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From: ROGER HANSON, SLICK CREWCHIEF 235TH
Date: 12 Mar 2000
Time: 19:12:35
Remote Name: 208.44.113.1
I SERVED TWO TOURS WITH THE 235TH OUT OF CAN THO AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE 335TH AT BEARCAT FOR ONE MORE 6 MO EXTENSION. WHILE WITH THE 235TH I STARTED OFF AS A SLICK DOORGUNNER. MOSTLY C&C FOR THE COBRA FIRE TEAMS. TOOK OVER AS CREWCHIEF WHEN MY CREWCHIEF WENT HOME. CREWED A COBRA FOR A SHORT WHILE. WHEN TO THE 335TH SO I COULD CREW A BRAVO GUNSHIP. WE MOVED FROM BEARCAT TO DONG TAIM LATTER. I WAS ON THE FLIGHT LINE IN THE LINE HOOCH ON JAN 13'69. THE HOOCH TOOK A DIRECT HIT WITH A B40. THERE WERE AT LEAST 9 OF US IN THE HOOCH AT THE TIME. A JEEP 6 FEET OUTSIDE THE DOOR GOT HIT AND WAS BURNING AS WE SCURRIED PAST IT. SATCHEL CHARGES WERE GOING OFF ALONG THE FLIGHT LINE. TRACERS WERE EVERYWHERE. OUR OWN PERIMETER GAURDS WERE FIRING AT US AS WE RAN TO OUR SHIPS. THREE SAPPERS WERE RUNNING TOWARDS ME FROM THE DIRECTION OF MY SLICK. ONE FIRED HIS AK AND ONE OF THE OTHERS FIRED A B40 ROCKET. THE ROUNDS ZIPPED BY MY EARS AND THE B40 HIT WARRANT OFFICER WEATHERHEAD DIRECT. HE WAS ABOUT 3 STEPS IN FRONT OF ME. I SAY BODY PARTS SEPERATE. I DIVED INTO THE SWAMP BEHIND THE REVETMENTS. I HEARD ROUNDS HITTING THE WATER ALL AROUND ME FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE A LONG TIME. THEY MISSED. I SAW MY SHIP GET OFF THE GROUND WITHOUT ME. I DIDN'T KNOW IF MY CREW CHIEF HAD MADE IT OR NOT. I FOUND OUT LATER MY CREW CHIEF WAS IN THE PETER PILOT SEAT WITH MY AIRCRAFT COMMANDER FLYING. A CIVILIAN AVIONICS MECHANIC HAD BEEN WORKING ON THE FLIGHTLINE AND WENT UP IN MY SEAT. HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO USE THE 60. GROSS, MY CREWCHIF CRAWLED OUT OF THE FRONT TO DROP FLARES. ALL MY WEAPONS WERE IN MY SHIP, I WASN'T ARMED. MY SHIP LANDED LATTER TO REFUEL AND RELOAD FLARES. I WENT UP THEN AND SPENT MOST OF THE REST OF THAT NIGHT IN THE AIR WITH A COBRA FIRETEAM ON RED ALERT. ALL THE ZAPPERS WERE KILLED AS FAR AS I KNOW. WE LOST A LOT OF SHIPS. I SAW THOSE CHINOKS BURN. I'M GETTING TO LONG WINDED HERE.