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Recons May Be Tough, But Only Wimps Wear Parachutes!
This is a true story of John "ACE" Hunt - A Marine crew chief (and POPASMOKE Member) that fell 800 feet from his CH-46 helicopter in Vietnam, and survived.
Our Marion Sturkey (HMM-265), interviewed John ten years ago.
I did a follow-up interview with John on September 2, 2008.
Story of John's fall written by Marion Sturkey in 2002
Want to hear a gen-u-ine War Story? Want to hear about the gungy Marine Crew Chief who fell out of his helicopter in flight? The Crew Chief who fell 800 feet? The Crew Chief who "lived to tell about it"? He is John Elijah Hunt.
Yes, John fell out of his CH-46, and, he fell 800 feet. Although he was broken and battered, he survived.
Today, John serves as an inspiration to all who knew him. He remains an active member of the USMC Combat Helicopter Association. For those who haven't met John, a little background is in order.
As a gung-ho corporal in Vietnam with HMM-265, John loved to fly. Getting shot down and wounded on July 2, 1969, didn't slow him down. But, at the time he had no way to know that he had a date with destiny. He would take his final flight only eight weeks later.
John was the proud crew chief on Echo-Papa-14. Throughout most of the night of August 26, 1969, he and other mechanics worked to change the number 2 Engine. When the sun rose the next morning, John and his CH-46 were ready for the mandatory Post-Maintenance Test Hop.
The crew took off from Marble Mountain and climbed to pattern altitude -- 800 feet. Connected to the ICS by his 'long cord', John idly chatted with the pilots. As they turned out toward the ocean to start their downwind leg, John leaned out of his open hatch and looked down at the beach far below. "Beautiful!" he thought.
Unfortunately, sinister Murphy's Law would cut short John's view of the beach. The "drop down" lower part of the CH-46 door, although closed, had not latched. As John leaned against it, the door popped open. John fell out of his helicopter.
John recalls bouncing off of the starboard stub wing. Then, after falling about 60 feet, he ran out of slack in the long cord. Years later, John would recall, "The long cord almost broke my neck."
After the long cord snatched his helmet off (almost his head, too), John remembers that the rest of the fall was "peaceful". Officially, he fell 800 feet. One of the pilots said it was only a little over 700 feet. Whatever!
Although the fall may have been "peaceful", the sudden stop at the bottom was not. At terminal velocity, John's body slammed into the earth. He impacted on the side of a sand dune near one of the perimeter guard bunkers. Understandably, John's recollection got fuzzy after that.
John vaguely remembers remaining conscious, and he remembers people trying to help him. But, his arms and legs wouldn't work. And, he could barely breathe. He was rushed to the hospital in Da Nang, where he lay in critical condition for days. The doctors did what they could. But, basically, they were just waiting for John to die.
John refused to cooperate with Death. Two weeks later, he still clung to life. So, he got medevaced to the Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan. John refused to die there, too. He amazed the medical staff! The word "miracle" doesn't even apply.
Notwithstanding dozens of broken bones and massive internal injuries, John fought to live. With a limitless inner resolve, he refused to give up, refused to give in. Finally realizing John would survive; the doctors medevaced him to the Naval Hospital in Memphis. There he began his long and painful path to recovery.
The fall had more or less crushed all of John's body, so the recovery proved to be slow. Nonetheless, John's attitude proved to be his biggest asset. He was not only going to live, he was going to walk out of the hospital, he promised his family.
Through guts, determination, and Marine Corps pride, John defied medical logic. Today, he wears two knee braces, and ankle brace, and a back brace. Plus, he has to use a cane. But he proved the medical skeptics wrong. He can walk!
Today, John inspires all who know him. Each day he still struggles with the injuries he sustained in his 800 foot fall in Vietnam, 39 years ago. But, he is a fighter, a survivor, and a gung-ho Marine. Despite his injuries, John maintains a positive attitude. There is no bitterness. He never complains. He once explained: "I'm lucky, I should have been on The Wall."
