Kennith Wayne Wheeler
Corporal
HMM-262, MAG-39, 1ST MAW, III MAF
United States Marine Corps
Brownwood, Texas
December 20, 1945 to May 10, 1969
KENNITH W WHEELER is on the Wall at Panel W25, Line 45

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Combat Aircrew
 
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 Kennith W Wheeler
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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:
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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