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Closing the Flight Plan We sadly announce another final flight. W. Wayne Welborn Winfred Wayne
Welborn, 66, of Raleigh, passed away Monday morning, April 27, 2009, as
the result of a long-fought battle with diabetes. The son of the late
Margaret Talbert Welborn and Winfred Leroy Welborn, was born in
Greensboro and reared in Wake Forest, NC, where he lettered in three
sports and was active in ROTC. Mr. Welborn will be remembered for his many accomplishments, as he believed in setting big goals and achieving them with excellence. He was an integral part of the Wake Forest University football team from 1960-64, and honorable season captain his senior year. He served in the United States Army and Reserves (1965-70), and was a Captain and medevac helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, where he received the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross, among other honors. His post-Army career consisted of nearly 30 years in the pharmaceutical industry. He served as a top-performing Sales Representative and District Manager for Pfizer Inc., in the eastern U.S. region. Robert A. Conley
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Jan. 21, 1947 - Sept. 18, 2008
Glen
A. Melton (age 67) retired Major from the U.S. Army, passed away on
August 16 ,2008 at Select Specialty Hospital in Tallahassee, FL. 
Andre’
Gilberto Jacelon, age 68, passed away in his home in Widefield, CO on
August 8, 2008. He was born June 26, 1940 in the Republic of Trinidad
and Tobago of the 
Staff
Sgt. Carletta S. Davis, 34, was a health care specialist assigned to
10th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain
Division (LI).
We received the very sad news that one of our brethren senior 70H's, LTC
Phil Pemberton, died of a heart attack on Sunday, 29 Jul 07. LTC Phil
Pemberton served his country honorably and faithfully for over 26 years
of dedicated active federal service. I ask that you keep his family in
your thoughts and prayers as they endure the pain and suffering of
losing a loved one so unexpectedly.
Dennis
L. Davis I, Vicki Vosburg, am writing this in love and memory of my
husband, Dennis L. Davis who passed away due to a helicopter accident in
Yreka, Calif. fighting wildfires on Monday, July 23, 2007. Dennis was born
Aug. 2, 1946 in Palm Springs, Calif. to Ben Davis, Sr. and Sally Tissaw.
He was born with a passion for humans and animals alike. He would give the
shirt off his back, or food from his hand to any person or animal in need.
He always tried to find a connection with people he met. He received a
bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1978 and was awarded a
Master of Science Degree becoming a Naturopathic Physician in 2004. When
he wasn't fighting fires, he specialized in Nutrition and Iridology
working with me at The Herb Pantry in Boise. He was an experienced
helicopter pilot flying for more than 35 years including two and half
tours in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and
the Bronze Star Medal; piloting for the police department in Pomona,
Calif.; flying Life Flight for St. Al's and finally fighting forest fires
nationally. He chose to start fighting forest fires because he was so
concerned about the number of animals and people losing their lives. He
was very committed to this being his last year of fighting forest fires,
saying he was just tired. This time I knew he was serious; he was ready to
come home. We found each other and married on June 25, 1994 in Sedona,
Ariz. This began my love affair with one of the most incredible men - he
was perfect for me. He was the love of my life; my very best friend. I
can't imagine being without him. I was a very lucky woman and feel blessed
to have had these years with him. I will miss him with all my heart. We
had a ritual during our phone calls to end our conversation every night. I
would say, "be safe and I love you." And, he would respond with "I love
you, too. Dennis was a person who left a mark everywhere he went; he
always had a ready hand and an open heart. He'll be missed by his entire
family and friends and every person who ever came in contact with him. No
one knows when we will leave this earth. Please make sure you tell your
loved ones each day "I love you" and don't forget the hug. That's
important, too. Dennis is survived by myself, his daughters from a
previous marriage; Stacie Wyatt and Tracie Brister, their spouses and
children of Sedona, Ariz. 
