"A MAN IS NOT DEAD UNTIL HE IS FORGOTTEN"
M
JOSEPH F. MacCARTNEY
DAT: June 5, 2002
"Bandit CE" 10/68-9/69
e-mail:joemac@olypen.com
From: Sandra MacCartney
Marshall:
Thank you for the cards and flowers for Joe MacCartney's memorial service
that was held on 6/15/02. It meant so much to me and the family that Joe was
remembered. We will be sending more information to you. Loren is the best
computer person and will help composed information for you.
Thanks again for your thought and prayers.
Sandy MacCartney
WILLIAM T. (BILL) MacHARG
Died at age 66 in Chicago. IL
Bill joined the 281st AHC in December of 1967 and served as a Crew Chief with the Rat Pack until September of 1968. He was an excellent crew chief and was well respected by his fellow Intruders and his officers. Following his service he returned to Chicago where he founded and operated a successful mail sorting company. Bill’s funeral service was held on December 28, 2009 in Skokie, IL. He is survived by two daughters, Lyndsi and Erin and grandchildren William and jack. Bill attended the annual reunions of the 281st and each year brought his children and grandchildren.
DANIEL J. MAGIERA
June 22, 1944 – March 18, 1998
Daniel Magiera served with the Intruders of the 281st AHC during the Vietnam War. Daniel passed away in March of 1998 and was interned in Saint Hedwig Cemetery, Dearborn Heights, Michigan. The Intruder family shall always remember Daniel.
TEDDY DAVID "TED" MAHURIN
Octover 28, 1948 - January, 1986
From FindaGrave website:
Miami Oklahoma News Record
Sep 8, 1986, Pg. 12, Column.
Former Miamian, age 37, of Dana Point California, was killed Sunday in a traffic accident in Mission Viejo. Operating a motorcycle in a dense fog, a car turned in front of him and he drove into the side of the automobile. The driver has been charge with unintentional vehicular manslaughter.
Born Oct 28, 1948, he attended schools in Panorama City California and Miami schools. He attended Northeastern A & M following a tour of duty in Vietnam. He served in the military from November 1966 until July 1969 and was involved in action on Hamburger Hill in Vietnam.
He was cremated and no funeral services are planned.
Inscription:
In Loving Memory
U.S. Army - SP4 - Vietnam
Purple Heart - VSM - 4.O/S Bars
Beloved Son - Brother - Father
SP5 STANLEY ARTHUR MARQUETTE
1949 - June 10, 2018
Served in the 281st AHC from September, 1969 to September, 1970
as an Airframe Repair Technician.
Stanley lost his battle with brain cancer on June 10th, 2018. He was 69 years of age and resided in Sequim, Washington.
A complete obituary
will be added after publication.
Stanley (Stan) is well remembered by the Intruders of the 281st as an excellent technician who was quick to express himself when he felt that things were not being performed up to his standards. Stan was a good soldier who frequently spoke about his brothers back home. In his later years, Stan stated that he never felt he had a more important job as he did while he was in the 281st, and was never respected like he was when he was a member of the Unit. Stan served a full tour with the 281st and extended for six months, which he served with the 192nd AHC. He is survived by his wife Ina.
CWO3 FRANK W. MARTIN
May 23, 1938 - December 31, 2010
Pilot, Bandit and WolfPack Platoons
WO-1 Frank Martin joined the 281st in 1968 and did a full tour of duty returning home in 1969. Frank, as a Bandit pilot was trapped in a helicopter that crashed due to an engine failure. He remained in the helicopter overnight in an area being attacked by the NVA. Frank went on to retire from the army as a CWO-3. (More on his story below). Frank is remembered by the Intruders of the 281st AHC. His obituary follows:
“FRANK W., MARTIN U.S. Army Ret. CWO3, Dec. 31, 2010, age 72, of Springfield, formerly of Upper Darby. Beloved husband of Mary (nee Gallagher); loving father of Michael (Pam) Martin, Julie (Robert) Smith, Noreen (Michael) Ruddy, Frank (Megan) Martin; brother of Joyce Harrell, Helen Hoganson and John Downey; also survived by 10 grandchildren, Bobby, Stephanie, Liam, Michael, Aidan, Connor, Molly, Brigid, Clive and Alyssa. His service will follow at 11 A.M. Int. at Peter and Paul Cemetery.”
