22 May 2008 Sam was a great guy with a fabulous sense of humor. He was a three year varsity letterman in both track and cross country at Wichita State University. He was not only a great teammate but a fellow ROTC jock. I saw him shortly before he left Wichita for Vietnam. We were in the Student Union. I occasionally get back to Wichita and go back to the campus. When I'm in the Student Union I walk past the place I last saw Sam I remember him and what was lost in Vietnam so many years ago. When I think of Sam I remember him not only tall and straight in uniform, but also in a track singlet running like the Kansas wind. I will always remember Sam. I think of him often. I'm well over 60 and over and my days as a competetive athlete have long since passed but in my heart he will be 22, in athletic trim and running like the great athlete he was. He was the only varsity letterman to have died in this war. He will always be a part of the traditons of Wichita State. Rest in Peace and Glory, my friend and teammate. From an ROTC classmate and Track/Cross Country teammate. freethrowguru@yahoo.com

 

A Note from The Virtual Wall During early May 1968 elements of the 198th Infantry Brigade had several engagements with NVA forces in Quang Tin Province, particularly along the east-west axis formed by LZs EAST (Hill 488), CENTER (Hill 348), and WEST (Hill 440) along the Hiep Duc Valley. At 1030 05 May 1968 a UH-1D (tail number 66-17075) from the 176th AHC was shot down at BT069246 while carrying troops for a recon patrol southeast of LZ CENTER. The aircraft was hit by .51 caliber fire while at 2,500 feet, lost its main rotor, crashed and burned, killing ten men: Aircrew, 176th AHC: CWO David L. Blattel, Scott City, MO, pilot 1LT Samuel R. Gardner, Wichita, KS, copilot SP4 Gordon L. Terrell, Gervais, OR, gunner PFC Gary M. Meier, Lake Crystal, MN, crew chief Passengers, E Co, 1st Bn, 6th Infantry: SGT James P. Freeman, Masterson, TX SGT Robert E. Quick, Elkhart, IN SGT Barry T. Reinhardt, Minneapolis, MN CPL Russell W. Eggert, Cleveland, OH CPL Duane M. Normandin, Gentilly, MN CPL Robert G. Weddendorf, Inglewood, CA Fifteen minutes later UH-1C tail number 66-00510 from the 71st AHC was shot down at BT075248. Although all four crewmen were injured, none died. Soldiers from Bravo 1/6 Infantry were picked up by helicopter at LZ Center and combat assaulted at 1435 hrs to secure the area near the downed aircraft. At 1750 D Company, 1/20 Infantry were inserted to reinforce Bravo 1/6. At 1824 Bravo 1/6 and Delta 1/20 received incoming 82mm mortar fire at BT083247, killing one soldier and wounding six others from Delta 1/20. An immediate air strike was called at BT083246, only 100 meters distant from the friendly troops. Three US soldiers were wounded by bomb fragments - and one of them died from his injuries. These two men were SGT Larry F. Gleason, Harleysville, PA, A Co, 26th Eng Bn, and SP5 John L. Vories, Booneville, AR, medic, HHC 1/20 with Delta 1/20. As night fell the two rifle companies formed a defensive perimeter, and on 06 May recovered the bodies from the burned out hulk of 66-17075.

Contact Us

© Copyright 1997-2019 www.VirtualWall.org, Ltd ®(TM)

Last update 08/15/2019.