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"A MAN IS NOT DEAD UNTIL HE IS FORGOTTEN"

M




JOSEPH F. MacCARTNEY
DAT:  June 5, 2002
"Bandit CE"   10/68-9/69
e-mail:joemac@olypen.com

From: Sandra MacCartney

Marshall:

Thank you for the cards and flowers for Joe MacCartney's memorial service that was held on 6/15/02. It meant so much to me and the family that Joe was remembered. We will be sending more information to you. Loren is the best computer person and will help composed information for you.

Thanks again for your thought and prayers.

Sandy MacCartney

Sandy's letter





WILLIAM T. (BILL) MacHARG
Died at age 66 in Chicago. IL

Bill MacHarg

Bill joined the 281st AHC in December of 1967 and served as a Crew Chief with the Rat Pack until September of 1968. He was an excellent crew chief and was well respected by his fellow Intruders and his officers. Following his service he returned to Chicago where he founded and operated a successful mail sorting company. Bill’s funeral service was held on December 28, 2009 in Skokie, IL. He is survived by two daughters, Lyndsi and Erin and grandchildren William and jack. Bill attended the annual reunions of the 281st and each year brought his children and grandchildren.



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DANIEL J.  MAGIERA
June 22, 1944 – March 18, 1998

Daniel Magiera Headstone

Daniel Magiera served with the Intruders of the 281st AHC during the Vietnam War.  Daniel passed away in March of 1998 and was interned in Saint Hedwig Cemetery, Dearborn Heights, Michigan.  The Intruder family shall always remember Daniel.




TEDDY DAVID "TED" MAHURIN
Octover 28, 1948 - January, 1986

Ted Mahurin Ted Mahurin Ted Mahurin

From FindaGrave website:
Miami Oklahoma News Record Sep 8, 1986, Pg. 12, Column. Former Miamian, age 37, of Dana Point California, was killed Sunday in a traffic accident in Mission Viejo. Operating a motorcycle in a dense fog, a car turned in front of him and he drove into the side of the automobile. The driver has been charge with unintentional vehicular manslaughter. Born Oct 28, 1948, he attended schools in Panorama City California and Miami schools. He attended Northeastern A & M following a tour of duty in Vietnam. He served in the military from November 1966 until July 1969 and was involved in action on Hamburger Hill in Vietnam.
He was cremated and no funeral services are planned.

Inscription:

In Loving Memory
U.S. Army - SP4 - Vietnam
Purple Heart - VSM - 4.O/S Bars
Beloved Son - Brother - Father



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SP5 STANLEY ARTHUR MARQUETTE
1949 - June 10, 2018
Stan Marquette
Served in the 281st AHC from September, 1969 to September, 1970
as an Airframe Repair Technician.

Stanley lost his battle with brain cancer on June 10th, 2018. He was 69 years of age and resided in Sequim, Washington.
A complete obituary will be added after publication.

Stanley (Stan) is well remembered by the Intruders of the 281st as an excellent technician who was quick to express himself when he felt that things were not being performed up to his standards. Stan was a good soldier who frequently spoke about his brothers back home. In his later years, Stan stated that he never felt he had a more important job as he did while he was in the 281st, and was never respected like he was when he was a member of the Unit. Stan served a full tour with the 281st and extended for six months, which he served with the 192nd AHC. He is survived by his wife Ina.



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CWO3 FRANK W. MARTIN
Johnny Martin
May 23, 1938 - December 31, 2010
Pilot, Bandit and WolfPack Platoons

WO-1 Frank Martin joined the 281st in 1968 and did a full tour of duty returning home in 1969. Frank, as a Bandit pilot was trapped in a helicopter that crashed due to an engine failure. He remained in the helicopter overnight in an area being attacked by the NVA. Frank went on to retire from the army as a CWO-3. (More on his story below). Frank is remembered by the Intruders of the 281st AHC. His obituary follows:

“FRANK W., MARTIN U.S. Army Ret. CWO3, Dec. 31, 2010, age 72, of Springfield, formerly of Upper Darby. Beloved husband of Mary (nee Gallagher); loving father of Michael (Pam) Martin, Julie (Robert) Smith, Noreen (Michael) Ruddy, Frank (Megan) Martin; brother of Joyce Harrell, Helen Hoganson and John Downey; also survived by 10 grandchildren, Bobby, Stephanie, Liam, Michael, Aidan, Connor, Molly, Brigid, Clive and Alyssa. His service will follow at 11 A.M. Int. at Peter and Paul Cemetery.”

On 18 February 1969, the crew of his helicopter UH-1H 715 were performing a recovery mission for a Long-Range Recon Team from the 173rd Infantry Brigade in a hostile area in the vicinity of PHU YEN, South Vietnam, approximately 25 miles southwest of Tuy Hoa Air Base. The crew of 715 consisted of WO Vick Rose, Aircraft Commander; WO Frank Martin, Pilot; SGT Ronan, Crew Chief, and an unidentified Door Gunner. The crew maneuvered the helicopter over the pickup point and were preparing to recover the recon team when the aircraft engine failed. WO Rose moved the aircraft away from the ground troops and crash-landed it in the vicinity of the pickup point. SGT Patrick Ronan was killed in the crash and the remaining crew members were seriously injured. Recovery assistance was requested. A USAF CH-53 of the 38th ARRS (USAF) reached the scene and lowered Sergeant Michael E. Fish and a firefighter to the ground. Despite intermittent enemy fire and pressure, three of the trapped crew members were freed after considerable effort on the part of the rescue team and hoisted aboard the CH-53 just before darkness fell.