On 18 February 1969, the crew of his helicopter UH-1H 715 were performing a recovery mission for a Long-Range Recon Team from the 173rd Infantry Brigade in a hostile area in the vicinity of PHU YEN, South Vietnam, approximately 25 miles southwest of Tuy Hoa Air Base. The crew of 715 consisted of WO Vick Rose, Aircraft Commander; WO Frank Martin, Pilot; SGT Ronan, Crew Chief, and an unidentified Door Gunner. The crew maneuvered the helicopter over the pickup point and were preparing to recover the recon team when the aircraft engine failed. WO Rose moved the aircraft away from the ground troops and crash-landed it in the vicinity of the pickup point. SGT Patrick Ronan was killed in the crash and the remaining crew members were seriously injured. Recovery assistance was requested. A USAF CH-53 of the 38th ARRS (USAF) reached the scene and lowered Sergeant Michael E. Fish and a firefighter to the ground. Despite intermittent enemy fire and pressure, three of the trapped crew members were freed after considerable effort on the part of the rescue team and hoisted aboard the CH-53 just before darkness fell.
WO Frank Martin was trapped in the wreckage and could not be freed. With night approaching and WO Martin still in the helicopter, the rescue aircraft was forced to leave the area.
Sergeant Fish, the USAF Medic, and the Recon Team, despite being low on ammunition, remained on the ground with WO Martin overnight. Covering fire was provided into the night by supporting army gunships and "Spooky" aircraft. The remaining 281st helicopters continued to fly covering support throughout the night. Early the next morning the recovery task force returned and continued to encounter small arms fire. However, they were able to free WO Martin, and both he and SGT Fish were evacuated from the area. For his actions, SGT Fish was awarded the Air Force Cross.
1SGT JOHNNY C. MARTIN
Died after his tour on May 11, 1972
1SG Martin served with the 281st AHC in the following positions:
25 Nov '68, Det. 1st SGT., 483rd TC Det.
22 Jan '69, Plt SGT., 281st AHC
10 June '69, 1st SGT., 281st AHC
(Promoted to E-8, 1st SGT on 12 June 69)
12 Dec 69 Left 281st AHC enroute to CONUS
1SGT Martin had returned to Vietnam on January 8, 1972 at
the age of 36. On the morning of 11 May 1972, 1st SGT. Martin was sleeping
in his room in the F Troop, 4th US Cavalry barracks area, Bien Hoa, Long Binh,
South Vietnam when an explosive device was intentionally detonated outside his
room seriously wounding him. He was transported to the 24th Evacuation Hospital
where he was pronounced dead on arrival. PVT. Claude B. Johnson and PFC Marvin
J. Dukes of F Troop were charged with his murder and tried by general court
martial on 1 Sept. 1972.
1SG Martin was born in Jefferson, AL on 13 July 1935. At the time of his death
he was married to Raquel Martin who resided at 4756 Vermont Ave., Birmingham, Al
35210, with their two children, John and Ann. He was posthumously
awarded the Bronze Star Medal and his name is engraved on the Vietnam Memorial
Wall at Panel 01W, Line 24. December 17, 2004
"From: Linford E Riniker
LTC 111 OSF/INl
I was in F Troop at the time this happened, although all the flight crews were
in the forward operating location on Tan My island (5nm from Hue) and this
incident happened back in Long Binh. Johnson and Dukes were both heroin
addicts and were suffering the heat 1SG Martin was putting on them. Dukes
hatched the plan of putting a claymore under Top's bunk and blowing him up.
They got a mine from the armorer(who was also convicted along with them) and
carried out their plan. It happened about 0600 when a group of F Troop
personnel were returning from bunker guard. When the explosion happened.
