Incident Date 19680822 HMM-161 CH-46D - 153994 - - Small arms fire during Recon Insert
Brandes, Kenneth Neil Cpl Crew Chief HMM-161 PROVMAG-39/1stMAW/FMFPAC 1968-08-22 (vvm 47W:025)
Report of Casualty / DD-1300
Died 22 Aug 68 Quang Tri Province RVN Result of gunshot wound to the chest from hostile small arms fire while acting as a crew chief aboard a helicopter on a reconnaissance insertion mission during an operation.
Source: DD 1300, Coffelt DatabaseSubmitted by: Ken Davis, Researcher, The Virtual Wall, 20151102
Official Command Information
22Aug68
HMM-161 participated in 5 recon inserts and extracts. Cattlecall 5-11 [BuNo 153994] received intensive fire while inserting recon team HARBOR QUEEN on Hill 697, XD 894458. Mission aborted and returned to 3rd MED with 1 KIA and 2 WIA crew members.
Correction of Recon Team Name
The correct team was Team 3Charlie1, Call sign MARBLE CHAMP.
Source: from EBook "Smittys Journal" by James Smith, Point Man on MARBLE CHAMPSubmitted by: Len Rapuano, Historian, 3rd Recon, 20181103
Cpl Kenneth Neil Brandes
http://www.popasmoke.com/visions/image.php?source=1227
Supplementary Information
"Harbor Queen" (3-C-1) patrol members. 1968. L-R (Top row): Al Moore, Jerry Beasley. (Bottom row): Unknown, Fred Ostrom, Robert Jenkins, Larry Harrod, Randy Rhoads.
Source: 3-C-1 HARBOR QUEEN online searchSubmitted by: Alan H Barbour, Research Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association, 20151102