Kennith Wayne Wheeler

The database page for Kennith Wayne Wheeler

23 Feb 2003 "To live in the hearts we leave behind, is never to have died." (Thomas Campbell, circa 1888) From his sister, Nelle Coursey nelle.coursey@tyc.state.tx.us

Notes from The Virtual Wall Six Marines died on 10 May 1969 when a CH-46 (BuNo 152560) of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 went down while making a combat assault landing at what became FSB Erskine: From HMM-262: Cpl Peter Gibson, Gunner Cpl Kennith Wayne Wheeler, Crew Chief From Bravo Co, 1st Bn, 9th Marines: LCpl Virgil Lee Larkins LCpl Paul David Mannerow PFC Gerald Gene Broussard PFC Roy James Mrosewske The HMM-262 Command Chronology for the date of his death contains the following information: "HMM-262 launched an 8 A/C (aircraft) assault lifting troops of First Battalion Ninth Marines, into Landing Zone Erskine located at YD-162106 (UTM grid coordinates). Small-arms fire was received by one of the A/C while in the zone during the first wave, yet no hits were taken. On the second wave, 93-8 (aircraft mission number) while approaching the zone had a power loss, fell short of the zone, crashed and burned. The pilot, copilot, and one gunner, Major Whitfield, 1/Lt P. J. Traube, and L/Cpl J. W. Stewart, received minor injuries. However the crew chief and second gunner, Cpl K. W. Wheeler and Cpl P. Gibson (H&MS-39) received fatal injuries ... " One of the Marines injured in the crash, Pfc Daniel J. Giordano of Hi-Nella, New Jersey, died from his injuries on 18 May after being evacuated to Japan.

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 22 Feb 2003
Last updated 08/10/2009