The guys simply followed the wires into Dukes hootch and lined both of them up
against a wall and were ready to kill them when the MPs got there. Sorry to say,
Dukes got 20 yrs and Johnson got 10. The armorer got 2. There were several
others in their skag freak band who knew what was going on and they were sent up
north with us. These scumbags were informed if they got out of line they
would take a one-way ride out over the South China Sea. They were all strung out
and didn't last more than a month before they were sent back to Long Binh to
rehab.
Johnny Martin was the first rep from the Troop who picked up those of us who
were reassigned from the 101st. When he showed up at Cu Chi where the
Troop used to be he had a case of beer with him and welcomed us properly. He was
quite a character. One time he gave me the mission of "appropriating" a water
trailer from the Infantry while we were working out of Phu Bai. When I
showed up driving the troop HQ 3/4 ton with a water buffalo in tow, he had a
paint team waiting to "make it ours".
He was a big man with a big heart, and we all missed him.
Lin Riniker, F Troop (Air), 4th Cavalry '71-72"
CAPTAIN DAVID M. MAY, USAR
January 29, 1945 - February 20, 1971
Buried on 01/14/2000 in Section 34, Grave757
of
Arlington National Cemetery
David became a casualty in Laos at the age of 28 when he
and his crew, while flying a Huey gunship, were shot down. As the 281st AHC was
being drawn down David had been transferred to the 48th AHC. David's gunship was
the second in a trail of two while participating in Operation Lam Son 719, a
tri-border operation designed to cut the Ho Chi Minh trail at the Laotian
panhandle. After the aircraft crashed it was reported that some of the crew
members were shot exiting the aircraft on the ground. His co-pilot on the
operation was CWO Jon Reid. This memorial information was provided by David's
friend and roommate, John Quatman, Jr., and Kevin Farrington, both of whom knew
David while assigned to the 281st AHC. David was married and had an infant son
when he died, also named David. David Sr. was from Hyattsville, Md.
Gretchen Traylor, who wore David's MIA bracelet for 17 years, provides more
interesting insight into the recovery of David's and Jon's remains in Laos in
early 2000. She also provides a most interesting disclosure of how she was
finally able to reunite the bracelet she had worn so many years with David's
surviving son. Also, Gretchen has provided web site information which allows us
to view the joint funeral and burial of David's and Jon's remains at Arlington
in the same casket, as both families desired. He is listed on the Vietnam
Memorial Wall at Panel 05-W, Line 125.
"I have worn David's (Captain David May) POW-MIA bracelet since receiving
it in 1972. All these years I have prayed for him, and recently found out the
resolution of his case. I have heard from his former wife, and today was finally
able to give up his bracelet to his son. He was a true hero to me and to others,
and I wish I had the chance to meet him in this world. I will be looking
forward to meeting him in the next. Thanks David, for your sacrifice; pray for
the rest of us left here, please! Love, Gretchen"
On February 20, 1971 Capt. David May, Hyattsville, Md.
and Chief Warrant Officer Jon E. Reid, Phoenix, Ariz. of the 48th AHC (Blue
Stars) were flying a combat support mission in the vicinity of Kay Sanh when
their UH-1C Huey Gunship was hit by enemy ground fire and crashed. MG USA (Ret)
Ben Harrison, (former Commander of the 10th AV BN) was serving as the senior
advisor to the ARVN at Khe Sanh when they were lost. Capt May and his co-
pilot were listed as MIAs for several years until they were located and their
remains returned to their families for burial in the United States.
The official record read:
"On Feb. 20, 1971, Capt.
May and CWO Reid were flying their 48th AHC UH-1C Huey Gunship providing armed
escort for other helicopters on an emergency resupply mission over Laos when
they were hit by enemy ground fire and crashed. A search and rescue mission was
repulsed by hostile forces. During the invasion of Laos within a thirty-nine day
period the 48th AHC lost 11 airmen killed or MIA due to hostile fire. In 1994,
1996 and 1998, U.S. and Lao investigators interviewed villagers in the area of
the crash, and then initiated an excavation, which recovered human remains as
well as portions of an identification tag with the name "May, David M." Analysis
of the remains and other evidence by the U.S. Army Central Identification
Laboratory Hawaii confirmed the identification of each of these servicemen."
