Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
A 161 crewman needs the help of his friends at Scarface again. Hearing that we had drawn Scarface gun cover always made us feel safer in a very unsafe place. You guys saved our butts so many times I lost count. I need to call on Scarface one more time. I don’t think I will ever be able to pay the debt I have to the men of Scarface. I was give one chance to help balance that debt and it didn’t work out that way. That incident is why I need your help again.
On 691010, we where flying re-supply when we where diverted to recover the crew of one of your gun-birds that was shot down near con tien, I can’t recall the details. This is what I recall with out the assistance of popasmoke files.
The crash site was in a dry riverbed. We landed in front of the downed bird with our right side facing our aircraft, and I can still hear the engine turning and remeber looking down the still loaded rocket tubes. The blades and rotor where gone and the right seat section of down aircraft was crushed in, there was a body trapped in the seat. We where advised that another a/c had picked up the only survivor. We received the bodies of two crewmen. One was beyond help while the other one seemed like he was only asleep or unconscious. I did try to revive him, but was unable to. I kept trying to revive him until I was pulled away by fellow crewman. I still see his face and the name on his flight suit today. The KIA information is a little different than I recall, the attracted (KIA reports) photo, of the crash site doesn’t look like the site I recall. Also think it was a RVN 34 that picked up the survivor. I think the troops who where on the ground where SOG troops.
This incident is part of my PTSD claim with the VA. Not being able to help Corporal Siler, and all things related to that mission, has haunted me all these years. I am wondering is someone has pictures of the crewmen from before the crash. I hope the pictures might be helpful in putting this all to rest.
If there were anyone who can help me with more information on this crash or any statements that may help me with my claim I would be grateful. Please contact me direct at getsimedvyr33@hotmail.com
Thank you for your time.
D.V. Miller HMM-161 YR-33 cattlecall
Posted : 2002-02-20 22:22
Information on U.S. Marine Corps helicopter UH-1E tail number 152438
Date: 10/10/69
Incident number: 69101010.KIA
Unit: HML-367
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
for Close Air Support
While On Target this helicopter was Attacking at 1000 feet and 090 knots.
South Vietnam
Count of hits was not possible because the helicopter burned or exploded.
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
Systems damaged were: TAIL ROTOR, ENGINE, PERSONNEL
Casualties = 03 DOI, 01 INJ . .
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Burned
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, NSC, JSIDR (Naval Safety Center. Operations Report. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. )
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
P 1LT RHODES JAMES LAWRENCE KIA
C LCP HESSON DANNY ROBERT KIA
C LCP SILER MANLEY EUGENE JR KIA
This record was last updated on 05/25/98
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is crew member information for this incident:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: LCP Danny Robert Hesson
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/10/69 while performing the duty of Crew member unspecified.
Age at death: 20.8
Date of Birth: 12/10/48
Home City: Parkersburg, WV
Service: regular component of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Unit: HML-367
Service: U.S. Marine Corps.
The Wall location: 17W-061
Short Summary: Small arms ground fire shot out tail rotor causing crash. Only survivor was AC who was picked up by a passing Army Huey.
Aircraft: UH-1E tail number 152438
Call sign: Scarface
SSN: 232789798
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 6319
Started Tour: 03/26/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Quang Tri Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
This record was last updated on 06/06/96
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: 1LT James Lawrence Rhodes
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/10/69 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 24.5
Date of Birth: 03/27/45
Home City: Kansas, IL
Service: reserve component of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Unit: HML-367
Service: U.S. Marine Corps.
The Wall location: 17W-064
Short Summary: Small arms ground fire shot out tail rotor causing crash. Only survivor was Aircraft Commander who was rescued by Army Huey.
Aircraft: UH-1E tail number 152438
Call sign: Scarface
SSN: 331364577
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 7563 = Pilot UH-1N Qualified
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Started Tour: 07/13/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 04
Location: Quang Tri Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
This record was last updated on 06/06/96
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: LCP Manley Eugene Siler, Jr.
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/10/69 while performing the duty of Crew member unspecified.
Age at death: 20.9
Date of Birth: 11/20/48
Home City: Odessa, TX
Service: regular component of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Unit: HML-367
Service: U.S. Marine Corps.