Frank Martin Sgt Fish USAF CrossWO Frank Martin was trapped in the wreckage and could not be freed. With night approaching and WO Martin still in the helicopter, the rescue aircraft was forced to leave the area.

Sergeant Fish, the USAF Medic, and the Recon Team, despite being low on ammunition, remained on the ground with WO Martin overnight. Covering fire was provided into the night by supporting army gunships and "Spooky" aircraft. The remaining 281st helicopters continued to fly covering support throughout the night. Early the next morning the recovery task force returned and continued to encounter small arms fire. However, they were able to free WO Martin, and both he and SGT Fish were evacuated from the area. For his actions, SGT Fish was awarded the Air Force Cross.

_____________________________________

woj in clubgunner

vipgrave



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1SGT JOHNNY C. MARTIN
Died after his tour on May 11, 1972

Johnny Martin

1SG Martin  served with the 281st AHC in the following positions:
25 Nov '68, Det. 1st SGT., 483rd TC Det.
22 Jan '69, Plt SGT., 281st AHC
10 June '69, 1st SGT., 281st AHC
(Promoted to E-8, 1st SGT on 12 June 69)
12 Dec 69 Left 281st AHC enroute to CONUS

1SGT Martin had returned to Vietnam on January 8, 1972 at the age of 36.  On the morning of 11 May 1972, 1st SGT. Martin was sleeping in his room in the F Troop, 4th US Cavalry barracks area, Bien Hoa, Long Binh, South Vietnam when an explosive device was intentionally detonated outside his room seriously wounding him. He was transported to the 24th Evacuation Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. PVT. Claude B. Johnson and PFC Marvin J. Dukes of F Troop were charged with his murder and tried by general court martial on 1 Sept. 1972.

1SG Martin was born in Jefferson, AL on 13 July 1935. At the time of his death he was married to Raquel Martin who resided at 4756 Vermont Ave., Birmingham, Al 35210, with their two children, John and Ann.  He  was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and his name is engraved on the Vietnam Memorial Wall at Panel 01W, Line 24. December 17, 2004

"From: Linford E Riniker
LTC 111 OSF/INl

I was in F Troop at the time this happened, although all the flight crews were in the forward operating location on Tan My island (5nm from Hue) and this incident happened back in Long Binh.  Johnson and Dukes were both heroin addicts and were suffering the heat 1SG Martin was putting on them. Dukes hatched the plan of putting a claymore under Top's bunk and blowing him up.  They got a mine from the armorer(who was also convicted along with  them) and carried out their plan.  It happened about 0600 when a group of F Troop personnel were returning from bunker guard.  When the explosion happened.  The guys simply followed the wires into Dukes hootch and lined both of them up against a wall and were ready to kill them when the MPs got there. Sorry to say, Dukes got 20 yrs and Johnson got 10.  The armorer got 2. There were several others in their skag freak band who knew what was going on and they were sent up north with us.  These scumbags were informed if they got out of line they would take a one-way ride out over the South China Sea. They were all strung out and didn't last more than a month before they were sent back to Long Binh to rehab. 

Johnny Martin was the first rep from the Troop who picked up those of us who were reassigned from the 101st.  When he showed up at Cu Chi where the Troop used to be he had a case of beer with him and welcomed us properly. He was quite a character. One time he gave me the mission of "appropriating" a water trailer from the Infantry while we were working out of Phu Bai.  When I showed up driving the troop HQ 3/4 ton with a water buffalo in tow, he had a paint team waiting to "make it ours". 

He was a big man with a big heart, and we all missed him.
Lin Riniker, F Troop (Air), 4th Cavalry '71-72"



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CAPTAIN DAVID M. MAY, USAR
January 29, 1945 - February 20, 1971

David May

Buried on 01/14/2000 in Section 34, Grave757
of
Arlington National Cemetery

David became a casualty in Laos at the age of 28 when he and his crew, while flying a Huey gunship, were shot down. As the 281st AHC was being drawn down David had been transferred to the 48th AHC. David's gunship was the second in a trail of two while participating in Operation Lam Son 719, a tri-border operation designed to cut the Ho Chi Minh trail at the Laotian panhandle. After the aircraft crashed it was reported that some of the crew members were shot exiting the aircraft on the ground. His co-pilot on the operation was CWO Jon Reid. This memorial information was provided by David's friend and roommate, John Quatman, Jr., and Kevin Farrington, both of whom knew David while assigned to the 281st AHC. David was married and had an infant son when he died, also named David. David Sr. was from Hyattsville, Md.

Gretchen Traylor, who wore David's MIA bracelet for 17 years, provides more interesting insight into the recovery of David's and Jon's remains in Laos in early 2000. She also provides a most interesting disclosure of how she was finally able to reunite the bracelet she had worn so many years with David's surviving son. Also, Gretchen has provided web site information which allows us to view the joint funeral and burial of David's and Jon's remains at Arlington in the same casket, as both families desired. He is listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall at Panel 05-W, Line 125.

