A long shot, I'll try.....

I'll ask about this. I've met two 1st ANGLICO Marines who were with the Vietnamese Marines during this time frame, Sgt. Joe Swift, and Lt. Joel Eisenstein. They were also responsible for setting up the NGF grid in support of Col. Ripley when he blew that bridge at Dong Ha. I have Joe's email address, and he would have Joel's.

Best of luck.

Vance

GARY ALLS;25080 wrote: The following Marines were on board CH-53D YW-21 when it was shot down by a missile fired by hostile North Vietnamese forces along the coastal plain northeast of Quang Tri, South Vietnam on 07/11/1972 while in support of Operation Lam Son 719 Phase II. The mission was a trooplift in support of the 1st Vietnamese Marine Battalion behind enemy lines.

Four survived the night in a nearby bomb crater. One of the four died a month later of burns received during the incident. There were also 50 Vietnamese Marines on board the CH-53D. Seven of the Vietnamese Marines survived the crash and escaped to friendly lines.

• The pilot of the CH-53D was Capt Bruce G. Keyes of HMM-165.
• The copilot was Capt Henry C. Bollman of HMM-165.
• The combat photographer was L/Cpl Stephen G. Lively of H&S Co, BLT 1/9.
• SSgt Clyde Nelson, a gunner, survived the night but died 30 days later in Texas from his wounds.
• Cpl Kenneth Crody, the crew chief, was killed instantly by the missile and resulting crash.
• SSgt Jimmy Hendrix, the gunner, was killed instantly by the missile and resulting crash.

Ray Tripicchio

I struck out, sorry.............

Joe Swift replied:

Vance, I never returned to Quang Tri Province after our evactuation from the Citadel on 1 May '72. By July I think I was at our relay site on Monkey Mtn, Da Nang. I recall hearing about the incident, but know nothing that could be any help with detail, etc. Sorry.

I have spoken with Steve Selig, I hope I can be of some help on his project.

Happy Holidays to you and yours. SF, Joe