John Phelen Roe

The database page for John Phelen Roe

23 Jul 2007 How do you explain writing a memorial for a friend thirty eight years after his death? I guess it must be because he touched your life in a way that you still remember after all this time. John Roe was special guy. He had an energy and personality that made him instantly liked. He was specially liked by the ladies. There were four or five of us that hung together. We could always count on finding girls when John was around. He played guitar and did a great Johnny Cash impression! He could always find a party or a reason for one. He was an avid sportsman and a polo player. He had a good life going. John was out of college and eligible for the draft. When he received his notice he called me. I was seven years older and served in Korea. I told him to relax, his chances of seeing combat were slim. Less than ten percent get to the line. I reminded him he was intelligent and educated. The Army would probably place him in "the rear with the gear". Just "don't volunteer!" The next time I see him he is wearing bars and on leave from helicopter flight school. I said "Didn't you hear me about volunteering?" He says "Hell, this is the greatest, I love it!" John always went full out. He couldn't be a bystander. He was in Vietnam about eight months before being killed in action. John Roe would be sixtyfive now. If he were still here we would have a drink at the Legion and swap stories. From a friend, John C. Weatherell 1239 43rd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Fl 33703 dweatherell@tampabay.rr.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall Seven men died when a 175th Assault Helicopter Company UH-1D (tail number 66-00879) went down about 13 kilometers north-northwest of Tuyen Nhon, Kien Tuong Province: CPT John Phelen Roe, pilot, 175th AHC WO1 James Dale Earnest, pilot, 175th AHC SP4 Robert L. Glasgow, crew chief, 175th AHC SP4 Robert Joseph Whites, gunner, 175th AHC LTC Martin Robert Beck, passenger, Det B-41, D Co, 5th SF Group CPT Louis J. Geneseo, passenger, Det A-414, D Co, 5th SF Group SGT Francis M. Beverly, passenger, 114th AHC The crew was in a low hover engaging enemy troops crossing a canal in sampans when the rotor downdraft detonated a boobytrap, blowing the Huey out of the air.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is a friend, John C. Weatherell 1239 43rd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Fl 33703 dweatherell@tampabay.rr.com

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 23 Jul 2007
Last updated 07/27/2007