Gordon Wax

During the month of May the 61st aided and supported in the successful and significant advance of Allied troops into Cambodia, supporting an old friend, the 3/506 Infantry Battalion of the famed 101st Airborne Division and troops of the 4th Infantry Division. The 61st again proved their mettle under combat conditions. The loss of one aircraft and i... ts four crewmen, three KIA and one WIA, plus the loss of five 4th Infantry Division passengers prevents this month from being one of our best. Combat experienced A/C, WO1 lawrence J. Herman III, Pilot WO1 Robert P. Sheppard, and Crewchief, SP5 William A. Peyton were killed i action when their UH-1H crashed during a Cambodian mission. Door-gunner, SP4 John A. Shaw was critically injured in the crash and is presently recuperating in CONUS. The officers and men of the 61st mourn the loss of their good friends and comrades and offer wishes of a speedy recovery to SP4 Shaw. In June the 61st returned almost full strength to its mission of support to the 173rd Airborne Brigade. Twice this month the Starblazers sent light fire teams to aid in operations near the Cambodian border, but another team always stood by at LZ English for continuing support of the 173rd. No lives were lost and no major damage was done to any aircraft. During the early part of July the 61st Starblazers were scrambled to the site of a .51 cal anti-aircraft position. Two armed helicopters from the 238th AHC had left the area after one had sustained an engine failure while attacking the position. The downed aircraft managed a restart on the ground and the two ships departed the areas. With rockets and mini guns blazing the Starblazers knocked out the position on the first run and mopped up the enemy positions until relieved by Air Force jets on a bombing mission. The Chinese made .51cal. machine gun now sits in front of Lane AHP headquarters as a war trophy won by the 61st AHC Starblazers. On the 24th of this month the 61st lost a 29,300 hour safety record when an aircraft piloted by LTC Salavca, ...Read More