| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
February 3, 1968
. Chopper Crash Nets Two Dead Charlies
PHU BAI - Thirty paratroopers of the 2nd Brigade; survived a helicopter crash landing near here
recently and killed two VC as the Screaming Eagles waited for extraction.
A "Chinook", ferrying the men of the 2nd Bn. (Abn), 501st Inf. took a round in the rear engine and
the troopers were alerted for a crash landing.
As the cargo aircraft settled toward the ground, Lt. John Rodelli, Chicago, barked instructions to his
platoon from A Co.
"I told the men to set up a perimeter around the chopper as soon as we set touched the
ground,"Rodelli said.
No sooner had the aircraft landed when enemy sniper fire peppered the area. Rodelli's platoon
returned fire and killed two. The enemy firing ceased
Taking advantage of the lull, the pilot revved up the empty chopper and flew it to Phu Bai.
Gunships arrived on station above the paratrooper platoon and provided covering fire.
The Screaming Eagle
Vol. 1, No. 8
March 22, 1968
PHU BAI - Thirty paratroopers of the 2nd Brigade; survived a helicopter crash landing near here
recently and killed two VC as the Screaming Eagles waited for extraction.
A "Chinook", ferrying the men of the 2nd Bn. (Abn), 501st Inf. took a round in the rear engine and
the troopers were alerted for a crash landing.
As the cargo aircraft settled toward the ground, Lt. John Rodelli, Chicago, barked instructions to his
platoon from A Co.
"I told the men to set up a perimeter around the chopper as soon as we set touched the
ground,"Rodelli said.
No sooner had the aircraft landed when enemy sniper fire peppered the area. Rodelli's platoon
returned fire and killed two. The enemy firing ceased
Taking advantage of the lull, the pilot revved up the empty chopper and flew it to Phu Bai.
Gunships arrived on station above the paratrooper platoon and provided covering fire.
The Screaming Eagle
Vol. 1, No. 8
March 22, 1968
| The following took place February 3, 1968. The paratroopers in the chopper were from the 1st platoon. James B. Brandon was killed, the first member of A Company killed from enemy fire. No one wounded, a few of us did get leeches from the wet rice patties. When the Chinook took off every one was aboard except one soldier that got left behind. He was rescued by another chopper. Comments by: Floyd Turnley |