Name: WO1 Stanley Dean Struble
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 11/19/1970 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 21.7
Date of Birth: 03/07/1949
Home City: Castana, IA
Service: AV branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: C/7/17 CAV
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 70-5/70-3
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 06W-072
Short Summary: Pilot in command giving Grisard tactic instructions as a Scout. The LOH exploded in mid-air and crashed in a ball of flames.
Aircraft: OH-6A tail number 67-16335
Call sign: RED
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 100B = Utility/Observation Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: vehicular accident
Vehicle involved: helicopter
Position in vehicle: observer
Vehicle ownership: government
Started Tour: 07/04/1970
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - non-aircrew
The initial status of this person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location: Binh Dinh Province II Corps.
Additional information about this casualty:
10 January 1971
WO1 Eric L. Miller
HHT 2/11 ACR (AVN SEC)
APO SF 96257
I am writing this letter, because I flew scouts for seven months, and was flying when Stan was killed. Our new CO was not in the Troop when the action occurred, so knows little of what happened.
We were working in the Soui Cau Valley, west of LZ Uplift, on the 19th of November. Stan was training a new pilot as wingman so was in the left seat. We spent most of the morning and the first part of the afternoon in looking for the enemy. We received light fire a couple of times, but could never quite pinpoint it. The 4th period began around 1430. Stan was in the wingship and his lead was CW2 Greg Hengels. Around 1500 they received fire and began pulling up to altitude to access the situation. While gaining altitude the LOH's and lead Cobra discussed the possibility of returning to the area. At this time the new pilot, CW2 John Grissard, said they had taken fire all the way along a ridgeline. Stan began to say something when the wing Cobra yelled, "There's a LOH on fire." Mr. Hengels looked towards Stan's ship and saw it entirely in flames and falling fast. It crashed and burned at the base of a small ridge. We put in ground troops and they brought out the bodies. Both men were hit by .51 cal. fire so were killed instantly while the LOH was in the air. Other troops were then put in and fought for three days. I do not know the final damage inflicted but many fortifications were found and enemy killed.
I trained Stan when he got to the troop and he developed into a fine wing pilot. He seemed to love the job. The man he was training was a former Snake pilot and IP in Georgia. I'm sorry you got the news so late and just before Christmas. I cam in country with two other people on the 30th of April 1970. We were all classmates and all came to Charlie Troop to fly LOH's. One was killed in June and the other in July.
I hope this letter helps to explain things a little for you. If you are ever at Lane AHP stop by Charlie Troop and see us. If you need a place for the night we'll gladly provide you with one.
Sincerely Yours,
WO1 Richard D. Curtis
Administrations Officer
C Troop 7/17th Cav
APO San Francisco 96226
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
single male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Protestant - other churches
Burial information: KENNEBEC CEM, CASTANA, IA
The following information secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: warrant officer
This record was last updated on 07/05/2004
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Date posted on this site: 11/13/2023
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