CWO Don McNeil and WO Mark Young

- CWO Don McNeil and WO Mark Young

Company A

227th Assault Helicopter Battalion

1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile)

Shot Down North of Dong Ha
CWO Donald K. McNeil and WO1 Mark D. Young
KIA May 9, 1968

Early 1968 was a busy time for Company A, 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion crews.
During the 1968 Tet Offensive (January 30 - February 29,1968), A/227 was supporting the 1st Cavalry Division throughout our AO, including the Battle for Hue.
Operation Pegasus was launched April 1, 1968, and on April 8 the relief of the Marines at Khe Sanh was achieved. The 1st Cavalry Division began withdrawing from Khe Sanh on April 10th and immediately began planning for operations in the A Shau Valley. When Operation Pegasus ended on April 15, 1968, the 2d Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division came under the operational control of the 3d Marine Division, created Task Force GLICK, and initiated Operation SCOTLAND II in the vicinity of Khe Sanh.
The A Shau Valley campaign (Operation Delaware Lam Son 216) was initially planned to commence April 17th but bad weather pushed the initial assault forward until April 19th. After about four weeks of intense battle, the extraction of troops from the A Shau Valley began on May 10, 1968, and the operation was terminated on May 17th.
WO McNeil participated in all these Operations after arriving in country in January, 1968. WO Young arrived in country in March and was flying during Operations Pegasus and Delaware.
During early May, 1968, Company A, 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion was heavily committed to supporting Operation Delaware Lam Son 216 and the operations in the A Shau Valley. The A Shau Valley was located to the southwest of our base at Camp Evans.
It was during this time that WO Young and CWO McNeil were shot down near the DMZ, due north of Camp Evans.
Over the years members of our unit have wondered what they were doing up near the DMZ and how they were shot down and lost.
Company A, 227th aircraft were assigned daily as needed throughout the 1st Cavalry Division. Most days would see about 6 of our aircraft assigned to Combat Assault missions and a 3-4 more assigned as single ship missions to support units in the field, supplying food, ammunition, moving small numbers of troops into and out of the field, Command and Control, Psyop missions, Spraying, etc.
On May 9, 1968, Young and McNeil were assigned to fly log (re-supply) for the 2 Battalion, 5 Cavalry (call sign Arizona) which was operating north of Dong Ha and just south of the DMZ.
The 227th Battalion S3 daily log entries for May 9, 1968, shows that they were flying Arizona log (resupply) for 2 Battalion, 5 Cavalry and that the first report of the shoot down was reported to our battalion S3 at:

0740 "GM Log shot down at coordinates 236678, crew chief wounded, pilot and A/C commander killed, gunner unknown at this time."
(NOTE - incorrect identification "General Motors Log")
0935 "GM Log is still flying!"
1140 "Confirmed Arizona log shot down with DS 13m - crew medevac"
(NOTE -DS stands for the A/227 call sign "Drumstick" and 13m would stand for CWO McNeil)
1307 "Tail number of crashed bird is 66-16784 which was Arizona log, DS 13"
1425 "Reference Arizona log crash - A/C and P KIA and are still in A/C. CE and Gunner are Quang Hospital, 1 shaken up and 1 has broken shoulder".
Although we do not know what the specific purpose of their mission at the time of their shoot down, due to the time of the incident (prior to 0740), it is possible they were delivering hot chow to the troops in the field.
Recently we have had contact from members of Charlie Company, 1/5 Cavalry who were there when our aircraft was shot down and this is the story of that incident - and what was happening that day.
After the 1st Cavalry Division completed the relief of the Marines at Khe Sanh, the 1st and 3rd Brigades were withdrawn to begin preparation for Operation Delaware, while Charlie Company, 1/5 Cavalry and the rest of the 2nd Brigade were left under the operational control of the 3rd Marine Division to continue and complete operations around the Khe Sanh area. Charlie Company, 1/5 Cavalry, was working out of LZ Peanuts (photos of LZ Peanuts on May 4-5, 1968). Late on May 5th, the 1/5 Cavalry moved to Dong Ha and the 2/5 Cavalry went from LZ Snapper to LZ Peanuts to close up.