John lives inn his small hometown of Antlers, Oklahoma. He never misses our Reunions. At Reunion 2000 in San Diego, our Association presented him with a unique "American Patriot Survivor Award".
In John's hometown on March, 2001, The Antlers American newspaper printed a Page One featured article on John and his amazing survival story. Appropriately, the article was titled, "Legend of the Fall". The newspaper article notes, "The fact that Hunt's survival was a miracle has not been questioned."
John, we salute you. Against all odds, you are alive! You are the Marine with an outstanding claim to fame, You are the Crew Chief who fell out of his helicopter in flight -- and lived to tell about it. Your fighting spirit and your positive mental attitude continue to inspire us.
The text at the bottom of your American Patriot Survivor Award says it all:
Recons May Be Tough, But Only Wimps Wear Parachutes!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Follow-up Interview with John Hunt, September 2, 2008
I caught up with John "ACE" Hunt as he was bracing for hurricane weather down in Oklahoma. I spent a total of three hours on the phone with ACE asking him questions and listening to his stories. Here are some of the questions from our conversation. ACE's answers are not verbatim, but generally accurate. 🙂
BEDDOE: "ACE, Your fall was nearly 40 years ago. How are you doing physically?"
ACE: "Well, I can get around. I still have to wear braces for my foot, both knees, and my back. I still need morphine on occasion due to the pain, but I'm doing OK Wally."
BEDDOE: "Sturk wrote [above] that you described your fall as 'peaceful'. Can you tell me more about what happened and what was going through your mind when you fell out of the helicopter?"
ACE: "We were on a test flight after the gunner and I had stayed up all night replacing the #2 engine. After we flew to minimum VFR, about 800 ft, I was looking at the gauges then wanting to take an outside look to make sure the engine wasn't smoking, I was walking towards the hatch door when the pilot turned 90 degrees right, which caused me to get thrown up against the hatch. When my weight hit against the hatch, the lock broke and I fell out the door. I got sucked out of the helo. In one hand I had the long cord, which began unraveling from my arm. I hit against the right stub wing, breaking some ribs, and then I started to fall, straight backwards, facing up, towards the heavens. At that point, I knew I was going to die and I just said "Oh God" to myself loudly. As I continued to fall, I knew what was happening. There was no yelling or screaming. I understood it and I just went along with it."
BEDDOE: "ACE, What do you remember about hitting the ground?"
ACE: "Well, A lot of what I know about that, I heard from eyewitnesses. Here's the story about the impact; I landed on the base, on the shoulder of the runway. My right foot hit first, flattening the ball and crushing everything. Then it was my spine. I broke my back and neck, and more ribs. My helmet came off during my 6.5 cartwheels my body did and then my head was scalped to some degree. I believe the status of my helmet was miss-communicated during my interview with Sturk several years ago, because I did land with my helmet. Had I not had my helmet, I would not have lived. After my body stopped rolling, I landed close to a Crash Crew vehicle where two firemen came running toward me. I tried to get up and they were holding me down. A Corpsman immediately splintered my back so I could breathe/live. I remember telling them 'Man, look at that foot', which was at about a 90 degree angle. I told them not to cut off my boots, which were fairly new."
BEDDOE: "Then what happened?"
ACE: "An ECHO WHISKEY 46 that happened to be flying nearby, and I believed witnessed the fall, landed and took me to (I believe) Delta Med. A lot of my internal injuries and broken bones were not initially detected because of the lack of proper equipment available. What essentially happened was that the doctors operated on my foot but did not think I would survive and there was little they could do for me. But I did survive through the night."
BEDDOE: "Did the crew in your CH-46 immediately know that you had fallen out of the helo?"
ACE: "Well, I'm assuming the gunner advised the pilots that I had fallen but it's possible they may not have known until they heard the medevac request, but I don't know for sure. But when I was in the emergency room, the pilot came bursting into the E.R. with eyes as big as saucers but they would not let him in to see me. I remember another 46 pilot, Loren that was holding my hand before I was medevaced. I believe he was one of the eyewitnesses. I remember telling him that I was sorry for letting this happen to me."
