Daughter seeks deciphering re: 96 year old USMC Pilot

[AIRMMCPORET]

Your dad had a hell of a career.🇺🇸⚓️👍

 

[gobatp]

I'm starting to realize that, Yes he did. I had a hell of a good time this evening showing him this site and the pictures I had uploaded and the comments they received. I also showed him the attached and he said it was okay to post it here; the posting of the Vietnam CH-53 accident. He said he and his crew walked to a site that was US military (please excuse my lack of military terminology) and that they were greeted by those on duty with the comment - "Lucky you guys made it up here - you just walked through a mine field!" Dad said they spent the night there and the next day a crew came to repair the failed system so they then flew the CH-53 back to the base. The dates are not consistent so that has me puzzled but these are one in the same incident as far as I can tell.

 

[JTS11]

Wow. Looking through that message traffic, I was struck by the fact that he had over 4,300 total flight hours. A little over 180 hrs in the CH-53A overall, and a little over 140 hrs in the last 90 days.

Also, the weather...300 ft ceiling and 1 mile visibility with heavy rain. And they absorbed 30 rounds of small arms fire.

Thanks for posting, and god bless your pops!

 

[JTS11]

The dates are not consistent so that has me puzzled but these are one in the same incident as far as I can tell.

I think you can separate those two docs. One is a report on a specific aircraft incident. The other is an award write up of his complete tour in Vietnam (Bronze Star w/ Combat Distinguishing Device)

 

[gobatp]

Ah. That makes more sense. Thank you.