"I have worn David's (Captain David May) POW-MIA bracelet since receiving it in 1972. All these years I have prayed for him, and recently found out the resolution of his case. I have heard from his former wife, and today was finally able to give up his bracelet to his son. He was a true hero to me and to others, and I wish I had the chance to meet him in this world. I will be looking forward to meeting him in the next. Thanks David, for your sacrifice; pray for the rest of us left here, please!    Love, Gretchen"

On February 20, 1971 Capt. David May, Hyattsville, Md. and Chief Warrant Officer Jon E. Reid, Phoenix, Ariz. of the 48th AHC (Blue Stars) were flying a combat support mission in the vicinity of Kay Sanh when their UH-1C Huey Gunship was hit by enemy ground fire and crashed. MG USA (Ret) Ben Harrison, (former Commander of the 10th AV BN) was serving as the senior advisor to the ARVN at Khe Sanh when they were lost.  Capt May and his co- pilot were listed as MIAs for several years until they were located and their remains returned to their families for burial in the United States.

The official record read: 
"On Feb. 20, 1971, Capt. May and CWO Reid were flying their 48th AHC UH-1C Huey Gunship providing armed escort for other helicopters on an emergency resupply mission over Laos when they were hit by enemy ground fire and crashed. A search and rescue mission was repulsed by hostile forces. During the invasion of Laos within a thirty-nine day period the 48th AHC lost 11 airmen killed or MIA due to hostile fire. In 1994, 1996 and 1998, U.S. and Lao investigators interviewed villagers in the area of the crash, and then initiated an excavation, which recovered human remains as well as portions of an identification tag with the name "May, David M." Analysis of the remains and other evidence by the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory Hawaii confirmed the identification of each of these servicemen."

Captain May and CWO Reid were interred in the same grave at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, 14 January 2000 after being Missing in Action for twenty-nine years.



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ROBERT A. McMILLAN

Robt McMillan
July, 1947 - August 26, 2008

Robert McMillan served as Bandit Crew Chief in 1969-1970. The obit is from the funeral home website:

Robert A. McMillan age 70, a resident of Jack, Alabama passed away Monday May 18, 2020 at his home. Graveside services will be held Thursday May 21, 2020, at the Victoria Community cemetery beginning at 2:00 PM with Rev. Douglas Crosby officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Hayes Funeral Home.

Mr. McMillan was retired from the United States Army, and proudly served his country during the Vietnam War. Upon his retirement from service he worked for Army Fleet Support at Ft. Rucker until he also retired there. He had many hobbies, one of which was collecting model airplanes, and he amassed quite a few over the years.

He is survived by his Wife - Margie McMillan, Jack, AL, Daughter - Heather McMillan, Hampton, VA, Grandson - Robbie McMillan, Hampton, VA, Daughter - Twila Seger, Scribner, NE, Grandchildren - Brooke Davis, Jason Davis, & Joshua Davis also of Scribner, NE, Step-Son - Will McMillan, Jack, AL, Sister - Meg Bailey, Columbia, SC, Sister - Debbie Shepard, Burnsville, NC, Step-Daughter - Molly Rowells, Castle Rock, CO, Step-Son - Luke Pickens, Mattawan, MI, Step-Daughter - Vicki Elgherza, Boise, ID, and Step-Daughter - Judy Flaschar of Arden, NC.

Hayes Funeral Home of Elba is serving the McMillan family.



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MICHAEL R. (Mike) MCKENZIE
July, 1947 - August 26, 2008

Mike Pic

Mike passed away in his home town of Ypsilant, MI. He joined the 281st in November of 1967 as a Door Gunner after serving a full tour of duty with the 101st Airborne Division where he had been awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with “V” for valor. Mike was severally wounded in action in December of 1967 and was medically evacuated. He remained in the VA system for over 5 years when he was medically discharged with 100% disability. Mike then attended college receiving his masters’ degree and pursued a career as a college professor in his home state of Michigan. Mike was awarded the air medal in 2004.




WILLIAM "BILL" MEEHANN
Died after his tour on January 14, 1983

Meehan thumbnail
... Bill on the left ...
click photo to enlarge it in a new window.

Bill Meehan served in the 281st AHC as a door gunner on a UH-1H Helicopter. He was severely wounded and medically evacuated in August of 1968. He remained paralyzed until his death in 1983. Sp4 William Meehan was buried in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Intruder family shall not forget him.

The following account has been provided by Richard Houston, Bill's close friend in the 281st AHC:

"In reference to Bill Meehan, we served in the same platoon from early 1968 'til august '68. I extended and went home for leave.  While I was home he was shot in the back with a .50 caliber ( I think it was .50 caliber) He was my best friend over there. When I returned from leave I was looking forward to seeing him again and going to the club. I found he was gone and had been shot.  Through much effort I was able to contact his mother and found he was in the hospital at Ft Lewis, WA. I found out that he died several times but managed to live. We kept in contact over the years. When I was discharged in 1978 I bought an eighteen wheeler and traveled 48 states so I was able to visit him. He was living in Roseville, MN He was paralyzed from the chest down. He was doing fine and pretty much went on with his life. On New Year's Eve, 1982, I got a call from his sister that he had died. He died from something happening to his brain. I was so upset I cried uncontrollably so I don't remember exactly what the diagnosis was.  I think he was buried in a military cemetery fairly close to his home.  I don't remember his sister's name or his mothers. I hope this has been helpful to you. I'm glad we are remembering him. He was such a good person and friend." 
Richard Houston.

