Helicopter UH-1D 0E080ACD


Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1D tail number 0E080ACD
Date: 03/13/1966
Incident number: 0E080ACD Accident case number: 0E080
Unit: A/227 AVN
Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 11 . . Passengers = 9
costing 0
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Army Aviation Safety Center database.

Crew Members:
AC CW CF HENKEN
P CW WP DAVIS
CE E5 GL KLEIN
G E3 DIAL ROBERT LEWIS KIA

Passengers and/or other participants:
E3 W LEBET, UNK, 2
E5 DE BRAGG, PAX, 2
E6 RL SCOTT, PAX, 2
E3 P TILLMAN, PAX, 4
E3 CARRIZALES, PAX, 4
E3 VILLOGOMEZ, PAX, 3
E4 E BOWERS, PAX, 3
E3 W PHILLIPS, PAX, 2
E4 O GONZALES, PAX, 2


War Story:
My Tour in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry Division by Perry Tillman III I started my 16 months military career on June 29, 1965. On that day, I was inducted into the U. S. Army in Los Angeles, California. Since there was an out break of Spinal Meningitis at Fort Ord in California, all inductees were sent to other bases around the country to get their shots before going back to Fort Ord in California. I was sent to Fort Polk in Louisiana for basic training. After basic training, I went home to New Orleans where hurricane Betsy hit on Thursday, September 9, 1965. That weekend I went to take Advance Infantry Training (AIT) at Fort Ord in California. After AIT, I went to jump school at Fort Benning in Georgia. After graduating from jump school, my group took a champagne flight from Travis, AFB in California to Elmendorf, AFB, in Alaska, arriving in the Republic of Vietnam on December 12, 1965. We went to the staging area near Saigon, where I was sent to Co A, 1st Bn (Abn), 8th Cav, 1st Cav Division. My friend, who went through basic training, AIT, and jump school with me, was sent to the 41st Signal Brigade. As a replacement trooper, I took my first helicopter ride to Pleiku, asking "where are the seat belts?". You can only imagine what kinds of responses I received with that dumb question. Then I remember my general science class at Xavier Prep High School in New Orleans where there was a class discussion on centripetal force. I could not fall out when banking left or right, the force would keep me in place. I remember going on a mission Christmas day in 1965. The reason I remember that is because the Bob Hope Show was coming to the 1st Cav base camp in Ankie on Christmas day. Although I missed his Christmas show that day, I and other vets and our wives and friends were entertained by Bob 20 years later at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. What a flashback! I remember very few details about my 3-month tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam. Like others, I do not remember the details of the missions and sweeps I went on. I guess some things are best not remembered. I do remember; however, going on missions and doing sweeps for the 25th Division prior to the Division coming to the Republic of Vietnam. I also remember being an ammo barrier for the M-60, M-60 assistance machine gunner, and the M-60 machine gunner. Each duty was the result of other troopers being wounded in combat. On Sunday, March 13, 1966 while going on another mission, I was injured in a helicopter (Huey) crash. The landing zone (LZ) was on a hill top in the May Cong Delta better known as Happy Valley. I do not remember the name of the mission. That March 13 date and Happy Valley have been imprinted in my mind. I can remember flying to the LZ and something happening. What happened, is still a mystery to me. I do not know if the helicopter lost power or if it was shot down. The next thing I remember was soldiers being thrown or jumping out of the helicopter while I was trying to brace myself for the crash. We are talking about seconds when I was thinking about what to do in this situation. What went through my mind was if I should jump or not. The reason I was thinking about that was because we went to a repelling training demonstration where a trooper was almost killed. The helicopter lost power but it regained power before it crashed. The trooper who was repelling underneath did fall and suffer injuries but he was not crushed to death. In a situation like this, the Drill Sergeant told us not to jump but to ride the helicopter down. I was following that order when I was injured. Since that time I have tried to second guess that decision. Each time I do, I still think I made the right decision. When I was thrown to the ground, I could not get up. I think the chopper rolled over me hitting me in the back. A Trooper ran to me first and asked if I were OK, I told him that "I was all right but could not get up." I felt no pain and did not know the extent of my injuries. I just could not get up. Everybody then ran to the other trooper who had been hit by the blade and lost both legs. They applied first aid to the trooper who was hit by the blade. We were then put on an incoming helicopter and sent to the 85th Evacuation Hospital Field Unit. I remember parts of the chopper ride to the 85th Evacuation Hospital Field Unit. I do remember being placed on the x-ray machine at the field hospital and that I was in severe pain. After being x-rayed, the next thing I remember was waking up about three or four days later. I was told by Dr. Blackett, the field hospital doctor, who operated on me that my spine was destroyed. It was crushed and severed at T-11, T-12, and L-1. Dr. Blackett told me that I would not regain any feeling and use below my level of injury. I do not think he came out and said I would never walk again. Looking back at what Dr. Blackett told me; however I can truly say I did not realize the full impact of my spinal injury at that time. I assumed I would be up and walking in a few months. As I later reflected on his diagnosis