19 Minutes to Live - Helicopter Combat in Vietnam

by Lew Jennings

  An International Control Commission comprising the countries of Canada, Poland and India would monitor the ceasefire. And general elections were to be held two years later to determine reunification of North and South Vietnam.

  The aftermath of the Geneva Accords would lead to a series of events that seared the conscience of America and the world for generations to come and would result in the destruction of governments and the deaths of millions.

  French forces departed from both the South and the North. The United States became the primary support for Ngo Din Diem and his government of the State of Vietnam in the South. Nearly two million people migrated to the South right after the initial ceasefire while 52,000, mostly Viet Minh soldiers and their families, migrated to the North.

  In the ensuing years, both sides repeatedly violated the accords and elections were never held, neither in the North nor the South.

  General Giap continued strengthening the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) with weapons, materials and supplies from China and the Soviet Union, nearly doubling the size of the North Vietnamese Army.

  North Vietnam invaded Laos and Cambodia and built supply lines through those countries to support the Viet Cong forces in the South. The complex of these supply lines became known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

  The US continued to support Diem’s Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) in the South with money, equipment, supplies, training and advisors.

  Fighting in the South continued to escalate between the Viet Cong and ARVN and thus began the Second Indochina War or, as we know it in the West, the Vietnam War, in the late 1950’s.

  By 1964 North Vietnam had committed 30,000 troops to attacking South Vietnam and that number increased to 100,000 in 1965.

  The US, in response to fears of spreading communism in Asia and confrontations with the Soviet Union in the growing Cold War between East and West, increased its military support to Vietnam from 900 advisors under Eisenhower to 16,000 under Kennedy by 1963.

  Celebrated economist John Kenneth Galbraith was a close advisor of President Kennedy and warned him at the time of the “danger we shall replace the French as a Colonial force in the area and bleed as the French did”.

  US Special Forces advisors were imbedded at almost every level of the South Vietnamese Army however, ARVN forces had been defeated in several battles with the Viet Cong who were the local communist sympathizers recruited, advised and supplied by the North Vietnamese Army.

  While the majority of the population was Buddhist, South Vietnam’s President Ngô Đình Diệm was a devout Roman Catholic and appointed other Catholics throughout his administration including key military posts.

  Diệm’s older brother Ngô Đình Thuc was the Archbishop of Huế and his younger brother Ngô Đình Nhu was placed in charge of the secret police and military special forces.

  Diệm’s regime favored Catholics and lashed out at Buddhists for perceived opposition to government policies. The tensions exploded with the killing of Buddhist activists by ARVN Special Forces, orchestrated by Diệm’s younger brother, causing widespread damage and a death toll in the hundreds.

  The government was becoming dysfunctional with widespread corruption. The military was ineffective with low morale and high desertion rates. The population was becoming more and more opposed to Diệm’s regime and favoritism afforded the Catholic minority. The Viet Cong were taking advantage of the situation and making sweeping gains in influence and territory in the South.

  With tacit approval of President Kennedy and support from the CIA, Diệm’s regime was overthrown in a military coup on 2 November 1963. Diệm and his brother Nhu were summarily executed.

  The next two years witnessed chaos in the military and government as coup after coup took place.

  The Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964, where the North Vietnamese attacked US Navy ships with torpedo boats, propelled Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution giving then President Lyndon Johnson far ranging authorization to use conventional forces in Vietnam without officially declaring war.

  Viet Cong strength had risen from 5,000 in 1959 to over 100,000 by 1965. North Vietnamese Army strength had increased to nearly a million soldiers. The Viet Cong had by then destroyed over 7,500 hamlets in South Vietnam.

  Hesitant to commit American combat troops to the fight, President Johnson initiated bombing of North Vietnam (Rolling Thunder) and the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos and Cambodia in 1965.

  US Army General William Westmoreland however, sounded the alarm calling for US ground troops to combat the Viet Cong in the South and NVA forces infiltrating from the North saying, "I am convinced that U.S. troops with their energy, mobility, and firepower can successfully take the fight to the NLF [National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam a.k.a. the Viet Cong]."

