HISTORY OF 128TH ASSAULT HELICOPTER COMPANY
1 OCTOBER 1968 TO 31 DECEMBER 1968
PAGE 1
PREPARED BY:
1LT RICHARD A
GAMMICK & SPECIALIST DENNIS J. NUHN
UNIT HISTORIAN HISTORICAL CLERK
APPROVED BY: MAJOR DONALD R. KELSEY - COMMANDING
HEADQUARTERS
11TH COMBAT AVIATION BATTALION
APO SAN FRANCISCO 96289
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
I
MISSION
II TRAINING AND
OPERATIONS
III MAINTENANCE AND
SUPPLY
IV
MISCELLANEOUS
a.
Awards and decorations
b.
Area and Facilities Improvement Program
V
ROSTER OF KEY PERSONNEL
VI
PERSONNEL PROMOTED
VII
SPECIAL – ARTICLE IN MEMORY
I. MISSION
The mission of the 128th Assault Helicopter Company
is to provide air movement of combat troops, supplies, and equipment within the
III Corps Tactical Zone.
To augment this mission, the Tomahawks have requirements
to meet, which are:
(1) Provide continuous (Day and Night) operations during
visual weather conditions and limited operations under instrument weather
conditions
(2) Provide, in a single lift, airlift for one infantry
or dismounted mechanized infantry company
(3) Augment aero medical evacuation capability of
medical air ambulance elements
(4) Provide organic fire support for lift ships
(5) Provide helicopter gunship support for designated
maneuver elements and
(6) Provide organizational and direct support
maintenance for assigned aircraft.
From 1 October 1968 to 31 December 1968 the 128th
Assault Helicopter
Company successfully completed its mission in the
highest of standards.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE - All statements and
figures in this text have been extracted from authenticated records or other
responsible sources. The author feels that this text is both valid and accurate.
Richard A. Gammick
1Lt Arty.
Unit Historian
II. TRAINING AND OPERATION
This past quarter has again produced a large changeover
in Tomahawk personnel. In October most of the chain of command returned to “The
World” leaving a period of breaking in for the new leaders. The number of
aviators has increased to such an extent that the maximum level has nearly been
reached. A large orientation and training program for these people also went
into affect.
The positions for door gunners and crew chiefs have had
to be filled by every soldier interested in this field of work. Lacking
experience, they have had to work twice as hard and twice as long to pick up
needed and valuable information. These people in turn train the replacements
received, which fill but a few of the empty slots.
Besides this in—the-field training, formal classes have
been given on such subjects as “The care and maintenance of the M-6O machine
gun”, “The use and effect of drugs”, and “The use and importance of radio
equipment”.
Continually briefings are given on new equipment,
techniques, and situations to augment all other training done in the teepee.
The first action encountered in October was on the
fourth. SP4 McKenize was wounded in the neck with a piece of shrapnel while
serving as crew chief on one of the gunships. The aircraft was flying low level
near Cu Chi and it is believed that a bamboo mortar was fired at them. SP4
McKenize was evacuated to the United States for recuperation.
The next day one of the Tomahawk aircraft went down
killing all of the crewmembers. Details may be found on page 13.
The middle of October was fairly quiet for the
Tomahawks. Support was flown for the First, Ninth, and Twenty-fifth Infantry
Divisions.
The author, 1LT Richard Gammick, was reunited with his
brother, SP4 John Gammick, on 24 October. First Lieutenant Gammick came to the
128th Assault Helicopter Company as an aviator and Specialist Gammick as a door
gunner, with this being the second set of brothers in the unit, Major Kelsey
referred to the Tomahawks as one big family. First Lieutenant Stebner came up
with the question as to how high a person had to fly in order to be safe. This
came about on 28 October when he was flying at 2500 feet near Tay Ninh and took
an AK-47 round through the nose of the aircraft. Warrant Officer Nutter had only
been a Tomahawk for a couple of days when on the twenty-ninth he accidentally
shot himself through the foot. He had cleaned his .38 caliber pistol and after
loading it, he attempted to close it. When he slammed the cylinder, the weapon
discharged. Warrant Officer Nutter was evacuated to the United States where he
has undergone extensive surgery to repair damaged Nerves and tissue. One of the
Gunslingers, Warrant Officer Cozine, had a difficult time getting his gunship
off of the ground on Halloween. It seems that after bouncing the heavily laden
aircraft along the runway at Sabre, it suddenly came off of the ground without
any trouble, then the crew chief informed Warrant Officer Cozine that he had
left the left skid, rocket pod, and gun mount on the ground during the last
bounce. The aircraft was then landed on sandbags and repairs were made. The
first five days of November were relatively quiet, with the Tomahawks flying
general support for the First and Twenty-fifth Infantry Divisions. On the sixth
day while flying east of Phuoc Vinh for the “Big Red One”, Captain Webb and
Lieutenant Carlson took an enemy round through the engine of their aircraft.