"We were operating west of Khe Sahn with the BN TOC at LZ Peanuts. C Company, 1/5 Cavalry lost 4 KIA on May 4th, two clicks west of Peanuts. We lost 14 on Peanuts 5/4 to 5/5. We were attacked that night by an NVA battalion proceeded by sappers that got through our lines. We were overrun in several locations. At one point I saw 30-50 NVA in formation inside our perimeter. I understand Bob Witt flew in that morning (May 5th) and saw the results. I was wounded that night and went out on one of your A/C on the 5th." LT Charles Brown, Charlie Company, 1/5 Cavalry

The Battalion moved out from Dong Ha on May 8th with 4 infantry companies of 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry operating north of Dong Ha from a temporary base located at grid coordinates YD237678.
On the night of 08/09 May 1968, the Charlie Company, 1/5 Cavalry ambush outpost reported about 400 NVA passing by their position. Marine command refused a requested fire mission to support the ambush outpost. On May 9th, when elements of Charlie Company, 1/5 Cavalry moved out early in the morning, with the goal of bringing the ambush back into the perimeter, they came under intense fire. This is when Charlie Company, 1/5 Cavalry Commanding Officer took 5 hits and his two radio telephone operators were KIA. The NVA had engaged them at a distance of about 10-30 feet.
By 0705 on 09 May the entire battalion came under attack by North Vietnamese Army forces - initially by mortar fire, then a full-fledged ground attack. One of the first casualties was the morning logistics helicopter, a Huey from A Company, 227th AHB, which was shot down and crashed between the NVA and 5th Cavalry positions. The cavalrymen were able to rescue two crewmen from the burning wreckage but both pilots were killed in the crash.
Charlie Company, 1/5 Cavalry, was cut off from the other companies and bore the brunt of the attack. The NVA were fended off, but not without cost, and the aggressive patrolling which followed, brought more US losses. By day's end, 19 men had died:

B Company:
SGT Daniel G. Gladding, Seaford, NY
SP4 George E. Guyett, Springfield, IL
C Company:
1LT Robert N. Jones, Delta, PA
SFC Albert E. Smith, Clairton, PA
SSG Frank W. Elliott, Streamwood, IL
SGT Mitchell McGuire, Hanoverton, OH
SP4 Robert Alexander, Washington, DC<
SP4 Robert J. Capanda, Detroit, MI
SP4 Carlos W. Cornett, Flatwoods, KY
SP4 Winford R. Crabb, Shafter, CA
SP4 Ronald N. Koitzsch, Camas, WA
CPL Ramiro F. Olivo, Eagle Pass, TX
PFC James C. Bang, Minneapolis, MN
PFC Freddie J. Cox, Oakland, CA
D Company:
1LT John C. Dougherty, Terre Haute, IN
SP4 George V. Airey, Ann Arbor, MI
HQ Company:
CPL William J. Waysack, Orange, CA (Medic with B/1/5)
A Co, 227th AHB (UH-1D 66-16784)
WO Donald K. McNeil, Seattle, WA, pilot
WO Mark D. Young, Sidell, IL, copilot

"Your aircraft went down the morning of 5/9/68 as it approached Charlie Company, 1/5 Cavalry. A major battle with the NVA had started just before your aircraft arrived (some say within a minute and some say 15-30 minutes of their arrival). At the start of the battle the Charlie Company Commanding Officer was shot (eventually five times) and two RTOs were immediately KIA. That probably prevented a warning to your crew. The aircraft flew directly over the company and started a sweeping turn directly over the NVA position. One soldier said the firing at the company stopped, and then continued, all focused on your crew. The aircraft went down immediately and bust into flames. One witness said he saw the gunner and crew chief jump out. There was too much damage and fire to get the pilot and aircraft commander out." LT Charles Brown, Charlie Company, 1/5 Cavalry

3-4 guys witnessed the aircraft shoot down. One member from Alpha Company, 1/5 Cavalry, says the aircraft lost its tail boom and spun in. Others from Charlie Company, 1/5 Cavalry remember the aircraft coming down hard directly in front of their position.

Updated on November 9, 2013
Bob Witt has been doing a lot of research on this incident.
He has been in contact with several members of the cavalry unit which was at the same location as the shoot down and has been able to get more information about the incident as well as a photo which might show the aircraft in flight just before being shot down.

