Group for individuals who were members of the unit before during or after the Viet Nam War.
Hornet History
The 116th Aviation Company was formed at Fort Bragg NC in July of 1965. In September they departed for Vietnam arriving at Vung Tau on October 18, 1965. The Hornets joined the 11th Combat Aviation Battalion at Phu Loi on November 9, 1965. The 116th first combat missions were flown on December 7, 1965 near Phouc Vinh in support of the 1st Infantry Division.
In November of 1966 the Hornets moved to Cu Chi, the base camp for the 25th Infantry Division. The Hornets were transferred to the 269th Combat Aviation Battalion in March of 1967. On March 21, 1967 the Hornets resupplied the 3rd Bde 4th Inf Div who were being overrun by the 272nd Viet Cong Regiment and were out of ammunition. The resupply turned the course of the battle and saved many American lives. The 116th was recommended for a Presidential Unit Citation for their actions. In July of 1970 the Hornets moved to Chu Lai and placed under control of the 23rd Infantry Division, the Americal Division. In March of 1971 the Hornets went to Quang Tri to participate in Operation Lam Son 719, the incursion into Laos.
The Hornets were moved from Chu Lai in October of 1971 to Marble Mountain at Da Nang. In late October a typhoon did considerable damage to the Hornet aircraft. On December 26, 1971 the Hornets stood down.
Unit Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation for actions 24-26 April 1969
Valorous Unit Award for actions 19 Jul 1966
Valorous Unit Award for actions 22 & 23 Oct 1966
Valorous Unit Award for actions 4 - 20 Nov 1966
Valorous Unit Award for actions 13 June - 23 Sept 1968
Meritorious Unit Commendation for actions 31 Oct 1965 - 10 Jun 1966
Meritorious Unit Commendation for actions 1 Jan - 31 Dec 1967
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross w/palm for actions 1 - 26 Mar 1967
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross w/palm for actions 27 Mar 1967 -17 May 1968
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross w/palm for actions 8 Feb - 31 Mar 1971
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross w/palm for actions 1 Apr - 30 Jun 1971
Vietnamese Civil Action Honor Medal First Class w/oak leaf for actions 1 May - 15 May 1969 - 20 Jul 1970
Historical information was researched by the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Historical Committee, Charles Yonts and Bill Hinkle
The Battle of Ap Cho
Edited by Paul Jenkins
On the day in question we were forced by a nit-wit Battalion Commander into an open field with about two feet of water in it. It was an abandoned rice paddy. We were hot on the tail of a bunch of VC. We had overrun a couple of bunkers in the light jungle we were moving through. We had a prisoner, a VC Command Post flag, a couple of AK's and beau coup documents. The hair on my neck was standing up because I knew we were tailing a force larger than mine. I had about 120 men.
When we came to the clearing I could see an L shaped wood line at the other side, about 200 yards to our front. Any fool would know that the VC were holed up in that wood line. The Colonel insisted we cross the open and attack. I asked for an artillery prep along the wood line and it was denied. I asked for a gunship to screen my front and it was denied. Seems you had to be in contact before you could get any preparations. The BN Cmdr. was too timid to even ask BDE or Div for support because he stayed in hot water with them. S-3 told me he never asked.
He did throw in Alpha Company on my left as a reserve. Curt Chancey was the CO. He recently commented that he remembered the day and the gunship that picked up my KIA. Delta was to join me also but they never got to the paddy before we had to go.
Alpha Company watched as we fixed bayonets, lobbed a few M-79 grenade rounds across the paddy. They fell short of course. Then we moved on line into the open field.
We made it about 50 yards, just deep enough into it to get the whole company exposed when they opened up and began to cut us down. Only my eyeballs were out of the water. We were pinned down good and I was taking wounded all over the place. Curt and his boys were on the far left and helped lay down fire but could not get up alongside of us.
