At Det 1, we were flying missions that melted into each other and in retrospect, in another theater, would have been considered “medal” material on nearly a daily basis. We on the other hand, only knew we were doing a job to the best of our ability, under often hazardous conditions, with the ultimate goal of always being there and …
AO1 Fred T. Stark (2)
AVIATION ORDINANCEMAN FIRST CLASS, FRED T. STARK was assigned to Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three in the Republic of Vietnam from August 1970 to August 1971 as a Helicopter Combat Aircrew Door Gunner on a UHIB Huey gunship light fire team at Det-1. Petty Officer Stark’s aircraft was heavily armed with rockets, door mounted and side mounted 6 barrel mini …
AO1 Fred T. Stark
I was an Aviation Ordnance man First Class when assigned to HAL-3. Upon arrival, I was sent to Det 5 as Petty Officer in Charge on the YBRM 16 near Chau Duc anchored in the river which was a safe haven for the PBR boats and our two helicopters (UH-1B). I was there for about 10 days when they lost …
Thurman L. Hicks, Det. 1
After reminiscing with Bill Rutledge about some of the things that happened to me while attached to HELICOPTER ATTACK (LIGHT) SQUADRON THREE, DET-1 in Vietnam, Bill suggested I write about them. I had always told my wife Tracy that I was going to write a book about my experiences on DETACHMENT-1, but I’m sure you all know how that is. …
James Wall, U.S.Navy Door Gunner
In the Seawolves, we had many heros, of one I will write His name was Jim Wall, from Texas, he was full of fight Hit in the chest, the round went through this happened at Nha Ba, while on Det Two He could have gone home, but fought to stay Two long months healing, then back in the fray He …
The Great Seawolf Airshow
Come one, come all, for you must see the great Seawolf Air Show from Dets one, Two and Three no sleight of hand from Dets Four, Five And Six, but with our weapons ,we do lots of tricks. gunners on rocket pods like trapeze artists so fine, you can see this all at Dets Seven, Eight And Nine. So come …
The Great Watermelon Raid
Our fire team (Det8), was staging off the Hunterdon County (LST-838) and out of the Rach Gia short strip. We had been flying combat ops between Long Xuyen and Rach Gia and had spotted about a half acre of (VC) watermelons growing on a flat spot above a village which was along a river. George Decker(GT) and I were the …
Seawolf Swap
The Seawolves, HA(L)-3, a little known gunship outfit in the Delta, was the only helicopter attack squadron ever commissioned by the Navy. It was also little known within the Navy itself and depended on the Army supply line for support, since the Navy had no other Huey’s at the time. Given that system, you can imagine the priorities assigned to …
Three Quickies
I have pictures of the smoker. It was an L-Model with a ring of nozzles that sprayed smoke oil into the exhaust. It sure made a lot of smoke. The Vietnamese supply boats running to Phnom Phen were getting shot up badly by the VC. They told the locals that we were going to use poison gas. Pete Navone and …
Pilot with a Magic Hat
Most of the time, he serves as a Seawolf in Vietnam, flying a heavily armed UH1B Iroquois(Huey) in support of Navy river patrol boats(PBR’s) in the Mekong Delta. His job has been to prevent the movement of supplies along the 6000 waterways and canals that crisscross the delta. He also makes reconnaissance and surveillance flights. But LCDR Martin also wears …