Braving winds gusting to more than 35 knots, an HH-43 crew from Det. 1, 38th ARRSq, Phan Rang, RVN, flew to a Korean Navy ship 50 miles off shore to evacuate a seaman suffering from acute appendicitis. With just enough fuel for one attempt at a pickup, Capt Lamonte M. Kahler, RCC, maintained a 50-foot hover over the vessel which was underway and rising and falling about 15 feet. The swaying main mast and several antennas constantly threatened the HUSKIE as the patient was hoisted aboard. Due to the low fuel state, the helicopter landed at Phan Thiet and the seaman was transferred to a Phan Rang C-47. Sharing in the mercy mission were Capt Leonard D. Fialco, copilot; SSgt Ronald T. Cantwell, crewman; and A1c Joseph N. Luther, pararescueman (I WAS A FLIGHT MEDIC NOT A P.J.)

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Here are two sides of the same story, but with a twist:

From Kaman Rotor Tips Sep -Oct 1967:

"Four rescuemen who started out on one mercy mission ended up on another. Capt Lawrence D. Jones, RCC of an HH-43 HUSKIE and his crew from Det. 8, 38th ARRSq, Cam Ranh Bay AB, were on their way to a ship in the South China Sea to pick up a sailor with an inflamed appendix. Because of fuel problems and bad weather en-route, however, they were forced to land on How Chu Lao Island, approximately 35 miles off the coast of Phan Rang. Captain Jones had called for assistance and received word that help was on the way. By the time the chopper landed a crowd of 200 natives had gathered so 1stLt Ronald W. Murray, the copilot; SSgt Thomas E. Hand, helicopter mechanic; and A1c Benny G. Perez, pararescueman; followed Captain Jones to meet the audience but neither the Americans nor the natives could speak the other's language. Finally one of the villagers used hand signals to tell that one of the islanders needed medical care. Airman Perez immediately went to work. From his small first aid kit, he cleaned the man's laceration and bandaged it. Before he finished, a line of patients had formed, all waiting to receive first aid. "They were all either young children or old folks," remembers Airman Perez. "Their problems were many-skin ulcers, various lacerations, cuts and boils. The last person I treated had a cut about four inches long that had never been treated. It appeared to be about three weeks old and whatever punctured the skin, cut a vein, too. All I could do was thoroughly clean and wrap it, " continued Airman Perez. When the crew arrived back at Cam Ranh Bay, they learned the sailor they were to pick up had been airlifted to a land based hospital by another unit of the 38th for removal of his appendix.

FOR THIS, I HAVE HEARD, THIS CREW RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS

My side of the story: an HH-43B from Det. 1 at Phan Rang launched on a crash call that stated that a chopper from Cam Ranh Bay had run out of gas and landed on a small island off the coast. "They were overzealous in their effort to make a save."

The Det. 1 chopper sling loaded several drums of av gas in a cargo net beneath the HH-43B. I remember hearing the copilot reading off the torque values on the blades as we tried to pick up the load. I think we had also stuffed a life raft in the back. As I looked out the door, I saw people fleeing the scene. Then we bumped down several times and teetered on the av gas drums. People we really running away. Once we finally got in the air, it was okay and we headed to sea.

Arriving at the island, we saw the Det. 8 chopper crew in a defense perimeter around their helicopter - all weapons pointed outward.

We dropped the sling load and then landed. While we hand-pumped the fuel from one drum into our chopper, the crew of Det 8. did the same. Once we had refueled, we headed on out into the South China Sea, leaving the Det. 8 crew to their own fate.

We had an Navy Orion navigate for us as we were well over the horizon and out simple ADF system didn’t work that way. So this big Orion, with the two outboard engines shut down, did lazy circles around us as we sped along at about 110 knots (balls to wall). Now and again the Navy would ask us when we were "going to turn up that eggbeater."

As we closed on the Korean ship, the Navy told us we "could pick up the survivor on the focsle."

My pilots looked at each and then radioed the Navy, "Is that the front or the back of that boat?" Laughter rattled my headset as Navy folks all over the South China Sea thought this was hilarious.

Of course, it was the bow - we approached carefully. The Koran ship was making 6 knots to maintain headway in the heavy seas. My RCC flew Pedro over the focsle and hovered by flying BACKWARD at six knots while MATCHING the nautilistic motions of the ship. I was in the doorway, with my gunners belt firmly locked into place.

The survivor was in a stokes litter on the deck of the rolling ship. When I looked out the cockpit windscreen, I could see the bridge of the ship moving around. Our RCC struggled to maintain a steady position as the ship rose and fell more than 20 feet. At one point I remember at one point seeing the ships bell - on the bow - rise up past my hatch. I blocked all that from my mind.

We very worried about dynamic harmony - if the they tied our cable to the deck we could explode. I was told to watch and if they tied us down, the cable would be severed with an explosive device at the winch head.

After about 20 minutes of flying backward while matching the roll, rise and fall of the ship, the patient and litter were successfully loaded about, just slid in the hatch, as I remember. I checked the patient over - he did not have an inflamed appendix I found - he had a flail chest from broken ribs. Nothing for me to do but palliative care.

As we headed back to shore, the pilots worked their circular slide rules like mad. Pretty soon, the message went out, "To all ships at sea, this is Pedro 44, does anyone out here have anything we can land on?" Now that’s worry.

We were running out of gas ourselves. A direct line took us to Phan Thiet were we off loaded the patient to the base C-47. We refueled from av gas drums at the army outpost WITH THE ENGINES RUNNING. Headed back to Phan Rang AB.

This was about a six-hour mission. My Detachment Commander was going to put us all in for the DFC. BUT NO...

Alas, the Det. 8 crew begged us not to put in for a decoration, as they had really screwed up badly by flying beyond their limits. So my Commander did not forward the DFC recommendation. We were not put in for any medal or official recognition.

Then we were double crossed.

Next thing you know, the Det 8. crew got a DFCs for their role in that mission. Not the running out of gas and having to be rescued by Det. 1 part - but for (as noted above) providing medical assistance to the island residents.

My RCC was furious, as was the Detachment commander. They wrote an article for the MAC Flyer titled "Pedro 54 Where Are You?" No names of course.

My crew received a Kaman Honor Roll & Pin, for this version of the event. General Allison Brooks made the presentation

Here is the way this was described in Kaman Rotor Tips in the July-August 1967 issue:

"Braving winds gusting to more than 35 knots, an HH-43 crew from Det. 1, 38th ARRSq, Phan Rang, RVN, flew to a Korean Navy ship 50 miles off shore to evacuate a seaman suffering from acute appendicitis. With just enough fuel for one attempt at a pickup, Capt Lamonte M. Kahler, RCC, maintained a 50-foot hover over the vessel which was underway and rising and falling about 15 feet. The swaying main mast and several antennas constantly threatened the HUSKIE as the patient was hoisted aboard. Due to the low fuel state, the helicopter landed at Phan Thiet and the seaman was transferred to a Phan Rang C-47. Sharing in the mercy mission were Capt Leonard D. Fialco, copilot; SSgt Ronald T. Cantwell, crewman; and A1c Joseph N. Luther, pararescueman." [flight medic]

My Honor Scroll is dated Feb 19, 1967.

JOSEPH LUTHER, Ph.D.

3rd Vice Commander

The Corporal Jacob B. Leicht Memorial AMVETS Post 1000

Kerrville, Texas