unit history information
for 117 AVN

From date 631214 to 631215


117 AVN was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Incident reference: 07419ACD This information is available on CD-ROM.
Binh Dinh Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Qui Nhon
Description: I was a member of the 140th TC Det's SAR team which was part of the 117th Avn Co. The events of this incident are still clear in my mind and still very upsetting. MAJ Allred was really a wonderful person. The two EM were actually Army fireman assigned to the airfield. They were always asking us if they could fly in a helicopter. They weren't trained for combat, so we couldn't let them flight. On this day, MAJ Allred was going on a milk run - some resupply or admin mission down the coast from Qui Nhon; so they decided to let them fly this mission. We lauched our SAR teams when we learned the Huey was missing. I can remember flying over the ocean and shore that night. We took some fire but not enough to halt the search effort. After it was dark, we quite for the night but the next morning we launched virtually the entire company. There was no American Infantry in Vietnam at the time; but we armed everyone we could. We found the Huey in the water and about the same time someone saw LT Busch walking along a trail. I believe the VC were using him as bait but were surprised at the huge response - so many helicopters and so many men put on the ground. They withdrew quickly. We landed and waided out toward the ship. The bodies came to the surface about this time one after another. The sharks started working on them. Very sad! We got the bodies but we left the Huey there. I think LT Busch had a broken arm and was in shock, sort of not making any sense. He was evaced and I never saw him again. Submitted by Dave Holden 7/98.
Comments: PFC Holden, David R.; 140th TC SAR team; ;

The source for this information was Dave Holden at VHCMA R98


Additional information is available on CD-ROM.

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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023