BEDDOE: "ACE, weren't you supposed to be wearing a safety harness in the helicopter or some other belt to keep you from falling?"
ACE: "In my 15 months in Vietnam, I never even saw a gunner's belt. It was my/our belief that a crew chief restricted by a belt would get people killed. A crew chief has crucial seconds to get around in the bird. Another thing, a crew chief could not show fear. I'd say my pre-flight prayers, and then I lost all fear. I had a job to do and Marines counted on me to do that job.
BEDDOE: "How long were you in the hospital?"
ACE: "Seven and a half months all in all. I was eventually transferred back to the States, to the Naval Hospital in Millington. My internal organs were still sticking together and were not all functioning properly. I asked the doctor if I could drink beer, since one of the other guys nearby was allotted two six packs of Schlitz per day. He agreed and not long after I started consuming that Schlitz, did my kidneys start to improve. Doctors said I may live, but that I would never walk and be confined to a wheel chair. I promised my family that when I left that hospital, I would leave on my feet! And I did!
BEDDOE: "How much flying did you do in Vietnam?"
ACE: "In 40 days over a 6 month period, I flew 423 Combat missions, losing two birds in the process. A lot of flight time was lost in waiting for replacement birds. Also, the ship, Iwo-Jima broke, loosing another month of flying time. Knowing what I know now, I would not change a thing Wally. I would rather have flown than anything else. To me, flying was total elation!"
BEDDOE: "ACE, would it be ok to print your e-mail address in case someone wants to contact you?"
ACE: "Wally, that would be fine."
BEDDOE: "John, It sure has been a pleasure speaking with you today. I have a lot of respect for you and want to thank you for serving. All the Marines and Corpsmen of POPASMOKE are my heroes. I want to make sure your story gets out. Others need to hear it, especially the active duty Marines flying phrogs today in OIF and OEF. You fell 800 feet, and are still here today. That is a miracle. Thank you for your time, and SEMPER FIDELIS!"
ACE: "Yes Sir, thank you, and Semper Fi"
John "ACE" Hunt can be reached at JHunt265EP1469@aol.com
See also:
http://usmc81.blogspot.com/2008/09/recons-may-be-tough-but-only-wimps-wear.html
Posted : 2008-09-09 17:24
Remembering the Day
You tend to remember where you were and what you were doing when major events happen like the loss of Kennedy and Martin Luther King or the Challenger disaster. Well, I was standing next to the transit hootch at Marble when a grunt, who had just stepped off a chopper from An Hoa, informed me that a guy just fell out of a helicopter. My thought was "That sucks, wonder who it was?" Arriving on the next CH-46 to the Iwo, the buzz on the boat was Ace had fallen out of his plane. That's the last I heard of John Hunt until 1997. HMM-265 had a reunion in DC so, while sitting in a banquet room jaw jackin' with the gang, I look and in walks Ace Hunt. It was like seeing a ghost. The crutches were a new addition but Ace hadn't changed a bit. Still crazy and a Marine with whom you would be proud to serve.
Wayne Stafford
Posted : 2008-09-09 18:58
Helo "walkers"
Truly an amazing story! I know another Marine Crew Chief that fell out of a CH-46...Darrell Tygart! Most of you remember Darrell as a '34 Crew Chief in HMM-362, and he did two tours with the "Uglies". When he re-enlisted, he was sent soon after to New River and HMM-365 where he learned about CH-46s. He got another set of orders to RVN and reported to HMM-165 White Knights (I'm a little prejudiced). He was soon flying his own bird in RVN as a Crew Chief once again. As I remember the story, Darrell was flying off of a ship, may have been the Tripoli, when he leaned out after lifting off of the deck. Same story, the door came open and out goes Darrell, falling about 150' or so the the flight deck! If you ever seen the scars on his arm, it's from that fall, and the arm breaking in several places..Darrell is not only one of the good guys, like Ace here, but he is also really lucky, sometimes...
