174th Assault
Helicopter Company
DOLPHINS & SHARKS




U.S. Copter "Saves" NVA


The following is the text from an article published
in the STARS AND STRIPES on 26 June 1968.



U.S. Copter "Saves" NVA
26 June 1968

CHU LAI, Vietnam (Special) - A Huey helicopter pilot supporting Americal Div.'s 196th Inf. Brigade went after what was reported to be a downed American jet pilot, but came back with a North Vietnamese Army soldier instead.

WO Kenneth W. Johnson of Webster City, Iowa, was flying a resupply and medevac mission for a battalion of the 196th which was under fire five miles north of Dong Ha.

An ARVN outpost in the area of where an F4 jet went down reported spotting the pilot wandering in a rice paddy.

"I picked up the message and went down to take a look," said the 174th Aviation Co. pilot, "I spotted him and also thought he was the pilot."

"We were about 100 yards from him when he suddenly threw up both hands and I realized he was an NVA." The Huey picked up the NVA and took him in to the 3rd Bn., 21st Inf., command post.

The pilot was later picked up by another aircraft.