RIPPLE SALVO… #227… A WAR STORY EXTRACTED UNDER DURESS… but first…
Good Morning: Day TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-SEVEN of A ROLLING THUNDER DIARY…
14 OCTOBER 1966… THE HOME TOWN NEWS…from the New York Times… A good weather Friday…
Page 1: “Johnson Rejects Unilateral Pause in Bombing By U.S.”…”President Johnson emphatically rejected today a suspension of bombing that would leave soldiers fighting with ‘their hands behind their backs.’ He stressed at a White House news conference that the United States had no intention of stopping its bombing of North Vietnam unless there was some indication that the enemy would reduce its military activity in South Vietnam. The President ruled out any possibility that the United States would accept suggestions that it order a bombing pause in connection with his forthcoming visit to the Far East and the Manila conference with the allies in South Vietnam. The President is to leave Monday and the Conference will begin October 24. Mr. Johnson remarks at his White House news press conference represented the most emphatic rejection thus far of Secretary General U Thant’s suggestion that the United States stop its bombing of North Vietnam as the first step toward a negotiated settlement.”… Page 1: “President Hails Great Congress: Derides Critics”…”President Johnson ebullient after two days on the political stump swatted cheerfully at Republicans and other critics at a White House news conference today. Direct communication with the people, Mr. Johnson said, has persuaded him that the critics, the complainers, the prophets of doom, and the fear artists are very, very much in the minority. With sarcasm, or jest, or anecdote, the President took after Republicans in Congress, senatorial strategists, television editors, columnists and reporters. He gained strength he said in the television exchange with newsmen. Regardless of the criticism he said the American people will realize that the 89th Congress over which he has presided has been the best in history. They will take appropriate action he added, meaning presumably, that the voters will give the Democrats a margin to carry on the same way.”… Page 1:…”Defense Outlay Tops Estimates”…”Defense spending increased at a rate of $4.2 billion per year during the July-September quarter, a rise that was $1.2 billion higher than Government officials estimated less than a week ago.”…
Page 1: “Kosygin Assails China On Vietnam”…Premier Aleksei Kosygin angrily charged today that Communist China had prevented a Vietcong victory by refusing to cooperate in joint communist bloc assistance. Peking’s obstructionist policies, the Soviet leader said have resulted in ‘[particularly grave consequences. Mr. Kosygin’s speech and commendation of China was made in Sverdlovsk in the Urals. It was the harshest Soviet attack thus far on Peking’s stand in the Vietnam conflict. The Soviet leadership has accused the Chinese in recent months of indirectly aiding ‘American imperialism’ by their charge that Moscow was conspiring with Washington in a ‘peace plot’ to end the Vietnam war. But Mr. Kosygin declared … today that Peking was damaging the effort to help Vietnam. A ‘decisive rebuff’ must be given the Chinese attempts to split the unity of the world Communist movement, Kosygin said.”…
Page 4: “Bill To Speed Mail To Military Sent By House To President”…”The House passed and sent to the President today a bill designed to provide faster mail delivery to servicemen overseas. The compromise measure previously approved by the Senate assures airlift on a worldwide basis for first class letter mail, sound recorded communications and small parcels. Airlift is also provided on a space available basis for second class publications such as news magazines published weekly.”…. Page 16: “U.S. Losses Again Exceed Saigon’s”…”For the third straight week American combat casualties in Vietnam were higher than those of the Saigon Government troops…American casualties totaled 695–91 killed and 604 wounded–in the week ended last Saturday. Vietnamese forces had 585 casualties–160 killed and 425 wounded. North Vietnam and Vietcong killed during the week totaled 1,471. Twelve of the Americans killed were aboard a U.S. Army transport plane that crashed into a mountainside in the central highlands.”…
14 OCTOBER 1966… THE ROLLING THUNDER DIARY… NYT (15 Oct reporting 14 Oct ops)…Page 3: “U.S. Planes Set Mission Record”…”United States fighter-bombers flew a record total of 173 multi-plane missions against North Vietnam yesterday. They concentrated on targets in the panhandle region, which is the staging area for North Vietnamese regulars infiltrating across the demilitarized zone into South Vietnam. The previous record was 171 set on September 11…The number of planes involved in the 175 missions was not disclosed. In the air action today, the enemy ground forces downed an Air Force F-105D Thunderchief 70 miles northwest of Vinh in the panhandle. The loss brought to 399 the number of aircraft lost over North Vietnam. The pilot was rescued. Air Force B-52 heavy bombers again pounded the demilitarized zone. Fighter-bombers also flew four missions in the buffer zone.”…
“Vietnam: Air Losses”(Hobson) Three fixed wing aircraft lost in Southeast Asia on 14 October 1966…Page 78…
(1) MAJOR R.P. TAYLOR was flying an F-105D of the 354th TFS and 355th TFW out of Takhli and returning to base after a Rolling Thunder strike on a bridge in the panhandle north of Vinh when hit by ground fire. MAJOR TAYLOR’s aircraft caught fire and he was forced to eject. He was rescued by Air Force HH-3.
