personnel and with too many assigned aircraft, HMM-364 found itself struggling. Pilots who never dreamed they would be flying CH-46Ds ended up doing exactly that because of these shortages. The "Grunts" at the senior commands, III MAF and 1st Marine Air Wing, could have cared less why any unit was having a hard time. They wanted aircraft available twenty-four hours a day ... period. Then, for some mysterious but wonderful reason, these new faces along with the pilots and crews who had not rotated back, started to make a real name for the Purple Foxes.

Just after Christmas 1968 the unit moved south to Marine Aircraft Group 16 at Marble Mountain. Flying re-supply, troop-lifts, and medevacs primarily, the unit operated twenty-four hours a day in all weather. Frequent missions resulted in casualties both killed and wounded. As adversity increased the spirit of the squadron never lagged, it only became stronger. The men became closer and more dedicated. When things were really bad through the spring of 1969 the troops (especially the maintenance people) would pull off miracles every night. The aircraft would always come up when needed. Aircrews who needed rest would be in the briefings absolutely bone tired from a long tiring mission the previous day.

The Purple Foxes always knew how to laugh. When they were at the O Club or E Club, other pilots and aircrew like to sit with them because of their spirit, playfulness, and when Foxes were around ... something (fun) always happened! The hallmark of this squadron was its outstanding men and their dedication to each other, the squadron, and the Corps. Over thirty years later, the loyalty, dedication and love for HMM-364 is as strong and vibrant as ever ... as it always will be.

Those who support the Purple Foxes will never forget those we lost during those years in Vietnam. We are proud to tell their stories on The Virtual Wall to insure they will never be forgotten.

The following men died while serving with HMM-364:
10/11/1965 UH-34D (Combat loss)	SSgt Robert L Womack
10/27/1965 UH-34D (Combat loss)	Cpl Gary L Dowell
12/03/1965 UH-34D 148762 (Combat loss)	Cpl Warren L Dempsey 1st Lt Stanley G Johnson Capt Kirk I Riley Cpl Robert H White
12/08/1965 UH-34D 145768 (Non-combat loss)	Cpl John T Corle
12/13/1967 Ground casualty (Non-combat loss)	Cpl Calvin D Dawkins
02/05/1968 CH-46A 153986 (Combat loss)	Capt John J Burke Cpl Gerald W Conner Cpl Norman O Copeland Major Leonard R Demko Sgt James D Shelton
05/26/1968 Ground casualties (Combat loss)	SSgt Jack D Deese Cpl Ronald E Grier Cpl James E Johnson
01/26/1969 CH-46D 153997 (Combat loss)	LCpl David P Dolan LCpl James E Hannibal 1st Lt John F Meyer PFC Charles L Peddy LCpl Michael J Schickel 1st Lt David W Sterling HN Richard M Lubin
02/07/1969 CH-46A 153334 (Combat loss)	Capt Ernest E Bartolina Cpl Charles W Miller 1st Lt Russell E Moke LCpl Rodney G Shank HM2 Walter R Tyrrell HN Gary N Young
04/11/1969 CH-46A 153332 (Non-combat loss)	1st Lt Laurie E Barnes SSgt Beverly L Barnhart 1st Lt Donald C Bosbery Sgt Charles H Meeks
04/14/1969 CH-46A 153361 (Combat loss)	LCpl John E Banister Sgt Robert M Gendron 1st Lt Michael K Nickerson HM2 William L Sperb
06/07/1969 CH-46D 153397 (Non-combat loss)	Major John C Archbold PFC Bruce A Pankuch
07/27/1969 CH-46A 154018 (Combat loss)	1st Lt Robert W Armenio GySgt Raymond Gibel LCpl Michael F Gramlick Cpl John H Harris Cpl John T Mc Daniel 1st Lt Daunt B Sanders HM1 Charles L Hackworth
10/05/1969 CH-46A (Combat loss)	LCpl Howard T Lenhard
11/29/1969 CH-46D 153996 (Combat loss)	1st Lt Kenneth B Kozai Cpl Richard J Leffler Sgt John E Mattingly Cpl Henry B Parsons 1st Lt Dennis J Reardon HM3 James M Garrett CDR Melvin Lederman
12/28/1969 CH-46A 153379 (Non-combat loss)	PFC William L Beadnell 1st Lt Charles K Butler 1st Lt William P Higgins SSgt Robert R Swain
03/08/1970 CH-46A (Combat loss)	1st Lt Joseph W Devlin
08/07/1970 CH-46D 152576 (Combat loss)	1st Lt James F Gillies Sgt Richard M Seymore

The following men died after serving with HMM-364:
04/20/1971 CH-46D 154839 (Non-combat loss)	1st Lt John T Wallace

VISIT

the Purple Foxes

and

the ladies who remember and support them,

the Purple Foxy Ladies

This page was written by
Frank Gulledge and Courtney Payne of HMM-364
and
Purple Foxy Lady Stephanie Hanson.