Dan Heller 
Name: Frankie Eugene Allgood
Memorials: Find a Grave 1 Vietnam Wall Wall of Faces
Rank/Branch: Lieutenant Colonel/USMC
Unit: 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade
Date of Birth: 01 May 1930 (Fort Scott KS)
Home of Record: Fort Scott KS
Date of Loss: 26 March 1968
Country of Loss: South Vietnam/Over Water
Loss Coordinates: 161408N 1080740E (AU930130)
Status in 1973: Killed In Action/Body Not Recovered
Category: 5
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: UH-34D “Seahorse” BuNo. 144654
Other Personnel In Incident: Glenn W. Mowrey; Larry E. Green; Richard Evancho and Ernest C. Kerr, Jr. (missing)
REMARKS: PIL/COPI RES-ALL SEARCH FAIL-J
SYNOPSIS: One of the earliest helicopters employed in Southeast Asia, and the primary Marine Corps helicopter used during the early years of the war, was the Sikorsky UH34D Seahorse. This aircraft was already quite old when they arrived in the battle zone. However, both the US and South Vietnamese military found them to be extremely effective throughout the war.
Lt. Col. Frankie E. Allgood was a member of the g’ Marine Amphibious Brigade. He had been badly wounded when he was struck by a piece of shrapnel in his temple during a combat operation. He was being transported to the hospital at DaNang, Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam for medical treatment.
On 26 March 1968, three Marines, including Frankie Allgood, were being medically evacuated by helicopter by an over water flight path. Cpl. Larry E. Green, crewchief; and LCpl. Earnest C. Kerr, Jr., door gunner; were assigned to the aircrew of the CH34D Seahorse helicopter that was conducting this medivac mission. The helicopter’s crew was from HMM-363, MAG-36, 1st Marine Air Wing.
The following were also wounded Marine passengers onboard the Seahorse:
LCpl. Richard Evancho, Marine Air Base Squadron 36, Marine Air Group 36, 15 Marine Air Wing
Cpl. Glenn W. Mowrey, Headquarters & Supply Company, FLSG-A, Force Logistic Command
As the aircraft flew toward its destination, it encountered adverse weather and crashed into the South China Sea. Just before the aircraft crashed into the water, the pilot made an emergency Mayday call outlining their emergency and giving their position, which was approximately 5 miles northeast of Mui Chon Dong and the coastline, 22 miles north of DaNang and 26 miles east-southeast of Hue/Phu Bai Airfield.
Search and recovery (SAR) operations were launched immediately and rescue helicopters were on site within minutes of the loss. SAR personnel were able to locate and rescue the pilot and co-pilot assigned to this flight. However, they were unable to find any trace of Lt. Col. Allgood, Cpl. Green, Cpl. Mowrey, LCpl. Kerr and LCpl. Evancho.
The US Navy believed the five men were trapped inside the helicopter when it rolled over on its side and sank to the bottom of the South China Sea. At the time the formal search operation was terminated, Frankie Allgood, Glenn Mowrey, Larry Green, Richard Evancho and Ernest Kerr were listed Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered.
Under the circumstances, it is highly unlikely the remains of the men killed in this tragic loss at sea can ever be found without a massive underwater salvage/recovery operation being undertaken. Each man has a right to have his remains returned to his family, friends and country if at all humanly possible. However, in this helicopter loss, that will probably never happen. Above all else, each man has the right not to be forgotten by the nation for which he gave his life.
For other Americans who remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, their fate could be quite different. Since the end of the Vietnam War well over 21,000 reports of American prisoners, missing and otherwise unaccounted for have been received by our government. Many of these reports document LIVE American Prisoners of War remaining captive throughout Southeast Asia TODAY.
American servicemen in Vietnam were called upon to fight in many dangerous circumstances, and they were prepared to be wounded, killed or captured. It probably never occurred to them that they could be abandoned by the country they so proudly served.
