James Weston Cherrick
Private First Class
1ST PLT, E CO, 2ND BN, 1ST MARINES, 1ST MARDIV, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
New York, New York
December 04, 1946 to July 15, 1966
JAMES W CHERRICK is on the Wall at Panel 9E, Line 22

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Combat Action Ribbon
 
James W Cherrick
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08 August 2002

REMEMBERED

by his comrades in arms from
VVA Chapter 421

Placed by another Vietnam veteran,
Lester Modelowitz
lmodelowitz@si.rr.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall

On 15 July 1966 an aerial assault was conducted into Landing Zone Crow, about 5 miles northeast of the Rockpile in Quang Tri Province. Since LZ Crow was marginally large enough to hold four CH-46s at a time, the 24-ship assault force was divided into six sections of four aircraft each. The first two sections landed witout incident, but one CH-46 from the third section landed long into a tree line but came to rest outside the LZ area. Disaster struck the fifth section when the rotor disks of two CH-46s overlapped causing severe damage to both aircraft and killing two Marines on the ground.

A CH-46A (tail number 152500) from HMM-265 was detailed to carry a reaction force to guard the three downed CH-46s at LZ Crow. According to an official USMC source

"At 1815, while inserting a reaction company to guard the three CH-46s in LZ Crow, HMM-265's EP-171, ... was hit at 1,500 feet by 12.7mm fire. Photos taken from the ground show smoke coming from the cockpit windows and flames from the rear of the aircraft. When they tried landing on Crow, smoke filled the cockpit so no one could see. They overshot the LZ and crashed ..."

Fifteen men died in the crash:

  • HMM-265, MAG-16
    • Sgt Robert R. Telfer, Fonda, NY

  • A Co, 1st Eng Bn
  • B Co, 3rd Eng Bn
    • Cpl James M. Reid, Philadelphia, PA

  • E Co, 2nd Bn, 1st Marines
    • SSgt Herolin T. Simmons, Ahoskie, NC (Silver Star, 5/29/66)
    • Cpl Orson H. Case, Johnstown, NY
    • HM3 Andrew P. Chamaj, Scenery Hill, PA
    • Cpl Paul R. Chambers, Scottsboro, AL
    • Pfc James W. Cherrick, New York, NY
    • Pfc Michael A. Cunnion, Mount Vernon, NY
    • Pfc Michael A. Gooden, Bellflower, CA
    • Pfc Carl W. Schloemer, Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO
    • Pfc Gerald E. Stubstad, Chicago, IL

  • H&S Co, 2nd Bn, 1st Marines
    • HM3 Mark V. Dennis, Miamisburg, OH

  • H&S Co, 3rd Bn, 4th Marines
    • Cpl William J. Lilly, Rowayton, CT
    • HN John N. Morris, Meldrim, GA
Meanwhile, three more Marines died in the ground fighting:
  • H&S Co, 3rd Bn, 4th Marines
    • SSgt Paul G. Hendrix, Hartselle, AL

  • K Co, 3rd Bn, 4th Marines
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