John D. Musgrave

Message:
Hello, I need the help of your organization. I am trying to find a crew member who was instrumental in helping to save my life the last time I was wounded in Vietnam and being medevaced from the battle zone to the hospital. The date was 7 November 1967, in the morning, Delta Co. 1/9, northwest of Con Thien in a search and destroy mission part of Operation Kentucky. I received gunshot wounds to the chest. There were so many casualties the corpsman would not waste time on me. The company was being assaulted by overwhelming numbers of NVA. One helicopter against orders braved the enemy fire to pick up our wounded. It was an H-34. I was tossed on board without a medevac tag along with many other seriously wounded Marines. The corpsman on board looked at my wounds, decided there was nothing he could do, and pushed me beneath the feet of the portside gunner. I was lying on my side and he tried to push me down on my back. I pointed to the holes in my chest and he understood that I needed to lie on the side of my wounds or I would drown in my own blood. He took my hand and held it as he fired his machine gun at the NVA. I remember seeing the bullet holes appear in the side of the helicopter as it was being hit. As they flew us to Delta Med at Dong Ha, he continued holding my hand. Every time I began to fade he would squeeze my hand hard to keep me conscious. By the time the helicopter landed, I believed if I let go of his hand, I would die. When they took me off the helicopter, he climbed out with me and did not let go of my hand until I was on the stretcher. I believe I owe my life to this man and the rest of the crew. All these years I have thought of him and that crew and wished there was some way I could let them know they had saved my life. I just found out about your organization yesterday. If there is any way you could help me find that gunner or any member of that crew, I would be forever in your debt. I thought this might be the best place to start. I know there are thousands of Marines like me who are alive today because of the courage of the members of your organization. Even if I never find "my" crew, I would like to be able to thank all of you. With my love and respect, Just Another Wounded Grunt--John D. Musgrave