FOX REINIS

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Name: WO1 Reinis Fox
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 10/01/1968 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Died 6 days later on 10/07/1968.
Age at death: 21.8
Date of Birth: 12/20/1946
Home City: Merritt Island, FL
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: 54 MED DET
Major organization: other
Flight class: 68-507/68-9
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 41W-023
Short Summary: Badly burned on 1 Oct while removing wounded from burning aircraft. Died in Japan on 7 Oct.
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 66-17029
Call sign: DUSTOFF
Service number: W3159717
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 062B = Helicopter Pilot, Utility and Light Cargo Single Rotor
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 09/12/1968
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Location: Quang Tin Province I Corps.

Additional information about this casualty:
Silver Star citation states he was on a mission to evacuate 14 injured men in the vincinity of Thien Phouc Special Forces Camp. On the first attempt, Fox's aircraft was shot down by hostile fire and he was evacuated from the area. He volunteered to return to the area and attempt to complete the mission. With the help of supporting gunships, he succedded in landing his aircraft and remained on the ground long enough for nine of the casualties to be loaded on to the aircraft. Once airborne, his aircraft continued to receive hostile fire and sustained several hits, putting it into a tailspin and causing it to crash land. Upon impact, the aircraft burst into flames and in the ensuing holocaust, Fox was seriously burned over a large portion of his body. He was evaced to the 106th General Hospital in Japan where he died on the 7th. See DUSTOFF Newsletter, Fall 1996.

Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died of wounds
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Episcopal (Anglican)
Burial information: ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, VA
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 02/09/1997

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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023