Bill Meehan’s Last Flight (DFC)
by Ed Young  (Bandit 22)
Lots of activity was going on in the Ban Me Thout area.  A large combat assault was planned with the 281st AHC being tasked to provide four slicks.  Upon arrival we only had to provide three ships for the CA work and were told to provide one for province support at Gia Niah.  John Wehr, Bandit 26, assigned that mission to me.  I’d had a pretty rough tour to date (was the unit magnate-ass) and had only returned to flight status several weeks earlier after being wounded during a mortar attack.   Thus the easy mission.  Upon arrival, the province senior advisor ask if we could make a drop (kick-out) of water, medical supplies, and radio batteries at an outpost just south of the SF camp.  There was no pad within safe reach of the outpost.  (That should have alerted me.)  The SF camp had been undergoing a weeklong attack.  He also said that the area near the SF camp was quite now, but radio contact with the outpost had been lost.  Thought it was due to batteries running out.  He suspected bad guys were still in the area.

I told him that if he would provide someone to kick the stuff out and had it stacked in the left door (top heavy = quick kick out = less time in danger), we would take a look.   Over flew the place at about 2000 AGL.  It was triangular shaped, very small, on a knoll, and full of 292 antennas.  Certainly to small for a moving drop.  There were no gun ships  available for support due to the big CA in progress.  Following the VR, I flew on for several miles and did a combat hover check.  (If you can hover at 2000 AGL then you can hover at 30 feet, no problem.)  The real worry was some high ground located several hundred meters to the east of the outpost.  We were getting ready to break all the rules, no gun cover in a known hot area, and no radio contact with the supported unit.  These guys needed help.  I ask the crew what they thought and all replied that they were with me and ready.

We made a fast decent going away, then turned inbound placing the outpost between use and the high ground, trying to mask our very low and fast approach.  We did a pop-up, came to a hover in the middle of the antennas, and I yelled for the Kicker to do his thing.  He had no sooner started than there was a loud bang.  I’d started to dive off the knoll when Bill Meehan yelled that the blades had only cut an antenna wire. (Not my first set of blades, and wouldn’t be the last.)  I had no sooner put the brakes on and reestablished a hover when a loud groan came over the ICS.  I knew then, and dived off the outpost heading away from that high ground.  It all happened very fast.  Looking back I could see Bill hanging over his gun.   The Kicker pulled him off the gun and I headed for the SF camp, landed and jumped in the back to help get him onto the cargo deck.   He had a very ugly wound in the left side of his neck (side towards the high ground), and was bleeding from a wound in his back.   He did say he was hurting really badly and to do something for the pain.  Nothing could be done.  We thought he was hit in the chest but could not find the wound.  Did a very quick bandage job to stop the bleeding and the SF medic told us to get to Ban M Thout fast.  We did, keeping the EGT running in the high yellow.  Piss on the torque.  We went FAST.  Called ahead and had several doctors standing by.  They stabilized Bill and shipped him right on to the hospital in Nha Trang.

We had taken only two hits.  Bill receiving one.  When we returned to Nha Trang that evening Maj. Miller ask me a question that I’ll never forget.  “Did Meehan have on a chicken plate?” ( Note:  Bill had been leaning out over his gun doing his job, as usual, and the round struck him in an area that would have not been protected by the chicken plate.)  I was dumb struck.  I did not know.  He told me to find out.  Neither the CE nor Gunner had been wearing one.  Their plates weren’t even on the ship (saved weight).  He told me not to worry about it, or the mission.  AC’s were out there to make decisions.  He then announced that no Intruder Aircraft was to fly again without chicken plates aboard for each crewmember, no matter what type mission.  I went to the hospital the next day to see Bill.  Only got in because of the time I’d spent there.  He was in a full traction rotary machine.  The round had hit him in the neck, damaged his spine, punctured a lung, and came out his back.  On the flight to Nha Trang, the medic had recessed [resuscitated? -editor] him twice.  He was paralyzed from the neck down.

We flew many missions together and I always considered Bill a typical 281st crewmember, OUTSTANDING, and so willing to do the non-typical.

Afterthought:  I knew in my soul that we would take fire from that high ground.  I could feel and taste it, and should have had Bill placing fire on it with his M-60.  The way we were hovering placed he and I on the side towards the hill.  Guess I still justify not doing so to the fact that the SF was out in the area and I didn’t know where they were. 

-- Ed Young  (Bandit 22) Oct 67 – Oct 68




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LTC THEODORE JAMES "TED" MEHL
January 15, 1939 - January 11, 2018

Ted Dollof
Wolf Pack 36, Operations Officer
Executive Officer 1967-1968

Ted joined the 281st AHC in late 1967 as Captain Fred Mentzer’s replacement in Wolf Pack. During his tour of duty Ted served as the Commander of the Wolf Pack weapons platoon, the Operations officer and completed his tour as the Executive Officer. Those of us who served with Ted knew him as Captain Dolloff. Later in his career he changed his name to Mehl, a family name. His Obituary follows:

LTC. THEODORE JAMES MEHL Of Annapolis, MD passed away January 11, 2018 of acute myeloblastic leukemia. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Liz, three sons, Michael, Christopher and Theodore (Diana), all of Annapolis, and his daughter, Ashley, of Atlanta, Georgia, and two grandchildren, Michael and Sarah Mehl, both of Annapolis.

Born in Brockton, Massachusetts, January 15, 1939, Ted is predeceased by his mother Beatrice Tripp Dolloff, his step father Horace Dolloff and his father Louis S. Mehl. He graduated from Fishburne Military Academy in 1958 and had a distinguished career as an army aviator from 1959 to 1981, commanding various attack helicopter units in Vietnam (1965-69) [and completing his career] as Commander of the 222nd Aviation BN, Ft. Wainwright, Alaska, (1979-81). Honors and awards include: U.S. Army Aviator of the Year, 1973; Outstanding Young Man of the Year 1974; Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 28 Oak Leaf Clusters with V Device, Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry with Silver Star, Legion of Merit.

