May-June-July 1969-page 12,13,20

“Southeast Asia”

On behalf of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, I extend congratulations to the 3d Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Group on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of its activation.
The extraordinary courage, skill, and selfless dedication which has resulted in recovery of more than 2,300 of your fellow servicemen has worn for you the admiration and gratitude of all U. S. Forces in Southeast Asia as well as your countrymen at home.

The operations of your famed "Jolly Green Giant" and "Pedro" rescue helicopters have become legend, and justifiably so when one considers that 1,550 of your rescues have been performed under direct enemy fire and, therefore, have been recorded as "combat saves."

It is noteworthy that your heroism and persistence, often in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, have won for you in excess of 7,500 individual awards and two Presidential Unit Citations.

I salute you as most worthy comrades-in-arms for a job well done and wish you continued success in all of your future operations.

Creighton W. Abrams
General, United States Army Commanding

CREWMAN DECORATED-Last August Alc Donald H. Goodlett, Jr., leaped from a hovering HH-43 into the water to aid two downed pilots who were entangled in shroud lines. Goodlett, a pararescueman with Det 8, 38th ARRSq, Cam Ranh Bay AB, entered the water despite warning that sharks were nearby. For his courageous action, the Airman was recently presented the Airman's Medal by Col R. R. Melton, commander, 12th Tactical Fighter Wing. With 10 rescues to his credit, Goodlett also received the Air Medal for "meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. "(USAF photo by Alc Bob Mulica)

RECORD MAKER - Maj Richard H. Coan gives the "thumbs up" signal to his crew chief after a mission in the HH-43B. The Major, who set a world record for distance in the HH-43B in 1962, recently assumed command of Det 8, 38th ARRSq, Cam Ranh Bay AB. During the seven-hour flight nine years ago, Major Coan flew the HUSKIE for a helicopter world's closed-course distance mark of 655.64 miles, eclipsing the record then held by the Russians.(USAF photo by Sgt Berry Askew)

RESCUE GIVES MARS A BOOST - One of the HH-43's from Det 6, 38th ARRSq, sets a new rotating antenna atop the platform for the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) at Bien Hoa AB. The antenna can be operated on several frequencies, resulting in a longer range and improved reception. (USAFphoto by Alc Fred Zastawski)

2,000 HOURS - Two ARRS pilots serving in Vietnam each logged 2,000 hours in the HH-43 recently. At left, Capt John F. Patterson of Det 8, 38th ARRSq, Cam Ranh Bay AB, is shown after returning from the flight during which he accumulated the 2,000th hour. Copilot on the memorable flight was Capt Samuel E. Chapin, Jr. , (USAF photo). In second photograph, Maj Tom W. Brumfield, left, is shown after logging his 2,000th hour in the HH-43. With him is his co­pilot, Capt John E. Murray. Both are assigned to Det 7, 38th ARRSq, Da Nang AB. (USAFphoto by Alc Gary Butler)

FIRST AT U-TAPAO - SSgt John B. Gent, right, recently became the first member of his unit, Det 12, 38th ARRSq, to reenlist at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield. He was sworn in for another Air Force tour by Maj James H. Madeen, detachment commander. Gent received a $6,000 Variable Reenlistment Bonus (VRB), believed to be one of the largest such ever awarded at U-Tapao. The ceremony was performed in one of the unit's HH-43B's while flying 500 feet over U-Tapao's runway. (USAF photo by Alc Rod Garrett)

PEDRO PLAQUE - For SEA radio communication purposes (and sometimes in other locations) the HH-43 HUSKIE is referred to as "Pedro." ARRS crews are proud of their association with Pedro - the helicopter in which they have rescued so many downed airmen and carried out so many medevacs, often under fire. Their affection for the HH-43, "workhorse of the 14 detachments in the 38th ARRSq," is reflected in the insignia above. Maj Charles E. Trapp, Jr., commander of Det 5, Udorn Royal Thai AFB, displays a plaque bearing the detachment's insignia. During an informal ceremony, it was hung in the officer's club along with plaques from other units at the base. The second insignia appeared in Rotor Tips sometime ago. Designed by Walt Disney productions at the request of personnel from Det 7 at DaNang AB, it combines the Pedro call letters with the HH-43's roles of fire suppression, aircrew recovery and medevac. (USAF photo)

