Page 10 - Memorial Day 2021 - Combined Special Edition of Luke AFB Thunderbolt and Davis-Monthan AFB Desert Lightning News

10 May 28, 2021 Aerotech News
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honoR (from Page 5) Capt. Gerald O. young, to entrap any rescue aircraft. For more than 1st Lt. James P. Fleming,
37th Air Rescue Service, Da 17 hours he evaded the enemy until rescue 20th Special Operations
Battalion. His intensive search revealed a Nang Air Force Base, Viet- aircraft could be brought into the area.” Squadron; near Duc Co,
well-concealed and numerically superior nam; Khesanh, Republic of Republic of Vietnam,
hostile force poised to ambush the advancing Vietnam, “Young was flying 1968: “Fleming distinguished
Rangers. The Viet Cong, realizing that Wil- escort for another helicopter himself as the aircraft com-
banks’ discovery had compromised their attempting the night rescue Chief Master Sgt. rich- mander of a UH-1F trans-
position and ability to launch a surprise of an Army ground recon- ard L. etchberger, port helicopter. Fleming
attack, immediately fired on the small air- naissance team in imminent danger of death 1043rd Radar Evaluation went to the aid of a six-man Special Forces
craft with all available firepower. The enemy or capture. Previous attempts had resulted in Squadron; Phou Pha Thi, long-range reconnaissance patrol that was
then began advancing against the exposed the loss of two helicopters to hostile ground Laos, “Etchberger and his in danger of being overrun by a large, heav-
forward elements of the Ranger force which fire. The endangered team was positioned on team of technicians were ily armed hostile force. Despite the knowl-
were pinned down by devastating fire. Wil- the side of a steep slope which required un- manning a top secret defen- edge that one helicopter had been downed
banks recognized that close support aircraft usual airmanship on the part of Young to effect sive position at Lima Site by intense hostile fire, Fleming descended,
could not arrive in time to enable the Rang- pickup. Heavy automatic weapons fire from 85 when the base was overrun by an enemy and balanced his helicopter on a river bank
ers to withstand the advancing enemy on- the surrounding enemy severely damaged one ground force. Receiving sustained and wither- with the tail boom hanging over open water.
slaught. With full knowledge of the limita- rescue helicopter, but it was able to extract ing heavy artillery attacks directly upon his The patrol could not penetrate to the landing
tions of his unarmed, unarmored light recon- three of the team. The commander of this unit’s position, Etchberger’s entire crew lay site and he was forced to withdraw. Danger-
naissance aircraft, and the great danger aircraft recommended to Young that further dead or severely wounded. Despite having ously low on fuel, Fleming repeated his
imposed by the enemy’s vast firepower, he rescue attempts be abandoned because it was received little or no combat training, Etch- original landing maneuver. Disregarding his
unhesitatingly assumed a covering, close not possible to suppress the concentrated fire berger single-handedly held off the enemy own safety, he remained in this exposed
support role. Flying through a hail of wither- from enemy automatic weapons. With full with an M-16, while simultaneously directing position. Hostile fire crashed through his
ing fire at treetop level, Wilbanks passed knowledge of the danger involved, and the fact air strikes into the area and calling for air windscreen as the patrol boarded his heli-
directly over the advancing enemy and in- that supporting helicopter gunships were low rescue. Because of his fierce defense and he- copter. Fleming made a successful takeoff
flicted many casualties by firing his rifle out on fuel and ordnance, Young hovered under roic and selfless actions, he was able to deny through a barrage of hostile fire and recov-
of the side window of his aircraft. Despite intense fire until the remaining survivors were the enemy access to his position and save the ered safely at a forward base.
increasingly intense antiaircraft fire, Wil- aboard. As he maneuvered the aircraft for lives of his remaining crew. With the arrival
banks continued to completely disregard his takeoff, the enemy appeared at point-blank of the rescue aircraft, Etchberger, without Lt. Col. Joe M. Jackson,
own safety and made repeated low passes range and raked the aircraft with automatic- hesitation, repeatedly and deliberately risked 311th Air Commando
over the enemy to divert their fire away from weapons fire. The aircraft crashed, inverted, his own life, exposing himself to heavy enemy Squadron, Da Nang,
the Rangers. His daring tactics successfully and burst into flames. Young escaped through fire in order to place three surviving wound- 834th Air Division;
interrupted the enemy advance, allowing the a window of the burning aircraft. Disregarding ed comrades into rescue slings hanging from Kham Duc, Republic of
Rangers to withdraw to safety from their serious burns, Young aided one of the wound- the hovering helicopter waiting to airlift them Vietnam, “Jackson dis-
perilous position. During his final coura- ed men and attempted to lead the hostile to safety. With his remaining crew safely tinguished himself as a
geous attack to protect the withdrawing forces away from his position. Later, despite aboard, Etchberger finally climbed into an pilot of a C-123 aircraft.
forces, Wilbanks was mortally wounded and intense pain from his burns, he declined to evacuation sling himself, only to be fatally Jackson volunteered to attempt the res-
his bullet-riddled aircraft crashed between accept rescue because he had observed hostile wounded by enemy ground fire as he was cue of a three-man USAF Combat Control
the opposing forces.” forces setting up automatic-weapons positions being raised into the aircraft.” See honoR, Page 12
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