Captain May and CWO Reid were interred in the same grave
at Arlington National Cemetery on Friday, 14 January 2000 after being Missing in Action for
twenty-nine years.
ROBERT A. McMILLAN
July, 1947 - August 26, 2008
Robert McMillan served as Bandit Crew Chief in 1969-1970. The obit is from the funeral home website:
Robert A. McMillan age 70, a resident of Jack, Alabama passed away Monday May 18, 2020 at his home. Graveside services will be held Thursday May 21, 2020, at the Victoria Community cemetery beginning at 2:00 PM with Rev. Douglas Crosby officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Hayes Funeral Home.
Mr. McMillan was retired from the United States Army, and proudly served his country during the Vietnam War. Upon his retirement from service he worked for Army Fleet Support at Ft. Rucker until he also retired there. He had many hobbies, one of which was collecting model airplanes, and he amassed quite a few over the years.
He is survived by his Wife - Margie McMillan, Jack, AL, Daughter - Heather McMillan, Hampton, VA, Grandson - Robbie McMillan, Hampton, VA, Daughter - Twila Seger, Scribner, NE, Grandchildren - Brooke Davis, Jason Davis, & Joshua Davis also of Scribner, NE, Step-Son - Will McMillan, Jack, AL, Sister - Meg Bailey, Columbia, SC, Sister - Debbie Shepard, Burnsville, NC, Step-Daughter - Molly Rowells, Castle Rock, CO, Step-Son - Luke Pickens, Mattawan, MI, Step-Daughter - Vicki Elgherza, Boise, ID, and Step-Daughter - Judy Flaschar of Arden, NC.
Hayes Funeral Home of Elba is serving the McMillan family.
MICHAEL R. (Mike) MCKENZIE
July, 1947 - August 26, 2008
Mike passed away in his home town of Ypsilant, MI. He joined the 281st in November of 1967 as a Door Gunner after serving a full tour of duty with the 101st Airborne Division where he had been awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with “V” for valor. Mike was severally wounded in action in December of 1967 and was medically evacuated. He remained in the VA system for over 5 years when he was medically discharged with 100% disability. Mike then attended college receiving his masters’ degree and pursued a career as a college professor in his home state of Michigan. Mike was awarded the air medal in 2004.
WILLIAM "BILL" MEEHANN
Died after his tour on January 14, 1983
... Bill on the left ...
click photo to enlarge it in a new window.
Bill Meehan served in the 281st AHC as a door gunner on
a UH-1H Helicopter. He was severely wounded and medically evacuated in August
of 1968. He remained paralyzed until his death in 1983. Sp4 William Meehan was
buried in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The
Intruder family shall not forget him.
The following account has been provided by Richard Houston, Bill's close
friend in the 281st AHC:
"In reference to Bill Meehan, we served in the same platoon from early 1968
'til august '68. I extended and went home for leave. While I was home he
was shot in the back with a .50 caliber ( I think it was .50 caliber) He was
my best friend over there. When I returned from leave I was looking forward to
seeing him again and going to the club. I found he was gone and had been shot.
Through much effort I was able to contact his mother and found he was in the
hospital at Ft Lewis, WA. I found out that he died several times but managed
to live. We kept in contact over the years. When I was discharged in 1978 I
bought an eighteen wheeler and traveled 48 states so I was able to visit him.
He was living in Roseville, MN He was paralyzed from the chest down. He was
doing fine and pretty much went on with his life. On New Year's Eve, 1982, I
got a call from his sister that he had died. He died from something happening
to his brain. I was so upset I cried uncontrollably so I don't remember
exactly what the diagnosis was. I think he was buried in a military
cemetery fairly close to his home. I don't remember his sister's name or
his mothers. I hope this has been helpful to you. I'm glad we are remembering
him. He was such a good person and friend."
Richard Houston.
Bill Meehan’s Last Flight (DFC)
by Ed Young (Bandit 22)
Lots of activity was going on in the Ban Me Thout area.