The Wall location: 17W-064
Short Summary: Small arms ground fire shot out tail rotor causing crash. Only survivor was AC who was picked up by passing Army Huey.
Aircraft: UH-1E tail number 152438
Call sign: Scarface
SSN: 529662405
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 6242 = Aircraft Electrical Systems Technician, Transport and Helicopter
Started Tour: 05/09/69
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 02
Location: Quang Tri Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Protestant - no denominational preference
This record was last updated on 06/06/96
Posted : 2002-02-25 16:46
What was (is) the survivors name?
Posted : 2002-03-03 09:48
Survivor's Name
This is from the KIA report on Popasmoke, "lstLt Rhodes launched out on a gunship mission as co-pilot with Ed Bauernfeind (Survivor) as the HAC, and two crewmen, L/Cpls Danny Hesson, and Gene Siler. They were the second gunship (chase) of a flight of two. The flight was assigned to provide fire on a target near the DMZ, near the Charlie 4, or Con Tien area, when they received heavy fire. This aircraft was hit in the tail boom/tail rotor area, and crashed. A U. S. Army ground team was near by, and rescued Bauernfeind, the only survivor, who was severely injured. The next morning, Lt. Unruh, piloting one UH1E, and Lt. John Upthegrove, piloting another, flew to the area and photographed the aircraft, observing many large holes shot in the tail boom, back to the tail rotor. This is the only photograph I know of the aircraft. Submitted by Perry J. Unruh, HML-367 squadron mate."
Perry J. Unruh is listed in Popasmoke and may be helpful with more information?
Posted : 2002-04-08 01:21
I'll refer Ed to this post;I'm sure he'll do what he can to help.
Posted : 2002-04-08 07:49
Help each other
Dear Mr. Miller,
After reading your compelling post, our hearts are touched. Touched that you may have been there with my father 691010 and touched that you would have been one who helped to bring him home.
I am Aaron Lawrence Rhodes, the son of 1st Lt James Lawrence (Jim) Rhodes, Pilot, 691010, KIA. As pilot of the craft, we believe my father may have been the marine you mention as trapped in the wreckage.
Your heroism that day and emotional recollection of the events
bring floods of emotion. However, we are overcome with gratitude...to you for being there for Dad...
Only eight months old at the time of the incident and now with a son of my own, we are sincerely seeking to preserve the hero's legacy of my father.
We realize through your writing the difficult memory this envokes.
If too painful we understand, but if you would like to help us in our preservation efforts, we would be forever endebted. Perhaps, we could be of assistance to you as well.
If not, accept our understanding, and please know that for reasons so dear to us, you are a hero as well.
With hope,
Aaron
See also our thread https://www.popasmoke.com/notam2/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4209&highlight=691010
Aaron Rhodes Solomon
Son of 1st Lt. James L. (Jim) Rhodes
HML-367 Scarface
Posted : 2004-03-11 15:21
Danny R. Hesson
Photo of Daniel Robert Hesson
Posted : 2009-07-03 08:18
R.I.P. LtCol Ed Bauernfeind
LtCol Ed Bauernfeind, USMC (Ret) passed away on 14 March 2010 of cancer. Ed later transitioned to C-130s and retired as the CO of VMGR-352, El Toro, CA. He is survived by his wife Donna, brother Michael and 2 sons. Ed and I were friends since the 7th grade. He will be missed. John Reveille, USMC (Ret)
JohnLane;2502 wrote: This is from the KIA report on Popasmoke, "lstLt Rhodes launched out on a gunship mission as co-pilot with Ed Bauernfeind (Survivor) as the HAC, and two crewmen, L/Cpls Danny Hesson, and Gene Siler. They were the second gunship (chase) of a flight of two. The flight was assigned to provide fire on a target near the DMZ, near the Charlie 4, or Con Tien area, when they received heavy fire. This aircraft was hit in the tail boom/tail rotor area, and crashed. A U. S. Army ground team was near by, and rescued Bauernfeind, the only survivor, who was severely injured. The next morning, Lt. Unruh, piloting one UH1E, and Lt. John Upthegrove, piloting another, flew to the area and photographed the aircraft, observing many large holes shot in the tail boom, back to the tail rotor.
Posted : 2010-03-19 06:59