After his Army career, Ted was a staff member to the House of Representatives Government Operations Committee, a consultant to the Commissioner of Customs on drug interdiction, an associate with Parry and Romani Associates, and founder and principal of Mehl, Griffin, Bartek and Spearhead Innovations.

Ted enjoyed flying planes, golf and spending time with his family. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery.

Published in the Capital Gazette on February 17, 2018

Members of the 28st are welcome to attend the funeral the funeral at Arlington on February 5th, 2019 at 10:30 am.
-Ted Mehl

_____________________________________

Remembering Ted: I had the pleasure of welcoming Ted to the 281st and later on served with him when he commanded the Chinook company in the 1st Cav. I again served with him when he was assigned to the Pentagon where he was a member of the legislative liaison team. As Wolfpack 36 he was a excellent replacement for Fred Mentzer, and I heard good things about his performance of duty as ops officer and XO. He was a good man and a great Intruder.
Jack Mayhew, 67 / 68

_____________________________________

Ted Dollof

I am sad to report this obituary is indeed our Ted Dolloff (Mehl). Ted was Wolf Pack 36, Ops Officer and XO of the 281st 1967-1968. He also had a previous tour flying Caribous.
Timing is everything. I called Ted Saturday to invite him again to our Gettysburg reunion. He has not been involved in our association, but I thought he was coming to the DC reunion since he lived in Annapolis. Well, his wife of 38 years, Liz, called me in response to my voice mail. She informed me that Ted died in January. Liz and I had a good chat about Ted.
I am so glad that I reached out to Ted about 18 months ago. We had several great conversations, most notably about his Herculean efforts to teach young 1LT Bain Black how to fly gunships. I asked him if he recalled the day he was my IP the very first time. We went south of NT and were making gun runs on a mountain side free fire zone. Ken Daniel (another newby 1LT) was in the other aircraft. There was not enough airspace to contain both of us at once. Well, Ted instructed me to enter a gun run, check trim and fire a pair of rockets. Nothing happened. He said again, "fire". Nothing. Once more and then he said to break right from the bottom of the gun run. I did as told and he said to "call break", to inform the outbound aircraft of our need for cover. Now what did 1LT Black do? Instead of pressing the mic switch, I pressed the rocket button and fired two 17 lb. rockets aimed at a Navy gun boat that was casually observing us. The rockets burned out (we were a couple of thousand feet above the water) with the familiar black poof of smoke; one rocket fell short of the gun boat and the other went right over it...exploding in the water. The gun boat made evasive maneuvers at full speed and took off toward port. Ted called the Navy to tell them this was an accident and we were not shooting at them!
I believe he had to go see some Lieutenant Commander in person to further explain.
When I asked Ted if he remembered this incident, he replied, "How could I forget it!" We howled about this event. Ted finally taught this rookie just out of flight school how to fly guns, but it was not easy. He had the patience of Job. He also taught me what a C model could really do in autorotation. I learned skills from Ted that I used and passed on to other aviators for the next 20+ years. Thanks Ted, and may you RIP!
Bain
Another old Wolf Pack 36

_____________________________________

I think he left the company not too long before I got there, at least that's what I remember, so be it! I remember him returning one day when I was still new, so July, August, or September of 68, and I think he was flying a LOACH [OH-6]. Anyway, all the crewmembers on the flight line went over to talk to him, and from the conversations, it was obvious that he was well liked by the crewmen. Not 100% sure about the LOACH, but am about him and the enlisted. At the time, Gary Hallman was my CE and he afterwards said he was a good guy and treated the crews well.
Dean Roesner

Ted Dollof

Joe Bilitzke & Ted Dolloff
O Club, Nha Trang, 1968



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COL. ANDREW J. (JOHN) MILLER
Commander, 281ST AHC 1968-1969
Died after his tour on February 9, 2005

COL Miller


obit

281st AHC Remembrances of Col. Miller

From Jeffrey Murray:

Jack,

Here's my favorite memory of COL Miller.  Did you know he commanded a brigade in Germany,  After that he came to Ft Rucker as the Chief of Staff.

One fine spring day I was flying as a Bandit Peter Pilot when we landed back at Nha Trang and settled into our revetment, wrapped up the post-flight inspection and prepared to go eat.  All we needed was some JP-4.  In the next revetment sat Ken Whisnant, another WO1 awaiting refueling so he could attend to more suitable matters, like chow.  But Ken didn't like waiting and began sounding off to whomever was within earshot that he was sick and tired of always having to wait on a refuel truck.  After all, he had worked all day and having to sit beside his helicopter afterwards was not what he came to Vietnam for.  Well, along came then Major Miller, the CO, who asked Ken what the problem was.  Ken gave it to him with both barrels, he did not like the response time of the POL Section and he felt he had better things to do than sit around and waste his and the crew's time.  I'll never forget MAJ Miller's response, which was to immediately name WO1 Ken Whisnant the new 281st AHC POL Officer.  Thereafter every day when I came back to Nha Trang I still saw WO1 Whisnant out in the revetment area but he was by this time directing a fleet of fuel trucks around. Good old MAJ Miller had a solution for everything.  It probably wasn't the solution Mr. Whisnant was seeking but it sure taught me to keep my mouth shut.




