[ladtx]

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

1965 MAJ Norman A. Leikam -- B/2/20 ARA 1 CAV, Age 33, Hays, Kansas
1965 CW2 Vann D. Sherrill -- 118 AHC, Age 31, Thomasville, North Carolina
1969 WO1 Andrew J. Abramson -- A/4/77 ARA 101 ABN, Age 22, Lake Oswego, Oregon
1969 WO1 Gerald L. Young -- A/4/77 ARA 101 ABN, Age 31, Ft Worth, Texas

WO1 Abramson and WO1 Young were killed when the engine in their AH-1G Cobra failed, rotor RPM decayed to such a point as to make a successful autorotational landing impossible. Both were killed on impact.

In memory of WO1's Abramson and Young and A/4/77 ARA 101 ABN "Dragons"

A/4/77 (and the 4/77 Bn.) was formed at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma in May 1968. The initial pilots (most of whom came right out of flight school) went through two additional weeks of training learning aerial rocketry at Ft. Rucker, Alabama on the old UH-1A's & B's before they were sent to Ft. Sill. The newly-formed "A" Battery was then issued UH-1C helicopters which had the improved "540" main rotor system. In November, 1968, the unit ferried their Hueys to Stockton, CA where the aircraft (and a few cadre) were placed aboard the "Jeep Carrier", U.S.S. Kula Gulf. A month later the Kula Gulf docked at Da Nang where the aircraft were flown to their new home with the 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) at Camp Eagle. Soon after arrival in Vietnam, however, the unit was given new Bell AH-1G Huey Cobra helicopters. This upgrade occured in late February, 1969. In March (or April) of 1970, the unit was relocated to nearby Phu Bai. In January 1972, A/4/77 (along with the entire 101st Abn. Div.) "Stood Down" and returned to Ft. Campbell, KY.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLADE

SCOUTS OUT!

[Billie]

Thanks are hardly enough for what you do every day, but thank you. We appreciate you so much, and your memorials are even more meaningful now that you've added the extra details. God Bless their families, and God Bless you for remembering them.

[daisyscarlett]

965 MAJ Norman A. Leikam -- B/2/20 ARA 1 CAV, Age 33, Hays, Kansas
1965 CW2 Vann D. Sherrill -- 118 AHC, Age 31, Thomasville, North Carolina
1969 WO1 Andrew J. Abramson -- A/4/77 ARA 101 ABN, Age 22, Lake Oswego, Oregon
1969 WO1 Gerald L. Young -- A/4/77 ARA 101 ABN, Age 31, Ft Worth, Texas

REST IN PEACE, YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

[daisyscarlett]

I received a phone call last night from someone who had recently seen a replica of the Wall.

When she was in high school, she had corresponded with a few servicemen in VietNam. She was shocked to see the name of one of her penpals on the Wall. Since he wrote her that he was on a helicoptor crew, I am wondering if he was killed while serving in this capacity...

His name is Richard A. Kosti from Keewatin WI. He gave his life for his country in 1968.

REST IN PEACE RICHARD. Though your penpal. Lee, never met you and lost contact with you, she has never forgotten you and seeing your name on the Wall was devastating to her.

[JustAmy]

Bless these heros. Father, Bless and Comfort their families.

Thank you, ladtx. Your service to our great nation is greatly appreciated.
We have a very good friend who served with the Screaming Eagles during either 1964 or 1965. He came home but many of his friends did not.
God Bless our Military, Past and Present.

[Diver Dave]

Attention On Deck!

Present Arms!

1965 MAJ Norman A. Leikam -- B/2/20 ARA 1 CAV, Age 33, Hays, Kansas
1965 CW2 Vann D. Sherrill -- 118 AHC, Age 31, Thomasville, North Carolina
1969 WO1 Andrew J. Abramson -- A/4/77 ARA 101 ABN, Age 22, Lake Oswego, Oregon
1969 WO1 Gerald L. Young -- A/4/77 ARA 101 ABN, Age 31, Ft Worth, Texas

two

[dansangel]

Once again, thank-you so much for your remembrance of our fallen heroes. May they rest in peace in God's loving arms.

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