In October of 1961, the 81st Transportation Company was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. The 81st Trans. Co. received notice 3 August 1962 for deployment to Vietnam from Hawaii where they were being trained in jungle warfare. The CH-21 helicopters were transported by ship on the USNS Croatan and arrived at Saigon Port in October. The base became fully operational on 15 October 1962 under the command of Major George Aldridge Jr. and was the fourth helicopter unit on Vietnamese soil.

On 14 June 1963, by General Order 236, the 81st Transportation Company was deactivated and the 119th Aviation Company (Air Mobil Light) [Black Dragons] was activated on 25 June 1963 along with the support units of the 70th Signal, 545th Maintenance, the 57th Medical Air Ambulance Team and 94th Medical Detachments under command of the 52nd Aviation Battalion (The 52d Aviation Battalion deployed from Fort Ord, California to Pleiku, Republic of Vietnam (RVN) in February 1963.). By this order the CH-21C were exchanged for the UH-1B Slicks. Equipment changes were later accomplished in May of 1966 when all the UH-1B slicks were exchanged for UH-1D type aircraft; and again in December, with the arrival of the new UH-1C Aircraft, equipped with the new M-21 weapons systems to replace the older UH-1B gunships.

CWO Charles E. Holloway (of the 81st Transportation Co.) was mortally wounded on 22 December 1962 during an assault on a Viet Cong strong hold at Van Hoa, north of Tuy Hoa in Phu Yen Province. He was flying a CH-21 Shawnee helicopter at tree top level heading toward the LZ. The helicopter was the eighth in line of twenty-nine CH-21s carrying ARVN troops into the landing zone when they began drawing heavy enemy ground fire. CWO Holloway, who was at the controls in the right hand seat, was hit by the deadly rounds. He went into shock and had to have his feet moved off the controls by the crew chief in order for the other pilot to gain control of the aircraft. He suffered a severe head wound, which was bandaged, and he was evacuated to the hospital at Tuy Hoa. He died that afternoon, as the doctor tried to keep his heart beating with an injection which didn't do any good. He had been in Vietnam for only twenty-eight days; he and his wife had five children. His brother and brother-in-law identified the body in the closed casket two weeks later at his wife's request just to avoid any mistakes before his burial. In a 4 July 1963 ceremony the airfield was dedicated in CWO Charles E. Holloway's name.

The 119th Aviation Company was re-organized under TO&E1-77G, dated 10 November 1965 as the 119th Assault Helicopter Company [and the unit call-signs changed to Alligators and Crocodiles]. The company consisted of a Company Headquarters, two Airlift (Slicks) Platoons, one Armed Escort (Gun) Platoon, a Service Platoon, and the following detachments:
545th Transportation Detachment (CHFM)
70th Signal Detachment (Avionics)
94th Medical Detachment
The Company operated and maintained a total of 21 UH-1D (Slick) [upgraded to H models by early 1970] helicopters and 8 UH-1C (Gunship) helicopters.

The 119th Aviation Company / Assault Helicopter Company Received the Following Unit Awards and Citations:

Valorous Unit Award (2 awards) - with Streamers Embroidered PLEI ME and DUC CO

Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm (3 awards) - 66-67, 67-68, and 70

Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal (1 award) - 1970

The unit flew its last combat mission on 30 Oct 70; last flight on 31 Oct 70; went on Stand-Down 31 Oct 70; and was formally de-activated on 8 Dec 70 with the retirement of the colors.

I think this is all fairly accurate; I pirated it from about 5 different sources!

Pickett