More detail on this person: Gordon Leroy Hine, 68, died at his home in Patterson, Louisiana on
March 31, 2007. He is survived by his sons Douglas of Grand Junction, Colorado, Donavan of Atlanta,
Georgia; daughters Leah Lee of Lumberton, Mississippi, Lynette Stewart of Richmond, Virginia and
brother, Randall of Sacramento, California. Gordy had seven grandchildren and three great
grandchildren. This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
01/11/2025
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Gordy was a career helicopter pilot with Air Logistics, who at the time of his death, was home
recovering from injuries suffered when his Aerospatial EC120 experienced an hydraulic hardover and
crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. It is not believed the injuries contributed to his untimely death
- Gordy passed away in his sleep.
Gordy enlisted in the Army and became a tanker. He taught armor tactics and tank gunnery in Viseck,
Germany. He applied for OCS and was commissioned a 2nd LT. before receiving orders to Viet Nam.
In March 1966 he was assigned as an advisor to Vietnamese Rangers in the Mekong Delta. During
this time, Gordy received the first of his three Purple Hearts. The first was for a punji stake
wound that almost cost him his leg, and a second for shrapnel wounds suffered when a booby trapped
artillery round exploded killing eight of his Rangers. It was here that Gordy was awarded the
first of his Bronze Stars with three Oak Leaf Clusters. Since he was detailed as an infantry
officer with his Vietnamese Rangers, Gordy was awarded the coveted Combat Infantry Badge, one of the
few non infantry branch officers to receive it.
After his first tour, Gordy returned to the states and went to Army flight school before returning
to Viet Nam in 1968. He was assigned to D Troop, 1st Squadron of the 1st Cavalry, flying Cobras.
Later Gordy served with B Company, 123rd Aviation Battalion with the call sign Warlord 37. An
exceptional flight leader, Gordy was looked up to by young and old pilots alike. He was outspoken
to the point that his superiors knew asking him a question might not get the answer desired. When
asked why he had done some unauthorized firing one day, Gordy replied "because they were running."
Why were they running, he was asked. "Because I was firing at them," came the reply.
Gordy was riffed in 1971 and worked for a short time for Astro Aviation before joining Air Logistics
in 1974. He started flying the Bell 206 before upgrading to the Bell 212, an aircraft he loved.
Known for his quick wit, Gordy wore his patriotism and love of country on his sleeve for all to see.
One night at the company trailer in Amelia, Gordy, with a few toddys under his belt, decided that
President Reagan could use his help with Qadaffi in Libya. Repeatedly he called the White House
asking to speak to the President. "Just let me have a gunship," he told the White House operator,
"and I'll take care of the situation." When Air Log got the phone bill, they wondered about all
the calls to the White House. When they found out Gordy had been in the trailer that night they
knew, everyone knew, because that was exactly who Gordy was. As one of his Army buddies said of
him, "he was funny, compassionate, lovable and sometimes a real jackass." That's how we all
remember him - Gordy we miss you.
From: Jay Hovers