I begged Battalion for help. Within a few minutes two gunships showed up. They were Stingers! They flew that wood line at 50-100 feet vomiting hot steel on the VC. I remember one pilot saying he had taken 6-7 hits and was low on fuel. He had to get out of there. The other ship stayed on station for a bit but had to go too. They verified that the force we faced was very large and I started to get some artillery. The VC kept hosing us down though and we still could not move. Finally a "Smokey Bear" showed up and laid down a beautiful smoke screen. Now that I think of it. It was "Smokey" that took the hits and reported the size of the force. He was 25 feet off the ground. I think another showed up to help him. and Stinger 96 had refueled, re-armed and was returning. The wind was right and we were in a heavy fog. We moved around and got all of our wounded and KIA's. Alpha got hurt too.
With the gunships, smokeys, and two short shooters from Tan San Nhut, blasting the wood line, we were able to get a dust off. I remember putting so many men aboard that dust off that the pilot said he didn't think it would get off the ground. LT. Harris, my first platoon leader had to stand on the skids on one leg. The other leg had been damn near shot off. The dust off pilot made a run for it and that sucker made it into the sky. I was so grateful. I think we had 12 wounded on board without equipment. He said he would not come back in for the rest of the wounded, he would only make one attempt. I don't blame him.
Finally the jets came over and bombed the poop out of that wood line. The 20MM coming out of those cannons sounded like a million people vomiting at the same time. The napalm was gorgeous. One Stinger stayed over us as we made it back into the wood line behind us He said he'd fly cover for me as we withdrew. He stayed overhead making passes to my front and advising me.
We were carrying KIA Sgt Scheiber on a stick. Had a couple of slightly wounded limping along too. The pilot grieved for me, I know. He explained that he was prohibited from landing.
Not against the pilots, but against "policy". Policy that didn't make any sense to me at the time.
Stinger 96 must have had a change of heart and he did a brave, prohibited, wonderful thing.
He landed and loaded Sgt Scheiber, stick and all on board. I think he took a couple of wounded too. I offered him a souvenir or two. He got out of the chopper and we met. I could have hugged him and smacked him on both cheeks, but we just shook hands, lest my men think I was a pussy.
I gave him a nice VC flag with a little blood on it. I think I gave him an AK too. He got out of there and radioed me that he was dropping my KIA at our Battalion CP about 5 clicks behind us. He didn't take him to Dau Tieng or a base area. Wise move probably.
A Company, (Curt Chancey) got the privilege of going back into the L shaped wood line and cleaning up. I think he pulled 6-10 VC KIA out of there. I think he had some more casualties too. Curt recently wrote that he remembered the incident and us talking about it that night back at the CP. Especially he remembered the gunship landing.
Jim Dice, an RTO with the first platoon described the whole incident in a letter to me a couple of years ago, as he recalled it. Someone even snapped a picture of us going out into the paddy and you can see the men falling from the first burst of fire.
Eddie Runge, my RTO also recalls the moment. How could anyone forget, eh?
You might ask why this is so important to me. This guy did more than perform a mercy mission. He may in fact have saved my whole career as a company commander. Consider that I had been in the command of the company for only a week or two. I was untested as a CO, a First Lieutenant, my first action as Charlie Company Commander. I had been a Platoon Leader for 6 months in Alpha Company though.
The men were not aware of all our radio communications and many believed that it was I who chose to go out into that killing field. The absence of preparatory support was also attributed to me and my lack of influence with Battalion.
We had our ass whipped and there is no worse feeling in the world. The way we were carrying Sgt Scheiber, a very well liked man, was disgraceful.... shameful.... The company began to fold. Morale was low, fear was high. I didn't know if I could hold it together.
That pilot landing removed any doubt from the company that I had any balls, influence, compassion, etc. It was the only positive thing that happened that day. Once our wounded and KIA's were cared for the men began to rally. We had been at the edge. Sgt. Scheiber being dragged and carried on that pole represented everything that went wrong that day.
They think I talked him down... Stinger. They thanked me. I became their Commander at last. They followed me into Ap Cho... What great men, all of them. What great pilots and crewmen. I really believe that Stinger 96 acting in violation of his standing orders, did more than act mercifully that day. He authenticated my position as CO, restored my own faith in myself, and a lot more. He may not even remember it, all though I doubt it. God bless him and all of you heroes from the sky!
Chuck Boyle
Mike Adkinson writes