Brothers (& Sisters) Killed in Action in USMC Helicopters or while assigned to USMC Helicopter or Tiltrotor Squadrons
19690602HMM-161 USMC RESERVE INCIDENT/ACCIDENTS
Download PDFIncident Date 19690602 HMM-161 CH-46D 153970+ - Hostile Fire, Crash, Post Crash Fire
Akins, Donald Wayne Cpl Crew Chief HMM-161 PROVMAG-39 1969-06-02 (vvm 23W:116)
Cavanagh, Michael Howard HM2 Corpsman-Crew HMM-161 PROVMAG-39/1stMAW 1969-06-02 (vvm 23W:042)
[GROUND]
Trevino, Savas Escamilla PFC Grnd Casualty HMM-161 M/3rdBN/9thMAR/3rdMARDIV 1969-06-02 (vvm 23W:048)
Montijo, Michael NMN Cpl Grnd Casualty HMM-161 M/3rdBN/9thMAR/3rdMARDIV 1969-06-02 (vvm 23W:045)
Comment on Incident
HMM-161 CH-46A shot down, crashed, burned – east of Khe Sanh; Quang Tri Province – George Kontrabecki was Aircraft Commander. Scarface gunship escort (HML-367) was eyewitness - F. Cuddy, pilot; G. Hawes, copilot.
The Crew Chief, Cpl Don Akins and the Corpsman, HM2 Michael Cavanagh, were KIA in the crash.
Two Marines, Cpl Michael Montijo and PFC Savas Trevino, were KIA by the debris field from the sections of rotors from the crashing helicopter.
Personal
would like to hear from someone my brother served with.
Submitted by: John R Cavanagh, younger brother of mike, 20031106Command Chronology
Source: Journal, 3rdBn 9th Marines
Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, Historian, USMC Combat Helicopter Association, 20100720
Eyewitness
I served in 3rd Platoon, M/3/9 and was among those wounded when this helicopter was shot down onto our position.
Personal Recollection
I was on the ground the day this incident took place. Received 2nd and 3rd degree burns on lower extremities. Medivaced to Japan and later to Texas where I was treated and released approximately three months later. Those brave Marines and Corpsman were doing their duty in a bold attempt to medivac wounded Marines who were still actively engaged with the enemy.
Submitted by: Howard Puckett, Wounded in Incident, 20110822Personal Letter
Don Akins - no better friend a person could have. Think of him all the time.
Don was the first person I met when I moved to Sallisaw, OK for my Jr. year. We became friends immediately and our friendship lasted forever. He was somewhat of a daredevil - not afraid to try anything.
He was very athletic, earning all conference as a fullback on the football team and as a guard on the basketball team. He was the oldest of three children with a younger sister, Judy, and little brother who I believe was Marty.
We had our 20 year reunion in 1985. He was remembered in the program and there were not many dry eyes in the old school.
As so many before and after, he left us too early, but will be in our hearts forever - he was the closest to a brother that I ever had.
Class of '65 - Sallisaw, Oklahoma
Cpl Donald W. Akins
Submitted by: POPASMOKE Admin, 20050206
I was looking through kia list and found note that HM2 Michael Cavanaughs brother wanted to hear from someone who served with him. Mike was killed June 69 and I rotated in April but I served with him several months and thought a lot of him. Im not very computer literate and have been unable to figure out how to do this. He did post this in 2006 and I checked NOTAM board which goes back to 2011. Would you advise me how I might be able to contact his brother? Thanks.
Submitted by: Lawrence (Larry) Sherer, not involved but served with Mike, 20190724
