MAG-16 Command Chronology - July 1968:
A reconnaissance team, which had just been inserted at ZC 064864, came under heavy attack as the helicopter departed. With complete disregard for his own safety Captain LITTLER (pilot) turned back into the zone to extract the recon team. At about 100 feet above the zone, the CH-46A (YT-13) piloted by Captain LITTLER was taken under intensive automatic weapons and possibly RPG fire. The helicopter caught fire in the aft transmission area and at the same time the pilot and the copilot were hit in the neck by small arms fire. Out of control, the aircraft crashed to the ground on top of the eight man recon team that the crew had so heroically tried to save. All 8 members of the recon team were killed as well as the four crewmembers in the aircraft and one recon man in the aircraft. The dead crewmembers were Captain Littler, 1stLt Daley, SSgt Bilenski and Cpl Little.

MABS-16 Command Chronology - July 1968:
CASUALTIES

Captain J L M LITTLER III, 092399/7562 HMM-164, Pilot
1stLt R C DALEY, 092855/7562 HMM-164, CoPilot
SSgt J C BILENSKI, 1551261/6212 HMM-164, Gunner
Cpl R B LITTLE, 2202178/6311 HMM-164, Crew Chief

HOSTILE 3 July 1968. 8 miles south of Danang, Quang Nam, RVN. CH-46 aircraft atempting to make a recon extract when aircraft received automatic weapons fire and crashed. The aircraft was consumed by fire. All four crewmembers killed in crash.

Personal Narrative:
I have commented on this incident before and here is what really happened. Jim was a great pilot and a great guy. For some reason we ended up flying the same missions quite often.

Briefed at the recon pad [for recon team insertion] and flew into Elephant Valley (not the real name but what everybody called it). Valley is steep and runs east to west with a stream in the middle. Bottom of valley is narrow and the only approach is east or west. Jim went in east to west and landed near the stream. Hueys covered both sides of the H-46. He was only in the zone for seconds when he yelled he was taking fire.

We sprayed the side of the rideline where he called the fire from. At the end of the gun run only 2 of my 8 M-60's were firing but he made it out and was heading west with me at the same altitude - I was behind him. He had made it, but then called me on the radio and said something I couldn't make out. At the same time he made a hard 180 turn to go back into the zone.

He was belly up to the ridgeline about 100-200 feet when he took fire, lost control and crashed almost where he initially landed. Aircraft exploded upon impact.

I did not see the entire recon team exit the aircraft upon initial landing, but think that 1 or 2 had gotten off. When the crew chief told him this during the initial departure, Jim decided to go back in to get them. He crashed right on anyone who was in the zone. No one could have survived that crash.
Submitted by Duke Lind, Huey pilot covering the flight

Personal Narrative:
Jim Littler was a great guy from Hawaii and was killed in Elephant Valley extracting a recon team. He was hit by an RPG. All of the crew got out but were executed by the NVA. We didn't lose many pilots in Vietnam but Jim was one of the few. I was the S-4 officer in the squadron and packed up his personal effects. He was a good friend and it really hurt.
Submitted by Rick Wilson, HMM-164, Squadron S-4

Personal Narrative:
Thank you Rick!

I'm the son of Capt. Littler and want to express my sincere appreciation to all of Dad's military buddies. Your kind comments about him have followed me throughout my 36 years of life. Periodically, and from out of the blue, my family will receive phone calls, visits, letters, or little reminders like this one from Rick that keep our Dad alive in our hearts. Even though I never knew my Father, I know that he must have been a great man to have attracted the caliber of men that you are. Your friendship is valued. Thanks to you all.

James L.M. Littler IV
Submitted by Jim Littler IV, Son of Captain James Littler III

Personal Narrative:
I was a crewman aboard a HMM-164 CH-46 helicopter that crashed into the side of a hill at the Khe Sanh combat base in June 1968 while Capt. Littler was piloting. While lifting from the base one of the engines failed and the plane crashed and tumbled down the side of the hill, bursting into flame.

I was struck in the jaw by the butt of the .50 caliber machine gun that I manned and was knocked unconscious briefly. A few seconds later I awoke in the midst of flame and smoke to Capt. Littler's unharried voice suggesting that we vacate the plane. The copilot and other gunner had already exited, but he, being the gallant man that he was, refused to leave until I was able to accompany him out the door (which was facing the sky since the plane was laying on its side). We quickly climbed from the craft and ran from the flames just in time as the plane exploded and was completely destroyed.

I was evacuated to the naval hospital in Danang and while recuperating with a broken jaw and some missing teeth I was visited by an officer who informed me about Capt. Littler's death while again helping out some other Marines in distress who were facing an overwhelming number of enemy troops.

Undaunted by the danger, he flew into the firefight and attempted a rescue that cost him his life. He was a very courageous man, the best of the corps. He saved my life. I was priviledged to continue with life. I graduated from college, was married, had children and presently teach school in North Carolina, while he was denied a full life. I hope his kinfolk read this brief testimony about a true hero.
Submitted by George Speth, HMM-164 Crew

Family Information:
It took 40 years for me to learn the details of this incident which claimed the life of my 19 year old brother, LCPL Paul J. Scheckler. If I had not read the details here I, my sister and others, would never have learned what happened that 3rd of July in 1968.
Submitted by Joseph J. Scheckler, TSgt, USAF, Ret., Brother of Paul J. Scheckler, LCPL KIA that date