Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:4 From his wife, Jamie C. Holden Knowles perdido22@cox.net   24 Nov 2001

 

30 May 2002 I was one of John's roomates at Pensacola ... and a fellow MarCad ... and I was on the scene right after the crash, flying an H-46 from HMM-262; we had gotten the notice of the mid-air collision from Dong Ha DASC on Guard Channel and we landed right next to the wreckage. I was the co-pilot, so I unstrapped and got out to see if there was anything we could do to help. John was already gone, as far as I could tell died instantly ... looked fine, as if asleep .... He had a great sense of humor, and a real sense of honor. I miss you, Ho Tai; you were the greatest! I will see you again. From a friend and Whiting Field roomate, Michael R. Mullen, Ph.D. LtCol. USMC (Ret) mike9743@pacbell.net

 

The Mission In the early morning hours of 11 April 1968, an H-34 helicopter of HMM-163 launched on a med-evac mission. The H-34 was escorted by two UH-1 gunship helicopters from VMO-6. After picking up four wounded Marines from near Khe Sanh, the H-34 and its escorts proceeded toward Dong Ha. While enroute, a mid-air collision occurred between the H-34 and the lead UH-1 when the UH-1, which was in trail, came into contact with the H-34. Both aircraft crashed and burned near the abandoned refugee camp at Cam Lo. The casualties included Aboard the H-34 (BuNo 145804): CAPT Eugene R Gannon, Pilot 2ND LT John P Holden II, Copilot CPL John A Nixon, Gunner CPL Frederick D Graten, Crew Chief Passengers: HN Frank P Addice, Corpsman CPL Robert W Belcher PFC Dennis R Davidson PFC Richard E Erwin PFC Charles R Finley Aboard the UH-1E (BuNo 154968): CAPT Bruce F McMillan, Pilot 1ST LT Ronald E Riede, Copilot CPL Paul J Allen, Crew Chief LCPL Michael G De Marco, Gunner From the Pop-A-Smoke site

 

A memorial initiated by his wife, Jamie C. Holden Knowles perdido22@cox.net  24 Nov 2001

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