BEARCAT -Aug 19, 1968--A light observation helicopter (LOH) pilot and his crewchief followed a
plunging, spinning UHID "Sniffer" equipped helicopter to the ground, pulling it's two pilots to safety
from the burning craft. "We were 15 miles north ofVinh Long, flying at about 1500 feet when the people sniffer in front of us began tail spinning to the ground" said First Lieutenant Ace A. Cozzalio, 22, of
Carmichael, Calif., pilot of the LOH. "I dove after it and was about 100 feet off the ground when the Huey impacted and exploded".
Cozzalio said he and his crewchief, SP4 William "Wilt" Chamberlain, 19, of Norton, NJ., sprinted from their aircraft to the burning Huey armed with a fire extinguisher and a knife.
"Chamberlain was the first over there and he began spraying the fire extinguisher on the pilots and the area around them", Cozzalio said. "Both pilots were still strapped in their seats. I could see they were alive but unconcious. I went in to get them out. "
While Cozzalio worked feverishly to cut the pilots loose, Chamberlain continued spraying, keeping the flames from the men.
After freeing both pilots, the LOH crew dragged them from the burning Huey and loaded them aboard their aircraft for medical evacuation.
"My crewchief deserves all the credit," Cozzalio said. " Re really hustled under pressure". Cozzalio was treated for burns at 9th Medical Battalion and released.
The other Huey crewmembers had perrished upon impact.

This is a certified true copy. Cal
 
 

For his actions that day Ace Cozzalio was awarded the Soldier's Medal.
It is not known if "Wilt" Chamberlain (all 5'4" of him) recieved an award, that is being researched.

Update from Donald Armstrong
At least another part of the puzzle has come to light. That was the sniffer that crashed because the TI did not remove the ball pein hammer that I left sitting next to the tail rotor drive shaft. The ship was in for a 100 hour and no one did a preflight inspection of the ship. I had left the tools there with the cover open. They were not my tools and I advised Greasy Desealis that the tools were there when I went to work on several other ships. It appears that every one thought someone else would do it.