Page 9 - DFCS News Magazine Summer 2012

Cont’d Smokey and the DFC
My mind was spinning; I wasn’t sure what to do. The Major was clearly going to finish the mission, with or without a crew. Either way, he was doomed. And he would surely have understood if I didn’t volunteer for the same fate. I looked into his eyes and saw determination and compassion. But not fear. I had no choice: “I’ll go with you.”
As I checked Smokey for damage, another pilot and a crewchief heard of our predicament and courageously volunteered to fill Smokey’s empty seats. We smoked the treeline three more times that day but thankfully, the LZ had gone cold.
In the months that followed, Major Daum was promoted to CO and I was transferred to the gunship platoon. By November 1968 my year in Vietnam was over but I volunteered for six months more. Christ- mas leave was part of the deal. But just before I was due to fly home, Major Daum called me into his office, handed me a small box and instructed me to tell my parents that their boy had done well. It was a Distinguished Flying Cross.
I returned to Bien Hoa in January 1969. On March 23 my gunship crashed and I was medevaced out of Vietnam. I was discharged in July, VA disability and the GI bill paid for college and eventually Vi- etnam became but a distant memory. But every once in a while I’ll find a quiet place, lift the lid of a small box and examine a blue rib- bon attached to a miniature brass propeller. And I’ll reflect on a day forty-three years ago when a courageous pilot inspired me to make the most difficult decision of my life. And the one I’m proudest of.
As you know, our Society is growing and with our member- ship approaching 6,000 we need some additional help. We currently have two Director slots open on the DFCS Board and would like to fill them with members who are willing to help us continue moving forward. Ideally we would like someone with Public Relations experience and possibly fund raising experience but really need two people willing to work with some great members. If you would like to volunteer, please e-mail our Chair- man, Bill Bradfield, blbradfield@comcast.net. Thank you for your help!
*book excerpt
The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Specialist Five Frans VanderBroek for hero- ism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty. Specialist Five VanderBroek distinguished himself by
exceptionally valorous actions while serving as Crew Chief on a UH-1D smoke ship southwest of Saigon. During an insertion of friendly infantry, Specialist VanderBroek’s aircraft was called up- on to lay a smoke screen four times between the enemy’s posi- tions. On each pass, Specialist VanderBroek withheld his fire, as directed. Heavy enemy fire tore through the aircraft and narrowly missed the heads of both pilots. After a trip back to the staging area to rearm and refuel, the smoke ship returned for a second insertion and the Co-pilot was killed instantly. Specialist Vander- Broek held the fatally wounded Co-pilot free from the controls while the Aircraft Commander completed the smoke run. The aircraft then flew to Bien Hoa to pick up a new Co-pilot. Specialist VanderBroek willingly volunteered to return to battle with his aircraft and continued to perform courageously throughout the operation. His actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.
Page 9
The Distinguished Flying Cross News