Pacific Stars and Stripes information
for VMO-6
MAG-39
For date 680611
VMO-6 was a US Marine Corps unit
MAG-39 was a US Marine Corps unit
Primary service involved, US Marine Corps
Quang Tri Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Dong Ha
Description: 11Jun68-Leatherneck Saved in Daring Rescue
QUANG TRI, Vietnam (ISO) - A young Marine radio operator was saved in a daring night rescue by helicopters of Marine Aircraft Group-39 (MAG-39) in action north of the Cua Viet river near Dong Ha. The radioman, a member of the 4th Marine Regt., had become cut off from his unit by enemy troops. The Marine was able to contact an O1C Bird Dog by radio. The plane, in turn radioed MAG-39 at Quang Tri. Two Huey gunships of Marine Observation Sq. 6, led by Capt. Dennis W. Price, were soon enroute to the scene. The radioman, meanwhile, was being pursued by the enemy and was having a difficult time trying to move to a suitable pickup point while avoiding detection. As the gunships orbited overhead, the radioman could not move to a suitable pickup zone due to the position of the enemy troops. Soon darkness came, providing the radioman more freedom of movement without being detected by the enemy. However, he encountered another sever problem; the choppers were not able to see him without some night signaling device and the radioman did not have a flashlight or flare. The problem was solved in short order, however, when the lead helo pilot turned on his landing lights and advised the lost radioman to guide the light to his position on the ground. The radioman nervously talked the helicopter down through sporadic ground fire to his position. A wary Marine scrambled aboard as the chopper lifted safely out of the zone and headed for Quang Tri.
Comments: CPT Price, Dennis W.; pilot; ;
The source for this information was 6806PSS.AVN supplied by Les Hines 3/97
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
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Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023