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Stories/ Memories /Comments
From: Russell
Layton mailto:Russellklayton@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Subject: 128th stories
Hello
guys,
I hope you're all enjoying your summer. I recently made contact with someone
that was in the company while you all were there and I thought you might like to
read the stories he mentioned. I'd love to add your recollections and more
details to the charts.
Later,
Russ
Edward W. Kempton wrote 6/6 and 8/ 04:
I was sent from Fort Gordon, Ga to Phu Loi as a SP-4, E-4 & was promoted to SSG,
E-5; & SSG, E-6, while I was in Nam. I was transferred from the 116th Hornets
Supply Section to the 128th Supply Sergeant duty, when Colonel Casey was still
the Unit Commander & "Mr Clean" 1SG Judy was the Unit First Sergeant. I was
there when Colonel Credeur took Command of the 128. Shortly after 23 Jan 67,
low-boy trailers were set up in our Unit Area, where Martha Raye & her USO Group
put on a Show for us. Shortly after that, I became the Tech Supply NCOIC. CW0-4
Charlie Hill was the Witch Doctor. Sfc Yearwood was in the Maint. Sect. there.
W0 Rogers was the Asst Tech Supply 0fficer, A Captain was the Tech Supply
0fficer. While I was serving as Chief Enlisted Training Instructor at the U.S.
ARMY (Helicopter) Flight Training Center, Fort Stewart, Ga, Sfc Yearwood came
and his family came to visit at my home in Glennville, GA.
Yesterday, was the first time I have been in contact with any former "Tomahawk"
personnel since I had left the unit for reassignment for duty with the S-l
Section of Headquarters, 269th Combat Avn Bn at Cu Chi. I had been wounded at Cu
Chi shortly before being due for rotation back to C0NUS.
0n or about 23 Jan 67, our unit was hit hard during a mission at Duc Hoa.
Aircraft & personnel were lost during that mission. I had to get the paperwork
initiated to procure replacement aircraft, & it was my responsibility to see to
it that all personnel effects of KIA/Missing Personnel were properly inventoried
& sent to Next of Kin. Doing that, really got to me, because my original Army
Unit, consisting of 212 enlisted men, sent to Korea after only 6 weeks of basic
training, became Cannon Fodder. 0nly 8 of us returned to the States alive. I was
the only one to reenlist & then eventually retire from the Army.
================================================
I think that Ed is talking about:
Helicopter UH-1D tail number 63-12994, Date: 01/28/1967 Number killed in
accident = 6 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 2. Accident Summary: The
aircraft called for landing instructions. While still in level flight, the
aircraft was seen to pitch nose up and start a vertical descent turning counter
clockwise. The aircraft disappeared from view. It exploded on impact
AC 1LT MANZ TERRY LEE KIA
P WO1 DORR GERALD ANDREW KIA
CE SP4 BRADY MICHAEL ERVAN KIA
G PFC SEVERLOH PAUL BRUCE KIA
================================================
I remembered more incidents, which occurred while I was with the 128th.
It was around the night of 26 Dec 66, when Airfield units of Phu Loi began
receiving fire from the village close by. A RED ALERT INSTANTLY WENT INTO
EFFECT. During the attack upon the nearby village, we heard WO Rogers report on
his aircraft radio, that a door had broken off his helicopter; but no damage
incurred from this.
Then after that, during another alert caused by VC units at Phu Cong, the
Witchdoctor, Charlie Hill, had just begun to take a shower when the Alert
Sounded. Charlie wrapped a towel around his torso and ran to his aircraft, which
he lost on his way to it. By the time he climbed into his ship, he had lost the
towel & both "flip flops". I was later told that he flew his ship barefoot &
wore only his helmet.
Then there was the time when Colenel Credeur & the Tomahawks returned from a
successful mission. The returning aircraft BUZZED THE UNIT AREA. Colonel
Credeur's ship was a bit too low & one skid scraped across a portion of the
0fficer's Club Bldg. The ship was landed safely.
Then, there was the time in which I & my men in the Supply Section issued the
new lighter weight body armor to all the Unit Air-Crew personnel. After
completion of that day's unit mission, A Major came to where I was in the Supply
Room. He handed the protective chest armor to me. A high velocity round had
impacted over his heart area, but had not penetrated thru the armor, into his
body. He opened his shirt & showed me where the round had struck. There was a
large red welt over his heart area. That piece of new armor was sent back to the
Research Labs along with an Affidavit from the Major concerned. I was later
told that it was placed on display at the Museum at Fort Rucker, AL.
PS: We're still trying to
locate Charlie Hill & John L. Credeur. I'd also like any additional info anybody
remembers about "Mr Clean" 1SG Judy & Sfc Yearwood, both of which were just
added to the charts.
Bill & Ed,
The Non-Flying EM are the hardest names to find and Ed seems to remember at
least a few that we didn't have yet. Ed mentioned a 1SG Judy nick named
"Mr. Clean" & SFC Yearwood, neither of which were on the charts
yet. Ed said that SFC Yearwood, who was in the 128th Maintenance Section, met up
with Ed while he was stationed in Fort Stewart after Nam.
Ed is the kind of guy I really need to talk to
and it sounds like he may be able to help us with missing alumni. I need as much
info that he can remember about any 128th personnel that we don't already have.
Ed mentioned that he was transferred to the 128th when John Casey was
still the CO. Ed said that he remembers when John L. Credeur took
command. Even though Jim Hestand previously told me that Credeur was from
Southern Louisiana, I've tried several times to find him without success. Ed
mentioned that Charlie Hill flew Witchdoctor, which I didn't have in the
charts and as far as I know, neither Doc Daugherty nor I have been able to find
Charlie. Ed also mentioned that Homer Rogers, who passed away during
Heart Surgery, was Asst Tech Sup Off. during his tour.
Ed mentioned a USO show in early 1967 with Martha Raye, for which I didn't have
anything in the charts.
I was also wondering if Larry Clark stopped by to see Bill McDonald while he was
on his speaking engagement in Angel Fire, NM over the Memorial Day weekend?
Later,
Russ
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