  General Westmoreland’s plan called for three phases.

  Phase 1 was commitment of U.S. (and other free world) forces necessary to halt the losing trend of the ARVN forces by the end of 1965.

  Phase 2 called for U.S. and allied forces to mount major offensive actions to seize the initiative to destroy guerrilla and organized enemy forces.

  Phase 3 was a 12 to 18-month extension of phase 2, calling for the final destruction of enemy forces remaining in remote base areas if the enemy persisted.

  General Westmoreland predicted victory would be won by 1967.

  Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara visited Vietnam to see first-hand the situation there and confirmed Westmoreland’s need for US troop support. President Johnson approved General Westmoreland’s plan and preparations proceeded at a rapid pace to deploy US forces in strength to Vietnam.

  At the same time, McNamara had ordered the Army to study how it could better use helicopter assets to rapidly move, support and resupply troops in combat.

  Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of Defense 1961-1968

  That study, conducted by General Hamilton Howze and known as the “Howze Board”, recommended entire combat divisions be converted to “Air Mobile” divisions, supplied with up to 400 helicopters of all types; Observation Helicopters to conduct reconnaissance, Utility Helicopters to transport and resupply troops and perform medical evacuations, Attack Helicopters to escort the Utility helicopters and provide close air support and large Cargo Helicopters to move heavy equipment and supplies.

  The tactics these new helicopter combat organizations would use to rapidly deploy large troop units into combat would become known as “Air Assault”.

  These new airmobile units, with their helicopter assets, were deemed perfectly suited to rapidly move personnel, equipment and supplies throughout Vietnam to meet and defeat the threat posed by North Vietnam and Viet Cong forces.

  The 1st Cavalry Division was the first division to be converted to Air Mobile. It deployed to Vietnam in July 1965.

  Other smaller helicopter combat units were quickly formed and deployed while the 101st Airborne Division was being converted to an Airmobile Division as well. It deployed to Vietnam in 1968.

  US troop strength in Vietnam rapidly increased to over a half a million, supported by thousands of helicopters and the conflict would become known as “Vietnam - The Helicopter War”.

  I knew very little of this as I arrived at Travis Air Force Base in California for my flight to Vietnam.

  Pan Am Charter, Travis AFB to Vietnam

  7/1st Air Cavalry Squadron Unit Crest

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  BULLET CATCHER

  Dressed in my starched khaki uniform with a duffel bag slung over my shoulder, I reported to the duty clerk at the huge Military Airlift Command Terminal at Travis Air Force Base just outside Vacaville near Sacramento, California for my flight to Vietnam the first week of February 1969. The place was packed with what seemed like hundreds of other guys just like me.

  “I’m Mr. Jennings. Here’s my travel orders,” I said as I checked in and handed the paperwork over to the Airman.

  It was just after 5pm in the afternoon, a good two hours b
efore my flight at 7pm.

  “Uh, Mr. Jennings, your flight was at 1700 hours,” he clarified, pointing out the large windows to a lumbering jet taxiing out to the runway.

  “What?” I stuttered. “How did that happen?” I questioned.

  It happened because in all the tension of the last few days, my brain took the “7” in 1700 hours (which is 5pm civilian time) and kept telling me it was 7pm. I was two hours late!

  DAMN! I missed movement! That’s what the military formally calls missing your time and place to move out on assignment. It’s a serious offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and subject to Court Martial, especially in time of war. I could end up in prison for years.

  I couldn’t believe this happened. My budding military career was over. I would be court martialed in disgrace, reduced to Private and sent packing for a long tour in Fort Leavenworth!

  “The next flight leaves at 10, that’s 2200 hours, Mr. Jennings,” the airman said next as he looked down at the flight schedule.