Posted : 2008-09-09 20:13
Rembering
Thanks for the cudos Wayne. I always was glad you would fly Gunner with me, as you were a very good one. I felt the avionics didn't dare go out, or they would be yanked out in Flight and repaired. We Crew never had to tell each other what to do as it seemed we read each others mind in what needed to be done and when. I hope you and the Family are Good. The HAC's would fly with just enough fuel to make the mission, as to be able to haul more packs. Many times we would be Flaming out coming into the pits to re-fuel. We'd always make it and get the Alpha's do more than they should have. I hope others will chime in and tell their uh-O's, and dad gum-mets. It's open so please. I hope to see more posts. Semper Fi.
Posted : 2008-09-09 21:28
Recons may be tough, but....
I thought I would up-date things a bit about my condition. I am glad to say that I do not wear the knee braces, or Back Brace any more, but I do still wear the right foot Brace, and use a Wilson Golf putter as a cane, when needed. I am still on meds, but considering the extent of injuries, I'll most likely be using them for a very long time to come. I look, and get around like I have never stumped my toe a day in my life. I apreciate Marion, and Wally writing about the Fall. Many people still refuse to believe it, and I tell you I wish it had not happened as well, as I wanted a thousand Combat Missions. But, I guess it was meant to be. I left a bunch out that needed to be told, but you only have a short time to explain actually the way things went, and then things are still a little missunderstood a bit, to a degree. I'm just thankful that as we were taking off, another 46 was doing an auto rotation landing, and maxed power, and set down just a few feet north of me, and the Crash Crew on the runway, and took me to the trauma unit, Delta Med. Thats where I flew all my med-evacs to. I do believe I was put on a respirator until I could breathe on my own. By then the foot had been repaired, and the left elbow that had been ripped away was repaired as well. Just a large scar remains. Joe, I hope Darrell is still with us, and doing good. That Deck of the ship I bet was a little harder than the shoulder of the runway. I am very glad he survived as well. I could write several pages of the way it did happen, but one thing of all I would like to straighten out is, after I came out of surgery, and the corpsman was constantly taking my vitals, My assigned Pilot Loren had come in from the ship, LPH-2 Iwo-Jima, and was by my side holding my left hand, Praying, I believe. Shortly, when I regained concinsessnes(sp), I was able to tell him 'Loren, I hate I allowed this to happen to me'. I then went into deep shock, and woke up at the main Hospital at Danang a few days later. That was the last I saw of 265, and any of my men, until I found out about Our Popasmoke web-site. I checked, and started going to the reunions. Haven't been where I could make the last few, but hope to make more soon. It happened 41 years last month, and it seems like yesterday. I thank God every night for saving me, and believe me, Prayer does Work. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.
Posted : 2010-10-08 02:23
Darrell Tygart
John,
Darrell left us a couple of years ago, passing thru Arlington, on his way to
guard duty at the Pearly Gates .
I visited with him a couple of times in Virginia and always enjoyed his
company.
Posted : 2010-10-08 05:32
Just the thought -
Falling out that hatch:eek: has been a recurring nightmare over the years Ace. And boy did I ever lean way out sometimes. Luckily it's only been a dream for me and not daily life. When someone talks about "One tough Marine" I think of your story and Lt. Steve Bravard that got ripped out of my bird in 69. Stay strong Bro:)
Posted : 2010-10-08 07:51
Just the thought
I heard that Dale. I as well seemed to have to crawl all over it at several different times. I've even had to try to close the right forward clamshell in flight standing on the thing with my left hand holding the top of the hatch opening a few times. That was the last thing I expected to happen for sure. I hit the hatch after coming back in from turn up, and it was like a rock. Then, when the bird hit a hard right pull out, I was thrown against the rear of it, and it came open. Im just glad I was able to get a little Prayer out before I hit the right stub wing. I hated to hear about Lt. Bravard. From my experience, I would believe he didn't suffer. I'm sure he was able to get a Prayer out as well. I hope it happened close to a Base where he could have been recovered. I hope you will loose those dreams. Have good ones. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.
