[Vhfcn-l] TINS Rescue of Wolfman 44

[Arnold B Christensen]

Sadly Richard her (124) Original Flight Engineer. Arnold J.Johnson 
passed away some time ago.  He was quite the guy to know.  A streak 
of  comedic humor inside him that you could not find anywhere or 
anyone in the Battalion.  He was famous  in his morning greeting to 
1st Sgt Bolen as we were standing formation wondering where Arnold 
was. Then a voice would query..."Draw 1st Sgt", in a loud 
voice.  There would stand Arnold the short standing in the middle of 
the street in a famous gunslinger pose, hand on the butt of his .38 
smiling.  Bolen had several replies to Arnold but mostly it was "Get 
in the formation Johnson!"  We never witnessed a shoot out, mostly 
because he pulled the same thing on several of the guyz if they look 
too serious.  I know for a fact that he obeyed the rules and that his 
pistol was never loaded when he was on the Golf Course.  I know that 
because there was one noon time we landed 140 and pilots had already 
left the flight line and me, Larry and the Gunner were getting ready 
to walk to the mess hall and as I step off the ramp there is Armold 
walking by when he whips around to the right and hand on his pistol 
butt and gets into his gunfighter stance and says, "Draw Chris!"   I 
look at him real serious like and asked him, "That pistol of yours 
loaded Arnold?"  He gets a hurt look on his face and says, "No Chris, 
we can't have weapons loaded in base camp!"  I say, "We just landed a 
little while ago Johnny and I have not unloaded my pistol yet.  What 
say you about that?"  His hands and arms suddenly go into Seagull 
salute and he smiles and says, "I think we should go and have 
lunch."  Ok I told him and we lead the other two guys up to the 
Company Area.   He and I had a close relationship.  One day down on 
the flight line he was looking glum and I asked him if he was 
alright.  He said he had some weird news in a letter he got from his 
wife.  He went on to say she wrote that her Mother had gone to the 
Palm Reader and the lady told his MIL that he would die in Vietnam 
and his wife was worried for him. I told him not to worry he was too 
tough to die in Vietnam.   He smiled and asked me if I really thought 
that?  Hell yeah Arnold, and me too!  Of course his wife and MIL were 
never told by any of us other crew members that his ship,124 was 
known as the lead magnet. I was unusual that 124 never came home 
without a new hole someplace!

Arnold got sick and had to be med evacuated to Japan and I was asked 
to take over the FE position on 124.   My first thought was..."oh no, 
not the lead magnet!" But I did it for at least 25 or it might have 
been 50hours.  I think we flew it into a Periodic Inspection and 140 
was coming out of the periodic going on it. Got sent back to 140.
During the time I was FE on 124 she never took a actual 
round.  However when Larry and I rotated 140 Never took a round for 
our whole tour.  Got fired on but by people that did not know how to 
lead and sight and shot. Those guys did not get even a Marksman 
rating.  Made me and Larry happy I know.

Next time I saw Arnold was at Eustis in 68 when I was going to TI 
school which because I was a hard stripe SSG at that time...upon 
graduation I became one of the early new Chief Tech Inspectors.   One 
day a bunch of my Classmates and I went to the snack bar and as I 
come thru the door I hear...Hey there's Chris!  I about passed out 
because there were a bunch of my old "family" from 65-66.  They were 
now instructors! Amoung them was Arnold J. Johnson.  Got a soda and 
sat down with him.  He asked how I was doing. Good I replied because 
finally after a couple of years I get some answers from you.  I told 
him that when he went off to Japan to get well I took over as FE on 
124.  Near the time before it was time to go back on 140 when we were 
shutting down from a mission on 124 I was back under #1 engine while 
it was shutting down and something caught my eye below the tailpipe 
and about head level in the curve of where the ramp door would be if 
you ever shut it.  Was a bullet hole.  Never noted it before and did 
not hear a round hit.   Broke my record as I am thinking a ship I was 
crewing out of the many I subbed on and never took a round and how 
could we not hear to sound of a round hitting the ship.  I looked for 
the whole day trying to find the impact inside of the hole but never 
did find anything.  So Arnold...do you remember a hole in that 
position.  That hole appeared shortly after we got in country and I 
looked all over in the ramp area just as you did.  Nothing 
Chris!  Well it was just a nice round hole in sheet metal and we did 
not have time to fix it so I let it be and you are the first one to 
mention it.  Stop worrying Chris, it was an early wound.  And there 
us two sat laughing our butts off.