John
Winston Cook, a wonderful husband, father and friend, died peacefully on April
15, 2007. He was born in Madison, WI Oct 24, 1921 to Maynard Albert and Chorale
Boyd Cook, and was raised in Winnetka, Ill. He graduated from New Trier High
School in 1939, then from Dartmouth College in 1943. Following graduation, John
attended flight school with the Royal Air Force. During World War II, he served
in the 348th Fighter Group, 342nd Squadron, flying P47 (Thunderbolt) and P51
(Mustang) fighters, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant. He was stationed in
the Pacific Theater, specifically the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines. The
camaraderie, dangers and excitement of World War II were favorite topics of
conversation for the rest of his life, and gained him the respect and admiration
of many. Following his military service, John moved to San Antonio where he
began his career in the life insurance and real estate businesses. He enjoyed
staying in touch with friends in the military through the years, and assisted
many of them in purchasing homes and insurance. Together with his wife Bette,
John co-brokered Cook Company Realty before joining Kuper Realty more than 20
years ago. He was a kind and gentle man who took a genuine interest in everyone
he met. His friends considered him a gentleman's gentleman. In 1985, he was made
an honorary member of the 82nd Medical Detachment Helicopter Ambulance Group
('DUSTOFF') for his longtime friendship and service to its members. He is
survived by his wife, Bette Ruth Williams Cook, daughters Marjorie Cook
Hutcheson and her husband Palmer, of Houston, and Nancy Winston Cook of San
Antonio. 
MAJ.
DAVID W.L. WIK (RET) Maj. David W.L. Wik took his final flight on April 7, 2007
in Corpus Christi with his family at his side. He was born on May 16, 1933 in
Cresbard, South Dakota. After college he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he
became a helicopter pilot. His assignments included a tour of duty in Korea and
two tours in Vietnam where he served as commanding officer of the DUSTOFF
helicopter unit. His career consisted of flying 1,174 combat hours and the
evacuation of 4,368 wounded soldiers and civilians to medical facilities. Maj.
Wik's many honors include 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 37 Air Medals. His
final command was at Ft. Sam Houston, where he used his medical evacuation
experience to develop and implement MAST, a program that aids in the evacuation
of civilians severely injured in highway accidents. Maj. Wik retired in 1973 and
was inducted into The South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005. Dave was known
for being a colorful, spirited man who never met a stranger. His retirement
years were spent fishing and traveling the world with friends and family, living
his life to the fullest each day. His zest for life was unyielding and he will
be lovingly missed and warmly remembered. DUSTOFF 6, you are cleared to hover to
the ramp... He is survived by his wife Valerie; his children and grandchildren
Colette, Jean-Marc (Butch) and wife Karen, Bruce and wife Lisa, Dale and wife
Renate, Peter, Mark and wife Kara, Andrea and husband Bryan, Rosalyn, Alex,
Randi, Nikolas, Nicole, Renee, Blake, Christel, Brett, and his loving dog Tasha.
Randall V. "Randy" Ashby, 55, of Beaver Dam died Friday, Jan.
26, 2007, at his home. He was born in Madisonville and was retired from the U.S.
Army, was a Master Mason with the Masonic Lodge in Alabama, was a Kentucky
Colonel and was of the Baptist faith. Randy, the son of Charles V. Ashby of
Hartford and Opal Herron of Beaver Dam, retired as chief warrant officer four
after serving 21 years of active service with the U.S. Army.
Larry
Wagoner, 58, of Pierre, died Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006 at St. Mary's
Captain
Rebecca Ann Jarabek passed away on Thursday, 14 September 2006.
