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n October 5th and October 20th, I attended funeral services at Arlington National Cemetery for two 101st helicopter crews that were lost in Laos in March 1971, during LAMSON 719. The Laotian government allowed the excavation of the crash sites in December 1989, where the remains were found. One crew from C Company, 158th Aviation Battalion, the "Phoenix", was lost on March 5, 1971, when the aircraft explded at altitude after taking heavy fire on a combat assault into LZ Sophia. The crew on UH-1H #67-17341 was Cpt David Nelson, WO1 Ralph Moreira, SP4 Joel Hatley, and SP4 Michael King. The second crew, Cpt Keith Brandt and 1LT Alan Boffman, from D Company, 101st Aviation Battalion, the "Hawks" was lost in AH-1G #68-15077 (a Cobra) when it came apart after taking multiple hits when the crew marked a landing zone for a UH-1H flight from the 173rd Aviation Company, the "Robin Hoods". Both services featured a single grave. Both services had many similarities, and accordingly many differences. The "Phoenix" services, on October 5th, filled the Old Post Chapel at Ft. Myers, VA, with 10 former pilots from around the US in attendance, 11 high school classmates from Mike King's Calhoun, GA hometown, a large contingent of veterans and friends from Abermerle, NC, honoring Joel Hatley. Joel's mother read the attached poem which she wrote soon after the loss of her son, at the beginning of the service. As I watched this mother in her 70's, I could not help but think "there by the grace of God go I". The Phoenix pilots met with the families after the funeral services and, for the first time, the families found out there were eyewitnesses to their loved ones last moments. There is no answer to their question, "How come we did not know about you guys?" The funeral for the "Hawks" was highlighted by the attached article written by Col (Ret) John Klose, former commander of the 158th AVN BN in 76-77, who was one of the air mission commanders for all the flights flying into Laos during the period. The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter from Bellingham, WA, honored Keith Brant"s memory by welding together Keith Brandt MIA braclets into a wreath and placing it on the casket at the end of the graveside and later placed below panel 5W at the Vietnam Memorial. I learned a lot from these services: The sons look alarmingly like their fathers. Mothers never forget and celebrate their sons brief lives, reminding us of things that are important to mothers. We, the survivors, owe the families the responsibility to seek them out and share our experiences with their loved ones during their final months, days and final moments. Don Davis, one of the Phoenix pilots, took the latter to heart and sought out the family of Phoenix 22, WO1 David Soyland, who was lost during a Combat Control North extraction mission in May 71. Those of us who came home owe it to the families of those who did not. If the families don't want to make contact, then so be it. We have to take the first step. My greatest regret is that I do not remember the names of many of the people I served with in my first tour in 67-68 with C Btry 2/319th FA, 101 ABN and my second tour in 71-72 with the 174th Avn Co, 23rd Inf Div, and A Co 229th Avn Bn, 1st Cav. Fortunately for me, I have met many of the former members of the Phoenix, the Redskins (D Co 158th Avn BN) and the Kingsmen (B Co 101 Avn Bn) through reunions and veteran organizations like the 101st Abn Div Assn. I would have missed the strong personal experiences at the funerals if I had not joined these organizations. It has been another testimonial to me that you can make things happen, watch things happen, or wonder what happened. A Poem in Memory of SP4 Joel C. Hatley Written by Ms. Evelyn Laton Hatley Nobody Knew His Name - Music 16 by Colonel John A. G. Klose (Ret.)
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| "Colonel Mike Sloniker (Ret) has spent thousands of hours researching aviation related history for various units and Vietnam veterans." | ||
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