October 11 and 12, 1971
In defending Fire Support Base Pace, near the Cambodian border in northwest III Corps, we destroyed an enemy motor emplacement. As we turned to head back to Tay Ninh, both of our Cobra helicopters took hits from a 23 MM anti-aircraft cannon. We immediately destroyed the anti-aircraft canon. My Cobra’s burning wire insulation filled our cockpit with smoke, but we made it back to Tay Ninh.
The following day, two of our pilots were shot down near First Support Base Pace. 10 of our 12 Cobras were there, each with a crew of two pilots. 18 pilots saw the Cobra of Rickenbacker and McLauchlan hit multiple times, start on fire and crash into the jungle near FSB Pace. My helicopter and my wingship could not be with them. My wingship was not able to fly because of the damage the canon hit did to his hydraulics. My Cobra’s weapons were not working because of the canon hit.
As the remaining 9 Cobras ran low on fuel, my commander sent me to look for Rickenbacker. Fortunately, maintenance got my rockets working and I headed for the crash site to hopefully find and recover Rick.
After they were shot down, Rickenbacker jumped out of the cockpit and began to run from the aircraft. He looked back and saw that MacLauchlan was still in the front seat and he was on fire. MacLauchlan had a broken femur and could not get out. Rickenbacker returned to the Cobra, reached into the flames, unbuckled Mac, and pulled him from the burning helicopter. Rick gave Mac his pistol and said he would get help. About the same time, a patrol from FSB Pace headed to the crash site. They found Mac but not Rick. A Medivac helicopter arrived and hoisted Mac out of the jungle.
That’s about the time I arrived. The ground commander said their ground surveillance radar picked up an individual in tall elephant grass not too far away. Another Medivac called me and said they’d get him. Otherwise, I would have picked up Rick on my skid.
Mac went back to the states for medical care. Rick got a Silver Star for his selfless courage in saving Mac’s life and a Purple Heart for the burns he received doing it. A true hero, Rick died in 2008 from cancer. I assume it was Agent Orange.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/ewrickenbacker2.htm
September 2, 1971
My crew chief had painted “USA-1” in red, white, and blue, stars and stripes lettering on the nose of my Cobra AH-1 Helicopter Gunship. First Air Cavalry Division asked for “that patriotic Cobra” to fly security with Phyllis George, Miss America 1971 as she visited several Fire Support Bases. Thanks to my crew chief, I was able to spend the day with Miss America and her runners up.
https://www.stripes.com/news/from-the-s-s-archives-vietnam-crown-of-miss-america-s-reign-1.89683
Capt Arthur Jetter Jr shared these stories and other during his interview for the Library of Congress Vet History Project and then shared these stories with NVVMF. To watch his interview go here: https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.51561/mv0001001.stream
Add a Comment