Ken
Forrest died 22 Sep 06. Born on 10 Dec 31 to the late Leland and Mabel Forrest
in New London, WI, he enjoyed a childhood of paper routes, rabbit "ranching",
and fishing. Kenyon graduated from the School of Pharmacy at the University of
Wisconsin, Madison, where he was also a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
After passing his state boards in 1955, he entered military service with the
Medical Service Corps at Fort Sam Houston. In April 1955, he married his college
sweetheart and fellow Badger, Joan Shackelford. During his 20+ year career with
the Army, Ken served as a DUSTOFF Medevac helicopter pilot and administrator,
including one tour in Korea, two tours in Vietnam, two tours in Germany, and
numerous stateside posts. Upon retiring in 1975, he took up his training as a
pharmacist. His last position was with HEB where he enjoyed seventeen years of
helping the community.
Sergeant Jeffrey Scott Brown was born on the 11th of February,
1981, in Trinity Center, California. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on 19 April
2000; attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and Advanced
Individual Training at Fort Eustis, Virginia. SGT Brown was first assigned to C
Co 1st Battalion 214th Aviation in Heidelberg, Germany as a crewchief. He was
then stationed with the 82nd Medical Company (Air Ambulance) at Fort Riley,
Kansas.
GRANITE CITY - Long before Sgt. Steven P. Mennemeyer was in Iraq aiding injured
soldiers aboard an Army Blackhawk helicopter, he would point to the helicopters
in the sky as a child. 
MAJOR MICHAEL W. TOENNIS, born
April 12, 1955, 1955 in San Antonio, Texas, died July
23, 2006 in Houston, Texas at the age of 51. Mike earned a BBA in 1978 from the
University of Houston, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, and an
MBA in 1992 from Syracuse University. He proudly served his country as an Army
DUSTOFF aviator, medical logistician, and health services comptroller for the US
Army Medical Dept. Michael was medically retired as a Major after 14 years of
active duty, during which time he was a member of "The DUSTOFF" Association.
Later on he became a CPA after working as an auditor for the firm of BDO Seidman.
Mike is preceded in death by his father, Ewald Toennis, and is survived by his
wife, Karen Toennis and their son, Joseph Toennis, both of Kingwood, TX; mother
Lilo Toennis; and brother, Andre Toennis. 
Soldiers prepare to fire a volley during a 21-gun salute to Staff Sgt. Heath
1LT Casillas Landon, 3rd FSMT Leader, 50th Medical Company
(AA) is no longer with us after a Class A accident that happened at Outlaw Field
in Clarksville, TN at approximately 10am Friday 9 June 2006.
Born September 3, 1922 and raised in Etna, Pa., Novosel became an aviation cadet
in the U.S. Army Air Forces when he was 19 years old. After earning his
commission and pilot wings on December 15, 1942, he instructed in the North
American AT-6 Texan at Laredo Army Air Field, Texas. By December 1944, Novosel
had logged more than 800 hours in the Consolidated B-24 Liberator supporting
aerial gunner training. Then, he went to Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, to
qualify in the Boeing B-29 Superfortress.
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| Pictures of Mike's final caisson journey provided graciously by Sterlene & Art Hapner. | ||
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http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2006/20060414_4827.html
Interview with Mike prior to his death.
Hugh Thompson Jr.
BBC NEWS
My Lai massacre hero dies at 62
Hugh Thompson Jr., a former US military helicopter pilot who helped stop one of
the most infamous massacres of the Vietnam War has died, aged 62.
Mr. Thompson and his crew came upon US troops killing civilians at the village of
My Lai on 16 March 1968. He put his helicopter down
between the soldiers and villagers, ordering his men to shoot their fellow
Americans if they attacked the civilians. "There was
no way I could turn my back on them," he later said of the victims.
Mr. Thompson, a warrant officer at the time, called in support from other US
helicopters, and together they airlifted at least nine Vietnamese civilians -
including a wounded boy - to safety. He returned to
headquarters, angrily telling his commanders what he had seen. They ordered
soldiers in the area to stop shooting.
But Mr Thompson was shunned for years by fellow soldiers, received death
threats, and was once told by a congressman that he was the only American who
should be punished over My Lai. A platoon commander,
Lt William Calley, was later court-martialed and sentenced to life in prison for
his role in the killings. President Richard Nixon
commuted his sentence to three years' house arrest.
