We had one guy in a Reserve unit in Dallas -- former helo driver who operated off small boys @ Yankee Station -- I cannot remember what squadron or det -- and when I knew him he had 5 rows of ribbons (with no inflated medal creep) , including a couple of the really "big" ones -- but only made LCDR. And that was it .... that's how he retired, I heard later.
He was always quite closed mouthed about his Vietnam time, but we got to talking about it one fine day at the O'Club bar after the drill day had ended ... and this is what he allowed:
He went into Haiphong to pick up a USN driver who had ejected/parachuted into the harbor -- the helo was taking fire on the approach from 360 degrees of arc -- everything that could shoot was shooting at them -- when his intended pick-up landed @ 300 yards from an "East Block" freighter that was in the harbor at anchor.
About a dozen "crew members" proceeded to line the rails with AK's and started shooting at the helo and the downed pilot --- the helo took a few hits -- so my helo friend told his door gunner to "clean 'em off the decks" --- which the door gunner did with much gusto.
Evidently several card-carrying AK shooters went flying around the deck, the bridge, and some went overboard -- dead -- and the helo dropped in, picked up the downed pilot, and booked it -- still taking fire from everywhere -- except from the now silent "Bloc" freighter.
It was a big international stink. As a result, he received a reprimand and something else negative and "official" in his jacket -- and an early out of the area and out of the active duty Navy. He still got his medals -- but never the recognition he deserved for his heroism.
I still maintain the Navy eats its own ... when it suits the Navy's purposes ...
