unit history information
for 361 AWC
MACV SOG CCC
57 AHC
For date 690927
361 AWC was a US Army unit
MACV SOG CCC was a US Army unit
57 AHC was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Kontum Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, Kontum
Description: The 361st Escort Company's unit history states that they participated in a battle for over six hours that saw one light fire team expend completely three times and the other team twice. The primary fire team was led by 1LT mike Jimision. It encountered highly intensive AA fire from the hills surrounding a very small LZ as the enemy awaited the arrival of the American helicopters. The small RT had been forced to this LZ. After several teams of Air Force jets bombed the enemy and the Panthers expended, another attempt was made to pick up the RT. The secondary team, lead by WO Walter G. Lekites, was unable to cover the UH-1H crew. It was shot down with four men abeing carried on its strings. The UH-1H pilot saved these men by nearly stopping his aircraft about 150 feet up to put himself in serious danger. As other extraction helicopters came down to pick up the crew and the RT, Mr. Lekites' fire team completely expended yet stayed overhead to draw fire and intimidate the enemy for over 15 minutes until the downed crew and the RT were safely extracted.
Comments: 1LT Jimision, Mike; team leader; ;
WO1 Lekites, Walter G.; team leader; ;
The source for this information was 1969 Annual Sup Unit Hist by CPT Manns provided by Bettie Lou Jordan 1998
Additional information is available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or corrections to: Gary Roush Email address: webmaster@vhpa.org
Return to panel index
Return to Helicopter Pilot KIA index
Return to VHPA Home Page
Copyright © 1998 - 2023 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
Date posted on this site:
05/13/2023