This is the sixth and last part in a series about a minor combat engagement in South Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. It is representative of Seawolf combat operations during the withdrawal of U.S. riverine forces and the turnover of naval operations to the South Vietnamese in 1971. HA(L)-3, the only Navy attack helicopter squadron in Vietnam, was a unique concept designed …

This is the story of the fight at Hoa Binh outpost, Republic of South VIetnam, as seen by this Navy Seawolf helicopter pilot. It is representative of Seawolf combat operations during the withdrawal of U.S. riverine forces and the turnover of naval operations to the South Vietnamese in 1971. HA(L)-3, the only Navy attack helicopter squadron in Vietnam, was a …

This is part 4 leading up to the story of a minor combat engagement at an outpost in South Vietnam called Hoa Binh. It is representative of Seawolf combat operations during the withdrawal of U.S. riverine forces and the turnover of naval operations to the South Vietnamese in 1971. HA(L)-3, the only Navy attack helicopter squadron in Vietnam, was a …

This is part 3 leading up to the story of a minor combat engagement at an outpost in South Vietnam called Hoa Binh. It is representative of Seawolf combat operations during the withdrawal of U.S. riverine forces and the turnover of naval operations to the South Vietnamese in 1971. HA(L)-3, the only Navy attack helicopter squadron in Vietnam, was a …

This is part 2 leading up to the story of a minor combat engagement at an outpost in South Vietnam called Hoa Binh. It is representative of Seawolf combat operations during the withdrawal of U.S. riverine forces and the turnover of naval operations to the South Vietnamese in 1971. HA(L)-3, the only Navy attack helicopter squadron in Vietnam, was a …

This is the story of a minor combat engagement at an outpost in South Vietnam called Hoa Binh. It is representative of Seawolf combat operations during the withdrawal of U.S. riverine forces and the turnover of naval operations to the South Vietnamese in 1971. HA(L)-3, the only Navy attack helicopter squadron in Vietnam, was a unique concept designed to support …

Both birds were flying down low following the river north back to Nha Be. We were doing a “flyby” on this ship in the Saigon Channel. That’s where the lead bird goes by the boat on one side and the trail bird goes by on the other side, both low level and fairly close to it. As we (the lead …

John Hosford (Hos), Miguel “Mike” Melendez (Mex) and I served together on HA(L)-3 Detachment 1 at Nam Can, Republic of Vietnam – a U S Navy firebase known as “Solid Anchor” in 1971. During those days, we flew a years’ worth of missions together and worked closely on the aircraft and other detachment duties. I was a young officer and …

Somebody wanted to know if any of us had ever survived a stabilizer bar failure on a Huey. I did one on New Year’s Day 1971. It was a wild ride and I almost did not make it out. We were climbing out of Ca Mau at 1,300 feet heading into the 33rd light CP in the U Minh Forest, …

Flight Crew: Lt. Vince Ammendola, pilot Lt. Troung, copilot John Mederios, left door, mini-gun Sgt. Ninh, training Mike Worthington, right door, 50 cal. The SEAWOLVES from Det-4 were “SCRAMBLED” for support of the River Boats and Vietnamese Army that were doing a sweep near the Parrot’s Beak close to the Cambodian border and ran into a bit of trouble. As …