KIA INCIDENT: 19671017 HMM-265 Vietnam

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

19671017HMM-265 Vietnam

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Incident Date 19671017 HMM-265 CH-46A 151959+ / EP-158 - Hostile fire during medevac mission

[CREW]
Morse, Howard Edward Cpl Crew Chief HMM-265 MAG-16 1967-10-25 (vvm 28E:069)

MORSE HOWARD EDWARD : 2262077 : USMC : CPL : E4 : 6320 : 20 : DETROIT : MI : 19671017 : Hostile, died of wounds : small arms (airborne) : body recovered : Quang Nam (Da Nang) : 01 : 19470808 : Cauc : Protestant/single : 28E : 069 [died of wounds 19671025]

HMM-265 After Mission Report - 17 October 1967

GENERAL:
MSN #64
4.2 Hours
In support of 1stMarDiv
3 sorties

NARRATIVE:
Received hits at 1840H from small arms fire over ZC 178 978 during extract of wounded. Took fire, aborted mission

ROUTE:
(ETD 1735H)MMAF to Coord ZC 178978 to G4 PAD to MMAF (ETA 1900H)

FLIGHT CREW:
EP-158 - YOUNG, LLEWELLYN, MORSE, JONES
EP-174 - ARISS, ROSS, HARRIGAN, MARTIN
EP-152 - SWARENS, THOMPSON, FARRIES, SCHULTZ

/s/ Young

Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, USMC/Vietnam Helicopter Association, 20040531

HMM-265 Squadron SitRep 172100H

171735H; HMM-265 launched 3 CH-46A on MSN #64, a Bald Eagle medevac mission to ZC178978 but aborted due to S/A fire. Bonnie sue A/C EP-158 sustained Charlie damage with one CM [crew member] in serious condition and landed at G-4 pad. A total of 4.2 hours and 3 sorties were flown in support of 1stMARDIV.

Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, USMC/Vietnam Helicopter Association, 20040531

HMM-265 Squadron Command Chronology

Cpl Howard E. Morse, 2262077/6320 USMC, received wounds on 17Oct67 near Quang Nam. Died of wounds on 25Oct67 at NSA [Naval Support Activity] Danang.

Submitted by: Alan H Barbour, Historian, USMC/Vietnam Helicopter Association, 20040531

Personal Narrative

Howard and I went through NAS Memphis helicopter school together. After staging battalion in Camp Pendleton went on to HMM-265. He was on an emergency medivac extraction over triple canopy jungle.

As the Crew Chief he was lying on the floor pulling the medivac up through the "hell hole" (cargo hook access) with the hoist. Ground fire from below hit Howard below the chicken plate and entered his abdomen. He died from his wound.

I am proud to say he was my friend and is missed by myself and his squadron mates. We remember them all at our reunions.

Submitted by: Richard P. Rodeffer, squadron mate, 20040529

I was assigned as the gunner for Cpl. Morses aircraft on this mission. I had picked up the guns from the armory and was setting them up in Morses bird when we were told there would be a delay. The pilots came out and said it was going to be a hoist extraction. Morse said his hoist was not operational. The crew chief of the other air craft had never done a hoist rescue but his hoist was working so they switched Morse to his bird and he came over to Morses. When we got to the pick up zone we were circling as they went in for the pickup.
Because of the dense canopy we could not see the troops on the ground while we were circling and did not have clearance to return fire. Our pilot relayed they had received heavy fire and that Morse was hit, the mission was aborted and we followed them back to Med facility. We returned the next day to try the med evac again, with our CO colonel Beeler flying lead and us again as the wingman. His aircraft was hit with heavy fire, but he was able to make it to a rice paddy and set down. We gave him a ride back to the mountain , and then made several trips picking up grunts and taking them to the downed aircraft to set up a perimeter around it. They were eventually able to get the medevac out. That afternoon was my first meeting with Cpl. Morse. He seemed like a nice guy. He was also fearless. I am proud to have known him I often think about that day, wish the outcome would have been different.

Submitted by: John Martin, Gunner, 20190506

Personal Request

I am a cousin of Howard E.Morse. My sister and I have been working on the family history for 20 plus years. The Canadian side is complete and I am now working on the American side of the family. If anyone has additional info on Howard and his service or photos and could share it would be greatly appreciated. Howard and I share the same 4th Great Grandfather, Moses Morse who went to the Detroit area prior to the War of 1812. I would like to gather as much info on him as I can so he can be rightly remembered with the other Morse family who have served.

Submitted by: Mark Morse, Family doing research, 20170710