#10
On the day
Lt. Patterson was shot down, we had been flying in support of a unit of
grunts that
had taken a real pounding.
They were surrounded in a small patch of brush
with open fields of fire all around them and the VC had been pouring
fire into
their cover.
They took heavy casualties until we arrived and began
suppressing the enemy guns.
Patterson took hits on a low pass and
immediately dropped into the open field where he was completely exposed
to
enemy fire. As Lt. McMinn landed to attempt an extraction, the
remnants of
the infantry unit charged out of what little cover they had and ran
into the
open to rescue the downed pilot.
It was a real case of courage rewarded
with courage.
About that time the Cobras arrived and raked the
surrounding
treelines into silence. Patterson, McMinn and the surviving
grunts all
got out alive.
#11
D Troop Maintenance Team
Marty Schroeder adds:
Tall Sgt on the left is SGT Young.
Second from right is SGT Otte.
Last on the right was Lt. Lansberg, maintenance officer
for a while.
Email webmaster: warwagon14@earthlink.net
#12
Tucked in nice and tight!
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