and explanation, I was able to understand why I would never walk again. I was also able to make decisions regarding future diagnoses and treatments by doctors who did not see first hand, the full extent of my injuries. It also helped me to get past the fact that I was going to be a paraplegic for the rest of my life. It was at the 85th Evacuation Hospital Unit that I was told my helicopter had been shot down. I was also told that at the bottom of the hill, the pilot and copilot walked away from the crash and the helicopter blew up. They told me who was wounded and who was killed; the door gunner was killed; one trooper had both legs severed by the chopper blade; two troopers were hit by the chopper blade and each lost a leg; another trooper had an arm cut off; another trooper had his skill crushed and I became a paraplegic. I was put on a Striker Frame at the 85th. Evacuation Hospital. As a paraplegic who was already in so much pain, being rotated on a Striker Frame was the worst feeling in the world; however, it prevented bed sores. It was the best treatment for me because it also helped to keep my back at a position where it could heal properly. This was far better than having tongs put in my head to straighten my back. Fred Carrizales, who had both legs severed by the chopper blade, may have been in the bed next to me at the 85th Evacuation Unit in the Republic of Vietnam. I know a double amputee Trooper was in the bed next to me but because I was on the Striker Frame, I could not see who it was. In my rotation back to the states from the Republic of Vietnam, I went to Clark AFB in the Philippine Islands. At Clark AFB, surprisingly, I was pulled off the elevator by a high school classmate. It did me all the good in the world to see someone from New Orleans. I was almost dead on the old Striker Frame, but my high school classmate invited me to go out and party that night! I passed through Hawaii via Trippler Army Hospital. In my rotation, I passed through Hawaii via Trippler Army Hospital. When I came back home to New Orleans, everybody wanted to know how was Hawaii. I was on a Striker Frame in Hawaii and I could only say that I saw the sky and the ground. I could no more tell about Hawaii than the man in the moon. I vowed to return. My wife and I now vacation in Hawaii every year. I did not see anything in Hawaii my first time there; but I sure am seeing it now! I always wanted to know more about what happened on that life altering day in Happy Valley. I started trying to fill in the blanks in 1999, when I went to my first 1st Cavalry Division Association Reunion at Fort Hood. I was looking for some Troopers I served with in the Republic of Vietnam. I wanted to know who were in my Battalion and who was my Company Commander? What happened with the chopper to cause my injury? In 1999, I did not meet anyone from the 8th Cavalry from Vietnam. That was kind of disappointing but I said I would try again to find Troopers I served with. At the 2001 1st Cavalry Division Association Reunion at Fort Hood, I met two 8th Cavalry Troopers who were in the Republic of Vietnam in 1966, Alvin Schroeder was one of them. They told me that the 8th Cavalry Annual Reunion was being held in Spokane, WA. in June. I went to that 8th Cavalry Reunion and had a great time just being around those I served with in Vietnam. At that Spokane reunion, I was given the names of those I was looking for. Here I am now, thirty-six years later. I met several Troopers who said they assisted in putting me on the chopper. Earl Watters (AKA Fingers) and a fellow M-60 machine gunner told me what happened that day with the chopper. Company "A" troopers Earl Watters, Douglas Lacoste, James Busek and Sam Rader from Headquarters assisted in putting, Fred Carrizales who is the double amputee, Nathan VillaGomez who had his skull crushed, Sgt. Bragg who is a single amputee, and me, a paraplegic were all put on outgoing choppers. I still have not found out the name of the door gunner, who was the KIA. At my second 8th Cavalry Reunion in Biloxi, MS in June 2002, I met more Troopers I served with in Vietnam. It was a good feeling to meet Colonel Ken Mertel and Captain Ted Danielsen, my Battalion and Company Commanders, respectively. They were my leaders. They were instrumental in getting me back home alive. I had forgotten their names but I had not forgotten them. I searched until I found them. It was good feeling meeting Troopers Nathan and Earl for the second time in 36 years. Now I know who they are. I met Fred for the second time in 36 years at the 55th Annual 1st Cavalry Division Association Reunion in Colorado Springs, CO this past June. I am finally putting the pieces together. The puzzle is near completion. This is the approximate time line of my hospital stay rotating from the 85th Evacuation Hospital Unit in the Republic of Vietnam to the Veterans Administration Medical Center's Spinal Cord Injury Center in Memphis, Tenn. March 13, 1966 to March 28, 1966 85th Evacuation Unit in the Republic of Vietnam March 28, 1966 to April 12, 1966 Clark AFB in the Philippine Islands April 12, 1966 to April 28, 1966 Tripple Army General Hospital, Ouha, Hawaii April 28, 1966 to May 4, 1966 Travis AFB Hospital, San Francisco, Calif. May 4, 1966 to September 13, 1966 Brooke Army General Hospital, San Antonio, Tx. I was discharged from the US Army on September 12, 1966. September 12, 1966 to October 28, 1966 VAMC's SCI Center in Memphis, Tenn. I was inducted into the US Army on June 28, 1966. I was discharged on September 12, 1966. I was hospitalized from March 13, 1966 to October 28, 1966. 8 ½ Active Duty June 29, 1965 to March 13, 1966 7 ½ Hospitalized March 13, 1966 to October 28, 1966 16 Months

This record was last updated on 11/21/2002


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