AIDED NAVYMEN - His hand resting on one of the tools of his trade - a forest penetrator seat - Alc Richard C. Stiefken is shown aboard an HH-43 from Det 10, 38th ARRSq, Binh Thuy AB. While serving as an HH-43 crewman, the pararescueman left the helicopter to go to the aid of two Navy SEALS (Sea, Air, Land, intelligence reconnaissance) seriously wounded during a night ground action. MSgt John G. Regan, Jr. , and Stiefken administered first aid on the flight to the hospital. Maj Ralph L. Gaede, detachment commander, was pilot of the HH-43. (USAF photo by Alc Timothy J. Nowak)

PJ's" Aid War Victims

BINH THUY AB (7AF) - Rescuing downed pilots from the dense jungles or mucky rice paddies that make up the Mekong Delta is just a part of the lifesaving endeavors of the pararescuemen at Binh Thuy AB. Assigned to Det 10, 38th ARRSq (MAC), the rescuemen stand by, ready to go wherever their services are needed. When they are not on recovery missions or evacuating wounded military personnel from hostile-fire zones, the paramedics spend much of their time helping Air Force surgeons save lives at Phong Dinh Province Hospital in the nearby city of Can Tho.

The Air Force has an 11-man trauma team assigned to the hospital to act as advisors to the Vietnamese medical staff. Because of the tremendous number of Vietnamese civilians seeking aid they have found it necessary to help them. The team's four surgeons perform more than 80 percent of the hospital's major surgery. Many of these patients are innocent victims of the war.

"Pararescuemen have been helping the trauma team for a couple of years now, " said TSgt Dudley R. Peckinpaugh, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the pararescue section. "We gain valuable experience while lessening the load of the team, and also help fellow humans. " Peckinpaugh added that "probably the man who has assisted at the hospital more than anyone else is Alc Theodore J. Polys. "

Many times after flying rescue missions all night, Polys has journeyed to the medical facility the following morning to render his assistance.

"I try to help out as often as possible, " Polys said. "It is a gratifying feeling to assist these people, particularly the ones who were unfortunate enough to become war cas ualties. Mainly, I attend to the less seriously injured patients. I cleanse and stitch wounds and occasionally remove shrapnel from some of the victims. Once I removed a bullet that was lodged in an elderly woman's shoulder.

"We feel fortunate that we have the opportunity to receive this experience and the trauma team feels fortunate to have us to assist them. Most important to us however, are the smiles and sincere thanks we get from the Vietnamese after we have treated them."  

Maj Maxie L. Trainer arrived recently in Vietnam to become the commander of Det 14, 38th ARRSq, at Tan Son Nhut AB. Soon afterward, he flew his first mission as an HH-43 rescue crew commander in Southeast Asia and also recorded his first combat save. MajorTrainer and his crew evacuated a shrapnel-wounded harbor pilot from a cargo vessel after it came under enemy fire 17 miles southeast of Saigon. With the Major were Capt Jimmy D. Griffin, SSgt Claude A. Duke and SSgt Donald J. Nason.

INSTRUCTOR TURNED STUDENT - Maj Phillip J. Knobel prepares to take off in an HH-43 "Pedro" after completing his first solo flight in the rescue helicopter. A seasoned instructor pilot with nearly 3,600 hours flying time and 18 years service in the Air Force, Major Knobel was recently assigned to Det 2, 38th ARRSq, Takhli AB, Thailand, and became a student in order to learn to fly the detachment's HH-43's. The command pilot said several of his former students are F-105 pilots in Southeast Asia. "I guess the biggest lesson for me, being a student and seeing my old students, is that in the Air Force, you never stop learning, " Major Knobel said. (USAF photo by Sgt Henry Lipka, III)

last update : 21/07/2007