Army Reporter information
for 179 ASHC
213 ASHC
4 INF DIV
173 ABN BDE
For date 680120
179 ASHC was a US Army unit
213 ASHC was a US Army unit
4 INF DIV was a US Army unit
173 ABN BDE was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Kontum Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Dak To
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "In Eight-Day Dak To Battle Helicopters Provide Support" dated 20 Jan 1968.
During the eight-day battle in the Dak To area, Chinook helicopters from the 213th ASHC assisted the 179th ASHC in supplying the 4th Inf Div and the 173rd Abn Bde. Six Chinooks from the 213th flew from here to a base of operations at Hensel Army Air Field, a satellite field eight miles south of Pleiku. Each day, for eight days, the 213th supported operations around Dak To and Hill 875. "The mountainous terrain in the area of operation there is much different than the lowland area that we're accustomed to," said CPT Thomas Hyneck, assistant operations officer for the company, "It was like learning to fly all over again-making approaches to pinnacles and having to carry a lighter load because of the higher elevation." The majority of their flights were from the Dak To resupply point to the several fire support bases near the Cambodian border and to the infantry units located in the vicinity of Hill 875. During the course of one day, two battalions of South Vietnamese soldiers were committed to battle as soon as they touched ground before the next lift of reinforcements arrived. By the time the lift was completed, however, the ARVN soldiers had control of the situation. "The tactical situation dictated a minimum of lighting at night, both on the ground and in the air," MAJ Joseph Blanchard, flight platoon leader for the 213th, stated. "Flying at night was extremely hazardous due to the high elevation and Landing Zones being located on small pinnacles." When the 213th returned here at the end of the battle, it had flown over 300 combat hours, hauled approximately 1500 tons of supplies and equipment, airlifted more than 3700 combat troops and Medevaced over 50 casualties.
Photos by CWO Donald R. Joyce 1st AVN BDE-IO)
Comments: CWO Joyce, Donald R.; 1st AVN BDE-IO; ;
CPT Hyneck, Thomas; 213 ASHC Asst Opns Off; ;
The source for this information was 6801AR.AVN supplied by Les Hines
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023