This picture was taken by Sgt Douglas M McPhee, 4/A/1/5 Cavalry who passed away in 2010.
From Bob Witt; "Over the last few years I have gotten to know many "Grunts" who have assisted in a MIA case, and gathered information concerning a C/227th Classmate's shoot down.
It is tough at times, some 45 years later, to look into these matters, but facts are facts and our brothers deserve to be remembered. My involvement has been because of the relationships I have been fortunate enough to have developed with some of the families. They are wonderful people who yearn for information about what happened during these incidents.
Alot of the information is in the form of Battalion Logs, eye witness narratives, and tactical maps.
I have made these conclusions,
Combat for the 1st Cav was intense, brutal, and 24/7.
We should never forget how tough and brave the Infantry guys were.
We are fortunate to be here. I have to thank Steve Davidson for his airmanship in making a hard right turn the day after the McNeil/Young incident, or we would have suffered the same fate.
It is my belief that the picture shown above is the McNeil/Young aircraft based on these follow up eyewitness e-mails."

Email Quotes

1
"Looking at Journal Entry for 1/5, it indicated 2/5 Log Bird going down on May 9. Doesn't say precisely where but 200 m from FOB. Presume it means FOB for C Company which was 237678 (looks like A and B were also at this FOB). McPhee's journal for May 9 indicates he registered his mortars at 23706765. I'd say the picture looks a few hundred meters away. Looking at the map, this area shows no relief.
The 2/5 Journal makes reference to B/2/5 (who took like 40 causalities during this time) at 0825 "villagers say bird is down to east of road by firebase. Neg contact with our log bird. Command and Control Craft has spotted downed bird. Neg Assessment at this time YD227676." I'm pretty sure Duke Wheeler indicated he was on this C&C." John McGuire

2
"I am 75 % sure the photo is the log bird going down. The trees in the far background I think are in the area where a second bubble chopper was shot down one or two days later. The two light spots on the trees closer may be grid sight for the mortar pit or maybe for the marine tanks that were with us. Larry Rau 3/A/1/5"

3
"The picture of the helicopter in distress is just how I remember it before the crashed. This picture must have been taken from close to where I was. Also I was one of the men sent to the crash site to recover the causalities." Ed Wheeler 3/A/1/5

Updated on December 22, 2014
4
"I also witnessed the down chopper on that day of may 9, I was a RTO for the Captain Terry . there were 4 of us that interchanged this duty for which we took turns by day of carrying the radio. Chuck Rodriguez was also the other operator , He and I carried the radio the day before, therefore on May 9 , Alexander and Crabb were killed that day along with Terry being shot several times along with others. Beings we carried the day before Chuck and I stayed back while a small group were going out to retrieve the Listening post.

The day before water was brought out to us by chopper in canisters and it was the intention of the chopper you are referring to pick up the back log. Its hard to estimate time from when the action occurred, but the way I remember it ,it was almost at the same time . I remember the chopper was banking to land when they were attempting to land but a fair distance out to where the NVA were dug in. The chopper was losing power as it went overhead but thought it was going to crash right on us, but did see right before the chopper hit the ground the door gunner on the left hand side jump out and roll. The unit immediately caught fire.

I too, was one of the first responders to go to the crash site after the fire burned out . There you could see the partially decomposed fire bodies of the pilots still strapped in their seats. The bird did not crash of what you might think but did come down hard on its skids. The chopper did not completely burn to the ground but was more confined to rear section. I often thought that the pilots probably were hit by enemy fire, in loosing there life. due to how the unit crashed happened, but have no way of knowing. If one could ever find the door gunner who jumped out, more info could be obtained. Hope if any, this assists you in putting pieces of the puzzle together. Bob Brodersen C/1/5"

Daily Staff Journal S2/3 1/5th Cavalry 9 May 1968
1/5 Cavalry, S2 Journal pages for 9-10 May 1968
Map of the AO
Map showing the unit locations by Dr. Erik B. Villard, Check his website at: http://vietnamwarhistory.org/
1CAV after action report for the time period
If you use Google Earth you can download this document which, when opened, will open Google Earth to the C/1/5 location on May 9, 1968.

Wayne Driver has talked with Gary Ogden who says he was the gunner on that flight - but he cannot remember the crew chiefs name.
C/1/5 daily log says that C/1/5 was located at : YD 235678
227 S3 Daily log locates the crash site at: YD 236677
The topographic map of the area is: L70146442-4