  Then he looked up and said with a wry smile. “I’ll make room for you on that flight. In the meantime, please have a seat in the waiting area. We’ll start the boarding process at 2130,” as he stamped my orders and handed me my boarding pass.

  Smart-ass Air Force Airman. Now I was on my way to Vietnam as a Helicopter Pilot with 19 minutes to live. Maybe Leavenworth was a better option.

  The chartered Pan Am flight was nearly full as we taxied out for the long flight to the other side of the world. We would cross the Pacific and stop for fuel in Guam before heading on to Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon, Vietnam.

  The Pan Am Captain came over the public-address system as we entered Vietnam’s airspace. “We’re now in a combat zone,” he explained, “and our arrival into Tan Son Nhut will be a bit different than what you’re used to. Please tighten your seatbelts. Flight attendants, please be seated,” he ended abruptly.

  With that he started a steep, spiraling, rapid descent over the airport to avoid flying low and slow over possible enemy locations before landing at the air base.

  We held on to our seats while he maneuvered the big jet as we circled down. His touchdown was smooth though and we all cheered his expert landing.

  The flight attendants had been especially attentive during the long flight and now said warm farewells as we departed the plane. Soon they would be greeting those who would be heading back home, their tours of duty in hell finally over.

  Ours was just beginning though as we stepped down onto the tarmac. The heat of the tropics surrounded us and our nostrils immediately filled with a strange, pungent odor that we would endure for the rest of our time in country.

  The peculiar odor was the smell of burning feces excreted by tens of thousands of military personnel, soaked in fuel oil and set afire in thousands of barrels from hundreds of outhouses. Plumes of smoke dotted the horizon nearly everywhere you looked. A daily regimen performed at every military base throughout Vietnam.

  We boarded buses that would drive us to the nearby Army base at Bien Hoa. The scariest part of the ride was looking at the heavy wire grates covering the windows. We had been told those were there to help protect us if we were attacked by rocket propelled grenades.

  Geeez, a few minutes in-country and I’m already nervous as hell. Stupid really. This was paradise compared to where I would be going.

  The Army had a huge reception facility at the base at Bien Hoa. We would spend several days here undergoing in-processing and in-country orientation.

  First up was issuing our jungle fatigues, boots, hats, mosquito netting and personal combat gear.

  Then began the daily medical regimen of taking huge pills to ward off malaria and salt pills to help keep us hydrated.

  And warnings to never have sexual relations with the local girls of the night as you would become combat disabled. Your dick would fall off!

  We attended lectures on the history, customs and courtesies of Vietnam.

  We were briefed on the US military organization in Vietnam and the division of the country militarily into four Corps; I Corps (pronounced eye-core) in the far north from Da Nang to the DMZ, II Corps (2-core) in the Central Highlands, III Corps (3-core) in the middle and IV Corps (4-core) in the south.

  This was followed by an orientation on the enemy and his weapons, tactics and capabilities including a live demonstration outside by a former North Vietnamese soldier, now on our side as a “Kit Carson” scout, who infiltrated his way into the base through all the defenses, in broad daylight, totally undetected until he stood up just a few feet in front of us!

  That was followed by demonstrations of our weapons for both offensive and defensive operations including the Claymore mine.

  And it all wrapped up with assignments to our combat units. I was assigned to Charlie Troop, 7th of the 1st Air Cavalry Squadron or C/7/1 at Vinh Long in the Mekong Delta.

  That evening I was notified to pack up. A helicopter would be picking me up soon to take me to the unit.

  The Huey never stopped running as I hunched over to keep clear of the rotor blades and fought against the wind it created to load my gear and myself into the helicopter, under the watchful eye and direction of the crew chief. Once I was aboard the crew chief gave a thumbs-up to the Pilot and we lifted off, nosed over and in seconds were out of there and flying over the Vietnam countryside.

  I couldn’t see much in the dark and had no idea which direction we were heading or where we were going. I just trusted the helicopter crew to get me there alive.