Lobbying
Although the My Lai massacre became one of the best-known atrocities of the war
- with journalist Seymour Hersh winning a Pulitzer Prize for reporting on it -
little was known about Mr Thompson's actions for decades
In the 1980s, Clemson University Professor David Egan saw him interviewed in a
documentary and began to campaign on his behalf. He
persuaded people including Vietnam-era Secretary of State Dean Rusk to lobby the
government to honour the helicopter crew. Mr Thompson
and his colleagues Lawrence Colburn and Glenn Andreotta were awarded the
Soldier's Medal, the highest US military award for bravery when not confronting
an enemy.
Mr Thompson was close to tears as he accepted the award in 1998 "for all the men
who served their country with honour on the battlefields of South-East Asia".
Mr Andreotta's award was posthumous. He was killed in Vietnam less than a month
after My Lai.
Mr Colburn was at Mr Thompson's bedside when he died, the Associated Press
reported.
Mr Thompson died of cancer. He had been ill for some time and was removed from
life support earlier in the week.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4589486.stm
Postscript
As graveside services ended, a bag piper played Amazing Grace
– slowly marching away down the hill allowing the sound to die down to next to
inaudible…. Then…. Quietly in the distance the wop wop wop sound – unmistakably
that of a Huey – approaching from directly in front of us it came to about the 2
o’clock position above the tall trees that surround the cemetery – then a slow
right hand turn allowing it to pass in front of us – A DUSTOFF Huey – not a
single aviators’ eyes were dry at that proud moment and it symbolically picked
Hugh up and took him on his last ride – closing out his final flight plan!
Hugh was buried with a DUSTOFF Association coin placed in his right hand – a
last tribute to a great friend, comrade and DUSTOFF Soldier!
Jim Saler
It
saddens us to inform you of the death of Jim Saler.
Jim Saler was a retired U.S. Army aviator who spent
many of his years flying Medevac. After retiring from the Army he flew an EMS
helicopter for Tri State CareFlight based in Durango, Colorado. Exactly one year
to the day after leaving the Army, he along with a Flight Nurse and a Flight
Paramedic, were killed June 30th 2005 when their
Augusta A119 Koala crashed while trying to save the life of another.
Thomas Maloney added a section to his Web
site to honor and recognize Jim Saler, as well as Bill and Scott. All men
left behind wives; Jim also left behind three daughters and Scott left behind a
newly adopted son. After their accident Tom created an
illustration entitled Angel of Mercy. The limited edition prints,
as well as shirts, are being sold to raise money for
the widows of this tragedy.
If you are interested, you can access the memorial page at
http://aircav.org/CareFlight.html If you
click on Jim Saler's photo from that page, it will take you to another section
devoted just to Jim. There you can learn about his background and military
service to our country. I can tell you that Jim loved our country, the Army and
saving lives by flying helicopters.
Leonard A. Crosby
Retired Col. Leonard A. Crosby had a thirst for knowledge and a passion to teach others what he knew. He died in May 2005.
"He was a real forward-thinking person," said Mary Crosby, his wife of 62 years.
The forward-thinker was also a creator of one of the Army's most used services, MEDEVAC, or using helicopters to remove wounded soldiers from combat.
Leonard Crosby, called "Andy" by most, was an Army medic and medical command instructor for more than 30 years. The Elizabethtown resident died Tuesday at age 83.
The Crosby home is filled with certificates, medals and other honors from Crosby's military career. There are silver stars, bronze stars, commendation medals and medals from World War II and Korea.
There's also a well-worn book: "The history of the U.S. Army Medical Corps." Crosby's name is on several pages, mainly for his role in the invention of MEDEVAC.
He was drafted into the Army in 1942, serving in World War II as part of an ambulance company. Crosby's unit was the first ambulance company on the scene after the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France, his wife said.