A large combat assault was planned with the 281st AHC being tasked to provide
four slicks. Upon arrival we only had to provide three ships for the CA
work and were told to provide one for province support at Gia Niah. John
Wehr, Bandit 26, assigned that mission to me. I’d had a pretty rough
tour to date (was the unit magnate-ass) and had only returned to flight status
several weeks earlier after being wounded during a mortar attack.
Thus the easy mission. Upon arrival, the province senior advisor ask if
we could make a drop (kick-out) of water, medical supplies, and radio
batteries at an outpost just south of the SF camp. There was no pad
within safe reach of the outpost. (That should have alerted me.)
The SF camp had been undergoing a weeklong attack. He also said that the
area near the SF camp was quite now, but radio contact with the outpost had
been lost. Thought it was due to batteries running out. He
suspected bad guys were still in the area.
I told him that if he would
provide someone to kick the stuff out and had it stacked in the left door (top
heavy = quick kick out = less time in danger), we would take a look.
Over flew the place at about 2000 AGL. It was triangular shaped, very
small, on a knoll, and full of 292 antennas. Certainly to small for a
moving drop. There were no gun ships available for support due to
the big CA in progress. Following the VR, I flew on for several miles
and did a combat hover check. (If you can hover at 2000 AGL then you can
hover at 30 feet, no problem.) The real worry was some high ground
located several hundred meters to the east of the outpost. We were
getting ready to break all the rules, no gun cover in a known hot area, and no
radio contact with the supported unit. These guys needed help. I
ask the crew what they thought and all replied that they were with me and
ready.
We made a fast decent going away, then turned inbound placing
the outpost between use and the high ground, trying to mask our very low and
fast approach. We did a pop-up, came to a hover in the middle of the
antennas, and I yelled for the Kicker to do his thing. He had no sooner
started than there was a loud bang. I’d started to dive off the knoll
when Bill Meehan yelled that the blades had only cut an antenna wire. (Not my
first set of blades, and wouldn’t be the last.) I had no sooner put the
brakes on and reestablished a hover when a loud groan came over the ICS.
I knew then, and dived off the outpost heading away from that high ground.
It all happened very fast. Looking back I could see Bill hanging over
his gun. The Kicker pulled him off the gun and I headed for the SF
camp, landed and jumped in the back to help get him onto the cargo deck.
He had a very ugly wound in the left side of his neck (side towards the high
ground), and was bleeding from a wound in his back. He did say he
was hurting really badly and to do something for the pain. Nothing could
be done. We thought he was hit in the chest but could not find the
wound. Did a very quick bandage job to stop the bleeding and the SF
medic told us to get to Ban M Thout fast. We did, keeping the EGT
running in the high yellow. Piss on the torque. We went FAST.
Called ahead and had several doctors standing by. They stabilized Bill
and shipped him right on to the hospital in Nha Trang.
We had taken
only two hits. Bill receiving one. When we returned to Nha Trang
that evening Maj. Miller ask me a question that I’ll never forget. “Did
Meehan have on a chicken plate?” ( Note: Bill had been leaning out over
his gun doing his job, as usual, and the round struck him in an area that
would have not been protected by the chicken plate.) I was dumb struck.
I did not know. He told me to find out. Neither the CE nor Gunner
had been wearing one. Their plates weren’t even on the ship (saved
weight). He told me not to worry about it, or the mission. AC’s
were out there to make decisions. He then announced that no Intruder
Aircraft was to fly again without chicken plates aboard for each crewmember,
no matter what type mission. I went to the hospital the next day to see
Bill. Only got in because of the time I’d spent there. He was in a
full traction rotary machine. The round had hit him in the neck, damaged
his spine, punctured a lung, and came out his back. On the flight to Nha
Trang, the medic had recessed [resuscitated? -editor] him twice. He was paralyzed from the neck
down.
We flew many missions together and I always considered Bill a
typical 281st crewmember, OUTSTANDING, and so willing to do the non-typical.