  The flight was less than an hour and proved uneventful. When we landed at the air base at Vinh Long and parked the helicopter and shut down, I was greeted by some of the other Pilots in the unit and escorted to my quarters.

  The quarters or “hooches” as they were referred to, were actually really nice one-story buildings made of plywood and wire screen mounted on concrete pads and topped off with tin roofs. The facilities at Vinh Long had been there for several years and had been constantly improved over time by the soldiers who resided there, past and present.

  Our hooch for the Cobra Pilots or “Weapons Platoon” had four-man rooms inside, built from plywood and rocket boxes. Some were really decked out with nice bunks, lockers, stereos and refrigerators. I was impressed.

  First Lieutenant Don Ericksen, who had arrived just a few weeks earlier, showed me to my room, pointed out my bunk and where to stow my gear, and then showed me where the showers, latrine and shitters were located. He then agreed to meet with me at 0630 for breakfast and help get me in-processed into the unit.

  I stowed my gear, made my bunk, flopped down and fell fast asleep. It had been a long day.

  The next morning at breakfast in the mess hall I was introduced all around to the fellow Pilots in my platoon and following breakfast, formally met with the Commanding Officer. The First Sergeant and Company Clerk then took over and in short order got me in-processed and issued my weapons and ammunition; an M-16 automatic rifle and .38 caliber pistol. And an armored chest protector called a “Chicken Plate” that I would wear every time I flew.

  After a tour of the base, our facilities and the flight line and introduced to the aircraft crew chiefs and maintenance support personnel, the next order of business was an “In-Country Check Ride”.

  The check ride was conducted by the unit Standardization Instructor Pilot or SIP for Cobras. His job was to provide me with instruction on unit flight procedures, maintenance and safety and to conduct an in-flight examination of my ability to perform basic flight maneuvers to make sure I was competent to fly as a Copilot in the Weapons Platoon.

  The Cobras in the 7/1st Cav had been in the unit for quite a while and had already seen lots of combat. They were all painted Army green, however had been adorned on the front with a gaping red shark’s mouth and huge white teeth. Scary!

  After giving the aircraft a thorough preflight inspection and review of aircraft systems and weapons loading procedures, we climbed aboard for our flight t
o the nearby air base at Can Tho for the check ride.

  He directed me to the back seat where the Pilot-in-Command or PIC normally sits as he took the Copilot/Gunner front seat. We went through the prestart and start checklists and soon were hovering out for takeoff. He continually talked and explained things as we took off from Vinh Long on our short flight to Can Tho.

  The Instructor was flying from the front seat and talking to the control tower as we entered the traffic pattern at Can Tho. He cleared with the tower for a practice engine failure and told me he would demonstrate a straight-in autorotation and then it would be my turn to do the same.

  “I’ll maintain pattern altitude and 90 knots as I line up with the intended area of landing,” he started explaining as he set up for the maneuver.

  “About here on final with a steep approach angle I’ll reduce the throttle to flight idle to simulate engine failure, reduce collective to maintain rotor rpm, maintain 90 knots forward airspeed and continue scanning the instruments.”

  We were coming down fast. Helicopters glide like a brick.

  “As we approach 50 feet I’ll bring in aft cyclic and flare to maximize rotor rpm, being careful not to over speed and about here - BAM!”

  He never finished his sentence as he had waited too long to pop the collective to arrest our descent.

  We hit the runway hard, bounced back in the air, and started wobbling sideways as the rotor rpm rapidly decreased. My life passed before my eyes as I peered through the canopy thinking we were crashing sideways onto the perforated steel planking.

  We hit again at about a 45-degree angle to the runway as he pulled the remaining collective for a last gasp of lift.

  The aircraft lurched off the runway and climbed a few feet, just clearing a barrier of concertina wire.

  With no lift left and low rotor rpm, we flopped down into a muddy rice paddy, immediately sinking several feet up to our wings and rocket pods.

  We came to rest totally splattered in a mud bath, but safe with no injuries, and the helicopter still running with the rotor blades spinning.