I believe he retired as a Sgt Maj. as he told me in a phone call when 
we were living in Arlington, TX and of all things this ex-Hooker was 
working for Bell Helicopter and could see retirement from Bell in his 
not too far away future at that time.

Just a bit more history and if i can remember  I am trying hard to 
remember what ship and where in its history in 66 did is swat a C130A 
right wing while we were at flight power off to the right side of the 
runway where the 130 took off sliding off to the right side of the 
center line which put the external fuel tank inside the rotor disk 
area of the after rotor disc.  We taught that guy a lesson because 
the tip weight continued on and cracked the main spar of it right 
wing and we got to meet the guys who were to replace the whole right 
wing.  I had that Minnie stroke back at the end of September and I 
have found it did a wipe on some parts of my grey matter.  Things 
like what ship was it and now as I am typing this was it 124?  BTW 
Richard I am doing well.  Can still walk a straight line, and am 
allowed to drive the Gangsta Car.  I have straightened myself out as 
to what I eat and taking the medicine I am suppose to take.  Plan to 
last another 20 years and 3 months.  I have not partaken of any more 
Chocalate Dipped Walmart donuts since the episode. Promise made to 
the Imposter Wife.  She doesn't get off that easy as I plan to be 
here a long time.

Hope all is well with you and your family and everyone else the same 
thing.  I just noticed I address this to Richard and the whole 
Net.  Will leave the Net on the address line as you never know if 
another Original First Hooker in Vietnam shows up.  Remember that a 
whole battalion of Hookers brought the First Chinooks in country back 
in Sept 65

Chris the Bigfoot







At 11:27 PM 12/14/2019, Richard Lewis wrote:
>Thanks for the story, I knew 124 had gone down once before I arrived 
>but now I know "the rest of the story".
>
>
>Richard lewis
>Msg, USA {ret}
>
>On Saturday, December 14, 2019, 10:18:23 AM MST, Arnold B 
>Christensen via Vhfcn-l <vhfcn-l at lists.vhfcn.org> wrote:
>
>
>   No they did not Carl me being at times an L-20A Crew Chief in
>Germany.  But more important to me in 65-66 as a CE/FE on one of the
>first Chinook Battalions  Fat Lady into Vietnam and finding out what
>somebody below sending up green balls of destruction possibly if they
>got lucky what it would mean. Loud noise as the round passed close by
>and you noted green color.  I never saw that in a couple of years as
>a Crew Chief flying around the NY City airspace on my CH21C.  Biut
>you do your tour of duty and you hear the stories of birds getting
>shot down and rescues mounted not by order but whole aircraft
>companies having just the one thought of rescue of their buddies down
>someplace and ready to go, fire this thing up and just go do it.  I
>witness it in the Highlands at night when one of our sister company
>Hook got shot down on approach to an Artillery placement with a sling
>load of 105 nasty gash stuff.  Bird landed on the load and suddenly
>the crew was not considered Aviation guyz, but were defenders of an
>artillery base in the middle of nowhere while back at the Base Camp
>nobody had to look for volunteers.  Help was standing all around
>armed and ready. Had Sir Charles known what was getting to come and
>get their guys he would have put out the word...do not shoot down a
>1st Cav Helicopter.  Cooler heads did get what would happen in order
>and there was not a massive air assault into the LZ.  All of them did
>survive the Hook burned to the ground.  Then there was the time one
>of our own ships got shot down and hit the ground on its wheels and
>its internal load of a 105 Gun and basic load of ammo internally
>loaded, and a pilot from another unit saw it and say a very large
>group headed toward the ship but they were wearing black pajamas. The
>rest of that mission was still on the ground miles away and with the
>same sort of loads on board waiting to go on the mission but suddenly
>the mission changed.  Get the guns off the ships and ammo we got to
>go get the people.  The Artillery Crews are sitting there wondering
>what the hell is going on.  But back in the day when everything was
>loaded internally you have never seen such a hustle and bustle to off
>load the guns and ammo and get ready to go get our friends out what
>would soon become one hell of a killing field.  Again cooler heads
>came up with a better plan. It ended up with the guyz on that Hook
>getting their big load and its ammo off the ship and set up ready to
>start firing on whoever was wearing pajamas.  The Brigade command had
>sitting around someplace nearby a bunch of Hueys and Infantry waiting
>the word to start their air assaults into some place
>nearby.  Gunships were on hold waiting on original orders and
>observation aircraft were waiting on the outlying areas around the
>lone Hook with a 105 loaded with a round in it ready to fight to the
>end if needed.