"He accomplished amazing things in his 83 years," said his son, Michael Crosby.
One of the most amazing accomplishments started in 1950, in Korea. Leonard Crosby was serving as the evacuation officer for the 8th Army. He noticed that the military was having a difficult time evacuating wounded soldiers from combat because of Korea's hilly roads, which were often blocked, preventing ambulances from getting to the field.
Helicopters at that time were primarily used for artillery, Mary Crosby said. Her husband wrote the rulebook on how to use them in a medical evacuation situation.
Leonard Crosby was in charge of the first demonstration of medical helicopters in the summer of 1950 at Taegu Teachers' College in Korea.
After his years in combat, Leonard Crosby became an instructor at several military schools. He also served as chief of staff of medical command in Europe, and executive officer of the medical command at Walter Reed Army Hospital.
Bruce C. Zenk
Bruce C. Zenk, 65, passed away at his home in Young America, Minnesota on 17 May 2005 after a three-year battle with cancer.
Born in Sisseton, South Dakota on 18 December 1939, he graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in Pharmacy and received a commission as an Infantry Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. After a one-year pharmacy internship in Minneapolis, Bruce entered active duty service and attended the Infantry Officers Basic Course. He was selected to attend the Rotary Wing Aviator Course (Class 63-7).
In January 1964, Bruce was assigned to the 119th Aviation Company in Vietnam where he flew both the slick and gunship version of the UH-1B. Because of his prior pharmacy training, he received a branch transfer to the Medical Service Corps in June 1964 and was transferred to the 57th Medical Detachment in Soc Trang. When the 82nd Medical Detachment arrived in Vietnam in October 1964, Bruce, Ernie Sylvester, and Si Simmons were transferred from the 57th into the 82nd to teach the new pilots the tactics and ethos instilled in them by Major Kelly. Completing his one-year tour in January 1965, Bruce had earned the Air Medal with Valor and 22 oak leaf clusters, had flown 747 hours of combat flight time, and helped to save hundreds of lives.
Upon his return from Vietnam, Bruce was married to Betty Remund. The couple made their home at Fort Riley, Kansas where he served as a pilot with the 159th Medical Detachment until a serious back injury forced him from the cockpit. In May 1968, he completed his military service at DeWitt Army Hospital where he served as a pharmacist.
Bruce and his family moved to Virginia, Minnesota where he worked at the local medical clinic. In 1975, Bruce and Betty purchased the local pharmacy in Lake Benton, Minnesota where he served on the school board and held positions in both the VFW and American Legion. In 1984, they sold their store and moved to Burnsville, Minnesota. He accepted a position with Snyder Drug where he continued his work as a dedicated and professional pharmacist until his retirement in 2002.
Bruce is survived by Betty Zenk, his loving wife of 40 years; his daughter Debbie and husband SSG Michael Otte of Honolulu, Hawaii; his son CPT Patrick and wife Alexa Zenk of Wiesbaden, Germany; grandchildren Kayla and Noah; sister Paula Neiburg of Plymouth, Minnesota; and brother Rodney of Nemo, South Dakota. He was preceded in death by his parents and older brother Perry.
Kevin Donoghue
Kevin Donoghue,
a medic with the 57th Med Det RVN and a dear friend,
passed away today. Kevin and I flew many missions together and he was the one
that always kept my butt out of the sling. I talked to his wife Carol today and
Kevin faced his death with the same courage he displayed as a DUSTOFF medic. All
of us who were blessed to have Kevin touch our lives are better for that
experience.
I will miss my friend, but I believe he is now with all of our fallen comrades
in a better place.
