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In-Country Vietnam
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Topic starter
I am posting this on my husband’s behalf. I am trying to find other 463 and 462 helo crew chiefs that were on the CH53 Sea Stallions after the evacuation but still in county Phnom Phen (sp?). You see my husband was being rotated out of his unit (463)but still active and constantly reassigned and constantly flying...which is why his name was "Sparrow". After the pre and post evacuation he was involved with Mayaquez and Marine evacs post Saigon fall. During that time, after picking up some Marines, one of the pilots lifted off abut had to bank quickly, Sparrow took a 40 ft dive , not by choice, because they were under enemy ground fire and he did not lock the door. Anyway, he was so pissed off at himself, feeling that he should have known better but was also was shooting (without orders) to save the helo and men. Well, he hit the ground, big time, but fought his way with side-arms and broken helmet with broken “pig tail” back to the returning bird, they picked him up and he went back to work – blood and broken helmet and left side messed up. They got outa’ dodge, the field dressed him on the ground and after a day or so get right back in the air. Of course, without a buddy letter to attest to this, “it never happened”…..But I hear the nightmares and see his physical pain daily…I need some guys who were there when it happened to contact me. He is also going through liver related chemo (agent orange) from his earlier days as an Army Ranger. He was in from 66-78
The problem is that after the evacuation, there does not seem to be documentation of combat- he was there until the end of ’76. This happened in May or June of 75.
Many thanks to all of you! I am also the daughter of 1st Marine Div WWII Peleliu.
Cheryl A. Novas
wife and advocate for Jose R. Novas (Sparrow)
Posted : 2004-11-06 15:56
HMH-463
Hello! , I spent four (4), years in HMH-463 in the 1970's...What is your husbands M O S ? What is or was his rank at the time of his accident? What shipwas he on ? Was he in HMH-463 or HMH-462 ? Ask him what was the names of the opperations we were on ?? They had names and i'm being cautious, we have too many "Pretenders"...not that i'm calling him one, just being carefull...Thank you for understanding !!!
SEMPER FIDELIS !! Jimmy
JP YH-08 "Dimmer"
Posted : 2004-11-07 01:12
Topic starter
Understood
Thanks for your response. My husband said,
HMH-462 maybe 463 and others
MOS 6123
Sgt.
Was on Okinawa, Iwojima, Hancock
Eagle Pull
Frequent Wind
Mayaquez came first but then when rotating out was on a search and rescue on a different bird. I was previously the crew chief with Van Hallman Jr. on Ch53 Sea Stallion YF 10 with Van Hallman Jr. when they returned Ambassador Martin from the Hancock to Thailand, I believe. The incident tokk place AFTER that time.
Looking for your help.
Cheryl Novas
Posted : 2004-11-08 15:14
Sparrow---I can provide you with a copy of HMH-463's Command Chronology & After Action reports during Mar-May 1975. Both include operations Eagle Pull & Frequent Wind. Maybe they will be of some help to you.Send me your address via email or on this site. Semper Fi
Larry Groah
Posted : 2004-11-10 23:02
Topic starter
Thank you...anything will help!
Anything will help in putting the peices together. I was in 462 then was on my way back home after a family crisis was sending me stateside. I filled in along the way in other units, took the fall but I can not remember which unit I was in when it happened. I was sent to a Hawaii hospital a few weeks after the accident. I have been after my service records for 8 years.
Sempre Fi
Sparrow
Posted : 2004-11-11 14:06
Topic starter
New bit of info
Hill 1075 is where the incident happened if memory serves my husband...this is new information to me while we are awaiting Sparrow's service records. From the incident, the helo went to a ship then to Subic Bay(sp?) then next step was orders and a flight on a commercial airline to a hospital in Hawaii.
Please keep trying...I REALLY appreciate this!
Sparrow's wife,
Cheryl<
Posted : 2004-11-17 18:13
help need someone there for this one
I was with 463 during Eagle pull and frequent wind and with 462 in okinawa 4 months later and never heard of such an incident. among flight crews this would seem to be one that would have been talked about quite a bit. all of our birds returned safely.
Dave Reavis @ dimmer144@msn.com
Posted : 2005-08-16 12:14
The helo never crashed
As initially stated, my husband pitched out of the helo 30 to 40 ft from the ground, he was stunned but heard the enemy coming so he got himself together and with handguns issued shot at anything that moved around him, got back to the helo when the helo returned for him, he was patched up and kept on going throughout the rest of the mission. They were picking up Marines at a remote location.
Thanks for any response!
Sparrow's wife,
Cheryl< 🙂
Posted : 2005-08-25 18:41
Paperwork and Accidents
Sparrow or Cheryl-- I am still waiting on the paperwork that you were going to send me. Cheryl you can send it to Van Hallman, he only lives a couple miles from me since I am moving. Sparrow was Van Hallman 1st Mech on YF-10. I know of two accidents that Sparrow had to have medical attention. He was standing on top of the helicopter putting tiedown ropes on the main rotor blades and fell down to the flight deck. We were pushing a CH-47 off the flight deck into the ocean. Sparrow slipped and was kneed and kicked in the head by other Marines pushing the helicopter.
SEMPER FI
Posted : 2005-08-30 01:54
Hey Pru
Which forms again...that was awhile ago...just let us know and they are yours through Van! Yeah the accident was AFTER Van rotated home. Sparrow was not with his normal battle buddies at the time which is why we are having a heck of a time tracking this one down...
Good to hear you Pru!
Sparrow & Cheryl 🙂
Posted : 2005-08-31 17:01