CARL E. MILLER
December 21, 1931 - May 15, 2002

Carl is interred in the Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery located in Alabama on the west edge of Ft. Benning in Alabama and not far from his last known residence of Seale, Alabama.

carl-miller-graven



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Major KENNETH ELLSWORTH MILLER
February 25, 1944 - March 1, 2018

Ken Miller Ken Miller

Ken Served in the 281st as Wolf Pack 34 from 1-69 until 1-70. He was a highly respected Army Aviator and a member of the Intruder team. We shall always remember him. His life’s accomplishments are listed on his obituary which is attached below:

"Kenneth Ellsworth Miller was born February 25, 1944. His life was full and rich with experiences and family. His father was in the military for all of Ken's youth and they traveled the world. His most vivid childhood memories were of Japan and High School in Killeen, Texas. Travel and military service were in his blood. He went to college to prepare for joining the Army and getting into flight school, in the hopes of becoming a helicopter pilot. Never one to be deterred, when he wasn't accepted into flight school he applied to the Special Forces. He completed the necessary training, including jump school and proudly served as a Staff Sergeant for three years as a Demolitionist cross-trained in Small Arms within a Green Beret A Team in Germany.

"Upon returning to the States, Ken completed the Warrant Officer program and was accepted into flight school. He flew in Vietnam with the 281st AHC. He was proud to be part of the Wolfpack, a support helicopter gunship unit for the 5th Special Forces. He was a decorated officer who was awarded numerous military campaign and service medals. Most notably and the one he was the most proud of was the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was also awarded two Bronze Stars and the Air Medal, as well as several other service and campaign medals.

"After Vietnam he met his future wife, 2nd Lt. Sharyn Boody, Army Nurse Corps. They were married May 22, 1970, and had four beautiful children of whom they could not be more proud. Ken retired from the military in May of 1983 as a Major and moved to the Port Angeles area to raise his family. He went from decorated military officer to setting up shop as a Farrier, enjoying his retirement making horses feel better and raising his family. After six years he began a third career, Author. He wrote one book which he self-published and sold nationally and internationally, Have you Kicked Your Horseshoer Today. He also wrote seventeen screen plays. One, Missing in America, made it to production, starring Danny Glover, Linda Hamilton, Ron Perlman, David Strathairn and Zoe Weizenbaum.

"Shortly after this production Ken suffered a stroke and he stopped writing. But nothing stopped him from having an active relationship with his children and grandchildren and his many grandchildren adopted into his heart. Ken lived a full and wonderful life surrounded by those that loved him. He loved racquetball, paintball, scuba, water and snow skiing, and collecting cars. In his later years he discovered his love for golf and spent many happy times on the green. Ken is survived by his sisters, Jean Ann Lynch, Debbie Duffy (Jeff), his devoted wife Sharyn, his children Shane (Coral), Jody, Scott (Katheena), and Clint. His grandchildren, Curtis, Brynn, Brianna, Sophia, Allyson, Kaylena, Emma and Aubri. Ken died March 1, 2018, with his wife at his side. His tee-shirts, sense of adventure, and infectious laugh will be missed by all that knew him. He was not only a decorated military hero, but a hero to his family. A celebration of life will be held March 17th from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm at the Dungeness Meadows club house, at 461 Dungeness Meadows (off of River Road) in Sequim. Dress is casual. The family requests contributions to the Ronald McDonald House in Seattle."

_____________________________________

March 16, 2018

Ken Miller was an original. He was like no other person I have known.

For those of you who didn’t serve in 1969 but, may have seen a guy at reunions with long hair and a full beard may have asked, who the heck is that? Yes, he was a retired major gone “Grizzly Adams”.

Ken and I served as fire team leaders in the Wolf Pack. We were also hooch mates. In living together, and having the same leadership responsibilities we closely shared our experiences, feelings and thoughts about just about everything.

One of the first things I learned about Ken was that he learned Polish as one of his skills in the Special Forces. That was impressive! This was my first inclination that he was a guy with a special aptitude and a high level of intelligence. After Vietnam, Ken attended language school and learned Spanish before being stationed in Panama. His last assignment was teaching at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California.

On the surface, Ken liked to display his wit and fun. One habit Ken had was that whenever we had a chance to go to the officer’s club he ordered Chivas Regal and root beer. Instinctively we all cringed, as we knew he was ruining a perfectly good scotch. To this day I am not sure Ken really enjoyed that drink. I think he was just trying to get a rise out of all the guys and have a little chuckle to himself.

And his laugh was unforgettable. The first time I truly remember it was on Thanksgiving Day 1969. Ken and I were based back in Nha Trang. All pilots tried to get back to home base before dark. But on that night, it was very dark and getting later and later. Finally he showed up in our room. I asked him what the hell happened to him for getting in so late. It was then he gave that laugh which was only Ken’s and he said, “I got shot down”. Not many of us could laugh at a day like that.

After retiring from the Army, Ken decided to become a farrier. His business plan was simple. He looked up in the yellow pages that there was one farrier in the area and he charged $15 per horseshoe. Ken decided to charge $10. He said he had plenty of business from that day on. Oh yes, he wrote a book about his work, “Have You Kicked Your Horseshoer Today?” Actually a horse did kick him and he had to begin a new career.

So, one day he was reading an article about Sylvester Stallone and how he had begun screen writing. Right then and there Ken said, “If that dumb son of a bitch can write screen plays, then I can too.” That is just what he did. He wrote seventeen and had one produced called “Missing in America” starring Danny Glover and Linda Hamilton.

