Pacific Stars and Stripes information
for D/3/4 CAV
For date 700426
D/3/4 CAV was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Hau Nghia Province, III Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Cu Chi
Description: The following is an edited version of an article titled "Kill 3, Wound 1 Chopper Spoils Red 'Picnic' ."
Cu Chi (Special) - An aerial Light Scout Team from the 25th Inf. Div. interrupted the evening meal of a brazen group of Communist soldiers caught cooking only a couple hundred yards from the perimeter of this base. Dinner was a mess - the Americans killed three Communists and wound a fourth. The D Troop, 3rd Sq., 4th Cav. team was on a routine "last light" reconnaissance when chopper pilot WO Gary F. Center spotted a group of people within a "stone's throw" of the perimeter. Swinging his craft around, he cruised toward the group to investigate. His chopper was met by a hail of automatic weapons fire from what proved to be enemy soldiers. The enemy scattered, leaving huge pots of rice still cooking and supplies strewn over the area. Center maneuvered his aircraft to a position where stray rounds wouldn't endanger the base camp, then told his crew to open fire. His two gunners opened fire with both M60 machine guns, killing three Communists and wounding a fourth. The other Reds ran for cover into nearby tunnels. To keep the enemy ducking, an accompanying Cobra gunship rolled in, pounding the tunnel entrances with 2.75-inch rockets. Meanwhile, Center landed his ship in the middle of the supplies and weapons left behind. His crew gathered up all the chopper could carry, including two pistols, a rifle, 40 pounds of rices, clothes, medical supplies and numerous personal supplies. The team then returned to the base camp.
Comments: WO Center, Gary F.; LOH pilot; ;
The source for this information was 7004pss.avn supplied by Les Hines 02/02/2000
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
Return to panel index
Return to Helicopter Pilot KIA index
Return to VHPA Home Page
Copyright © 1998 - 2023 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
Last updated
02/03/2000
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023