Captain Donald F. Engel HMM-363 Lucky Red Lions

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From Left to Right; Lt. Seeley, Lt. Kucan, Capt. Eaton, Lt. Keller

     Seppo Hurme

2LT Hurme in full gear HMM-361 USS IWO JIMA NOV-DEC "67

     Seppo Hurme

2LT Hurme in full gear HMM-361 USS IWO JIMA NOV-DEC "67

     Seppo Hurme

1st Lt. James Dean Opsahl, 0103215, was KIA on February 4th, 1969 when the aircraft he was piloting struck another squadron helicopter. The accident occurred just south of Hill 10. All eight Marines aboard both aircraft died. Lt. Opsahl was 23 years old at the time of his death and was a resident of Britton, SD. His name is on The Wall at Panel 33W, Line 058

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Roger Henry, Wayne Hazlebaker, John Kiser, Bob Keefe, John Martin of VMO-2

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Ron Corley, Chris Bradley, Shep Spink, Bill Kirby, Al Barbour, Bud Willis

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Joe Cestare, Duke Lind, & Bill Hartigan briefing.  Joe Cestare KIA Incident 680420.
 

     Ben Brenneman

3 May 68, aboard Princeton enroute to Vietnam: Mike McElwee and crew chief, Don Baker, preflight CH-46D, BuNo 153402 (YR-33).

     Mike McElwee

Circa, Summer, 1968, Quang Tri: An impromptu celebration by HMM-161 (mostly S-1) Marines. Standing l. to r.: LCpl R. E. Posey, Cpl R. J. Schumaker, Cpl J. E. Byrne, Maj Bill Boone, Cpl F. D. Young (maintenance analyst), 1stLt Mike McElwee: bottom l. to r.; LCpl R. D. Williams (S-2 clerk), LCpl J. L. Rivera, unknown.

     Mike McElwee

Newly promoted HMM-161 1stLt's one month prior to deploying to Vietnam.  Standing L to R: Jim Andrews (Silver Star, Mar69), Chuck Songer WIA 19Aug68 - Med Evaced to CONUS, Jim Sweet KIA 17 Oct 68, Mike Helmstetler KIA 19 Jun 68, Bill Hitchcock, Bob Mullins (died in 1970, while undergoing transition training, in a C-130 crash at El Toro).  Kneeling L to R: Mike McElwee, Al Doktor, Rudy Kaiser, Brent "BC" Blair, Tom Collins, Charlie Galavitz. The 25% casualty rate embodied in this picture is probably fairly typical for any representative group of CH-46 pilots or aircrew in Vietnam during 1968.

     Mike McElwee

Early March 1969, NW of Da Nang on Operation "Eager Pursuit I": Mike McElwee as a FAC with BLT 2/26.  I was trying to give myself a close shave when this picture was taken.  But, when all was said and done, I experience more "close shaves" flying 46's out of Quang Tri than I did with these guys.

     Mike McElwee

Tod Eikenbery and Lenny Demko.  Picture taken by Dave Linsley at the O'Club in Da Nang, Feb. of 1963.

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Lenny Demko (laying down), Chet Chester, Bernie Keroack (standing), Ben Chapple (sitting on ground), Rick Carr, Tod Eikenbery and Bob Evans.

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Joel Vignere had the misfortune to be co-pilot when Ken MacBeth was killed by a sniper, pilot when John Mooney was killed by a friendly grenade and when Dave Cruiz could have been very, very, very seriously wounded.

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Ugly Sleepers are Ed Hunneyman (l) and T O (r), observing is John Ferris at Nui Dang during Operation Desoto Mar 1967.

     Joel Vignere

After their CH-46 was crash-landed in river just east of Khe Sanh after battle-damage on Hill-881, crew is rescued by Capt Tim Timmons HMM-164.  Left Rear: Capt George Ross. Center Rear: Capt Tim Timmons.  Right Rear: 1st Lt Dan Jones.  Front row: Cpl L.E. Black, crew chief Gary Horton.

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Portrait of my buddy, "Ski", standing beside the bunker we were building outside our hooch in Phu Bai. Ski was KIA Incident 680611 in the crash of HMM-164's YT-23 on 11 June 1968.

     Dan Jones

MARCAD Bruce Lake.

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I suspect that is part of the Detachment at Dong Ha in early 1966.(June?) Al isn't wearing the latest armor and we did shave down at Marble Mt. Vincil W. Hazelbaker.

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Col. Yank speaking to (L to R) Bing Emerson, Fred Pratt and Maj. Palmore.

     Tom Lindsey

L to R: Rick Yanke (standing), Bruce lake, JJ Wilson, Jeff Rainaud, ________? Edwards.

     Fred Pratt

Paul Gregoire Ky Ha 1967.

     Paul Gregoire

(L to R) Back of Jim Cahill's head, Dave Bennett, Jeff Rainaud, Jim Fleming and Steve Sunderman.

     Tom Lindsey

(L to R) Wes Marks, barmaid and Bob Higgenbotham

     Tom Lindsey

(L to R) Roger Herman, Brian Baker, J.D. Barber

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