Later in life, Ken wore monkey shirts! What were they about? They were about loyalty. Bob George saved Ken’s life in Vietnam on that Thanksgiving Day in 1969. Ken never forgot that. Ken also liked to give some people nicknames. As a result, Bob George’s wife became “monkey.” After that, Linda sent Ken shirts with big monkey faces. He was having a good time but he was also being loyal to Bob’s memory and his love for Linda.

There is no doubt that Ken enjoyed life to the fullest. Whether it was eating desert before his meal, drinking Chivas and root beer or wearing monkey shirts, it was living life and enjoying every minute of it. To many people, Ken might have seemed to be bit of a character. But, if you really knew Ken he had many dimensions. He had a special skill for languages, he could write screenplays, he could shoe a horse and he could fly a helicopter with the best of them.

After Vietnam we always kept in touch and saw each other whenever we could. I have great memories of those times. We met at reunions, had dinner together when my business travel got me close to where Ken lived, visited his home, met his family and took a RV trip to Canada with our wives and friends. Whenever we parted, I got a big bear hug. I will miss those bear hugs.

He will be deeply missed.

Wes Schuster



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Sp4 JOSEPH BARTON MILLIGAN
January, 28 1950 - June 24, 1979

Joe_Milligan

Joseph B. Milligan served in the 281st AHC During the Vietnam War.
He passed away in June of 1979 in Oklahoma and is buried in the Holly Creek Cemetery, Broken Bow, Oklahoma.
The 281st AHC Family shall always remember Joseph.




PAUL E. MITCHELL
June 2, 1947 - August 21, 2002

Last Address: Columbia, South Carolina
SSAN Issued in South Carolina



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RAYMOND KENNETH MONCRIEF
July 1, 1927 - January 23, 2005

Ray Moncrief
Motor Pool NCOIC from January 1966 to May of 1967

From the obituary:

"SSgt Ret. Raymond Kenneth Moncrief, 77, a native of Kirkland, Ga., and resident of Phenix City since 1973, died on Sunday, Jan. 23 at his residence. Graveside services with Full Military Honors will be held 2 p.m. today at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery with the Rev. Randy Comer officiating, according to Vance Memorial Chapel, Phenix City, Alabama.

Mr. Moncrief was born on July 1, 1927 to the late Joseph Malcolm Moncrief and Margaret Hewitt Moncrief. Mr. Moncrief (SSgt Retired) was a veteran of the U.S. Army for over 21 years. His distinguished career covered a vast number of military assignments. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict and Vietnam Conflict.

SSgt (Ret) Moncrief accumulated numerous military medals and ribbons to include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal (with 5 bronze stars), Army Occupation Medal and Germany Clasp, National Defense Service Medal and Bronze Star Attachment, with Silver Star Attachment, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (with device), Korean Defense Service Medal, Expert Badge and Carbine Bar, Sharpshooter Badge and Rifle Bar, and Driver and Mechanic Badge and Driver Bar.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Mary E. Moncrief of Phenix City; one son, James C. O'Brien of Columbus; one sister, Gladys Miller of Buford, South Carolina; one granddaughter, LeAnne O'Brien of Columbus; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, other relatives and friends. The family would like to offer a special thank you to Dr. Melvin Oakley for providing medical care for over 18 years."




VIERON FRANCIS MONDRINOS
January 13, 1947 - October 31, 2009

Vieron Mondrinos

Vieron served as a Wolf Pack door gunner from 10-66 until 10-67. He was born in Austria and immigrated to the United States with his mother and father in 1955. Vieron entered the service in 1966 and while serving as a combat aviation door gunner with the Wolf Pack of the 281st earned two Air Medals with V Device and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star. Vieron is survived by Veronica, his wife of 41 years, his son Mark and his father Panajotis.

Vieron was a proud member of the Special Operations Association and the 281st Assault Helicopter Company Association. He is buried in his home town of Kowilton, NJ where he resided with his family.

Here is short biography written by Veronica, Vieron’s wife of 41 years:

"Vieron was born in Bregenz, Austria on January 13, 1947. His parents met in a displaced persons camp after WWII. His father was a Greek prisoner of war and his mother was a German. He lived the first 8 years of his life in a small village in the Alps called Hohemens. He immigrated to the US in 1955. He stayed fluent in German his entire life. He settled in Jersey City, NJ and we married in 1968. He went to Farleigh Dickinson University where he received a BS. He continued his education at Kean College where he received a teaching certificate. He taught drafting, architectural drawing and electronics at the high school he attended.

Our son Mark was born in 1978. We moved to Bradenton, Fl and lived there for 11 years returning to NJ in 1998. Vieron had a brain tumor removed in July 2008. He fought the spreading cancer with courage and resolve but died on October 31, 2009.

Vietnam and the people he met and served with were an integral part of his life. I want to thank you for the beautiful wreath and all the communications I received from his fellow intruders. He was proud to have been part of the 281st AHC.

PS: We met when we were 14 but I was 19 and in college during his year in Vietnam."
-- Veronica



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BILL "MONTY" MONTGOMERY
June 15, 1939 - December 7, 1995
Wolf Pack 1967-68

Monty Monty Monty

Retired CW3 William "Monty" Montgomery of Lawton OK, died Dec 7 1995 of liver cancer. He was a life member of the VHPA and a graduate of Flight Class 66-9. Monty served with the 176th AHC and 281st AHC during his first tour in RVN 1966-67. During his second tour in 1969 - 70 he was an instructor pilot with the 273rd Aviation Co. (Skycranes) at Long Binh.