Afterthought: I knew in my soul that we would take fire from that high
ground. I could feel and taste it, and should have had Bill placing fire
on it with his M-60. The way we were hovering placed he and I on the
side towards the hill. Guess I still justify not doing so to the fact
that the SF was out in the area and I didn’t know where they were.
-- Ed Young (Bandit 22) Oct 67 – Oct 68
LTC THEODORE JAMES "TED" MEHL
January 15, 1939 - January 11, 2018
Wolf Pack 36, Operations Officer
Executive Officer 1967-1968
Ted joined the 281st AHC in late 1967 as Captain Fred Mentzer’s
replacement in Wolf Pack. During his tour of duty Ted served as the
Commander of the Wolf Pack weapons platoon, the Operations officer
and completed his tour as the Executive Officer. Those of us who
served with Ted knew him as Captain Dolloff. Later in his career he
changed his name to Mehl, a family name. His Obituary follows:
LTC. THEODORE JAMES MEHL
Of Annapolis, MD passed away January 11, 2018 of acute myeloblastic
leukemia. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Liz, three sons,
Michael, Christopher and Theodore (Diana), all of Annapolis, and his
daughter, Ashley, of Atlanta, Georgia, and two grandchildren, Michael
and Sarah Mehl, both of Annapolis.
Born in Brockton, Massachusetts, January 15, 1939, Ted is
predeceased by his mother Beatrice Tripp Dolloff, his step father Horace Dolloff and his father Louis S. Mehl. He graduated from
Fishburne Military Academy in 1958 and had a distinguished career
as an army aviator from 1959 to 1981, commanding various attack
helicopter units in Vietnam (1965-69) [and completing his career] as Commander of the
222nd Aviation BN, Ft. Wainwright, Alaska, (1979-81). Honors and
awards include: U.S. Army Aviator of the Year, 1973; Outstanding
Young Man of the Year 1974; Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf
Cluster, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 28 Oak Leaf Clusters with V
Device, Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Medal, Purple
Heart, Vietnamese Cross for Gallantry with Silver Star, Legion of Merit.
After his Army career, Ted was a staff member to the House of
Representatives Government Operations Committee, a consultant to
the Commissioner of Customs on drug interdiction, an associate with
Parry and Romani Associates, and founder and principal of Mehl,
Griffin, Bartek and Spearhead Innovations.
Ted enjoyed flying planes, golf and spending time with his family.
Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery.
Published in the Capital Gazette on February 17, 2018
Members of the 28st are welcome to attend the funeral the funeral at Arlington on February 5th, 2019 at 10:30 am.
-Ted Mehl
Remembering Ted:
I had the pleasure of welcoming Ted to the 281st and later on served with
him when he commanded the Chinook company in the 1st Cav. I again
served with him when he was assigned to the Pentagon where he was
a member of the legislative liaison team. As Wolfpack 36 he was a
excellent replacement for Fred Mentzer, and I heard good things about
his performance of duty as ops officer and XO. He was a good man and
a great Intruder.
Jack Mayhew, 67 / 68
I am sad to report this obituary is indeed our Ted Dolloff (Mehl). Ted was Wolf Pack 36, Ops Officer and XO of the 281st 1967-1968. He also had a previous tour flying Caribous.
Timing is everything. I called Ted Saturday to invite him again to our Gettysburg reunion. He has not been involved in our association, but I thought he was coming to the DC reunion since he lived in Annapolis. Well, his wife of 38 years, Liz, called me in response to my voice mail. She informed me that Ted died in January. Liz and I had a good chat about Ted.
