Cobra rescue

We were flying medevac as lead plane. We got a call for a medevac. I believe we were in the Que Son Mt.. range SE of DaNang. As we approached the area, the Cobra pilot stated he was hit and going down. We could see the Cobra with smoke coming out of it and we started our spiral. As we started down, I saw the Cobra land on a slope. I saw the pilot and copilot exit the Cobra and start up the hill. The rotor blades were still turning. I lost sight of them because of our spiral and then we landed. The back of our helo was facing the downed Cobra. One gunner ran out the back of our helo, then came back on board (I'm a little fuzzy on this) and told me that he couldn't find the pilot and copilot. At this point, I advised Dave I was disconnecting and I went out the back of the helo with both gunners. I believe Cdr. Ledermen also came out. We found the pilot lying in front of the downed Cobra and the top of his head was missing. As I looked around, I saw the copilot, and his head was totally destroyed. The copilot was a little further up the hill than the pilot. I and another crew member then picked up the pilot (he was a Major) and started back to the 46. The major's brain fell out onto my boot along the way. We took him up towards the front of the 46 and laid him on the floor. I went back out the back of the helo and the other gunner and Cmdr. Lederman were struggling with the Lieutenant's body, so I grabbed on side of the Lt. and we proceeded into the 46, at which time I hooked back up to the mike, and we lifted off.

I can tell you one thing, Frank, the Major had really blue eyes that I've never forgotten.

We took the bodies back to DaNang, went back and refueled, and I was advised that we were going to have to fly that night on night Medevacs because no other helo was available. I took the Major's kneepad and some other papers from him over to his squadron and left them there. Nobody would pay attention to me so I slammed his papers on their desk and said “Here's your XO’s personal stuff” and left. When I came back to my squadron, they were taking the floor panels out of my 46 and washing the belly out. It was filled with blood, etc.

Gny Sgt Ortiz & King  came and told me that they were recommending me for the Silver Star. At this time I guess I was in shock and all I wanted to do was just leave, just go. I told them they could take their Silver Star and stick it up their a****. There were words passed between the 3 of us, and I just told them to “get the f*** away from me, just leave me alone.” I was sitting in the crew chief chair on my 46. Cmdr. Lederman approached me at this time and we started talking. I was feeling like all I wanted to do was disappear, just leave. He said “Son, once the soul has left the body, all that's there is just meat. It's just a body and the soul has gone to God.” He talked to me for a long time. If he hadn't talked to me, I probably would have left the flight line or something. I was very, very distraught at the time, and he took the time to talk to me. He talked and talked and talked, trying to help me. I have never forgotten it; he brought me back to sanity, quite honestly. That day was a very hellish day. I continued to fly night medevacs that night, as a chase plane, not lead plane.

Gny Sgt Ortiz & Sgt King were also very distressed, and Gny Sgt Ortiz told me that “we had seen more on that day than most Marines see in a lifetime.”

I don't think I wrote any action report, but I believe what we did was very courageous. If I could, I would recommend awards for everyone on my helo that day; they all acted in accordance with the highest standards of valor.

The firing from the caves…I saw some guns fire and unlike Dave, I don't remember the gun being pulled in but I remember seeing fire. They were big guns. There was elephant grass on the hill and around our 46 but I could see the Cobra well. I don't remember whether or not a Corpsman was on the flight.

Hope all had a good Thanksgiving.

Bruce