Posted : 2010-10-08 19:00
Clarification
Hey Ace, When I said "One tough Marine" I meant like YOU! Steve also survived and is also -still kickin- as a matter of fact he is the first Marine brother I talked to - exactly forty years to the day later, 24Apl2009, when I was trying to contact Old Tigers and PAS.
Posted : 2010-10-09 08:30
clarification
That is Great to hear Dale. I am really Glad he did survive. I will say he said a Prayer too. Hope the both of you stay in touch a lot. That was 2 days after I started training on the hoist Bird, #11, the Rabbit. I then went to #13, the Goblin, and after 198 Combats for the month of may, and the bit of April, took my check ride. I then had 3 #14's. I was only able to get 423 combats, but I'm glad I was able to get those. The best Duty I had. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.
Posted : 2010-10-09 22:40
Just the thought
Dale, I miss figured by a bunch. I'm not sure of the date Lt. Bravard was sucked out now. It was '69 when we were all Flying for sure though. Each Crew of each Bird rarely found out what happened in other Squadrons mishaps. Several never heard of mine happening for sure, and I had believed it was all over Command, but wasn't. The reason was we were flying every day, and just did not learn of the things happening. There were several Squadrons that had the hoist cable to corrode from the inside, but we never heard about it, even though several broke, and lost a number of Crew, and the e-vac's. Now I can understand why we had to wipe our Birds down inside, and out with the ML-5606 Hydrolic Fluid, To keep them from corroding. I believe it was '66, or '67 when the F-8 Crusader flew through the hanger with the wings folded. The Bird would do it, and it was possible for sure. So glad I was not there. I believe all it took was a drunk Pilot, and a bet. He never flew again. A lot of utilities never would come clean after that. lol. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.
Posted : 2010-10-10 04:10
I saw it happen. We were hoisting a Vietnam Air Force pilot who had ejected from his jet in the middle of nowhere.
The cable started to fray and the crew chief pulled him up the rest of the way by hand. Thank goodness he was not a 300 pound U.S. pilot!
I filed a report of failure through QA and the chain of command but never heard a thing.
The problem as I see it is the defect could not be discovered by visual examination.
/s/ray
Raymond J. Norton
1513 Bordeaux Place
Norfolk, VA 23509-1313
(757) 623-1644
Posted : 2010-10-10 15:04
"...hoist cable to corrode..."
I saw it happen and result in a failure. We were a single CH-46 hoisting a Vietnam Air Force pilot who had ejected from his jet in the middle of the jungle some 50 miles or so south of Baldy. Gun cover was provided by his leader, a U.S. Air Force fighter. (Don't ask how we got there. HQ was not happy about it.)
The cable started to fray and the crew chief pulled him up the rest of the way by hand. Thank goodness he was not a 300 pound U.S. pilot!
I filed a report of failure through QA and the chain of command but never heard a thing.
The problem, as I see, it is that the problem could not be discovered by visual examination.
To this day, I do not think anything was done to fix the defect.
/s/ray
Raymond J. Norton
1513 Bordeaux Place
Norfolk, VA 23509-1313
(757) 623-1644
Posted : 2010-10-10 15:13
hoist cable to corrode
Ray, no one knew it was happening as the reports got lost I believe. The remedy was to apply hydrolic fluid to the cable, and it wouldn't corrode from the inside out. It didn't happen though. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.
Posted : 2010-10-10 18:06
gunners belt
you are one tough cookie Ace ! the V A should do alot better by you ! as for the gunners belt if I hadn't been wearing mine Lt Dick Driggers and Cpl Al Wheeler wouldn't have been able to pull me from the burning 46 ! semper fi !
non illigitimus carborundum:)MAF gripe ... deadbugs on windshield...action taken...R&R with live bugs!
