RedLion6

I have added a photo, furnished to me by Les Davison, of the 155 AHC UH-1C Gunship, tail number 66-15232, flown by 1Lt Fred Pratt and WO Brad Jones in the action at Duc Lap on August 23 and 26 1968 in which Lt Pratt was killed. This is Falcon 232, "Thor". The photo was taken in May of 1969 near BMT after the ship had been repaired. This aircraft was later shot down and lost in Cambodia.

One of the Best and the Brightest. We few, we proud, we band of brothers. First Leautenant Fred Omar Pratt was born 17 August 1941. He was the son of Vern Hose Pratt and Edwin M. Pratt of Moorefield, WV. 1LT Pratt enlisted in the Army on 13 October 1958 and served a tour of duty in Japan and Korea. He was a distinguished graduate of the Airborne School and served as a Ranger in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam during 1962, where he volenteered for the Special Forces and returned to the U.S. for training. After winning the Green Beret, he was appointed to attend Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA where he was elected to the honored position of Council of President of the Battalion and was named distinguished graduate of his class. Lt. Pratt then attended the Army's Rotery Wing Flight School and returned to Vietnam on 02 June 1968 as a C-Model Helicopter Gun Ship Pilot in the 155th Assault Helicopter Company, Ban Me Thuot, Central Highlands, RVN. On 23 August 1968, !Lt. Pratt distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions while serving as pilot of a Huey helicopter gunship supporting frindly Special Forces and MACV compounds in the vicinity of Duc Lop that were under attack by an enemy regiment. Observing a treeline in which large enemy forces had concentrated, he began to attack the enemy force; in the course of which his aircraft sustained numerous hits. Undaunted, he continued his fierce attacks until his aircraft was shot down by the intense anti-aircraft fire. Although wounded in the arm and back, !Lt. Pratt survived the crash. The crew of the downed aircraft was immediately taken under fire by enemy mortars and automatic weapons fire. However, his concern was for his seriously injured crew chief. Gaining access to the outer perimeter of the compound, he again exposed himself to enemy fire to summon aid for his crew. Upon reaching the secure area, he continued to give aid to his wounded crew chief, refusing treatment for himself. On 26 August 1968, althoug he had been shot down and wounded only days before, he insisted on returning to the battle (the NVA had captured half the compound by this time). Arriving in the area, he began an attack on a large enemy force, from which he drew heavy fire. He responded by immediately placing a devistating volume of fire on the enemy position. During this one engagement alone he is credited with killing over 600 NVA. During the fierce exchange of fire, heavy enemy fire shattered his windshield and he was fatally wounded in the face. His copilot returned the shot up gunship to the 155th AHC field at Ban Me Thuot. For his coragous, gallent and aggressive action, 1Lt. Pratt was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action (Posthumous), the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism (Posthumous), the Air Medal with Seven Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart twice, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and two of the highest awards awarded by the Republic of Vietnam. In June 1974, the U.S.. Army dedicated the new Flight Simulator Building, Building 4901, at the U.S. Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker Alabama as Pratt Hall in honor of Omar. It houses the most sopisticated flight simulator systems used to train Army aviators. His Niece, Joye, stated: "My Uncle, Omar, left behind a wife and three young sons. He was born in a small town called Moorefield, West Virginia where the rest of his brothers and sisters now reside." I was proud to have served with 1Lt. Pratt in the 155th AHC, may he rest in peace and always be remimbered by his fellow warriors. Bradley H. Petersen, Jr. Col. USA (Ret.) ...more

I do not like it when I see a name on the wall with no picture or comment. It seems as if no one remembers. So, if I can, I will fill in what little I know. Cpt. William Dale Nixion, Service Number 05800479, Call Sign: Comanche 26, was a brave and dedicated soldier. Unfortunatley, I do not have a picture of Dale. I attended Army Rotery Wing Flight Class 67-8 with Dale. Dale and I had many things in common, one of the most significant was that we had both been on active service with ground combat units for several years before attending flight class we did not like or feel comfortable with what we regarded as the indisciplin of of so many aviation units. As a result, while I flew my first tour in RVN, I went back on my second as a ground infantryman. On his first tour, and in keeping with his desire to be a ground infantryman, Dale lead the infantry platoon (Blues) organic to C Troop, 7th Squadron, 1st Cavalry and was killed by hostile small arms fire in the Delta, IV Corps, near the Cambodial border on 05/08/1968. Dale also had two brothers KIA in Vietnam. To this day it still bothers me how so few Americans serve and give so much and how so very many never serve and yet ask or expect so much. Thank you Dale, I rememeber. ...more

"There is a True Glory And a True Honor, The Glory of Duty Done, The Honor of the Integrity of Principle." R. E. Lee General, CSA

David and Sharon Wainwright were our good friends during flight class 67-8. David deployed to the RVN directly out of flight school and was killed a few months later when his Medevac UH-1 crashed in a violent rainstorm while on a rescue mission. The picture is of David and Sharon in our trailor during flight school at Fort Rucker, AL. We miss him and still remember. Thank you for your service, heroism, and friendship. Col. Bradley H. Petersen, Jr. USA, Ret. ...more

In honor of my friend and fellow soldier, CPT. Charles David Rogers, who went by the name "Dave," Service Number 05322316, Call Sign: Cpt Lollypop. Dave and I went to flight school together, Class 67-8, and served in the 57th Assault Helicopter Company together. The picture was taken in 1968 at Camp Coryell, Ban Me Thuot, Central Highlands, II Corps, RVN, home of my unit at the time, the 155th Assault Helicopter Company. Dave was killed at the very beginning of his second tour in RVN. He volenteered to return in order to keep his younger brother from having to go. Dave was killed 2 days after arriving in country by fire from an enemy French 75mm Pack Howitzer that hit the CO's hooch. Dave died of multiple-fragment wounds. At the time of his death, he was engaged to be married to Ms. Sandra Limmerick, also a friend of mine and to whom I had introduced him. He was a better man and a better soldier than I. I wish to this day that I could have taken his place. "They carry back bright to the coiner the mintage of men. The lads that will die in their glory and never be old." Col. Bradley H. Petersen, Jr. USA, Ret. ...more