1968 WO1 Paul R. Driscoll -- 54 SIG BN, Age 22, Monument Beach, Massachusetts
1968 1LT Milton D. Pate -- A/2/17 CAV, Age 23, Galveston, Texas
1968 1LT Ronald A. Wolter -- A/2/17 CAV, Age 21, Carpentersville, Illinois
1969 CW3 Paul R. Getz -- A/228 ASHB 1 CAV, Age 40, North Las Vegas, Nevada
1969 WO1 Michael D. Rosenthal Jr. -- B/229 AHB 1 CAV, Age 25, Metairie, Louisiana
1969 CPT Murray J. Wyman -- B/229 AHB 1 CAV, Age 25, San Jose, California
1972 CPT Steven D. Howard -- 18 CAC, Age 31, El Dorado, Kansas
1972 CW2 James M. Stever -- 18 AVN, Age 28, Visalia, California
1972 CW2 Ronald L. Vanlandingham -- 18 CAC, Age27, San Antonio, Texas
On the morning of 10/31/72 Steve and I and a couple of others conducted a Protestant religious service at our chapel in Can Tho (our Chaplain had DEROSed). This was the birthday of the pilot scheduled to fly this mission and Steve volunteered to take his mission so he could celebrate his birthday. The mission was to fly a CH-47 from Can Tho to Vung Tau to pick up troops from our compound that were there on an in-country R&R. There were some troops there from Dong Tam who needed a ride, so Steve volunteered to take them too. On climb-out from Dong Tam, at about 500 feet, the aircraft was hit in the aft pylon by an SA-7 anti-aircraft missile. All on board were killed. I was the unit recovery officer and coordinated the recovery. Steve was a devout Christian, a good man, and a fine officer. The Bible tells us in John 15:13 that, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Steve had this greater love.
CH-47 -- The type of aircraft CPT Howard was flying at the time of his death and 9 others.
SCOUTS OUT!
