Helicopter OH-23G 62-03793


Information on U.S. Army helicopter OH-23G tail number 62-03793
Date: 06/01/1967
Incident number: 670601051ACD Accident case number: 670601051 Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: HHC/1 BDE 25 INF
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: XT751016 (To see this location on a map, go to https://legallandconverter.com/p50.html and search on Grid Reference 48PXT751016)
Number killed in accident = 3 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 2
costing 53963
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Loss to Inventory

Crew Members:
P WO1 SIMPSON JAMES R KIA
OB MAJ COATS WILLIAM G KIA

Passengers and/or other participants:
X2 NO NAME, UNK, A


Accident Summary:

Aircraft apparently crashed in a level attitude. It burned on impact. The incident was caused by a failure of the rotor control blade spar tube due to fatigue. Cuff assembly.


War Story:
Editor's Note: We believe Jerry Lee Cloyd rescued these two men (needs confirmation) as follows:

Jerry Lee Cloyd was a soldier in the United States Army from May 1966 to May 1968, who served in the Vietnam war. He is best known for rescuing two men from an aircrash, an incident for which he received the Soldier's Medal.

Cloyd served in the 86th Signal Battalion, 2nd Group, 1st signal Brigade, 05 B20 as a Radio Operator. For heroism not involving actual conflict with an armed enemy in the Republic of Vietnam:

Private First Class Cloyd distinguished himself by valorous action on June 1,1967 while returning from a resupply mission near Duc Hoa. He saw a helicopter crash into a rice field near the highway as he was returning to his base and immediately dashed to attempt a rescue of the crew. Heedless of the possibility of boobytraps being hidden in the tall grass, he ran across the rice paddy to the flaming wreckage, took a fire extinguisher from the debris and attempted to put out the blaze, but the extinguisher failed to function. Completely disregarding his own safety, he tore at the twisted metal and lifted the front of the ship to free the trapped pilots. He quickly carried the injured pilot to safety and returned to assist in moving the co-pilot from the area. The ship exploded moments after he removed the second injured man, and the blast knocked him to the ground. After recovering from the shock wave, he set up a defensive perimeter and helped treat the casualties until rescue helicopters arrived. His unselfish efforts at great risk to his life greatly assisted in saving the victims and comforted them until they were moved to safety. Private First Class Cloyd's heroic actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military services and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

Authority: By direction of the President under the provisions of the Act of Congress, approved 2 July 1926.

The following from Clarissa Pesce in March 2015

Jerry Lee Cloyd was actually in the US Army 86th Signal Battalion, 2nd Group, 1st Signal Brigade. I couldn't find anything via the Army so I decided to look backwards into the VHPA hoping to come across a story matching Jerry Lee Cloyd's. He received the Soldier's Award for his heroism from this event. I also believe he is being reevaluated for the Medal of Honor & honestly he could care less about the award, he would love nothing more than to just know if his efforts saved them, if their alive and if he could just learn their names. Talking or having a cup of coffee would mean more to him than any award. If you google Jerry Lee Cloyd there's a story of him in wikibin and an author wrote of this event in a book called "out of the mist, memories of the war". I just want him to have peace with this. He's 70 and I would hate for him to die not knowing.

This record was last updated on 07/28/2018


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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023


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