JT Travers
Ricky D. Williams
SFC Ricky D. Williams was a flight medic with 377th Medical Company and 54th Medical Company. He was killed in a motorcycle accident on 14 April 2005 driving home after an early morning Brigade Run on Fort Sam Houston. His career culminated as a Senior Drill Sergeant with A Company, 232nd Medical Bn. at the Academy Brigade, Fort Sam Houston, TX. He leaves a wife, Charmaine, (also a drill sergeant) and two daughters. He will be buried in Seattle, WA. He was truly a great NCO.
Fred Duncan
Fred Duncan, life member of DUSTOFF
Association since 2003 died of complications of a disease resembling ALS on
February 8, 2005. Fred, as a 17-year old merchant marine, served his country
during WW II aboard Liberty Ships with one of the Aviation Repair Units in
the South Pacific. His work in his later years brought to light the service
of four brave pilots who flew experimental Sikorsky R-4 and R-6 helicopters
into the jungles of the Philippines to rescue nearly 70 wounded soldiers.
His work brought to light, chronicled, and published some of the earliest
efforts in aeromedical evacuation involving helicopters - the very birth of
DUSTOFF!
He is survived by his wife, Edna, children and grandchildren.
Brent Towne
Almost two years ago, our beloved crewchief, Brent Towne, was in a terrible
car accident which left him with extensive brain damage. His family
has him brought home to Nevada from Hawaii, and yesterday (2-10-04) his
fight ended. He will be missed so. There are no words to express the
thankfulness I have towards you all through this whole battle. He will
be missed beyond belief. He cared about you all and thought highly of
you. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and love.
Love,
Big Sis- Chris Richcreek
NEVER FORGET HIM
Randy Gordon Radigan
24 Aug 46 - 31 Dec 98
Randy was born in Vermillion, South Dakota on August 24, 1946, the second of eleven children of William Joseph and Susie Albers Radigan. lie was a 1964 graduate of Vermilion
High
School; he attended the University of South Dakota and several colleges In 1966, he enlisted in the U. S. Army,
completed helicopter flight school, and began his first tour of duty as a
medevac helicopter pilot in Vietnam. lie volunteered for further tours of
medevac duty in Vietnam, served 39 months there and was decorated extensively
for valor in combat. He was awarded twice the Distinguished Flying Cross, twice
the Silver Star, five times the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with oak cluster, the
Air Commendation Medal, and the Purple Heart. He flew 1,597 air-rescue missions in Vietnam and carried 4,191 wounded
soldiers.
From 1974 to 1983 Randy was employed by Alyeska Pipeline as a security helicopter pilot. He was an entrepreneur with many local interests. He loved Alaska. He was an avid big game hunter and enjoyed spending his time at their cabin “in the woods.” He served on the Copper River School District School Board since 1993 and was also a member of the Copper Basin Lions Club for many years. Randy and Lorraine were married on December 31, 1983.
Among those that survive him and gratefully shared his life are his wife; Lorraine, sons; Rocky and Colt, daughters; Tammy Custis, husband Jim, Brandie Bancroft, husband Blake, Alison Jaidinger, his four grandchildren; his father; William J. Radigan, his seven brothers; William, Jeffrey, Steven, Gregory, Daniel, Kelly, and James, his sisters; Suzanne, Laurie, Carol, his many nieces and nephews; and by his longtime friends Don, Joyce, Jim and Scott Horrell. He was preceded in death by his mother, Susie, and two infant daughters.
Gorgon W Gaskin
Born 30 Jul 1948
Passed away 26 Sep 2002 in Lake Charles, LA
Cause of Death Hep C contracted from Vietnam
He, like all of his fellow crew members, was responsible for a lot of names NOT being on the Wall. God bless our Medics.
What life to lead and
where to go
After the War, after the War?
-- Robert Graves
Gordon finally came home from Viet-Nam last week.
We were buddies in junior high and in high school, thrown together by a love of books and a contempt for all authority figures. We both lived to become authority figures ourselves, and so in the end were punished for our transgressions far more soundly than by any teacher's paddle.
