A Vietnam Retrospective
PART 18
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The next day was Thursday, February 25th. That afternoon, Doug Erb, Steve Birch,
Richard Bricker, and Mike Walsh were brought to the hospital after being shot down
near LZ Scotch. They were departing an LZ when they were hit by something big,
knocking the aircraft into the trees where it exploded on fire. They were all burned
pretty badly.
Erb and Birch would die of pneumonia in Japan within weeks. It would be years before
we'd learn the fates of Bricker and Walsh.
  
Above L-R: WO1 Pat Erb 1970, then Erb 1971, and a rare shot
of Erb at Vandy (by the Co-Pilot door). This was probably 25 February 1971, shortly before their
crash. Dolphin 23, Guy "Cowboy" Martin had the camera on their aircraft, because he thought
it rare that there was "sniff dog" around (the German Shepard is in the photo). It's handler
(not in the photo)
claimed to be SOG, but we woundered
if the dog was at Vandy sniffing for drugs.
Above L-R: SP4 Norm Bricker (center
of the photo).
The next photo is Bricker playfully hassling his Gunner by their Dolphin UH-1H 69-15423
(probably Walsh...can't tell) 1971.
 
Photos L-R: A poor photo of Mike (Courtesy of "Hootchmate"
Bob Estess) at Quang-Tri, after his Crew
had shot a Tiger in Laos from their aircraft- on approach back to Khe Sahn. Another story.
Right is Mike (left) with Fred Thompson at the VHPA '93 Convention in Phoenix.
No photos of WO1 Steven Burch. Can anyone provide us with some?
That night, a Catholic chaplain came through the ward and asked me how I was doing, or if I needed anything. I'd been thinking about my Mom and what her reaction to me getting wounded was gonna be. I'd hoped I could tell her myself so she wouldn't think the worst. She'd already been through a few scary notifications in her time. My Dad had crashed in South America on Easter Sunday of 1957, doing magnetometer work. The company he flew for believed he was killed but they hadn't found the wreckage of the plane yet, to be sure. She knew about it but never told my brother or me until she would get the word for sure.
It was between 4 days and a week before she found he was located, in the hospital and had survived. He came home in a body cast. That chaplain gave me a crucifix, even though I told him I was a Methodist. He said it might give me a little comfort. I've kept it for over twenty-eight years now.
Between the Chaplain, and my Doctor, they got me a "MARS" call and I was able to let my Mom know I was OK. She filled me in on the damage from the earthquake. Every dish in the house was broken and half the windows either cracked or smashed out. I got hold of a PACEX (Pacific Exchange) Catalog, and from the hospital I ordered two sets of Noritaki China. One for her, and one for me.
On Saturday, February 27th, Bruce Marshall was secured into a full body cast and transported to an off-shore Hospital ship near Hue. In September 1971, Bruce, Steve Diehl (a 101st pilot), and another of Bruce's friends, would drive to Los Angeles and stay at my place for a week. We've kept in touch ever since.
 On Sunday, February 28th, I was released from the hospital but medically grounded for another
five days. I did not protest. It was during these days that Maj. Searcy left the 174th and
was replaced by Maj. Dale Spratt (Photo on left shows L-R: Spratt and Lt. Butch Elliott at the VHPA Reunion '99). Unlike Searcy, Major Spratt would lead all the Dolphin flights into Laos.
On Monday March 1st, we received word that another of my classmates, Manuel Catzoela, was missing in Laos. He would eventually be rescued. Also, Vandergrif POL and Re-Arm would be hit with rockets and mortars this day.
On Tuesday March 2nd, Jarvis "Sugar Bear" Gambrell (Shark 1) left Quang Tri for R&R and eventually DEROS. He was gone from the unit. I would find out years later that after leaving Quang Tri, and while jumping a lift in a Chinook, he'd been shot down and wounded. They were on final to Qui Nhon when hit and he wouldn't leave until weeks later. I think he lost most everything he had in the aircraft except his film, which he had sent ahead.
On Wednesday March 3rd, the XO, 1Lt John Bishop, with 1Lt Carl Flemmer flew into an NVA-smoked LZ and got shot to shit. The first reports are that the entire crew is listed as "missing to captured," their aircraft burning.
The Rattlers of the 71 AHC apparently had 11 of 11 aircraft shot up, going into an LZ approximate
ly 50 clicks (?) into Laos, LZ LoLo (see 1971 History Photos: "Combat Assault
On LZ Lolo"). We received word that our aircraft are now on the same mission.
A Shark fire team of 170 "Ace of Spades" and a replacement Shark, 092, were both shot down this day in Laos. CPT Greg Smith was in the lead aircraft and Gary Harter was flying as his wingman. Both of the aircraft were brought down by multiple automatic weapons in the same area, near LZ LoLo (see 1971 History Page: "Two Shark Teams Shot Down In Three Days").
Bob Jansen was hit twice in the back and side. Once on the ground they had to flee enemy
mortars. Gary Harter tried to carry Bob, but kept dropping him as he was slick with blood.
When the mortars began to fall closer, Bob ran and had to be tackled and forced into a spider
hole until both crews could be extracted (see entire story and photos: "Retirement of a Shark Gun").
About the same time, the Dolphin CE Danny Davison was shot in the forehead while engaging
enemy soldiers. A Dolphin pilot, 1Lt Edgecomb (?) was shot in the shoulder.
 
Left is C/E Davison posing in "Satan" UH-1H 68-15463. Right is his A/C WO1
Darrell Carter doing the same. Danny was literally hit in the head by a .51 cal! He's alive and well today. Both photos courtesy of Davison.
On Thursday, March 4th, 1Lt Carl Flemmer virtually ran back to Khe Sahn with some ARVN soldiers. He said that the last time he saw John Bishop, John was returning to the downed aircraft to get his pistol. After the crash, he never saw the CE Larry Rhodes. The Shark CE John Moore was shot in the foot. The heel of his boot, to include part of his foot, was blown into Pat Wade's ammo box on the other side of the aircraft.
On Friday, March 5th, Shark replacement aircraft 169 and 094 were shot down. In addition, one slick and a 71st AHC Firebird were downed, all at the same time. Both the Shark crews were extracted uninjured. This was the second Shark team to be downed in three days. None of the four aircraft were to be recovered due to intense enemy fire. It was this day that Dolphin Cpt Don Peterson was cassette taping radio transmissions and captured the shoot down and Mayday call by 1Lt Ralph "Butch" Elliot and the crew of "Witchdoctor 5, the 174th's aircraft recovery bird. (see 1971 History Page: "Mayday! Mayday! Witchdoctor Is Down…")
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End of Part 18 of 20 Parts.
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