July-August 1974-page 24 , 25

“Southeast Asia”

RotorTips  Jul-Aug-1974 - p.24 :

Det Crew Saves Heart Attack Victim

"Those guys gave me back my life," said TSgt Thomas Mix after being medevaced by Det 3, 40 ARRSq, Ubon Airfield, Thailand, following a heart attack.

TSgt Mix, a member of an explosive ordinance team, had been complaining of severe chest pains. Since the distance from his unit to Ubon Airfield, where medical help was available, was over 18 miles by roadway, Pedro was called to evacuate the patient to Ubon.

Four minutes after arriving at Ubon Hospital, Mix suffered a massive cardiac arrest and was revived only after electrical stimulation. Doctors at the hospital said that if Mix had been brought in ten minutes later they wouldn't have been able to save his life.

Crew members of the Pedro were pilot, Major Thomas Madden; co-pilot, 2nd Lt Thomas Kemper; Sgt. David Southard; and Sgt Oliver Chapel.

RotorTips  Jul-Aug-1974 - p.25 :

Thailand Based Pedro Medevacs to Bangkok

Det 12, 40 ARRSq, made two medical evacuations to Bangkok within a five-day period.

A call was received from Capt Thomas Hilsman, flight surgeon, 11th USAF Hospital, U-Tapao, Thailand, requesting a medevac of Mrs. Sandra Watkins to Bangkok. Mrs. Watkins, wife of Sgt Donald Watkins, was suffering from a miscarriage and had serious internal hemorrhaging, requiring immediate surgical attention. With the patient aboard, Pedro 37 proceeded to Bangkok and arrangements were made with the 5th Field Hospital in Bangkok to land at a nearby soccer field where transfer to a waiting ambulance completed the mission. Were it not for Pedro and her crew, Mrs. Watkins would have faced a three-hour ambulance ride over rough roads - a probable difference between life and death.

Five days later, Det 12 was called again for an emergency medevac to Bangkok, this time of a premature baby. A portable incubator was hooked into the Pedro's electrical system and Pedro, with Dr. Hilsman and Lt Beverly Wright aboard, took off at 1945. Because of the emergency, the night flight was flown over the Gulf of Siam, direct to Bangkok. Landing was made at a nearby soccer field, illuminated by automobile lights and night flares, and the baby was transferred to the hospital by ambulance. Dr. Hilsman later notified the pilot that the crew's quick reactions saved the baby's life.

Crew members on the two missions were Capt Hal Schwartz, Lt Ralph McNally and SSgt Gary Brown.

last update : 31/12/2007