>   Everything was in place for a rescue before Sir Charles got near
>the Hook and its load of crew of the ship and crew of the
>gun.  Eventually I think it was two Hueys took off to where the Hook
>was down.  There was back and forth radio with the Hook.  Hueys
>swooped in and loaded up everyone and a revised air assault stated
>into the area where the fat lady Tail # 124 sat like  a Lonesome
>Dove. The Hook and the guy and ammo was saved and to two crews both
>aircraft and Gun were save with not even a scratch.  There was a
>very heavy loss of enemy  in the end.
>
>Those things were always in the back of my mind when flying as a 1st
>Cav flight crewmember.  You had a great bunch of guys were willing
>and able to come and get you and bring you home if you ever made it
>to the ground.  It is amazing how us Aviation Crewmembers acted and
>what the Division did to support guys on the ground out there that
>should not be, even if it was dark. Puff the Magic Dragon would be
>there above you. Artillery rounds would be protecting you even if an
>artillery unit had to be moved to within range from you. Jets would
>be dropping bombs around you. Cargo aircraft would be Low Level
>resupply of ammo to you .
>This mission I just talked about was the first Nightime Artillery
>move ever made, and me and Larry's Fat Lady were the first ship in to
>do it  someplace outside of Plekue. All of it happened, including
>dragging the piggy back load of ammo for the 105 we were slinging
>thru the tree tops on approach to LZ italy, or LZ Boot. That was back
>in 67.  Memories!
>
>Chris the Bigfoot
>
>At 11:16 AM 12/11/2019, you wrote:
> >Thanks for sending such a heartfelt story. Fixed wing Army crews don't get
> >enough credit.
> >Carl Crisp
> >SP5, CE
> >Knight 186
> >114th AHC
> >Vinh Long '69-'70
> >
> >On Wed, Dec 11, 2019 at 11:00 AM Darryl James via Vhfcn-l <
> ><mailto:vhfcn-l at lists.vhfcn.org>vhfcn-l at lists.vhfcn.org> wrote:
> >
> > > I wrote this article for the VHPA Aviator. It was published in the most
> > > recent edition. Hope you enjoy.
> > >
> > > Rescue of Wolfman 44
> > >
> > > Darryl James
> > >
> > > Americal Divarty Air 68-69
> > >
> > > Midland, Texas
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > By A. Darryl James, VHPA # L08838
> > >
> > > This story was told to me by my friend Warren Fuller (VHPA # M13995) who
> > > flew with me at Americal in his first tour. We drove Loaches 
> with Americal
> > > Divarty Air Section out of Chu Lai in I Corps in 1968 and 1969. CPT
> > > Fuller's
> > > second tour was in 1972 and 1973 flying the Army King Air variant, RU-21D
> > > near the DMZ with North Vietnam. He was with the 138th RR Avn. Co. out of
> > > Phu Bai and later they moved to Da Nang when the NVA came 
> across the DMZ in
> > > October 1972. His mission flying the RU-21D was Airborne 
> Direction Finding.
> > > The aircraft utilized an airborne radio direction finding system called
> > > 'Laffing Eagle.'
> > >
> > > The aircraft was configured with radios and electronics positioned along
> > > one
> > > wall of the passenger compartment with two operators monitoring the
> > > electronics for enemy radio activity to get position fixes and targets.
> > >
> > > He typically flew these missions simultaneously with an OV-10, 
> forward air
> > > controller. The RU21D would find enemy radio positions and the 
> OV-10 would
> > > investigate potential targets. He called his OV-10 mission 
> partner his 'sky
> > > brother,' as they would only talk and saw each other's aircraft 
> in the air
> > > on missions. When their aircraft were in the Area of Operation, 
> they would
> > > announce their call signs and altitudes. They would remain at different
> > > altitudes for safety. His frequent mission partner was CPT Frank Eagan,
> > > USAF, call sign Covey 64 and back-seater, CPT Jon Patterson, USMC, call
> > > sign
> > > Wolfman 44. CPT Fuller's call sign was Vanguard 969. CPT Fuller received
> > > the
> > > DFC for his efforts in managing the rescue of the shot-down pilot in
> > > hostile
> > > territory.