(2) CAPTAIN MELVIN RUPERT ELLIS was flying an F-100D Super Sabre of the 308th TFS and 3rd TFW out of Bien Hoa and was attacking Vietcong on the banks of the Mekong seven miles north of Phu Vinh when hit by small arms fire. The plane erupted in flames and CAPTAIN ELLIS ejected. Unfortunately, his parachute failed to deploy properly and he was Killed in Action a half a century ago.
(3) ENSIGN DARWIN JOEL THOMAS was flying an A-1H Spad of the VA-152 Wild Aces embarked in USS Oriskany on a night armed road reconnaissance mission in the low mountains 25 miles southwest of Thanh Hoa and was killed attacking trucks with unguided rockets. It is presumed the young Ensign failed to recover from his attack and flew into the ground on his pullout. ENSIGN THOMAS was Killed in Action on the attack and in good cause. This day marks the end of his 50th year of ultimate sacrifice for his country. No further information on the recovery of his remains–left behind?…
RIPPLE SALVO… #227… The timing for my Naval Aviation Cadet class (34-55) to get a full dose of combat duty in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War was just right. We were well represented and several of our number proved to be exceptionally brave and competent warriors of the first rank. Three of the 34-55 lot were not only heroic A-4 Skyhawk light attack warriors, this trio were downed in action, captured and interned for six or seven years as Prisoners of War. John McKamey, Al Stafford and Arv Chauncey are our heroes. Denny Weichman, who flew more than 600 strike missions, surely one of the most active and courageous warriors to carry the fight to our enemy of the Red River valley, was our flag bearer. And our little group of college dropouts sent more than a score of other Naval Aviators, Navy and Marine –helicopters, maritime patrol, heavy attack, light attack, fighters and photo recce– into the fray for a turn or two or more. NavCad Class 34-55 served with high honor.
Now, we’re old and reduced in number and mobility. With 50th and 60th reunions in the rear view mirror, we proceed with the grace of God, as always. But with old comes wise. And memories worth sharing, not just among ourselves, but with our families and friends. For memories are what bind us to each other. Glue. Velcro.
This evening it is my pleasurable task to relate a tale of heroism under fire I squeezed out of one of the 34-55 Jarheads, Major Eugene A. “Joe” Homer, Jr. Somewhere Joe has a cigar box with his medals from 250 combat missions growing moss and layers of tarnish, including a Silver Star that is cozied up next to his DFC. Always the obedient Marine, he finally told me his story.
Joe Homer was a Major and Operations Officer of the VMA-211 Avengers flying A-4E Tinker Toys in MAG-12 based at Chu Lai in April 1969. VMA-211 had the early shift that morning and Joe was briefing his flight of four in their squadron’s ready room, a modified trailer located next to the flight line, when the Vietcong 122-inch rockets started falling on Chu Lai and very close to the 211 Trailer. Joe and his three nuggets charged out to see explosions, fire, billowing smoke, flying debris from the 122s and burning aircraft. It must have looked like Ford Island and “Tora, Tora, Tora”… “Several scooters were being torn apart with the explosions going down the line like dominoes,” Joe told me. Fired up, he seized the moment to take charge and direct gathering Marines to start moving undamaged aircraft away from the burning aircraft and from the ramp under fire to the MAG-15 F-4B flight line and ramp that appeared to be well off the incoming fire line. Under continuous rocket attack Joe led an aircraft movement operation to “save the good ones.” The enemy attack begun at 0500 lasted until 0900. Through the entire period he directed the movement of fifteen of his squadrons A-4Es clear of the “hot ramp” thereby limiting the VMA-211 loss to four aircraft. Joe relishes relating his inexplicable ability, along with two other Marines, to muscle a fully armed A-4 of more than 24,000-pounds of dead weight on wheels fifty yards away from the burning A-4s (also loaded for Bear). A couple of weeks after the incident Joe and his two companions tried to duplicate the feat and were unable to get a similarly loaded A-4 to budge. Ahh, the power of a little adrenalin fortified by anger toward gutless rascals who dare to rattle the cage of a short-chain Marine….
Joe and two of his troops received their Silver Stars from the Assistant Commandant at a ceremony a month or so later… oohrah…
Joe, thanks for sharing… youdaman…. press on!
Lest we forget… Bear ……… –30– ……….