I am so glad that I reached out to Ted about 18 months ago. We had several great conversations, most notably about his Herculean efforts to teach young 1LT Bain Black how to fly gunships. I asked him if he recalled the day he was my IP the very first time. We went south of NT and were making gun runs on a mountain side free fire zone. Ken Daniel (another newby 1LT) was in the other aircraft. There was not enough airspace to contain both of us at once. Well, Ted instructed me to enter a gun run, check trim and fire a pair of rockets. Nothing happened. He said again, "fire". Nothing. Once more and then he said to break right from the bottom of the gun run. I did as told and he said to "call break", to inform the outbound aircraft of our need for cover. Now what did 1LT Black do? Instead of pressing the mic switch, I pressed the rocket button and fired two 17 lb. rockets aimed at a Navy gun boat that was casually observing us. The rockets burned out (we were a couple of thousand feet above the water) with the familiar black poof of smoke; one rocket fell short of the gun boat and the other went right over it...exploding in the water. The gun boat made evasive maneuvers at full speed and took off toward port. Ted called the Navy to tell them this was an accident and we were not shooting at them!
I believe he had to go see some Lieutenant Commander in person to further explain.
When I asked Ted if he remembered this incident, he replied, "How could I forget it!" We howled about this event. Ted finally taught this rookie just out of flight school how to fly guns, but it was not easy. He had the patience of Job. He also taught me what a C model could really do in autorotation. I learned skills from Ted that I used and passed on to other aviators for the next 20+ years. Thanks Ted, and may you RIP!
Bain
Another old Wolf Pack 36
I think he left the company not too long before I got there, at least that's what I remember, so be it! I remember him returning one day when I was still new, so July, August, or September of 68, and I think he was flying a LOACH [OH-6]. Anyway, all the crewmembers on the flight line went over to talk to him, and from the conversations, it was obvious that he was well liked by the crewmen. Not 100% sure about the LOACH, but am about him and the enlisted. At the time, Gary Hallman was my CE and he afterwards said he was a good guy and treated the crews well.
Dean Roesner
Joe Bilitzke & Ted Dolloff
O Club, Nha Trang, 1968
COL. ANDREW J. (JOHN) MILLER
Commander, 281ST AHC 1968-1969
Died after his tour on February 9, 2005
281st AHC Remembrances of Col. Miller
From Jeffrey Murray:
Jack,
Here's my favorite memory of COL Miller. Did you know he commanded a
brigade in Germany, After that he came to Ft Rucker as the Chief of Staff.
One fine spring day I was flying as a Bandit Peter Pilot when we landed back at
Nha Trang and settled into our revetment, wrapped up the post-flight inspection
and prepared to go eat. All we needed was some JP-4. In the next
revetment sat Ken Whisnant, another WO1 awaiting refueling so he could attend to
more suitable matters, like chow. But Ken didn't like waiting and began
sounding off to whomever was within earshot that he was sick and tired of always
having to wait on a refuel truck. After all, he had worked all day and
having to sit beside his helicopter afterwards was not what he came to Vietnam
for. Well, along came then Major Miller, the CO, who asked Ken what the
problem was. Ken gave it to him with both barrels, he did not like the
response time of the POL Section and he felt he had better things to do than sit
around and waste his and the crew's time. I'll never forget MAJ Miller's
response, which was to immediately name WO1 Ken Whisnant the new 281st AHC POL
Officer. Thereafter every day when I came back to Nha Trang I still saw
WO1 Whisnant out in the revetment area but he was by this time directing a fleet
of fuel trucks around. Good old MAJ Miller had a solution for everything.
It probably wasn't the solution Mr. Whisnant was seeking but it sure taught me
to keep my mouth shut.
CARL E. MILLER
December 21, 1931 - May 15, 2002
Carl is interred in the Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery located in Alabama on the west edge of Ft. Benning in Alabama and not far from his last known residence of Seale, Alabama.
DANIEL J. "Ace" MILLER
August 14, 1946 - May 27, 2022
![Daniel J. Miller](images/daniel-j-miller.jpg)
Daniel J. Miller Jr. was born in Suffern, NY on August 14, 1946, to Daniel J. and Julia V. Miller. Growing up in a military family, he attended many different schools across multiple states. He graduated from Wooster High School in Reno, Nevada where he earned a scholarship to play football in college.
. . .
Dan passed away May 27, 2022 at his home in Jacksonville, Florida surrounded by his family. He is survived by his loving wife Lilian, Daughter Kelly (John), Son Daniel and three Grandchildren Ruby, Rick and Breyden.
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