YH-21
  
   CH-53A   
BuNo 153283
Killed in Action on 8 JAN 1968
 
  Captain John Thomas Chapman Aircraft Commander
  Captain Frederick Lloyd Schram Copilot
  Corporal Philip Stanley Strand, Jr. Crew Chief
  Staff Sergeant Bennett Walfred Olson Gunner
  Corporal Vernon Bernabe Venegas Gunner
     
Mission Information:

As a platoon commander with A 1/3, it was my unpleasant task to command a reinforced platoon that was dropped above the crash site to hike down to where the actual aircraft came to rest.  There was more to the story than just a body recovery operation, as I found out later.  I thought the flight commander was a Major at the time, I found his flight jacket with name patch.  We had CID, graves [registration] and a Colonel from MAG-? in DaNang there with us.  Seems some important documents were on board.

Col. Ellis was traveling with the "Die Marker" plans, McNamara's defensive positions in I Corps.  I searched his wallet and found his CA driver's license.  SgtMaj Cyr is a mystery.  One of the SSgts, Grimes, I knew from OCS at Quantico.

The aircraft literally slammed into the side of a mountain, in the fog and was off course.  Bringing Marines back from R&R, I believe.  Found part of WO Price wrapped around a tree.  Most of the bodies were unrecognizable.  Col. Ellis' body was remarkably intact.  It looked like he was stretched out sleeping near part of the aircraft.  It is my understanding that the aircraft had been there three weeks before we went after it.  Spooky area: Hai Lang Forest -- R&R for NVA.  I was there on 28 Jan.

There was an arty FO with us and he took a few photos, but I don't remember his name.  The graves people put bodies in bags.  Don't know if anyone went in after we left.  I wasn't told to look for a briefcase with the "Die Marker" plans.  Found out about it a few days after we returned to Quang Tri. 

                      Submitted by Bruce S. Lewy, A/1/3, Platoon Commander, Recovery Platoon

 
Remembrances about these Marines:
John Chapman was married, twenty-five years old and from River Falls, Wisconsin.
 
 
Bennett Olson was married, a father, thirty years old and from Caldwell, Indiana.
 
 
Fred Schram was married, twenty-nine years old and from Denver, Colorado.
 
 
Philip Strand, Jr. was twenty years old and from Riverside, California.

Remembrance: I met Vern Venegas and Phil Strand when we were stationed at MCAS Tustin during late 1966 just prior to going over to Marble Mountain [Vietnam].  Vern, Phil and I became very close friends early on.

I was initially supposed to fly one of the gun positions on YH-21 [HMH-463's helicopter # 21] on her last flight.  However, as far as I can recall, I had a project in the Metal Shop that needed to be completed, so Vern went in my place -- this was 6 days before my 21st birthday.  This is one of those things that crosses your mind, so often during 30 plus years.  The story on Phil Strand is much more eerie.

About a week before Phil was killed, Phil, Vern, Doug Hagen, Al Irwin and myself were drinking at the Marble E Club.  Phil had seemed very edgy most of the day, and I asked him what was wrong.  He proceeded to tell us that the previous night during his sleep an angel had told him he had a very short time to live.  He was really bothered by this and even a few beers couldn't seem to relax him.  I was concerned, but passed it off as just a dream -- that is until 8 Jan 68.  This is the God's honest truth.  Phil and Vern are forever young to me.  May God's perpetual light shine on them forever, and may they rest in peace.  William D. Platt III, CPL, USMC 2214203.
 
 
Vernon Venegas was nineteen years old and from Joliet, Illinois.

Remembrance: I met Vern Venegas and Phil Strand when we were stationed at MCAS Tustin during late 1966 just prior to going over to Marble Mountain [Vietnam].  Vern, Phil and I became very close friends early on.

I was initially supposed to fly one of the gun positions on YH-21 [HMH-463's helicopter # 21] on her last flight.  However, as far as I can recall, I had a project in the Metal Shop that needed to be completed, so Vern went in my place -- this was 6 days before my 21st birthday.  This is one of those things that crosses your mind, so often during 30 plus years.  The story on Phil Strand is much more eerie.

About a week before Phil was killed, Phil, Vern, Doug Hagen, Al Irwin and myself were drinking at the Marble E Club.  Phil had seemed very edgy most of the day, and I asked him what was wrong.  He proceeded to tell us that the previous night during his sleep an angel had told him he had a very short time to live.  He was really bothered by this and even a few beers couldn't seem to relax him.  I was concerned, but passed it off as just a dream -- that is until 8 Jan 68.  This is the God's honest truth.  Phil and Vern are forever young to me.  May God's perpetual light shine on them forever, and may they rest in peace.  William D. Platt III, CPL, USMC 2214203.
 
We welcome relevant remarks and/or photos of our squadron-mates who were killed in the above action.   We also welcome your comments on the above incident.  Please contact HMH-463's web developer  with your name; relationship to our squadron-mate(s) or the action above; and your contact information.
 
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