Received this “Looking for” request.

Any assistance in locating the pilot who assisted the family appreciated.

Contact Mr. Figarella direct. luis@figarella.com

HMM-264 “Operation Power Pack”

USS Boxer

4/27/1969

Dominican Republic Evacuation.

“Gentlemen:
Back in April of  1965, when I was 6, my mother dropped us off (self, brother 9, sister 2 ¾) in the Dominican Republic for a week with my grandparents. We flew from my native PR, and she flew right back. OFC, a minor civil war started on Tuesday, making our return impossible.
While we were (and are) US citizens, the rest of the family in the DR was Dominican, with the exception of my 74 yr. old grandfather Juan, who had emigrated in 1923 from Spain, and kept his Spanish citizenship. The ‘authorities’ said no to sending my aunt Sonia with us, but agreed to take Juan, since Spain was a recent NATO member.
We were airlifted from the Embajador (or Haina) to the USS Boxer. Yeah, not the place for a 2 ¾ yr old girl with a 74-yr old man, who while tri-lingual (Catalonian, French and Spanish) spoke none of the useful languages in a 1965 assault carrier (i.e. ENGLISH). 
Somehow, my grandfather was able to speak with a Hispanic USMC Helo pilot, who convinced his roommates to let him have their stateroom. (He may have been from NM, but not sure). To this day I owe the pilot at least a beer, and having found your site (POPASMOKE) ”

Warm Regards,
Luis Figarella

luis@figarella.com