[ladtx]

center>In memory of my fellow Vietnam helicopter pilots who were killed in that war the following were lost on DEC 3. God bless them all.

1965 CPT Kirk I. Riley (USMC) -- HMM-364, Age 26, Peoria, Illinois
1965 1LT Stanley G. Johnson (USMCR) -- HMM-364, Age 25, Applegate, California (body not recovered)
1967 1LT William S. Cutter (USAR) -- B/1/9 CAV 1 CAV, Age 24, Stillwater, Oklahoma
1969 2LT Jellie -- 161 (INDEP) RECN FLT, Age 19, Waterloo, Iowa

In memory of CPT Kirk I. Riley and 1LT Stanley G. Johnson. As lead in a flight of 6 CH-34's, they took a direct mortar hit in the belly of the aircraft in flight, igniting the fuel tanks. No one survived.

Cousin, Big Brother, fellow Marine Stan was my cousin and big brother. I was a Navy Corpsman assigned to 3rd Batt., 9th Marines and arrived in Viet Nam on October 22, 1965. I knew Stan was coming and thought that we would meet up at some point. My platoon went out on patrol Dec. 1st and was out for a couple of days. We had run into a regiment of V.C. and that was the beginning of Operation Harvest Moon. Stan was on his shake-down flight and was acting as a co-pilot on a UH-34. He was delivering South Vietnamese troops into this operation when he was shot down. I found out about his death the day before Christmas, 1965 by a letter from my mother. During January 1966 my platoon was assigned as the first Sparrow Hawk and was at MAG-36 at Marble Mountain where by chance I ran into a couple of Stan's friends who came to Viet Nam with him. I always looked up to Stan and have been deeply affected by his loss, especially when he was killed only a few miles from where I was.

Dale Fraser -- Cousin, Big Brother, fellow Marine

1LT Stanley G. Johnson

IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLADE

SCOUTS OUT!

[ladtx]

It pays to proofread closely, plus have more coffee before you proofread. My apologies for todays post. 2LT Jellie was supposed to have been left off this post. Near as I can figure he was Australian and somehow got onto my list. I have no other information on him and the age and hometown are left over from a previous post. Once again my apologies for the inaccurate post.

ladtx

[Billie]

For Cpt. Kirk I. Riley, 1LT Stanley G. Johnson, 1LT William S. Cutter, 2LT Jellie .......God rest their souls and bless their families.

[daisyscarlett]

Thank you for the rembrance and photo of Lt. Stanley G. Johnson. May he rest in peace along with his fellow helicoptor pilots killed on this date. (He looks so young, so very young.)

[dansangel]

May God keep close to his heart the souls of our fallen heroes. May every citizen of the US give thanks to God and pray for the families of these heroes in appreciation for the freedoms that they enjoy.

God Bless you, ladtx, for your vigilant daily reminders.

{{{{{{{{{ladtx}}}}}}}}}}}

[JustAmy]

Good Morning, Ladtx.
Thank you for honoring these four young men who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.
May God Bless and Comfort their Families and Friends. God Bless you, Ladtx and God Bless America.

[Diver Dave]

1965 CPT Kirk I. Riley (USMC) -- HMM-364, Age 26, Peoria, Illinois
1965 1LT Stanley G. Johnson (USMCR) -- HMM-364, Age 25, Applegate, California (body not recovered)
1967 1LT William S. Cutter (USAR) -- B/1/9 CAV 1 CAV, Age 24, Stillwater, Oklahoma
1969 2LT Jellie -- 161 (INDEP) RECN FLT, Age 19, Waterloo, Iowa

Salute!