Personal Narrative:
CH-46 was on Medevac on Charley Ridge W of Da Nang. A/C was hit multiple times in broom closet area. Both hydraulic systems shot away. One lost immediately, second gradually lost pressure. A/C remained airborne for some time (15-20 minutes?) while crew tried to get to suitable runway. A/C became more and more uncontrollable as #2 hydraulics bled away. Bernie was going to try to roll it on at Thuong Duc SF camp dirt runway above 40 knots. (The NATOPS recommended procedure in event of no hydraulics landing). An ARMY Caribou was sitting in the middle of the runway there and nobody could raise them on any freq including guard to get him off the runway. They ran out of hydraulics, luck, and time soon after that, rolled inverted, and went in.
Submitted by John Van Nortwick, HMM-263 Squadron S-3

Personal Narrative:
On 690419, I was flying gunner in the lead bird of a flight of 2 CH-46s flying medevacs (out of An Hoa, I think). The missions prior to the incident had been quiet ones, so much so that the chase plane's crew was getting bored. They asked to switch to lead on the next mission and did. The next mission was to be a cable extraction through the trees because there was no clearing large enough in which to land. The grunts on the ground said they hadn't received any enemy fire in several hours so no one expected what happened.

MAJ Terhorst maneuvered into a hover over a hole in the jungle canopy. The crewchief lowered the cable and the Marines on the ground hooked up the wounded man. As the wounded man was being hoisted up, the entire perimeter erupted with muzzle flashes. To make a long story short, they took numerous hits and the pilot tried to fly back to the lowlands and attempt a landing. However, the hydraulics systems had been shot out and it was impossible to control the plane. They suddenly did about 359 degrees of a 360 degree loop and crashed in a giant fireball. All six aboard died instantly.
Submitted by Joe Goins, Gunner on lead ship in formation (HMM-263)

Internet Information:

Theodore Rolstad graduated from Cleveland High School in Seattle.
The school has created a memorial to it's Vietnam military men.



Submitted by Darilee Bednar, researcher

Personal Narrative:
Terry, Art, and I arrived in country together - the same helicopter unit and same MOS. I was sent north to Quang Tri - to HMM 161. I'll never forget the day I last saw them and the day I heard the news. Beal, another buddy, just back from DaNang told us. My response - disbelief, anger. I think about them all the time. Great guys!! It's so sad.
Submitted by John Jones, my good friends

HMC Gerald Dwain Angelley:

http://www.popasmoke.com/visions/image.php?source=4817

Submitted by MGySgt George Curtis, Popasmoke Admin

LCpl Theodore S. Rolstad:

http://www.facesfromthewall.com/1969apr.html

Submitted by MGySgt George Curtis, Popasmoke Admin