FLIGHT LEAD CREW: YK-19; Kneeling, L to R  GySgt. George Ward, Gunner; GySgt. Tom McKeon, Gunner; Sgt. Robert W. Otto, Crew Chief;1stLt. Peter Baron, Pilot; 1stLt. Mark Bumm, Copilot   "DASH-TWO" CREW: Standing, L to R   LCpl. Daryl Jorgenson, Gunner; Pfc. Bailey, Gunner; Cpl. Eric Litchfield, Crew Chief; 1stLt. Donald Nichols, Pilot; 1stLt. Fred Jones, Copilot  DATE: 16 FEBRUARY  1971

Peter T. "Pete" Baron recalls:
I was the flight leader.  This was the last combat mission for the Purple Foxes.  In my log book, the buno is 153377.  It was a 3R6 (night medevac).  Total time 1.6 hours, all at night.  I don't remember anything about the mission itself.  Maybe one of the others can jog my memory.  I do remember that the schedule was written as a normal flight schedule.  When the "heavies" realized this would go down in history as the last combat mission, there was a lot of heat to replace the four 1st Lieutenants with "old guys".  The LPA (Lieutenants Protective Association) stood firm, and off we went into the night.  It really must have been an unremarkable mission.  In my mind, it was just another flight, until we were relieved, and returned to the squadron area where the photographer met us on the flight line for the picture.

Even though HMM-364 stood down & the colors went back to Headquarters Marine Corps, only a few short timers actually left country.  All of the rest of us were shuttled off to the final two CH-46 squadrons remaining in country (HMM-262 & HMM-263).

Both HMM-262 & HMM-263 left country in May '71 via the USS Ogden.  Speaking from personal experience, it was a very long boat ride.

The USS Ogden was commissioned 06-19-65 and depicted on the left at San Diego in 1968.  The right image shows her departing San Diego, loaded with Marines and CH-46s for Operation Enduring Freedom, on Saturday, December 1, 2001.  Some things never change!