Veterans Day 2016

Thanks to our military personnel both overseas and at home as there is danger and sacrifice on both fronts.  Thanks to you and your families . . . to those in support of our men and women all over the world.

Take a few moments and remember what principles founded this country . . . “In God We Trust”

We seemed to have moved away from those principles and slowly we are losing focus on what has kept us a great Nation. I am super proud of being an American, but we fail our veterans every day. 

Veterans are a symbol of what makes our nation great, and we must never forget all they have done to ensure our freedom.

A remembrance from a little known (American public) time in my life . . . Operation Lam Son 719

"The operation was conceived in doubt and assailed by skepticism, preceded in confusion."

Dr. Henry Kissinger speaking on Operation Lam Son 719 

The following excerpt from Newsweek, 15 March 1971, was more objective than most at the time:

“To the modern American cavalryman of the air, the plunge into Laos has been something like an old-time charge on horseback: admirably heroic, stunningly effective-and terribly costly.  For four weeks now, American helicopter pilots have flown through some of the heaviest flak in the history of the Indochinese war.  One-day alone last week, the Army admitted to losing ten aircraft to the unexpectedly heavy North Vietnamese ground fire, and there were reports from the field that the actual losses had been much worse.  As a result, the customary bravado of the American chopper pilot was beginning to wear a bit thin.  "Two weeks ago," said one gunship skipper, "I couldn't have told you how much time I had left to serve in Vietnam.  Now I know that I've got 66 days to go, and I'm counting every one." Another flier added anxiously: "The roles are reversed over there.  In Vietnam, you have to hunt for the enemy.  But in Laos, man, they hunt for you.”

Despite the risks, it was inevitable that U. S. helicopters should be deeply involved in the Laotian campaign, for more than any other artifact of war, the chopper has become the indelible symbol of the Indochina conflict. Helicopter pilots were among the first Americans killed in the war a decade ago, and, under President Nixon's Vietnamization program, they will probably be among the last to leave.  In the years between, the chopper's mobility and firepower have added a radically new dimension to warfare, and the daring young American pilots have scooped up their Silver Stars, Distinguished Flying Crosses and Air Medals by the bushel-along with Purple Hearts.  In the opinion of many military experts, the helicopter has been the difference between a humiliating U. S. defeat in Vietnam and whatever chance remains of attaining some more satisfactory outcome.”

Lam Son 719 - JAN-MARCH 1971

Lam Son 719 was a major operation of the Army of the Republic of South Vietnam, ARVN, into Laos from 30 Jan - 24 Mar 1971.  U.S. provided all of the aviation assets for this operation.  A/101 AHB "Comancheros" were one of the aviation units in this operation, along with being the sole 101st Airborne aviation unit supporting the Special Operations Group in I Corp during the month of February 1971.

The objective of Lam Son 719 was to disrupt an ongoing North Vietnamese Army supply buildup at Tchepone, Laos.  American Helicopter Units supported and provided all transportation of ARVN troops/supplies into and out of Laos during this operation.  The US Helicopter Crewman went against the heaviest anti-aircraft barrage incurred in the War.

The US helicopters that supported Lam Son 719 received fire from rocket propelled grenades, enemy tanks, mortars and small arms fire.  The US helicopters were regularly opposed by NVA 23mm, 37mm, and 57mm anti-aircraft weapons along with .51 caliber machine guns arranged to provide mutually supporting anti-aircraft fire.  The enemy opposition comprised a permanent logistical force of engineers, transportation, and anti-aircraft troops, together with elements of five divisions that included 12 North Vietnamese infantry regiments, a NVA tank regiment, an NVA artillery regiment, and 19 NVA anti-aircraft battalions.

The South Vietnamese government claimed that 13,341 NVA had been killed against 5,000 ARVN KIA/WIA.  American estimates put the ARVN losses at 10,000 which amounted to half of ARVN forces committed to the operation.

The losses to US Helicopter Forces were 65 Helicopter Crewmen KIA, 818 WIA, and 42 MIA.  618 US Helicopters were damaged, including 106 totally destroyed, from 30 Jan - 24 Mar 1971.

All Gave some . . . Some Gave All

Ice