> > >
> > > December 19, 1972
> > >
> > > Warren Fuller climbed out of bunk and checked the time on his large gold
> > > and
> > > silver Fossil watch he bought at the ROK PX in Da Nang on his first tour
> > > driving the Loach. He jumped out of bed and stretched. It was still dark
> > > with no sign of the approaching dawn. He showered, shaved and met up with
> > > his co-pilot, CW2 Robert Collins for breakfast at the Officers 
> Club. After
> > > breakfast, Warren returned to his hootch and strapped on his M1911 Colt
> > > pistol and holster. He draped his chicken plate over his shoulder and
> > > grabbed his M16 and threw a bandoleer of M-16 ammunition over his other
> > > shoulder. In his first tour, Warren carried the M1921 Thompson 
> machine gun.
> > > He longed for that gangster gun but could not get his hands on one this
> > > tour. He grunted carrying all that heavy gear and sauntered down to
> > > Operations.
> > >
> > > He walked in and nodded to CW2 Collins. He no soon set his gear down and
> > > was
> > > barked at by his CO, Major Charles Simerly who was sitting at his desk,
> > > "About time you got here Fuller."
> > >
> > > Fuller looked at his watch, "What the hell, Sir. My fancy watch says I am
> > > not late. Why are you so grumpy at 'O Dark Thirty' this morning?"
> > >
> > > "I am just messing with you. You and Collins are to take 521Z 
> and surveille
> > > within Sector IA just south of the DMZ. There you should meet 
> up with your
> > > Air Force sky buddy on Fox Mike 75 kHz channel."
> > >
> > > "Roger, Boss," replied Fuller."
> > >
> > > "And Captain, watch your ass. We lost an F4 there last week."
> > >
> > > "Always Boss." Fuller turned to Collins and asked, "Did you get 
> the weather
> > > briefing, Bob?"
> > >
> > > "Roger, Cap. No weather concerns."
> > >
> > > "Good let's go."
> > >
> > > "They retrieved their flight helmets and walked down to the flight line.
> > > They met their crew chief who went over aircraft logs and exterior
> > > preflight
> > > walk around with them. Inside the cabin, two electronics operators;
> > > Intercept Operator, Sp5 Don Munn, and Direction Finding Operator, Sp5 Ed
> > > Noltensmeyer, sat at their stations. They looked up as Fuller and Collins
> > > climbed in.
> > >
> > > Fuller quipped as he hefted his heavy gear on board, "How is it hanging
> > > this
> > > morning, Gents?"
> > >
> > > "Good, Cap," they replied.
> > >
> > > "We will be surveilling Sector IA this morning. Keep us out of 
> trouble, you
> > > hear?"
> > >
> > > "You got it, Sp5 Munn replied.
> > >
> > > "Always," replied Sp5 Don Munn.
> > >
> > > "Just another dull day in paradise," quipped CW2 Robert Collins.
> > >
> > > "Yeah, whatever, let's get this pig in the air," stated CPT Fuller.
> > >
> > > Fuller climbed in the left seat and Collins the right. Collins then went
> > > through the checklist with Fuller as they started up the engines on the
> > > U21.
> > >
> > > Fuller pressed the radio button on his control yoke, "Da Nang 
> Tower this is
> > > Vanguard Niner, Six Niner, requesting permission to taxi, over."
> > >
> > > "Niner, Six Niner, you are cleared to the active, runway three 
> five right.
> > > Winds are from the northwest at 10 knots. The altimeter is two niner zero
> > > zero. Information Romeo."
> > >
> > > "Roger information Romeo."
> > >
> > > "Da Nang Tower, Vanguard Niner, Six Niner is holding short of 
> runway three
> > > five right."
> > >
> > > "Vanguard Niner, Six Niner, Da Nang Tower, you are cleared for takeoff.
> > >
> > > Fuller pushed the throttles forward and lifted off. Collins pulled up the
> > > gear and flaps as Vanguard 969 turned right and climbed to 10,000 feet.
> > > Collins tuned the FM radio to 75 kHz. Fuller saw this and keyed 
> the FM and
> > > said, Vanguard Niner, Six Niner is approaching Sector I Alpha to work at
> > > Angles 10 (10,000 feet MSL)."
