Skychief 20 Dale Throneberry VIETNAM HELICOPTER PILOT Dale Throneberry, a Vietnam Veteran and radio host for Veterans Radio interviewed Jim Markson, a Vietnam Veteran with the USAF, 377th Security Police Squadron pictured far left. Click on the link below to listen to the interview. veteransradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/VRP011115.mp3 VRP011115 veteransradio.net Jim is shown on the far left and Dale is pictured in the other three photos and was able to relate to many of the things written in VIETNAM And Beyond, Veteran Reflections, by Jim Markson and Jenny La Sala. As a helicopter pilot, Dale was known as Skychielf 20, with the 15th Assault Helicopter Company and made many landings at the Ton Son Nhut Air Base, where Jim was assigned to protect our aircraft. Tan Son Nhat Air Base was the target of major communist attacks during the 1968 Tet Offensive. The attack began early on 30 January with greater severity than anyone had expected. When the communists attacked much of the VNAF was on leave to be with their families during the lunar new year. An immediate recall was issued, and within 72 hours, 90 percent of the VNAF was on duty. The first enemy rounds that hit Tan Son Nhat Air Base struck approximately 02:00 on 30 January. The chapel on the base was one of the early direct hits. The base was under the command of Air Force Colonel Farley Peebles. If not for the work of the United States Air Force 377th Security Police Squadron in the early hours of the attack the entire base may have been in danger. Four USAF Security Policemen lost their lives at Bunker 051, those 4 and two other Combat Security Police members received the Silver Star for their valor. The Security Police, despite being outnumbered, with help from the United States Army Helicopter and ground units, killed nearly 1000 enemy combatants. The base was secured by American and ARVN/VNAF forces by 12 Noon on 31 January 1968. Over the next three weeks, the VNAF flew over 1,300 strike sorties, bombing and strafing communist positions throughout South Vietnam. Pictured in the group photo in order of appearance left to right, Major Carl Bender, Ltc Billy Jack Carter, Captain Carl DeNisio and Lt Gerald Ingalsbe. The bunker behind them in the picture is the j0-51 bunker where 4 members of the 377th SPS lost their lives during the TET Offensive. Comes A Soldiers Whisper, remembering our Vietnam Veterans one day at a time... For more information visit: VietnamAndBeyond
Posted on: Mon, 12 Jan 2015 19:47:14 +0000
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