On this date 32 years ago Gator 354, commanded by Gator 10, Warrant Officer Ralph "Cajun" Roussell, piloted by Warrant Officer Don "Lundy" Lundequam, crewed by SP4 Scotty Broadston and PFC Comes were part of a Combat Assault lifting troops of Bravo Co., 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regt., 4th Infantry Division from a hot LZ. On departure from the LZ, and overflying a river, both pilots were shot and the aircraft caught fire and crashed into the river, somersaulting forward as it hit. Gator 108, commanded by Warrant Officer Mervil "Frito Bandito" Olive, Gator 13, and piloted by Warrant Officer Jack Kelly, hovered over the crash site when Gator 108's crew, SP4 Kenny Bottoms and a gunner, whose name I regret I have forgotten, bailed out to try to rescue any survivors. When Kenny got in trouble, Warrant Officer Kelly also bailed out to lend a hand. PFC Comes was rescued, being badly burned on the neck and face and hands. Sadly, he was the only survivor. Killed in Action were Warrant Officers Ralph Roussell, Don Lundequam, Scotty Broadston of the 119th AHC; and 1Lt Dennis Dotson, SGTs Robert Goselin, Steven Stefanski, and PFC Robert Hill of Co. B, 1/14.

Requiet en Pax, Brothers.

Pickett