On Dec. 23 1968 I was on a re-supply mission flying YK-7 carrying external loads to some hungry Marines.  As I recall it was to be a milk run (easy mission with no fire).  After doing this for most of the day I think my pilots started getting a little board.  On the last re-supply we had a very long tether about 60' hanging under the A/C.  I was laying on the floor watching the lode when I noticed we were flying a little low over the trees.  I was rather calm about it telling the pilots we were close to the trees with no response from them.  A few seconds later with my voice rising several octaves I said take it up!  Again no response from the cockpit.  Well the lode went into the trees.  Before I could pickle the lode the tether snapped.  In horror I saw the tether recoil back up into the aft rotor blades.  At that point I didn't know weather to shit or go blind.  With a pucker power of about 10 I ran up to my door and looked to see how much tether was left hanging and decided I had to do something.  I went up to the cockpit telling the pilots to set this bird down and I didn't care where.  I pulled the engine throttles to the full shut down position with out telling the pilots what I was doing.  I think I got the pilots attention by that time.  As I was starting the APP he asked me what was going on. When I told him he made the best no power autorotation descent to the LZ I ever saw.  Just as we were setting down I lowered the rear door.  I could still see the tether raping around the rear rotor head.  As the blades were slowing I hit the rotor brake and ran for the rear just as a ground Lt. was pulling on the tether.  I hit him just as his feet were leaving the ground saving him from a trip into the blades.  I think this all took place in a matter of 60 seconds.  It was the longest 60 seconds of my life!  Luckily the damage was slight.  I had to cut away the strap from the head looking to see if the rods were bent or missing.  The cowling was fairly tore up but everything else was OK.  After checking out the aircraft I decided it was OK to head back to Marble Mountain.  I told the pilots I had to change my flight suit.  (After Action Report)

That was the bad part.  When I landed I was told I was on the Bob Hope flight for Cristmas Day if my plane was OK.  I said there was no way I would miss that mission.  Working most of the night I got everything up and running and was ready to go the next morning.  I believe my pilot was our Operations Officer Maj. George Grosfuss but I really don't remember.   As I remember it we carried Less Brown and his band.  I remember it so well as Less had a bottle of Scotch that he passed around to the band and us.  As the bottle got to me I just passed it up to the cockpit and it came back empty so I guess it was OK.

That night was Christmas Eve and we did the show on the Hancock where we spent the night.  I planed to sleep in my plane that night and celebrate Christmas with a drink or two from a bottle of  Tie Whisky I had stashed away.  I remember it was before midnight when I herd someone outside my plane.  It was two of the Gold Diggers on an evening stroll on the flight deck.  I invited them in gave and them a drink.  As thanks I had them the next day for one hop and got a kiss from each one.  It was the best Christmas I ever had! (After Action Report)

I don't remember who was the crew chief was on the VIP bird, but I under stand he managed to collect Ann Margaret's panties and Miss World's bra.  I never saw them but I understand he was charging a high price for a peek.

Webmaster's note;  After Action Reports show that in addition to flying their normal support missions for the ground maneuver elements, the Purple Foxes flew nine aircraft a total of 51.2 hours supporting the Bob Hope Christmas Show on 24 and 25 December 1968.

Submitted by:
    Cpl. Dean A. Reiner, USMC (Vet)