Kenneth Eugene WitmerWarrant Officer129TH AHC, 268TH AVN BN, 17TH AVN GRP, 1 AVN BDE Army of the United States 19 May 1948 - 13 May 1969 Millersville, Pennsylvania Panel 25W Line 114 |
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The database page for Kenneth Eugene Witmer
Ken, our hearts were broken on 5/13/69 when we lost you, Jeff Stowe, John Brooks, and Paul Goonan. We remember you on every birthday. Your memory will live as long as we and the "Wall" are alive |
The MissionOn 13 May 1969 three UH-1H helicopters of the 129th Assault Helicopter Company were assigned in support of an RoK troop insertion in Binh Dinh Province. The assault was directed at an NVA position atop a hill, and the insertion point was down-slope. The first two aircraft safely dropped their troops, but the third UH-1 (tail number 67-17399) hit a land mine on touchdown. Although the UH-1 managed to get airborne after the explosion it crashed upslope. Nine RoK troops and four Americans were aboard:
The bodies of WO Witmer, WO Stowe, and SP4 Goonan were recovered on 14 May. Brooks and the two Koreans who moved downhill were never found. As mentioned, three Korean troopers evaded and rejoined friendly forces. Of the 13 men aboard, 3 survived; 3 were missing in action; and 7 were killed in action. SP4 Brooks has not been repatriated. From the VHPA database and other sources
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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 08/10/2009