> > >
> > > "Roger, Vanguard Niner, Six, Niner, you got Covey Six, Four 
> with you today
> > > ol' buddy. I am at Angles 10 but will slide down to Angles 9."
> > >
> > > "Roger, Covey Six, Four, replied Fuller.
> > >
> > > "The Air Force & Marines have arrived, look out behind your left side ol'
> > > buddy."
> > >
> > > To Fuller's shock there was an OV-10 just a few feet off his 
> left wing. He
> > > replied "What the F**k. Are you crazy? Back off you nitwit!"
> > >
> > > "Vanguard Niner, Six Niner, Easy does it wise guy. The Air 
> Force taught us
> > > how to fly."
> > >
> > > "Yeah, Six, Four, but we are not the F**King Blue Angles."
> > >
> > > "I just wanted to see what you Army pukes looked like. Hey what brown bag
> > > lunch did the Air Force give you today?" Asked Covey 64.
> > >
> > > "The usual gourmet fare, tuna fish, crackers and a sucky can of peaches
> > > that
> > > I never eat," replied Vanguard 969.
> > >
> > > "Hey I love those peaches," replied Covey 64.
> > >
> > > "Hey Ass Holes this is Wolfman Four, Four in the back seat. I too
> > > especially
> > > like them ol' peaches."
> > >
> > > "You both can have them," replied Vanguard 969.
> > >
> > > real realclose to you? Close enough to smell the tuna fish. 
> Hell I knew you
> > > were having tuna fish already."
> > >
> > > This is Wolfman Four, Four, tell you what, I'll just open the hatch and
> > > grab
> > > them off your wing when we come back."
> > >
> > > "Hey Vanguard Niner Six Niner, before we leave, let me ask you 
> a question,
> > > Now what exactly is it you're doing up here with all those 
> antennas hanging
> > > off of your wings?"
> > >
> > > "Covey Six, Four you ask me this every day. Your shtick does get old ol
> > > buddy. I don't know how many times I have told you these are 
> not antennae.
> > > Their cooling fans. You know that ice cream you enjoy at the 
> Officer's Club
> > > in Da Nang has to be chilled at a certain altitude temperature and that's
> > > why we have these cooling fans."
> > >
> > > "That never was funny Niner, Six, Niner! Silly actually, your 
> shtick always
> > > sucked. Hey ol' buddy did I tell you I am getting pretty short, 
> just thirty
> > > short days and a wake-up and I am going home."
> > >
> > > "You lucky devil you. I have a long way to go." Fuller paused then said,
> > > "Be
> > > safe, Amigo. Hey, Six Four, are we going to work today or what?"
> > >
> > > "Yeah, oh buddy, find me a target to work."
> > >
> > > The OV-10 pilots gave him a thumbs up, did a double squelch break on the
> > > radio, then drifted below and eased to the left of the U-21.
> > >
> > > Thirty Minutes Later
> > >
> > > Sp5 Don Munn poked Sp5 Ed Noltensmeyer seating next to him and 
> said, "Ed I
> > > got something. Ed also picked it up spun his dials creating a 
> signal null,
> > > pushed a button, and a printed slip of paper with the shot direction and
> > > aircraft position came out. He pushed his intercom switch and said,
> > > "Captain
> > > we got something come to course two five zero and we will shoot another
> > > fix."
> > >
> > > "Wilco," replied Captain Fuller.
> > >
> > > Ten minutes later, Fuller switched radios and pressed his radio 
> button and
> > > said, "Covey Six Four, this is BAMA..I have coordinates."
> > >
> > > "This is Covey Six, Four. Go ahead BAMA..ready to copy."
> > >
> > > "Roger Covey Six, Four, Coordinates one six foxtrot lima one three five
> > > seven eight niner."
> > >
> > > "This is Covey Six, Four, I have Coordinates one six foxtrot 
> lima one three
> > > five seven eight niner."
> > >
> > > This is Bama. That's a good copy.
> > >
> > > Several minutes later, Covey 64 radioed standby fighter bomber support.
> > > "Jay
> > > Hawk Niner, Two, this is Covey Six, Four, I have enemy artillery along a
> > > tree line, will mark with Willy Peat (white phosphors rockets), Over.
