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 On October 10, 1969, a US Army helicopter UH-1H (tail number 67-19524) from C Company, 227th Aviation Battalion, was involved in a troop ferry mission when it crashed, killing three crewmen and four passengers. The aircraft was on its final extraction mission. The route was from the pickup zone to Fire Support Base Deb. The established ACL (allowable cargo load) was 5 troops. The pickup zone could only accommodate one aircraft at a time. Aircraft 524 had previously taken out two sorties of troops to FSB Deb. On the third sortie five troops were loaded on the aircraft in the pickup zone. The aircraft landed on a heading of 190 degrees and picked up to a hover, moving slightly to the rear and up, for a 260 degree departure. While lifting out of the pickup zone, the main rotor blade struck a tree on the right side of the aircraft approximately 75 feet from the ground. The aircraft descended to the ground rolling slightly on its right side in a nose low attitude. Fire began immediately after crashing to the ground. The three lost crew members included pilot WO1 Thomas F Brown Jr; crew chief CPL Robert L Lazarus; and gunner SP4 Shelby M Long. The four passengers who died were SGT William R Godfrey; SP4 Larry G Prewitt; SP4 Jose C Salinas; and CPL William R. Adams. One crewman, the aircraft commander, and one passenger survived with injuries.
Inscription:
Warrant Officer 1st Class
U.S. Army
Note: Interred September 2, 2015
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Ernest Gearing Jr.
I just want to say I remember Tom as a good friend. We both grew up in Morningside, Maryland. We both played Softball in the Morningside league. Tom was always one of the other guys ( on the opposing team).
I was saddened to learn that Tom was killed in Viet Nam. You can find his name on the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington, DC. I always try to get by and pay my respects when I am on the National Mall.
I'd like to hear if other classmates remember Tom.
Maryann Elrod (Johnson)
I remember Tom from elementary school thru high school and from Morningside. He was such a nice guy. When I heard he died in Vietnam I was really sad. He has been and will continue to be missed.
Janice Brewer (McDowell)
I was part of Tom's elementary school class. He was a great guy, and he is missed.
Janice Brewer McDowell
Richard Porter
I REMEMBER TOM.
TOM WAS A GOOD JOE AND I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIS LAUGH.
TOM LIKED ME BEING A CLASS CLOWN AS MUCH AS I LIKED IT. I STILL LIKE MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH.
GOD BLESS YOU TOM, MAYBE WE CAN HAVE A FEW LAUGHS IN OUR FATHER'S HOUSE
AMEN.
SEE YOU LATER,
RICH
Robert (Bobby) Lane Jr.
Being a Morninside kid we all became close. Tom was a special person, he always had a smile and the time to chat with you. I remember when he recieved his commision and got his wings. We talked about the danger of flying helicopters in a war zone. He felt he had to do it. When I got the message that Tom was killed it broke my heart. I have visit his grave site many times. And still think about Tom often.
A toast to Tom: Where we go we know not where but you were a class act here you will be a class act there