HOHMAN JOHN MICHAEL

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Name: CW2 John Michael Hohman
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/30/1969 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Died 1 days later on 05/31/1969.
Age at death: 22.3
Date of Birth: 01/29/1947
Home City: Lakeland, FL
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: D/3/4 CAV
Prior Unit: D/3/4 CAV 66-67
Major organization: 25th Infantry Division
Flight class: 66-13/66-9
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 23W-027
Short Summary: On second tour.
Aircraft: OH-6A tail number 67-16387
Service number: W3154183
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: fire or burns
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: co-pilot
Started Tour: 03/10/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - other aircrew
Length of service: 03
Location: Binh Duong Province III Corps.

Additional information about this casualty:
CW2 John M. Hohman was a 2nd Tour aviator to D Troop, 3/4 Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. He also served his first tour with the same unit. John was 'in-country' a short time before he his second tour was ended by enemy contact or extremely bad luck. Previous information from Mike Vaughn and Platoon Leader, Jerry Odom is mostly accurate. I had just returned from Vung Tau, accomplishing the AH-1G, Cobra transition course. After moments of returning to Cu-Chi, my best friend, CPT Wayne White, told me that John Hohman had been killed while I was away at school. This was very upsetting to me for several reasons. First: John was a true gentlemen, very amiable, but a little heavier than the standard Army Issue aviator (that's why Mike Vaugh says Nomex would not fit him). Second: John was recently married and looking forward to leaving the military for civilian opportunities. Third: John was a D Troop, 3/4 CAV Veteran and deserved respect.

Rumor or fact: When John went down (with WO1 Hayes) there was a rumor in the unit that the observer had dropped a de-pinned grenade in the aircraft and could not retrieve the munition before it blasted. The D Troop Scouts (OH-6) were incredibly aggressive and this is entirely believable. CPT Tom Sinclair, Asst Platoon Leader to Jerry Odom, known as the Buda, was a hell of a killer-scout pilot; mostly a killer. In 1969 the story was that John Hohman was killed when a grenade was dropped in the A/C and exploded bringing down the OH-6A and causing massive burn injuries to the crew. Its a small point but after almost 40 years I still remember and respect John Hohman.

From: Eugene J Carolan , D Troop - 3/4 CAV 25th INF, OCT 1968 to DEC 1969

Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - died of wounds
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Baptist - other groups
Burial information: EVERGREEN CEMETERY, LEOMINSTER, MA
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 02/10/2008


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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023


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