INDRIERI MICHAEL A

WO1 Michael "Mike" A Indrieri was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 10/26/2005 at the age of 57.0 from Kidney cancer
Vallejo, CA
Flight Class 69-43
Date of Birth 10/28/1948
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 180 ASHC in 70-71
Call sign in Vietnam BIG WINDY
This information was provided by Anthony R Indrieri

More detail on this person: I inadvertantly stumbled across my uncle's name on your website, WO1 Michael "Mike" Indrieri. I didn't know much about his service record until right before his death. I had the honor/displeasure of taking him to the VA hospital for procedures after he had had his first cancer operation. Agent Orange had cost him one kidney, and later the other. It was during these trips to the Martinez VA that I learned about his pilot exploits. I heard from him the 'extremely down-played' actions that earned him a Bronze Star. I had to cooberate from others to get the full scope of the engagement. Some of the details are still vague, I ashamedly do not even know his unit. Nevertheless, he was a Chinook pilot sent out with his squadron to a hot LZ for a dust-off of a grunt unit. They were heavily outnumbered and desparately fighting to disengage the enemy. As the helos came in, they received heavy surface-to-air fire. Several helos were hit and over half the squadron had pulled out. The grunts were meanwhile frantically trying secure the LZ and begging the squadron to come in and evacuate them. The squadron was losing helos and the CO declared the LZ too hot to land. He ordered them to back off. My uncle who was the lead pilot, as he told me, "couldn't bare the look on the faces of those GIs." He swung around the LZ and came in with gunners blazing. He made several trips back to the LZ, taking several hits, until all the grunts were extracted. Later, he was subsequently written up for and received the Bronze Star for his actions. After the war his medal was sequestered in a shoebox and "misplaced." My cousin was later able to retrieve some of his service records through our state legislators. There is a lot to tell about him and I wish I knew more. I thought it apropriate to share this with his fellow "Winged Warriors."

From: Anthony R Indrieri

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024