More detail on this person: Retired in 1972 at Ft. Wolters, TX. Died in 1973. Mentioned in the
Vietnam Diary as the lop-eared hillbilly. From Pope's statement: "Cleat was almost to retirement at
Camp Wolters when he had his heartache(sic) (heart attack?). He was digging water line ditches for
the trailer park he was opening at Mineral Wells.
He was instrumental in developing armed helicopters. He mount(ed) small cal machine guns on
CH-21's and developed one of the early intervolometers(sic) for firing 2.75" rockets mounted on
UH-1A's.
Elvin R. Helsel, 67, auto accident victim
Elvin R. Helsel, 67, of 3810 Bellows Drive, Camp Hill, died Saturday in Westminster, Md., from
injuries caused by an automobile accident.
He was a retired Army officer; commander of Mount Airy Legion Post 191; and a member of 40 et 8, the
Retired Army Officers Association, West Shore Elks Club 2257 and St. Timothy Lutheran Church,
Hampden Twp.
He was the widower of Isabell Helsel. Surviving are a son, Dennis E. of Minoa, N.Y.; a daughter,
Donna E. Paul of Camp Hill; a brother, James A. of Mount Airy, Md.; two sisters, Audry Decker
Glenolden and Nancy Falkenbury, both of Pinellas Park, Fla.; and five grandchildren.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday in his church. Burial with military honors will be at 11
a.m. Friday in Arlington National Cemetery.
Viewing will be from 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at Myers-Harner Funeral Home, Camp Hill, and from noon to
1 p.m. Thursday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to his church's memorial fund, 4200 Market St., Camp Hill 17011.
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 12/15/2017
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Date posted on this site: 07/01/2020
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