Immediately a radio call was sent out that Chalk Five was going down. While in
autorotation, about a hundred and fifty feet off of the ground, the Huey struck
a tree. It hit the ground upright and then rolled over. The four crewmembers and
the four infantry passengers all escaped with minor injuries. Not sure that all
of the men were out of the aircraft, Captain Webb and the crew chief, SP4. Ohler,
returned to the aircraft. Just as they reached it, the ship blew up, burning
both men.
Lieutenant Carlson was evacuated to Cam Ranh Bay to
allow his broken jaw to mend. Specialist Ohler was evacuated to the States for
treatment of his burns. Captain Webb and the gunner both returned to the teepee,
although the former suffered burns and a fractured foot.
Six days later, on 12 November, the Company again worked
for the First Infantry Division east of Saigon. While returning to Phu Loi, one
of the Gunslingers, WOl Wann, felt severe vibrations in his gunship. Left
without a choice, the aircraft was auto rotated into a very small field in the
center of a village north of Saigon. On the way down, power lines and a fence
were run into. Even with this and a hard landing, all of the crewmembers escaped
injury. Pipesmoke brought the helicopter back to Phu Loi where it was junked.
WOl Hirrel had quite a surprise on 15 November as he was
terminating an approach to panel four at Phu Loi. As he started pulling in
power, he realized that his aircraft was still going down too fast. The stinger
hit the ground first, bouncing the aircraft to its skids. Major damage was done
to the tail boom and tail rotor. Upon investigation later it was discovered that
WOl Hirrel was the victim of short shaft failure. None of the crewmembers were
injured.
Being on ready reaction standby is an extra duty for the
128th A.H.C., which falls on every second night. The twenty-first of November
was one such night. At about 2200 hours the Tomahawk flight and a fire team left
the teepee and landed at Cu Chi. Intelligence had a large enemy force crossing
the Cambodian border headed for a Vietnamese compound. Not knowing when
~Charlie” would strike, a reinforcing element was being held in stand-by. The
crewmembers bedded down in their helicopters.
At dawn on the 22nd, the flight was called off, where it
proceeded to a point between the enemy force and the border. After having
dropped the infantry in behind the aggressors, the Tomahawks headed home for a
warm bed.
The next day proved to be very eventful and busy. The
mission was to support the Twenty-fifth Infantry Division west of Dau Tiang.
Just after the choppers and gun team left the first landing zone, the infantry
unit, which had been lifted in, was hit with a machine gun ambush. The unit
suffered over ninety percent casualties. The flight, under the cover of the
Gunslingers, flew in a reinforcing element, which also suffered heavy losses.
Two Huey Cobra teams were called in to try and bust up a large bunker complex
around the friendly elements. The Cobras and the Gunslingers silenced several
machine guns and destroyed numerous bunkers.
That night another unit was airlifted into the area. The
Tomahawks displayed professional skill by making single ship approaches into the
area, surrounded by high trees and marked only by a soldier holding a strobe
light. The 128th then returned to Phu Loi after a very long day.
Thanksgiving Day turned out to be a turkey shoot for the
Gunslingers. While returning to Phu Loi after working for the 25th Division,
several suspicious men were spotted digging tunnels. After receiving clearance
to engage, the gunships rolled in. When the smoke settled there were twelve
enemy dead. This score was added to 24 hooches destroyed, 7 bunkers damaged, and
4 large secondary exp1osions received to make a large total for the day.
Back at the teepee the officers and enlisted men of the
128th enjoyed turkey with all of the dressings. A very decorative meal was held
at both the Officer’s Open Mess and the Company Mess Hall. Everyone was served
more than they could eat.
Colonel Prather honored the Tomahawks with a visit on 4
December. After being shown around the Teepee by the Commanding Officer, Major
Kelsey, the Colonel departed very impressed with what he saw.
The next night the operations clerk, SP4 Stoughton, was
in the attic of the operations building getting some material. As he started
down, the ring on his left hand was snagged by a nail. He was medivaced to the
24th Med where his finger was amputated the following morning. Specialist
Stoughton is back in operations, minus the one finger.
While working for the 9th Division near Tan An on 8
December, lLT Kerkow had an engine failure. He auto rotated the aircraft into a
rice paddy with negative injury or damage. Soon afterward, WOl Todd, in a spare
aircraft, experienced a short shaft failure while returning to Phu Loi. This
ship was also set down without damage or injury.
During one of their passes while working the same day
for the 9th, one of the Gunslingers spotted a tunnel entrance. The ground troops
checked it out and found a twenty ton weapons and ammunition cache. In the cache
was ammunition for small arms, mortars, recoilless rifles, and R.P.G.’S. The
weapons were AK47’s and AK5O’s.
