KIA INCIDENT: 19680425-1 VMO-6 Vietnam

Brothers (& Sisters) Killed in Action in USMC Helicopters or while assigned to USMC Helicopter or Tiltrotor Squadrons

19680425-1VMO-6 Vietnam

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Incident Date 19680425-1 VMO-6 UH-1E 154761+ - Hostile Fire, Crash

[CREW]
Schramm, Brock Rowland PFC Crew Chief VMO-6 MAG-36 1968-04-25 (vvm 52E:011)
Laye Jr., Edgar Cartha PFC Gunner VMO-6 MAG-36 1968-04-25 (vvm 52E:007)
Kimmel, Robert Charles 1stLT Co-Pilot VMO-6 MAG-36 1968-04-25 (vvm 52E:007)
Cawley, James Patrick Capt Pilot VMO-6 MAG-36 1968-04-25 (vvm 52E:003)
[PASSENGERS]
Campbell, Ronald J. PFC Passenger 561st Transportation Co 1968-04-25 (vvm 52E:003)
Burkes, Joseph NMN SP4 Passenger 561st MotorTransport 1968-04-25 (vvm 52E:003)

CAMPBELL, RONALD J. : PFC : US ARMY : PHILADELPHIA : PA : BEVERLY NATIONAL CEMETERY, BEVERLY, NJ
BURKES, JOSEPH : SP4 : US ARMY : DETROIT : MI



SCHRAMM BROCK ROWLAND : 2158839 : USMC : PFC : E2 : 6311 : 19 : SAN CARLOS : CA : 19680425 : hostile, crash, land : Crew : body recovered : Quang Tri :02 : 19480802 : Cauc : Roman Catholic/single : 52E : 011 : GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL CEMETERY
LAYE EDGAR CARTHA JR : 2179096 : USMC : PFC : E2 : 6341 : 19 : CHICAGO : IL : 19680425 : hostile, crash, land : Crew : body recovered : Quang Tri :02 : 19480609 : Negro : Protestant/single : 52E : 007
KIMMEL ROBERT CHARLES : 094179 : USMCR : 1stLT : O2 : 7563 : 24 : EAST ISLIP : NY : 19680425 : hostile, crash, land : Copilot : body recovered : Quang Tri :03 : 19440324 : Cauc : Roman Catholic/married : 52E : 007 : ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
CAWLEY JAMES PATRICK : 091663 : USMC : CAPT : O3 : 7563 : 25 : SCRANTON : PA : 19680425 : hostile, crash, land : Pilot : body recovered : Quang Tri :04 : 19430423 : Cauc : Roman Catholic/married : 52E : 003

Command Chronology - VMO-6

Incident reported in VMO-6 CmdChron TT 1201073038.pdf:
a. Page 9
"25 April 1968: .. At approximately 1935H, Capt CAWLEY's aircraft, Seaworthy
4-6, crashed seven miles east of Quang Tri. The cause has not been determined,
but enemy fire is suspected. The aircraft was destroyed and the crew lost."

b. Page 10
"At approximately 1935H, 25 April 1968, Seaworthy 4-6 piloted by Captain J.
P. Cawley crashed and burned seven miles east of Quang Tri with no survivors.
The crash was reported immediately to Walnut Hill and search and rescue efforts
began. The crash site was located and low level search was initiated by Marine
and Army personnel. Two platoons of ground troops were inserted around the
wreckage under sporadic sniper and small arms fire and an air CAP over the site
was flown until 0035H 26 April 1968. 1/Lt R. C. Kimmel was the copilot of 4-6
with Pfc B. R. SCHRAMM the crew chief and Pfc E. C. LAYE as gunner."

3. Acft secured by 1st Plt, Delta 1/26 vicinity YD437555.

4. Six repeat six bodies were removed from the wreckage. Applicable pages from 1/26 CmdChron for Apr 68 (TT 1201060215.pdf pp 68-70) attached.

Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association, 20061224

Virtual Wall Info

UH-1E - 154761. There were six (6) remains recovered. The documents show that they were carrying two Army soldiers onboard:

SP4 Joseph N BURKES - 561st Motor Transport Co. KIA
PFC Ronald J CAMPBELL - 561st Motor Transport Co. KIA

1915h. YD 434550. A/C observed flying over an ARVN ground engagement with NVA. Hit by enemy fire, descending in flames. Received more enemy fire while descending, with main rotor head and transmission separating prior to impact. A/C hit flat and was totally consumed by fire.


Submitted by: Bruce Swander, Researcher, The Virtual Wall, 20061224

SP4 JOSEPH N. BURKES, US ARMY

GENERAL / PERSONAL
Home: Detroit, Michigan
Birth Date: 1947-09-03
Sex: Male
Race: Negro
Married/Single: Single
Religion: Baptist - Other Groups
Citizen: Yes

MILITARY
Service Army
Rank SP4
Serial Number: 54959715
Component: Selective Service
Grade: E4
MOS: 57H20
Length of Service 01
Start of Tour: 1967-10-19

CASUALTY
Casualty Date: 1968-04-25
Casualty Type: Hostile, Died
Reason: Air Loss, Crash - Land
Air or Ground: Helicopter - Noncrew
Province: Thua Thien
Body Recovered: Body recovered
Location on The Wall: Panel 52E - Row 003

Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association, 20061224

PFC RONALD J. CAMPBELL, US ARMY

GENERAL / PERSONAL
Home: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Birth Date: 1948-12-30
Sex: Male
Race: Negro
Married/Single: Single
Religion: Baptist - Other Groups
Citizen: Yes

MILITARY
Service: Army
Rank: PFC
Serial Number: 11859926
Component: Regular
Grade: E3
MOS: 57H20
Start of Tour: 1967-05-22

CASUALTY
Casualty Date: 1968-04-25
Casualty Type: Hostile, Died
Reason: Air Loss, Crash - Land
Air or Ground: Helicopter - Noncrew
Province: Thua Thien
Body Recovered: Body recovered
Location on The Wall: Panel 52E - Row 003

Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association, 20061224

Personal Recollection

Secured crash site. Knew 1/LT Kimmel.

Submitted by: Robert Simpson, 1st Platoon Commander - D/126, 20110809