GARY BERNARD FLABBI
Private First Class, Combat Aviation Crew Chief
281st Assault Helicopter Company
From: Baltimore, Maryland
Born: September 7, 1944.
Tour of duty began on May 15, 1966.
Died on October 23, 1966; non-hostile ground casualty.
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Private First Class Gary Bernard Flabbi, 526 19 352 was born in Baltimore
Maryland on September 07, 1944. His parents were Julian J. and
Gertrude M. Flabbi of 5038, East Oliver Street, Baltimore, MD
(Both are Deceased). Gary was one of four sons, Donald
(deceased), David, and Robert F. Flabbi who went on to retire from
the US Army as a First Sergeant and currently resides with his
family in Florida.
Gary attended Patterson High School in
Baltimore, MD and grew up in the neighborhood of Armistead
Gardens. He was active in baseball, football and fishing and was
well liked by his neighbors and friends. Gary grew was an active
member of the Roman Catholic Church.
In May of 1965, Gary and several of his friends
from his neighborhood in Baltimore joined the US Army and went off
to basic training. Following basic Gary was assigned to Fort
Rucker, Alabama for training as a 67N20, Utility Helicopter
Mechanic. Upon graduation he was transferred to Fort Benning
Georgia where he joined the newly formed 483rd Transportation
Detachment. Gary and the 483rd were deployed to South Vietnam and
arrived by ship at Nha Trang on June 9, 1966. In Nha Trang Gary was assigned as a crew chief
on a UH-1 helicopter in support of Special Forces operations
throughout the country of South Vietnam. In October of 1966, he was
part of a forward operating element of the 281st AHC operating out
of Khe Sanh. On the evening of October 22, 1966 Gary left the
other members of the unit and entered an area planted with land
mines and in so doing accidentally detonated a mine which resulted
in his death on October 23, 1966. Gary was 22 years, 1 month, and
16 days old at the time of his death.
Gary was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, the
National Defense Service Medal, the RVN Campaign Medal, and the
Aircraft Crew Members Badge.
Memorial Compiled by
COL JOHN W. MAYHEW, USA (RET.)
intruder06@me.com
A MAN IS NOT DEAD UNTIL HE IS FORGOTTEN
ONCE AN INTRUDER ... ALWAYS AN INTRUDER