Posted : 2010-10-12 12:33
gunners belt
Lyurch, thank you for the kind words. I and another Marine Brother extended for choppers to fly together, and after I had completed my Crew training we did so. From the time I started, even on the gunners check ride did I ever have a gunnerrs belt. After my gunner decided to stop flying, I had to rely on others to gun. Several of the new gunners were not so observent, and if I had been tied down by a gunners belt, I would not have been able to knock the gunner off his gun, and re-dirrect fire where it was needed. The Crew Chief was just too busy running up and down the Bird doing his job to be tied down by a belt. It only takes less than 10 seconds for a Bird to get into a crash mode, and if the Crew Chief was tied down, I felt you would run out of time un-snapping, and snapping back up. I believe it happened several times as well. I could see a long 1/4 inch cable from the front to the rear of the Bird with a gunners belt on it so it would slide, but the small belts were not for a Crew Chief, maybe a gunner though. Its been said I did have belts available, but I did NOT. Not one time did I see a belt the entire time. It would have come in handy that day, but I had no use for one any other time, as I was always on the move. I am really glad you were able to be pulled from your crashed Bird by one, which you are right, it did save your life. I just had the other opinion. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.
Posted : 2010-10-12 19:15
re gunners belt
hey i hear what your saying Ace . i didn't always wear mine ether. i know of several crewchiefs that almost fell out that crew door and one that did but his big feet got hung up on the cables, Arley Moats was his name. I'll bet that his nomex never came clean ha ha .:D semper fi brother !
non illigitimus carborundum:)MAF gripe ... deadbugs on windshield...action taken...R&R with live bugs!
Posted : 2010-10-13 11:17
re-gunners belt
Lurch, I'm glad Morley was able to get hung up. Had he not, he surely would not have made it. I'm just glad I had the 165 ft plus, long cord, the size of our 1st finger tied into the radio control box. When I came to the end of the cord, it locked on my wrist, and pulled the control box out of the Bird, which acted as a kites tail, and allowed me to fall backwards on down to the runways west side shoulder. We thought the radio Box was screwed well into the Bird, but wasn't. Thats to my benifit, as I would have had my right arm ripped out of my Body, and fallen uncontrolled down to the runway, to my absolute Death. This way, I fell backwards at a 45 degrees on down. I had cases when Hosting, that the one on the ground couldn't get into the harness, or on the penetrator very well, keeping us in a bad way for to long a time. I was prepared to lower myself on the penetrator, still having voice contact with the Pilot, and getting the med-e-vac myself. It was too big a chance to let the gunner lower me down, and watch out, or fire on the gooks too, so I came up with this. Never had to use it, but I was ready if it was ever needed. Also the Birds were always drifting into the trees, and I never believed the Gunner could keep watch on the ground for the gooks, lowering me down, and watch out for the trees all at the same time. I believe my Gunner Mike Clarke, who extended with me could have, but he wasn't there to the last of my Flight time. In actuality, the very long long cord, that I could have climbed up on if the winch had burned out, saved my life, as with out it, I would have fallen more straight down, un-controled, with no survival. I did have the idea of the long 1/4 inch cable tied above the hatch on the starboard side of the bird, to the ramp, so I could hook a gunners belt on, but didn't have the time to do it. I would have found a gunners belt then. There was a month of Flight time to go before 265 was to come home. I could have gotten another 250 plus missions in that time, as we had an operation in the A-shau with the Korean Marines, and 9th MAB coming up. Just Glad Morley was saved by the cord as well. I say I could have gotten a good number of missions, because the last two days of Flying externals, I completed 79 Combat missions, 35 the 25th of Aug., hauling the projectiles for the 155's on LZ-211, and the 26th completed the 44th load of the charges the 155's used. I had a very Good Pilot those last two days. I had 198 Combats by the time I took my check ride a little over a month after I started Flying, and training for CrewChief. Just loved Flying. Semper Fi, and READY-APP.
Posted : 2010-10-13 22:15