Gordon was the smartest kid I ever knew; after reading a few books on theory he constructed, from bits of wire and a battery and tiny light bulbs and some other debris tacked to a board, a chess-playing computer. Unable to afford switches, he operated his 1963 computer by disconnecting wires from nails and reconnecting them to other nails. His chemistry experiments were rather less successful, resulting in one or two dramatic explosions and a complete ban by his father on the further pursuit of scientific knowledge inside the house.
While the more focused boys were chasing girls and those first kisses (although I had quite a crush on his sister), Gordon and I were arguing the contemporary possibilities of Thoreau's Walden and smoking cigarettes out back behind the trash cans.
After a semester at Lamar University, Gordon joined the Army and, following the few months of the rudimentary and wholly inadequate training of that time, was posted to Viet-Nam. Rather like Sasha / Strelnikov in Doctor Zhivago, Gordon found that he was good at war, or, rather, at picking up the pieces: he served four tours as an Army medic, winning the Air Medal, Air Crewman Badge, Bronze Star with Valor Device, the Silver Star, and the Distinguished Service Cross. One can only imagine how many more medals officers in air-conditioned bunkers awarded each other based on Gordon's courage and skill in saving lives.
But a man -- a kid, really, a skinny kid with thick eyeglasses -- can make only a finite number of sliding, jinking, dodging helicopter landings into hot-as-Hell LZs without leaving something of himself there. Every wounded kid Gordon saved, every dead kid he sat beside while jinking back out among the orange tracers and the ghastly noise and stench of machinery and violence, cost him a little bit of himself.
Henry Kissinger received a Nobel Peace Prize for the mess he helped make in Vietnam; 56,000 dead kids and the survivors like Gordon bought that carnival prize for him.
Upon returning home Gordon apparently constructed an emotional defense perimeter for many years, and yet those who knew him best say that this true war hero was the kindest, gentlest man they ever knew. Never a father himself, he was a father to his stepchildren and to others. He never went back to university, but he encouraged others to accomplish the education he hadn't the heart to return to. His stepson, now a successful engineer, said that when he returned from the service he was aimless and drifting, but Gordon inspired him to focus and succeed. A postal employee said she would never have kept her job, much less built the career she has, without Gordon's patience and guidance.
Whatever Gordon felt he had left undone in
his life, he saw completed in the lives of others.
Another friend said that Gordon still carried a trunk full of tools and car
parts wherever he went, and could remedy almost any roadside crisis in almost
any vehicle -- something he could do at sixteen!
In the end, Mr. Kissinger has his Nobel
Prize, but Gordon found God and love and peace, and, having accomplished
whatever missions God had set for him, died with his wife Mary Ann holding his
hand. He was not buried with state honors, but in a modest Methodist liturgy by
family and friends; his funeral was not marked with a 21-gun salute, but with
Kleenex clutched in the hands of those who love him.
Yes, Gordon is home from Viet-Nam at last, Washed by the rivers, blest by suns
of home.
Neil Lankford
Lt.
Colonel John McNeil Lankford ('Neil'), U.S. Army Retired, passed away on May 18,
2004 at the age of 58. Col. Lankford, a graduate of North Georgia Military
College, was a Vietnam Veteran, having served as a combat medic with the 3rd/187
of the 101st Airborne Division. As a medical Service Corps officer and
specialist in systems engineering, he made significant contributions to the Army
Medical Department during his 23 years of service. Following his military
retirement, Col. Lankford continued to work in the Information Technology field.
He was a proud member of the Dust-off Association and was active in numerous
professional organizations. Neil is survived by Cecilia Lankford, his wife of 35
years; daughters, Anne Marie and Jennifer Lankford; father, Paul McNeil
Lankford; brother, Wayne Eliot Lankford; nephew, Paul McEliot Lankford; aunt and
uncle, Charlotte and Frank Lankford; and sister-in-law, Cindy Kearns. Col.
