unit history information
for 282 AHC
MACV

For date 680121


282 AHC was a US Army unit
MACV was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Incident reference: 68012122.KIA This information is available on CD-ROM.
Quang Tri Province, I Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Houng Hoa
282 AHC losses were 3 KIA
Aircraft lost in 282 AHC were 1 UH-1D
Description: The 282nd AHC unit history reported the Hue section began the day's operation with a resupply and medevac request from the Regional HQ at Houng Hoa which had sustained a ground attack the night before. A single ship was dispatched and picked up supplies and an observer at La Vang airfield near Quang Tri, enroute. On short final into the single-ship pad outside the Houng Hoa compound, the CE, Maurice Seghetti, was hit by ground fire from the LZ. While CWO Tom Pullen and WO Richard Gilmore took evasive action, COL Joseph Seymore, Senior Advisor for Quang Tri Province, administered first aide to Seghetti. While Pullen was enroute to the aide station at Quang Tri, LT Bob Ford attempted to get the medevacs out of Houng Hoa but was also repulsed by heavy ground fire. COL Seymore called for more ships from Da Nang and a CA was quickly arranged from volunteers. WO Gerald L. McKinsey (Mac to his friends) had returned to Da Nang to DEROS. He volunteers to fly lead ship for this mission because he knew the area well. They took five ships of Ruff-Puffs, two with ammo and other supplies, and Alleycats for fire support. Intense ground fire around Houng Hoa forced them to divert south to Lang Vei, an old abandoned French fort on a mountain top. As the flight landed, NVA regulars emerged from their hiding places and began firing at point blank range. The lead ship was hit on the right side, burst into flames (even the rotor blades were burning) and rolled over an embankment, landing on its side. Two ships landed and crewmembers tried to help the crew of chalk one, rescuing SP5 David H. Howington. After receiving many hits and one pilot being wounded, the rescue ships were forced to leave the area. Severly damaged ships escaped the LZ and made emergency landings at Khe Sanh and Quang Tri or medevaced wounded to Dong Ha. WO McKinsey survived the crash but was killed on the ground with providing covering fire for the rescue attempt. COL Seymore was killed in the crash. SGT Billy D. Hill, gunner, and PFC Jerry W. Elliot, gunner, are listed as MIA. CPT Tommy Stiner and SGT Danny Williams escaped from the area, evaded the NVA ground forces, and walked some 25 miles to Khe Sanh where they were picked up the next day by a Hue Detachment ship.
Comments: COL Seymore, Joseph; Senior Advisor for Quang Tri Prov; KIA; CPT Stiner, Tommy; pilot; ; LT Ford, Bob; pilot; ; CWO Pullen, Tom; AC; ; WO Gilmore, Richard; pilot; ; WO McKinsey, Gerald L. Jr.; pilot; KIA; SGT Williams, Danny; ; ; SGT Hill, Billy D.; gunner; MIA; SP5 Howington, David H.; CE; ; *** Seghetti, Maurice; CE; WIA; PFC Elliot, Jerry W.; gunner; MIA;

The source for this information was 282 AHC History 1 Jan - 31 Dec 68 by 1LT Thomas Prince


Additional information is available on CD-ROM.

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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023