A/C 67-18445
Submitted by Vincent N. Cassano

The date was Wednesday, August 26, 1970, and the Americal Division was in the second day of the operation to abandon Kham Duc. This ended a temporary six week control of the area. A/C 67-18445 had left Kham Duc with 20 troops and internally loaded 105mm rounds. They were just completing the 19 mile trip to LZ Judy (near firebase Mary Ann) when a RPG (rocket propelled grenade) hit the Chinook. CW2 York was hit by small arms fire. He slumped over the cyclic stick and the aircraft headed down. Capt. Eric Reid had to try to control the aircraft which went IFR due to the smoke. The 105mm rounds in the cargo bay began to explode causing a body to fly into the cockpit and covered much of the console between the pilots. With the aircraft on fire, Capt. Reid was able to set it down into the triple canopy jungle near a forward position occupied by a handful of troops. As he ejected his door and jumped, the aircraft exploded. Capt. Reid fell down a small cliff after he came through the trees. He was the only survivor.

A memorial service was held at the Americal chapel that was near the Chu Lai combat center and within walking distance of the company area. It was a very moving ceremony with a helmet placed on the alter for each crew member that had died. It was sad to see the mattress rolled up creating a vacancy where a crew member had been the day before. They had Capt. Reid up in the air and flying again within the next few days.

The four crew members killed were CW2 Daniel York of Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was 25. SP/4 Joel York, 18, was from Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. SP/4 George Tefft of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, he was 22. SP/4 Hima McDougall, 20, of Thompson Falls, Montana.