[ladtx]

Sorry to hear about LBGA. Prayers on the way.

Since it's Military Monday here's another tribute to some of my fallen comrades, one I knew personally for a very short time.

In memory of my fellow Vietnam helicopter pilots who were killed in that war the following were lost on SEP 22. God bless them all.

1967 MAJ Blackshear M. Bryan Jr. (USA) -- USARV FLT DET, Age 37, Married, Washington, DC
1967 WO1 James T. Donahue Jr. (USAR) -- 188th AHC, Age 22, Single, Des Plaines, Illinois
1969 WO1 Barry K. Alexander (USAR) -- 71st AHC AMERICAL, Age 22, Single, Clemson, South Carolina
1969 WO1 Gary G. Lamb (USAR) -- 336th AHC, Age 21, Married, Beaverton, Oregon
1970 1LT William S. Davis (USMCR) -- HMM-262, Age 24, Married, Alhambra, California
1970 1LT Harold B. Kimbrough (USMCR) -- HMM-262, Age 24, Married, Batesville, Arkansas

In memory of WO1 Gary G. Lamb, 336th Assault Helicopter Company, Gun platoon "Thunderbirds".

One of the "Thunderbirds" as flown by WO1 Lamb.

Accident report detailing the accident that took WO1 Lambs life.

UH-1C 66-15168 was hovering into the gunship rearming area. There was a tailwind - Pilot sitting on left side stated he had run out of aft cyclic. Aircraft got extremely close to another UH-1C that was at flight idle also starting to rearm. Aircraft Commander bottomed pitch to stop aircraft and the main rotor blades of the aircraft (66-15168) struck the main rotor blades of the UH-1C 66-15210. The Aircraft Commander of 66-15210 had unbuckled and was departing his aircraft to supervise rearming as the blades struck causing 66-15210 to lurch up, tail coming right and to roll over on its top right side killing the AC with a fatal head injury. The main transmission mast and rotor system of the hovering aircraft (66-15168) came out and flew approximately ten feet before coming to rest nearly intact. There were no injuries on 66-15168. Both aircraft sustained major damage to main rotor blades, rotor heads, mast, transmission mounts and transmissions. There was no fire. From Army Aircraft Accident Report Check List.

On a personal note, I was in the same unit as WO1 Gary Lamb, he was in our gun platoon, the Thunderbirds. I had only been in country a couple of days when he was killed. I was living on the top floor of a two story barracks we called the "death house" because of it's height and non-sandbagged walls. When the two aircraft collided I was in my room and heard the terrific noise and thought we were under mortar attack. I could hear pieces of the aircraft as they flew past the hooch. A piece of the main rotor blade flew over the hangar, over the "death house", then across the company street and took out the Battalion Commanders air conditioner. Mr. Lamb's death brought home the fact that we were all vulnerable.

SCOUTS OUT!

[Billie]

Thank you again for posting this on our Military Monday threads, L. God bless the families of these six helicopter pilots who were lost on this date during the Vietnam war.

Your tributes to them all help keep their memories alive.

[dixie sass]

Happy Monday, ladtx. I look forward to your postings on Monday with fear that I will see a name I know and also with gratitude to those who gave their lives for the ideals this country stands for.

Gratitude to those who served in 'Nam and came home as well as those who didn't.

Y'all stand tall among my heros!!

[LadyX]

God bless all these beloved sons of America you continue to commemorate, for whom Love of Country and Freedom was more than a token concept....

They acted upon their beliefs, going into what erroneously was called a 'Futile' War - - it served to slow down the rapid advancement of Communism that was devouring everything in its path during the Not So Cold War....

Too many Americans then - and now - think from a level of self-indulgent complacency, not realizing it takes the acts of the brave and dedicated to PROTECT THEM and ENSURE PEACE - - -

God bless your sons, ladtx, and all the wonderful men and women who are truly "there - for us - -"