Today, December 6, 2020, marks fifty years since the USS Lynde McCormick DDG-8 participated in the recovery of a helicopter that crashed just yards off the starboard beam. Of the four crewmen aboard the chopper, two were killed; one of them is still MIA.
Last year I made it my goal to learn what happened on that Sunday in Da Nang Harbor. With the help of deck logs, command history reports, the power of the Web, and a lot of detective work, I was able to gather enough information to satisfy my curiosity. With the help of about a dozen shipmates, men who are members of the USS Lynde McCormick DDG-8 Reunion Association, I was able to gather eye-witness accounts of the crash. The end result can be found here on the page “Chopper crash, the whole story updated.” (If you are viewing this on your phone, you may need to tap next to 'Home' above to reveal the page.)
I didn’t witness the crash; however, I did see the crewmen alive and well less than a minute before they died that day. Under other circumstances, it could have been me. I hope you will take the time to read about this incident, then take a moment to visit the webpages commemorating those men who died via the links included near the end of the page.
©2020 John Robin Swanson
Keep trying to post a comment and they all disappear. I was in the unit with the crew of this aircraft.
ReplyDeleteI am actually doing some research on one of the men who passed. His name was Walter Joseph Taylor. I would love to speak with you.
DeleteWere you directing this to Tim or to me? I'm sorry it's taken so long to approve your comment here. Let me know if there's anything I can do. Today is the date his chopper went down next to my ship, 54 years ago. RIP, Walter.
Deletesame as Tim above. If you see this please reply. Thanks Lancer 28 gwhitty@bellsouth.net
ReplyDeletesome of my purge
ReplyDeleteThoughts on Thanksgiving 2021
Setting here watching the parade thinking about the morning I hauled forty body bags up to FSB Charlie 2.
Setting down on the pad two very tired troops came over to unload the body bags. One explained that a 122MM rocket had hit a bunker causing it to collapse. There were a number of troops that were watching a movie buried under the dirt and sand bags. Their comrades had been digging all night in hope of finding living beings.
Setting there looking at the row of bodies to be taken back to graves registration I was asked how many I could take. I cringe and say ten knowing bodies would be stacked on bodies. This was not the way I wanted to treat our fallen comrades but we had a job to do.
Setting there waiting for them to be zipped up and loaded up all I could think of is all the doors that would be knocked on back in the States.
Setting here thinking of the fifty parades they didn’t get to see. I didn’t know the names of any of them but they were all my best friends. (I do now see link at end)
Setting here trying to keep the reptilian part my brain from flooding my face with tears and failing to do so.
Setting here being thankful for the fifty thanksgivings that I have had since. If I were in one of those body bags I would not want anyone to agonize over me but to live and enjoy the life I couldn’t. I would like to think they would want the same for me. Enjoy life as best as possible.
Sometimes it is hard to do. Sometimes it is hard to get that mouth full of turkey down.
Honoring the 30 soldiers killed in the May 21st, 1971 rocket attack on Fire Support Base C-2 in Quang Tri, Vietnam.
link to video from Troy Smith youtube channel
https://youtu.be/sJd5aCs9veo
raise a glass to honor these young men
think of these 30 souls singing this to you
https://youtu.be/2Sql9X4H0VY