James Michael Garrett

The database page for James Michael Garrett

11 Sep 2003 On 29 November 1969 seven men died in the crash of YK-9 (CH-46D BuNo 153996): 1st Lt Kenneth B Kozai, pilot 1st Lt Dennis J Reardon, copilot Sgt John E Mattingly, gunner Cpl Richard J Leffler, crew chief Cpl Henry B Parsons, gunner HM3 James M Garrett, Corpsman CDR Melvin Lederman, Medical Corps While Petty Officer Garrett wasn't assigned to HMM-364, he flew and died with the Purple Foxes and is remembered by the women who waited at home, whether mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, or friends. Those women, the Purple Foxy Ladies continue to support today's Purple Foxes of HMM-364 as they serve our country. Visit the Purple Foxes on-line or go to our unit page on The Virtual Wall A memorial initiated by the Purple Foxy Ladies Foxyladiesgroup@aol.com

A Note from The Virtual Wall On 29 November 1969 YK-9 (CH-46D BuNo 153996) was tasked with evacuating a seriously wounded Marine in southern Quang Nam province south of Landing Zone Ross. While enroute to the LZ the synchronization shaft running between the forward and aft transmissions failed, allowing intermeshing rotor blades to make contact with each other. The blades sheared and the aircraft quite simply fell out of the sky. The resulting crash and post-crash fire killed the seven men aboard and totally destroyed the airframe. Initial evidence indicated mechanical failure rather than enemy action and the casualties were so reported. However, when the wreckage was returned to Marble Mountain Air Facility, HMM-364's Executive Officer, Major Jack Pipa, spent hours examining the wreckage and determined that a .50 caliber (or Russian .51 caliber) round had entered the bottom of the aircraft, continued through the radio cabinet behind the cockpit, and struck the synchronization shaft causing it to fail. At that point the casualty reports for the five Marines were corrected to reflect death due to hostile action rather than accident, but the reports for the two Navy men aboard were not corrected - they continue to reflect an operational accident rather than hostile action as the cause of death. While Petty Officer Garrett did not in fact receive a Purple Heart, he should have ... and The Virtual Wall is displaying what he should have received.

"You guys are the Marine's doctors - There's none better in the business than a Navy Corpsman ..." -- Lieutenant General "Chesty" Puller -- Visit John Dennison's Medics on the Wall memorial which honors the Army Medics and Navy Corpsmen who died in Vietnam.

The point-of-contact for this memorial is HMM-364 and the Purple Foxy Ladies, Frank Gulledge, Point Man gulledge@bbtel.com  15 Sep 2003

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Channing Prothro, former CAP Marine
Last updated 09/15/2003