Lankford was preceded in death by his mother, Anita Lankford. Col. Lankford gave
his family the kind of love that makes a difference and lasts a lifetime. His
unique humor and selflessness touched all who were privileged to know him.
Richard Hock
You'll possibly remember Richard Hock who was the medic who
stood in as Godfather for little baby Kathleen in the 3rd Field Hospital and was
a key part of "In the Shadow of the Blade" and the reunion between Kathleen and
those who saved her life 34 years before. A DUSTOFF crew (the pilot was David
Alderson and he died one week before filming took place - COL (R) Bob Romines
stood in for his buddy and flew the mission in his honor - later giving a
stirring speech about heroes and helicopters to a packed auditorium full of
basic and advance course students at the AMEDD C&S).
Read about Richard Hock's untimely death yesterday (see the Web site
http://www.intheshadowoftheblade.com/whatsnew.htm
)
You'll see in their tribute to Richard a part of that reunion mentioned. It is
when Richard gave Kathleen his Combat Medic Badge - his most prized possession
from his three tours in Vietnam. I'm sure there's a story in there somewhere
that will touch the hearts of many. While Richard was not a DUSTOFF medic - he
was / and is a "Soldier Medic" and DUSTOFF medics are Soldier Medics first.
Rest in Peace Doc!
Danny McFadden
Danny McFadden died 19
January 2004. He was a medic with eagle DUSTOFF 70-71. If anyone wants to
contact his family, his daughters, Janie & Katie, at
7305 Leadings Oaks; San Antonio, Texas 78233-3211 (210) 651-5259
He, like all of our crew members, was responsible for a lot of names NOT
being on the Wall.
God bless our Medics.
The Department of Defense announced the deaths of four DUSTOFF soldiers who were killed when their UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed Jan. 8 near Fallujah, Iraq. The soldiers were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and members of the 571st Medical Company out of Fort Carson, CO. SPC Michael A. Diraimondo, 22, of Simi Valley, Calif.; SPC Christopher A. Golby, 26, of Johnstown, Pa.; Chief Warrant Officer Philip A. Johnson, Jr., 31, of Alabama; and Chief Warrant Officer Ian D. Manuel, 23, of Florida, were all assigned to the 571st Medical Company, Fort Carson officials said. Their names will be added to the DUSTOFF memorial located at Fort Sam Houston's Medical Department Museum along with the names of three other 571st Medical Company crewmembers who died May 9th, 2003 when their UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed in the Tigris River near Baghdad. A dedication ceremony honoring these seven new names on the DUSTOFF memorial will be held at 1400 hours on 21 February 2004 during the DUSTOFF Reunion. A total of 257 names now are a part of that memorial.
Robert "Don" Upchurchurch (DUSTOFF 78) passed away 19 Dec 03 in Indianapolis IN. Served as DUSTOFF pilot with 57th Med Det, Republic of Vietnam ,1970-1971. Call sign DUSTOFF 78. Was employed by the Veterans Administration as a counselor to fellow veterans. Survived by wife Janet, and 4 children.
Bob Cowgill
Bob Cowgill, the sole remaining pilot who flew 70 soldiers to safety during the WW II Ivory Soap rescues in the Philippines died June 13, 2003. Ivory Soap was the project during World War II that took Liberty Ships and outfitted them to conduct aviation repair. During June of 1945, five aviators flew Sikorsky R-4's and R-6's into the combat zone of the Philippines to bring injured soldiers out for medical treatment, often under fire. While not the first helicopter rescue, they were the first flown with external litters welded to the side of the airframe in an "unauthorized and untested" manner. True aviation pioneers and part of our DUSTOFF roots.
Crew members representing the Army, Army Air Forces, Navy and Merchant Marines pose on one of the repair ships. Helicopters ferried parts and personnel from ship to shore. Lt. Cowgill (center, second row) and friends with R-4 on floating aircraft repair unit (ARU) off the Philippines.