Lieutenant Kerkow was flying company lead on 15 December
for the First Infantry Division, northwest of Lai Khe. Just after the ships were
loaded, an R.P.G. round exploded on the left side of his ship. The chin bubble
was blown out and several holes were knocked into the side by shrapnel. Although
the crewmembers only received minor injuries, four of the troops on board were
injured severely. Lieutenant Kerkow then flew the aircraft back to Lai Khe.
Sightings were reported of three other R.P.G. rounds exploding in the landing
area. The Gunslingers covered the flight, obtaining one confirmed K.I.A. and
three probables.
While working for the “Big Red One” on 21 December, the
Tomahawks were plagued with maintenance difficulties. Without a spare, the last
chalk developed a fuel leak and had to return home. To prevent having to over
load the other aircraft, LTC Wilks, the Battalion Commander, placed his aircraft
in the stricken ships position. This action greatly helped the flight and was
appreciated very much.
The Tomahawks were flying near Tan An working for the
9th Infantry Division on the 22nd of the month. While turning base at 1000 feet
for a P.Z., WOl Zappini called in that his Aircraft Commander, WOl Todd, had
been hit in the head. Another aircraft preceded WOl Zappini into the 24th
Medivac Hospital. WOl Todd had been hit behind the right ear with an AK-47 round
and it lodged in his neck with no major damage. He was able to return to the
Teepee about a week later. Although his neck was stiff and sore, WOl Todd was
able to perform all of his duties with the exception of flying.
Christmas Eve found the Tomahawks working for the 9th
Division south of Saigon. After completing the last mission, the flight formed a
thirteen aircraft formation in the shape of Christmas tree. They flew over the
post, trailing red and green smoke, wishing all the merriest of Holidays.
Christmas day found the Tomahawks on a two-hour stand-by
for the 25th Infantry Division. A traditional meal was served at both
the Officers Open Mess and the Company Mess Hall. It started with a shrimp
cocktail, featured turkey with all the trimmings, and ended with a choice of
three desserts.
During the Christmas period, packages from all over the
United States flooded the mailroom. This was highlighted by the receipt of
several cases of red and green stockings, from the Red Cross.
Two light fire teams from the Gunslingers were given a
pleasant mission on the 27th. They flew armed escort for the Bob Hope Show.
Front row seats were reserved for them in Cu Chi where they all watched the
entertainment.
During the quarter, the Gunslingers ran up some
disastrous totals against the enemy. Of course, one must realize that a lot of
damage is done with a gunship that cannot be accounted for from the air. During
this period there were thirty-three confirmed enemy kills, with another
twenty-four probables; sixteen bunkers destroyed and twenty-three damaged; eight
sampans destroyed; and fifty-four structures destroyed with another twenty-four
damaged. New Year’s Eve saw the close of another quarter for the 128th Assault
Helicopter Company.
III MAINTENANCE AND SUPPLY
The 393rd Transportation Detachment had their
hands full during the quarter. Being responsible for the maintenance of all of
the aircraft was a large job handled in a very professional manner. The
Tomahawks were always able to meet their commitment. Even though at times, due
to a rash of mechanical difficulties, it required a maximum effort.
The leadership positions were filled by Captain William
Byrne and First Sergeant Lemuel Gibbs. A large change over in personnel vacated
many slots and personnel had to fill almost every other slot. Several
improvements were made in their area. Among these were the building of a wash
rack, building of a paint storage area, and the asphalting of the aircraft
parking area.
Supply was taken over in October by CW3 David C. Niday.
Due to more emphasis being placed on other than the operational aspect of the
company, CW3 Niday and his personnel have had to work long hard hours. This
effort paid off though, when in December the Tomahawk Supply passed the CMMI.
Considerable improvement has been made in storage room, records, and arms room.
IV MISCELLANEOUS
A. Awards and Decorations
1.
Awards submitted and pending approval
2.
Awards approved from 1 October 1968 to 30 December 1968
a. Distinguished Flying Cross 1
b. Bronze Star with “V” 0
c. Bronze
Star 1
d. Air Medal with “V”
3
e. Air Medal (OLC)
416
f. Commendation Medal with
“V” 0
g. Commendation
Medal 0
h. Purple
Heart 2
i. Basic Air
Medal 28
B. Area and Facilities Improvement Plan
1.Completed projects
a. Bunkers for motor pool enlisted men
b. Smoking area in the hanger
c. R&U building remodeled
d. Enlisted men’s room remodeled
e. Side walk in officer area
2. Projects in progress
a. Enlisted men’s club being
remodeled
b. Non-commissioned officer’s
living quarters being remodeled
a.
Officer’s living quarters being remodeled
b.
Enlisted men and officer bunkers being completed.
3. Projects proposed
a. Remodeling of flight
platoon building
b. Rewiring all electrical
c. Replacing old culverts and
putting in new culverts
d. Centralizing of all
building materials and supplies
e. Relocating motor pool to
more convenient location
f. Beautification of company
area
V ROSTER OF KEY PERSONNEL AS OF 31 DECEMBER 1968
