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First off let me say this site is wonderful. I was referred to this site from a very helpful person on another message board. I am looking for information on my Uncle robert A. Donnell II. He was killed when his HMM-263 crashed in Quang Nam, South Vietnam. His incident date was 11-18-1970. I was never fortunate enough to know my Uncle and would greatly appreciate any information. I am making a family book and would like to add a few personal items on his page. I have gotten a few bits of information from my family but most of them were still young. Any information would be appreciated no matter how big or small.I hope that someone out there will be willing to share maybe a story about my uncle. I know that his nickname was "RAT". I'm not sure if it was something the family called him or if it carried thru to his time he served in the USMC. Thank you for your time.
Nichole
Posted : 2003-10-11 13:01
FYI
Incident Date 701118 HMM-263 CH-46D 154837+ Crash
Donnell II, Robert A Sgt Crew Chief HMM-263 MAG-16 701118
https://www.popasmoke.com/kia/incidents.php?incident_id=143
George T. Curtis (RIP. 9/17/2005)
Posted : 2003-10-11 13:38
Robert "RAT" Donnell
Dear Niki:
As we approach the 33rd anniversary of the death of your uncle and 17 others know many of us remember and will never forget the sacrafice of that day.
Your Uncle and the other crewmen were of the multitude of unsung heros of Vietnam. They gave their lives in the attempt to save the lives of a RECON team in the Que Son Mountains. The pickup with a Spie Rig was successful. For whatever reason (mechanical failure, vertigo, other) the helicopter flew into the side of the mountain. From the remains of the helicopter it appears those aboard died as instant a death as God would allow. Those on the Spie Rig agonized for an unknown time. Three days after the crash, the weather cleared enough to allow the rescue team to recover the bodies of everyone.
My roomate was co-pilot. I was the HMM-263 ODO in the AM. The crash occured in the early afternoon. We could hear half of the FM radio transmissions. It was a very quite evening in Marble Mountain. I usually write a eulogy every year. If I can find last years copy I will send it. Others with knowledge include one Rat's best friends, Wally Beddoe who can be contacted through this organization. Another non-pilot, RECON officer is Dan Kellum who just finished a manuscript/book wherein he has devoted a few chapters and over two years of research into the 18 November death of 11 of his friends aboard the ill fated Peachbush crash. He can be contacted: KDKellum@AOL.com.
Hope you have enough to start your trek through old memories which haunt many of us even thirty-three years later.
Best regards,
Jim Martin
Peachbush77
Jim "Jay Em" Martin
Peachbush 77
Posted : 2003-10-28 19:52
Robert Donnell
Hi Nikki,
There are many members of our group that knew and remember your uncle. I'm in contact with your aunts Dorothy and Lisa pretty regularly. If I can answer any questions for you, please don't hesitate to contact me.
John "J.D." Barber
President
USMC/Vietnam
Helicopter Association
Phone/Fax 781-337-3239
https://www.popasmoke.com
HMM-263 70-71
Posted : 2003-10-29 08:42
Dear Niki and Jay Dee:
My error, sorry. Niki, it is John Barber I mistakenly identified as Wally.
Kind regards,
Jim
Jim "Jay Em" Martin
Peachbush 77
Posted : 2003-10-30 12:18
Topic starter
Thank you
Thank you all so much for any information you posted. You all truley are heros.
If any of you have any funny stories about the time you spent with my uncle or any pictures of him that you are willing to share with me I would be grateful. In my life I have only seen maybe 4 pictures of Uncle Robert. Like I said in my first post I am hoping to add a few things to my uncles page in the family book. So anything would be helpful.I plan on saving them and printing them off. You can e-mail me or post them here whatever is better for you. Again I thank you and I am eternally grateful to you all may god bless.
Niki
Posted : 2003-11-06 17:56