> > >
> > > "Roger, Covey Six Four, the lead fighter replied. Two minutes later, he
> > > radioed, "Talley Ho Willy Peat...rolling in hot."
> > >
> > > Covey 64 circled the target and keyed his mike, "This is Covey Six, Four.
> > > Good shooting Air Force. Thanks for your help today. You are cleared to
> > > base.
> > >
> > > "Roger that Covey Six, Four, the Air Force is here to please.
> > >
> > > Cover 64 double squelched his radio and drifted away south.
> > >
> > > Twenty Minutes Later
> > >
> > > Fuller and Collins's helmet headsets suddenly came alive over the guard
> > > radio, "Mayday, Mayday, This is Covey Six Four, we have been hit with an
> > > anti-aircraft rocket east of Dong Ha, turning east."
> > >
> > > "Covey Six Four, this is Vanguard Niner Six Niner. We are 
> heading your way.
> > > Say altitude and status."
> > >
> > > "Vanguard Niner Six Niner, good to hear your voice. We lost the port
> > > engine,
> > > struggling with control and have a whole panel of caution lights flashing
> > > at
> > > me. We are at 8,000 feet and descending."
> > >
> > > "Roger, ol' buddy hang in there, we see you up ahead. Be there is ten
> > > mikes."
> > >
> > > "Aircraft on guard, this is Centaur Three."
> > >
> > > "Centaur Three, this is Vanguard Niner, Six, Niner."
> > >
> > > "Vanguard Niner, Six, Niner, We are 'balls to the wall,' and coming your
> > > way. What kind of aircraft are you?"
> > >
> > > "Uniform two one, Over.
> > >
> > > "Roger, Vanguard Niner Six Niner, we are a flight of two, Hueys 
> out of Tan
> > > My. We are heading your way to assist."
> > >
> > > "Roger, Centaur Three."
> > >
> > > CWO Joe Bowen, call sign Centaur 3, of F Troop 4th Cav flying the right
> > > seat
> > > of his Huey headed north. His flight of two UH-1D's pushed 
> ahead toward the
> > > developing drama in the sky near Dong Ha.
> > >
> > > Covey Six Four, this is Vanguard Niner, Six, Niner. I have you 
> insight ol'
> > > buddy I am descending towards you from the southeast."
> > >
> > > "Roger, Niner, Six, Niner. I'm descending through two thousand. We will
> > > eject at eight hundred feet."
> > >
> > > "Roger, Covey Six Four, we are diving through five thousand and 
> will follow
> > > you all the way down. Chopper help is on the way!
> > >
> > > "Vanguard Niner Six Niner, We are punching out!"
> > >
> > > "Roger, Covey Six Four, We will escort you down, my friend. God's speed!"
> > >
> > > Fuller said anxiously to Collins on the intercom, "Bob, I only see one
> > > shoot."
> > >
> > > "Shit, I only got one chute," he replied.
> > >
> > > They saw the stricken OV-10 pass across the shoreline and crash into the
> > > South China Sea. Other assets listening on guard to the developing scene
> > > offered came on the radio offering help. A Navy Destroyer 
> turned to assist,
> > > jet fighters that were assisting Covey Six Four earlier zoomed overhead
> > > making a lot of noise to deter enemy on the ground and a ground commander
> > > on
> > > the beach offered assistance. The radio became a chaotic jumble of
> > > transmissions. CPT Fuller declared himself on-site commander to gain
> > > control
> > > of the airwaves. From that point on coordinated efforts to assist.
> > >
> > > Meanwhile, Fuller had his hands full flying as he descended lower.
> > >
> > > CWO Collins in the right seat pointed and yelled over the 
> intercom, "Cap I
> > > see a rocket coming toward us."
> > >
> > > Fuller turned and descended to the deck evading the handheld SA-7 rocket
> > > only to be shot at by small arms fire.
> > >
> > > Collins said, "Shit, Cap, we were not designed to be down here 
> in the weeds
> > > with bad guys shooting at us."
> > >
> > > It was reported that at least three SA-7 rockets were fired at 
> them as they
> > > flew on the deck.
> > >
> > > Jon Paterson now on the ground spoke into his handheld emergency radio,
> > > "Vanguard Niner, Six, Niner, this is Wolfman Four, Four. I am on the
> > > ground,
> > > unhurt. Some ARVN soldiers showed me where Covey Six, Four hit 
> the ground.