Bill retired from the Army in May 1978 and was employed with PHI until he was grounded due to diabetes, at which time he and Judy traveled around the US for several years then he went back to work as an instructor in the flight simulator at Fort Sill for many years.

He was a member of Special Forces Assn, American Legion, TROA and VHPA. He is survived by his wife Judy who still resides in Lawton OK.

Judy Montgomery
709 Mockingbird
Lawton, OK 73507
Tel: 580-355-1327
e-mail: judysmerc@aol.com




MAJ. STANLEY J. (RUDY) MORUD
Died after his tour on February 25, 2004
Commander of the 483rd  Maintenance Detachment
at the 281st from June 1966 to MAY 1967

Rudy Morud

Capt. Stanley J. (Rudy) Morud was the first commander of our maintenance detachment and deployed the detachment  to Vietnam.  Rudy was a World War II fighter pilot with a reputation for operating construction equipment with the best of them. He was responsible for a lot of the grading and preparation of the laterite for the maintenance area and initially setting the maintenance tent up on 55 gal drums to make a place for the heavy maintenance work.  Rudy was medically evacuated to Japan and retired upon returning to the states.

"Morud Stanley J., 79, of Mpls, passed away Wednesday, February 25, 2004. "Stan the Man" was a retired Major of the US Army, serving in WWII, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War. Stan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and was a member of the Richfield American Legion. Preceded in death by his parents, Sigrud & Ragna (Fureseth) Morud. Stan is survived by friends, Katherine Paciorek, Inez Montgomery, Abby & Walter, and Ruby Bartlett. Funeral services will be 10 AM Saturday, Feb. 28 at Sunset Funeral Home & Cemetery, 2250 St. Anthony Blvd., with a gathering 1/2 hour prior to the service."




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DONALD D. "DON" MUNDERBACK, Sr.
April 2nd, 1948 - April 8th, 2016
Crew Chief, 1st Platoon, 1968-1969

Don Munderback

Donald served in the 281st Assault Helicopter Company (AHC) from June of 1968 until June of 1969. Don was a member of the 1st Platoon with duties as the combat aviation crew chief for helicopter 138. Don served the 281st. AHC and his country with distinction and was highly respected by all. Following his retirement form the US army in 1988, Don put his aviation skills to work as a pilot, flying various aircraft in the aerial application industry and was an active pilot until his illness. He was active in the 281st Association and shall be missed, but not forgotten by the Intruder family. His obituary Follows:

Donald D. Munderback Sr., 68, of Uvalde died on April 8, 2016, in San Antonio. Graveside services will be held on 14 April at 9:30 a.m. at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio. He was born on April 2, 1948, in San Antonio to Gladiola (Bracken) and Donald B. Munderback. He married Anna E. Eliot on March 18, 1989, in San Antonio. He was in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1988 and served two tours in Vietnam. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, of Uvalde; one daughter, Jodi of Colorado Springs, Colorado; three sons, Frank of Del Rio, David of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Donald of Uvalde; and five grandchildren.

Don Munderback

Don on the left at a reunion, Barc Boyd on the right.




RICHARD A. MURRY, Sr.
December 4, 1946 -- December 27, 2019.
Served in the Maintenance Platoon and a flight platoon
at the 281st from March of 1968 to March of 1969

Richard Murry

Richard served his country in Vietnam from 3-68 until 3-69 as a Maintenance Technician and Crew Chief, flying UH-1 Helicopters. He was an outstanding member of the 281st Assault Helicopter Company, the US Army’s first special Operations Helicopter. Richard went on to succeed in civilian life following the war. Richard was an active member of the 281st Association and often assisted association members in the art of computer usage. Until his illness, Richard and Judy Merritt, his longtime companion, attended and contributed to almost all of the association’s activities. He shall be missed and remembered by the Intruder family. Richard’s obituary Follows:

“Richard Allen Murry Sr.'s infinite energy left his body on Dec. 27, 2019 at 2:51 p.m. after a 50-year battle with Agent Orange. He was 73 and had just celebrated a birthday that he was told he would never see. Richard passed at his daughter's home in Oklahoma City surrounded by his children and grandchildren who loved him dearly.

Born in El Dorado on Dec. 4, 1946, he was the son of Elton Leon and Rosa Louise Murry. Richard was brother to Eight siblings. He was previously married and had Four Children, Eleven Grandchildren, and Twenty-Five Nieces and Nephews. Richard had innumerable others who looked up to him as dad, granddad, uncle, friend and confidante.

Richard served in Vietnam with the 281st. Assault Helicopter Company, a unit of the U.S. Army. He was fluent in Vietnamese. The 281st was "above the best," working alongside the Green Berets. Although his military service left him a more quiet and reserved man, it also gave him a great respect for the sacredness of life. Upon his return, he set about being the husband and father that his family needed. He obtained a degree in electrical engineering from Hobson State Technical College in Alabama and studied draftsmanship at SAU Magnolia. He taught himself computer programming, and in his retirement, built custom computers.

Richard was a great mind. He loved sharing the knowledge he had acquired with his children and grandchildren. He was an inventor, HAM radio operator [Amateur Radio KF5DCX], and lover of music, nature and especially the Texas Coast. He eschewed organized religion, preferring to find God in the love shared between people and the beauty of nature, but found Dianetics fascinating.”




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