Eugene Gubbins

The database page for Eugene Gubbins

17 Aug 2004 Remembered by a MIA Bracelet wearer for CWO Jimmy Lee Watson, Mark Shanks highlandbrave75@hotmail.com

Notes from The Virtual Wall On 13 March 1968 a UH-1B HUEY (hull number 67-17254) departed Phu Bai Airfield (Hue) enroute Camp Evans, some 27 miles to the northwest. Ten men were aboard the aircraft: From HHT, 1st Sqdn, 9th Cav Rgt LT Purda, pilot and aircraft commander CW3 Jimmy Lee Watson, copilot SFC Eugene Gubbins, crew chief PFC Larry Jay Moore, door gunner SSG Steven Wayne Heitman, passenger Others SGT Cleveland Evans, 3rd MT Bn, 3rd MarDiv, passenger 4 unidentified personnel from 1st Cav Div units At 1830 the aircraft was approximately 5 miles southeast of Camp Evans when it was brought down by enemy ground fire. None of the 10 men aboard the Huey were injured in the incident and all of them safely exited the aircraft. Believing there was a better chance of making their way to Camp Evans in two small groups they split into two 5-man teams. LT Purda and the 4 unidentified soldiers comprised one team; WO2 Watson, SFC Gubbins, PFC Moore, Sgt. Evans and SP5 Heitman comprised the second team. The two elements separated shortly thereafter taking slightly different routes toward the northwest and Camp Evans. LT Purda and the four soldiers walked into Camp Evans at 2000 hours. Once the situation became clear, an immediate and intensive search and rescue operation was organized to locate the rest of the flight crew and passengers. However, the initial search failed to locate either the aircraft or the missing personnel. On 28 March elements of the 1st Cavalry Division did locate the downed aircraft and found two bodies (identified as SFC Eugene Gubbins and PFC Larry Moore) in a shallow grave not far from the crash site. SAR efforts continued for the three men in and around the location where the two bodies were found, as well as between Camp Evans and the crash site, but without success. When the formal SAR efforts were terminated WO Jimmy Watson, SGT Cleveland Evans, and SSG Steven W. Heitman were listed Missing in Action.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is a wearer of CWO Jimmy Lee Watson's MIA bracelet, Mark Shanks highlandbrave75@hotmail.com  17 Aug 2004

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 08/17/2004