> > > Dear God, his chute never opened."
> > >
> > > "That sucks," replied Vanguard 969 on the radio. "Huey's are inbound for
> > > you
> > > Four, Four."
> > >
> > > "Indeed we are," replied Centaur 3. Vanguard Niner, Six, Niner, this is
> > > Centaur Three. I see you circling below us. I think I see your guy on the
> > > beach waving with some ARVN soldiers. We are coming in."
> > >
> > > Vanguard 969 replied, "Roger, we have some fast movers above 
> and friendlies
> > > moving in by ground."
> > >
> > > "Roger that," replied Centaur 6. "How about climbing out of there and
> > > giving
> > > me and my buddy some room?
> > >
> > > "Roger, Centaur 6, we are climbing to two grand. Thanks!"
> > >
> > > __________________________________________
> > >
> > > CWO Joe Bowen, call sign Centaur 3, rescued Jon Paterson and the body of
> > > Frank Eagan and took them to closest medical facility ARVN 1st 
> Inf Div HQ.
> > > The pilot, CPT Frank Eagan, and his back seat observer, CPT Jon Paterson,
> > > were shot down east of Dong Ha with SA-7 shoulder-mounted heat-seeking
> > > rocket. They punched out at 800 feet at the beach near the 
> village of Trung
> > > Nam in northernmost South Vietnam. Frank's chute didn't deploy 
> and he died
> > > on impact. Interestingly, the rescue was facilitated on the 
> ground by what
> > > were thought to be deserting NVA recon soldiers not ARVN soldiers (not
> > > confirmed). The deserters apparently were traveling south along the beach
> > > to
> > > Hue to surrender. They were given food and water by Joe Bowen's 
> Huey crew.
> > >
> > > Warren Fuller and his wife, Janie, met up Jon Peterson and his 
> wife, Gail,
> > > in September 2010 at lunch in Winston-Salem, Georgia. When he and Jon
> > > talked
> > > about the shootdown and rescue, Jon pulled out the ejection seat handle
> > > from
> > > 38 years ago from a bag by his chair. They remain good friends.
> > >
> > > You can read the Army's official description of the DFC award from the
> > > following link:
> > > <
> > > 
> <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wefpages.com%2Ffamily%2FDFC>https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wefpages.com%2Ffamily%2FDFC
> > >
> > >
> > 
> %2520Award.pdf%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3R-VnHM2UeAkwFrNRf3yDuoP2OxhPxVYoAxcYBAyZyZi0I
> > >
> > >
> > 
> Hwq8qYDNjWs&h=AT29rSQaCl-tI6tEBdNz5gDl0RrW-5afmHwSivyh31HbnxCTKnCGliAO9qQcDd
> > >
> > >
> > 
> Wk6f8iqTJ9fExEaBSEVncUY_YBjP-UH6e_MhT_7loVyf7tawdBNVbEYpuydiQcsTLTKkxKiSyDNn
> > > T8YMCA7o1_JKOIxrZryrSIh44gOQ
> > >
> > 
> <<https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wefpages.com%2Ffamily%2FDFC%2520Award.pdf%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3R-VnHM2UeAkwFrNRf3yDuoP2OxhPxVYoAxcYBAyZyZi0IHwq8qYDNjWs&h=AT29rSQaCl-tI6tEBdNz5gDl0RrW-5afmHwSivyh31HbnxCTKnCGliAO9qQcDdWk6f8iqTJ9fExEaBSEVncUY_YBjP-UH6e_MhT_7loVyf7tawdBNVbEYpuydiQcsTLTKkxKiSyDNnT8YMCA7o1_JKOIxrZryrSIh44gOQ>https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wefpages.com%2Ffamily%2FDFC%2520Award.pdf%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3R-VnHM2UeAkwFrNRf3yDuoP2OxhPxVYoAxcYBAyZyZi0IHwq8qYDNjWs&h=AT29rSQaCl-tI6tEBdNz5gDl0RrW-5afmHwSivyh31HbnxCTKnCGliAO9qQcDdWk6f8iqTJ9fExEaBSEVncUY_YBjP-UH6e_MhT_7loVyf7tawdBNVbEYpuydiQcsTLTKkxKiSyDNnT8YMCA7o1_JKOIxrZryrSIh44gOQ>>
> > > http://www.wefpages.com/family/DFC%20Award.pdf
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
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