Richard Eugene Garretson

The database page for Richard Eugene Garretson

16 May 2007 Dearest Uncle Richard, I was only 4 years old when you were taken away. I have pictures to look at of you and me. I wish we had more time, but thankful for the short time we had to share. I wish I was able to remember them. I now take care of veterans. In a small way it's the only way I know how to repay you and other veterans for making the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that I have the freedoms I enjoy. I miss getting to know you better. I love you so. Love you always, your niece Angela (Brenner) Dean angedean@yahoo.com Notes from The Virtual Wall On 28 November 1971 a CH-47C (tail number 68-15866) of Company C, 159th ASHB, 101st Airborne, was tasked to conduct an administrative troop lift from Landing Zone 401 (Danang) to Camp Eagle. The lift was delayed due to extremely poor weather, but as the day progressed the weather improved sufficiently for the mission to launch. The CH-47 (PLAYTEX 866) with five crewmen aboard departed home base at 1220, arrived at LZ 401 without incident, and loaded 29 troops aboard. PLAYTEX 866 departed LZ 401 at 1310. At 1328 Hue Approach Control received a call from PLAYTEX 866 stating that he was declaring an emergency. No further contact was made with PLAYTEX 866. Search and rescue operations were begun at 1340 but were hampered by low ceilings and intermittent rain. At 0840 hours, 2 Dec 71, an OH-6 pilot from the 2nd Bde aviation section reported sighting wreckage that appeared to be the lost CH-47 aircraft. The elevation of the crash site was approximately 650 feet and throughout the search and rescue operation the crash site was shrouded by clouds. At 1650 2 Dec 71, Company D, 2/502nd Inf, was airlifted from Camp Eagle to a position approximately 2500 meters east of the crash site. The rescue party cut their way through the mountainous jungle terrain and arrived at the crash site at 0830 5 Dec 71. The aircraft was located in a creek bed approximately 650 feet up the side of a mountain. It had hit a 50 degree slope with great impact causing the fuel cells to rupture and a flash fire resulted. The aircraft was completely demolished and there were no survivors. Vincent Bernal was one of the thirty-four men killed in the crash. C Co, 159th ASHB, 101st Abn Div CWO Jerald W Carter, Daleville AL CWO Joseph J Savick, Akron OH SGT Michael A Crawford, Henryetta OK    PFC Willie J Oaks, Beattyville KY SP4 Raymond A Trujillo, La Puente CA   A Co, 1st Bn, 327th Inf Rgt SP4 Joseph A Aubain, San Juan PR PFC Vincent Bernal, Mitchell NE PFC John H Hare, Louisville MS SP4 Joel S Ivey, Southern Pines NC SGT Terry G Kugler, Cullman AL 1LT Robert J Ladensack, Phoenix AZ PFC George P Martin, Monterey Park CA SP4 Alphonza Mason, Newark NJ SGT Robert D Maynard, Blaine WA PFC Steven J McDonald, Ketchum ID CPT Martin K Niskanen, South Paris ME SSG Daniel E Nye, Albany NY SP4 James E Palmer, Halifax VA SP4 Brinsley B Ramos, Washington DC SP4 Ronald K Sweetland, Bloomingdale MI    PFC Gary D Wilson, Eureka CA PFC Robert L Wynn, Chicago IL   HHC, 1st Bn, 327th Inf Rgt SP5 Ronald D Carleton, El Monte CA SP5 Billy R Coffey, Dallas TX SSG Howard L Colbaugh, Atlanta GA SP6 Will R Dantzler, Heidelberg MS SP4 Richard E Garretson, Anderson IN SP4 Archie T Lucy, Mobile AL CPL Michael O Maybee, Fowler MI SP4 Oscar Paulley, Louisville KY SP5 Roy K Stewart, Bemus Point NY SP4 William D Thompson, Auburndale FL SSG Carl L Thornton, Gainesville GA SP5 John E Windfelder, Philadelphia PA

The point-of-contact for this memorial is his niece, Angela Dean angedean@yahoo.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 16 May 2007
Last updated 05/23/2007