Vietnam War: First Americans Killed in Laos

This video supplies the early historical past of the U.S. involvement within the Secret Warfare in Laos by detailing the primary People killed within the conflict, some are nonetheless Lacking in Motion, all from 1961. James B. McGovern, the legendary ‘Earthquake McGoon, ‘ was a CIA Civil Air Transport pilot who was flying provides to the beleaguered French at Dien Bien Phu throughout the First Indochina Warfare and crashed in Laos in 1954, however this video focuses on these conducting operations in Laos.

These killed in motion in 1961 and/or Lacking in Motion embody Air America helicopter pilots Charles Mateer and Walter Wizbowski, former U.S. Military pilots, who had been flying a H-34 helicopter in dangerous climate whereas attempting to land provides at Padong; Air America pilot Norwood Forte, 44 years outdated, and copilot Roger Sarno, 30, had been flying a C-46 to aerial drop provides at Pha Khao. Forte was an skilled pilot and had flown forty-eight air drops over Dien Bien Phu to the besieged French in 1954. Within the again had been three Air America workers, all rugged, adventurous younger males from the American West, and former Smokejumpers, John Lewis, Darrell Eubanks, and Dave Bevan; U.S. Particular Forces Captain Capt. Walter Moon, a part of the U.S. HOTFOOT and WHITE STAR deploments in Laos, with teammates; SGT Gerald M. Biber and SFC John Malcolm Bischoff; United States Data Companies or USIS, chief in Army area I Mr. Francis P. ‘Frank’ Corrigan was killed when his O-1 Fowl canine creashed in Luang Prabang; the very first casualties had been on the Plain of Jars when a C-47 crashed with USAF SSgt Frederick Garside, USAF Capt. Oscar Weston JR., USAF Capt. Ralph Magee, USAF 2Lt. Glenn Matteson ,USA WO1 Edgar Weitkamp, Jr ., USAF SSgt Leslie Sampson, and USAF SSgt Alfons Bankowski. Three of those males stay Unnacounted For. Military Main Lawrence R. Bailey survived the crash and was a Pathet Lao Prisoner of Warfare for a interval.

CORRECTION: on the 7:23 minute mark, different PL prisoners launched had been SGT Orville Ballenger, and civilian Air America pilots Edward N. Shore Jr. and John P. McMorrow, and NBC Cameraman Grant Wolfkill, a passenger of their helicopter.

I additionally inform tales concerning Hmong Chief Vang Pao, Air America pilots, and CIA paramilitary operative Invoice Lair, Invoice Younger, Tom Fosmire, Jerry Daniels, Mike Lynch, Jack Shirley, Ken Hessel, and others. Don Sjostom was a former Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand who went to work for USAID and have become the one USAID fight casualty of the conflict.

I additionally contend America’s First Vietnam Warfare Casualties, Listed as Lacking June 15, 1954
From Danang Vietnam, are: Military Pvt Leonard R. Soufrek, Chicago;
Air Drive Airman Third Class Jerry Schuller, Cleveland;
Air Drive Airman Third Class Giacomo Appice, Elizabeth NJ;
Air Drive Airman Second Class Ciro Salas, Jr, Los Angeles;
Military Pvt Donald E. Morgan, Flint, MI

Image keys are:
08:23 – Air America guests: Entrance row sitting proper to left: Air America President Hugh Grundy, Commanding Officer MABS-16 detachment Lieutenant Colonel R. Johnson, Chairman of the Pacific Company retired Admiral Stump, UNK however probably a good friend of Mister Stump. Standing left to proper: Air America Station Supervisor Tachikawa, Japan “Doc” Lewis, Udorn Base Supervisor Tom Tucker, Air America Bangkok Regional Director Joe Madison, and Udorn base Helicopter Chief Pilot Captain Clarence Abadie.

21:23 – Leah Hessel, Danny Brown (Lyle Brown), Normal Vang Pao, Nancy Lehfeldt (Bruce Lehfeldt), Judy Barber (Jim Barber) – Lengthy Tieng Luncheon – 1973. These had been wives of CIA officers.

21:56 – left to proper, Ken Hessel, Miles Johnson, PARU Trainee, George Smith Air America pilot

23:22 – Ken Hessel household – 1971 – Savannakhet, Laos at their home. L-R
Ken & Brad, Leah holding John & Joe standing, Virginia (Gingee).
Adopted daughter, Virginia, was 8 yrs outdated when Leah and I received married.

27:53 – Hollington Okay. Tong, Nationalist China Ambassador to the US (left) and O.C. Akre, Madison consultant of Northwest Orient Airways (heart) are proven on the Madison Municipal Airport. Tong was in Madison to talk at a gathering held within the U.W. Memorial Union sponsored by the Union Discussion board Committee. Tong spoke on the autumn of Indonesia to the Chinese language Communists. Two males within the background are holding nonetheless and transferring movie cameras.

@CarterOnConflict

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