Sep-Oct

The following 15th Medical Battalion Veterans recently passed away.

1970 MEDEVAC pilot Gregory Simpson died 31 May 24. Greg called me just a couple of years ago and I spoke with him on the telephone. He said he remembers seeing me “back there,” meaning me working as the flight medic. He mentioned wanting to attend a 1st Cav Assn Reunion, but I do not think he ever did.

Greg’s obituary says he received a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the United States Army War College. His photo shows him wearing a colonel rank. Greg’s civilian career included serving in the Metropolitan Nashville, TN Police Department as an officer of the tactical unit and a pilot of its first helicopter.

Colonel William “Bill” Robert Downey II (Ret), died 03 May 24. His obit says Colonel Downey’s illustrious career spanned five decades, with twenty-five years of dedicated service to the United States Army. He served with distinction during World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War Era. The 1st Cav Assn database says his rank is listed as a COL, who served with HHC, 15th MED in 1969.

Daniel N. (Dan) Korty died on 22 November 2023. His obit says Dan served his country with the 1st Cavalry Division, 15th Medical Battalion, flying for MEDEVAC as the crew chief and door gunner on a Huey during the Vietnam War. I have no other confirmation on this.

Mark “Doc” Holiday died on 23 March 2023. His obit says “Doc” served as a MEDEVAC crew chief with 15th Med Bn in Vietnam from August 1970-August 1971. I see photos of him on the 15th Med Assn site, but I thought he was a medic, with the tag, “Doc.” I did not serve with him. I was gone by early July 70.

I was informed of the death of 1970 MEDEVAC pilot LeRoy George Caubarreaux, 08 July 24. Like Greg Simpson, I flew with then LT Caubarreaux in 1970, both of whom were the copilots, respectively. LT Caubarreaux had the distinction of being shot down with MEDEVAC 2, 1LT Stephen F. Modica, in Cambodia, northeast of Katum which was in War Zone C. LT Modica wrote about it and mentions calling in his MAYDAY at map coordinates: XU-5606. Further research reveals the site at: UTM grid coordinates: XU507010.

Katum is in the northwest corner of Tay Ninh Province. It had a Special Forces camp and an airstrip. Two roads joined there, one going south to Tay Ninh (approx. 25 miles), and the other going east to An Loc/Quan Loi (approx. 32 miles).

On 24 May 70 MEDEVAC 2 took the call to pick up some ARVN urgents who were in hot contact with the NVA. On board was SSG Louis R. Rocco, the medical adviser of a MACV advisory team stationed at Katum. Since December 1969 Sergeant Rocco had served as liaison to the 1st ARVN Airborne Division’s medical battalion. He had trained ARVN personnel on mission requests, use of the hoist, the jungle penetrator, the semi-rigid litter, and he also had presented classes on basic first aid. Whenever his duties allowed him the time, Rocco rode the medical helicopters on live missions to help the medics and to practice some “hands on” medicine himself.

After the required gunships provided cover fire, MEDEVAC 2 tried to land but received such a heavy volume of enemy fire that LT Modica was hit in the chest plate, and the leg. LT Caubarreaux tried to take off, but the helicopter lost power and crashed to the ground, rolling on its side.

All the MEDEVAC 2 crew were stunned at first and unable to move. SSG Rocco dragged himself out and crawled away. He had a fractured wrist and hip and a severely bruised back. As soon as he realized that the crew were still inside, he went back. He pulled LT Modica through the shattered windshield and carried him across twenty meters of exposed terrain to the ARVN perimeter. One by one he brought the unconscious crew out. All were badly wounded. LT Modica had his serious leg wound. The copilot, 1LT Leroy G. Caubarreaux, had a broken collar bone and fractured ribs. SP5 Terry Burdette, the medic, had a broken shoulder and a broken leg. The door gunner, SP4 Gary Taylor, who sat in the right door, was crushed, and burned when the ship crashed and rolled, and SSG Rocco severely burned his hands trying to find him.

The nearby ARVN soldiers could not help because the enemy was shooting at anyone who moved. The two bullets that hit LT Caubarreaux in the chest protector as Rocco carried him toward the ARVN perimeter did no further damage. SSG Rocco had saved his three comrades from certain death. Add to that, LT Modica did write, (One of my gunners also had been thrown free of the crash and knocked unconscious.) Further research reveals that “other” gunner was MEDEVAC 2 crew chief Patrick Martin.

MEDEVAC 1 Henry Tuell in Quan Loi heard on the radio what had happened and mustered his crew to respond. Upon trying to land at the MEDEVAC 2 crash site, despite cover fire from Cobra gunships, MEDEVAC 1 took enough enemy fire to wound and incapacitate LT Tuell. His copilot, LT Howard Elliot, took control and flew them back to Quan Loi for medical treatment and damage control.

Two hours later, after prepping the enemy area with firepower, MEDEVAC 12 John Read tried to land and pick up the crew of MEDEVAC 2. MEDEVAC 12 was shot out of the area, emergency landed in a nearby clearing, but all were immediately picked up.

The MEDEVAC 2 group was in dire shape, and its ARVN hosts were out of supplies. The next to try a rescue was MEDEVAC 21 CWO Ray Zepp. Despite gunship cover, they also took heavy NVA fire, and disabled MEDEVAC 21 had to also land in a clearing, five hundred meters away. They were also immediately picked up. After that, nightfall ended any more rescue attempts. The MEDEVAC 2 crew suffered through the night.

Plans that night started in Quan Loi to make yet another rescue attempt. All resources available were used, and they managed to extract MEDEVAC 2 and any ARVNs who needed it. SSG Louis R. Rocco was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions to save all the MEDEVAC 2 crew that he could, while he, himself, was badly wounded.

LT Caubarreaux did not sustain enough wounds to not return to the 15th Medical Battalion. He is listed as MEDEVAC 3 1970-1971. MEDEVAC 2 LT Modica did not return. 1LT Stephen F. Modica died after his tour in Vietnam on 7 May 95 at the age of forty-nine from a diving accident in River Ridge, LA. He was a flight school graduate of Flight Class 69-22. He served in Vietnam with 15 MED, 1 CAV, in 69-70, with the call sign of WILD DEUCE.

FIRST TEAM!
Garryowen,
Mike Bodnar C 2\7 '69
MEDEVAC 1-7\70
SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE