THE WALL OF FACES

My father was Richard Irvin. I was just a couple of months old when this accident occurred. I have always wanted to know who else was on that helicopter. My deepest condolences to all who were enriched by your life.

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from fellow soldier Mike Hudson is poignant and reflects his admiration and respect for you.As long as you are remembered you will always be with us….

I will never forgot Jul 15, 1969 (51 years, 8 months and 14 days ago) when the accident occurred that took you from us. I thank you for your courage and sacrifice and will never forgot. PM 27 Mike Hudson

On July 15, 1969, a U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H (tail number 66-16736) from B Company, 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 11th Aviation Group, 1st Cavalry Division, was conducting a final extraction of 1st Cavalry Division troops in northern III Corps between An Loc and Song Be in Phuoc Long Province, RVN. The aircraft was the fourth helicopter in a flight of six which had refueled at Quan Loi (LZ Oasis) twenty minutes earlier and was carrying 1400lbs. of fuel. The ship circled the jungle pickup zone (PZ) twice before beginning its approach. On short final to the PZ, the co-pilot reported the engine surging. Main rotor speed was lost despite application of full power. It was later surmised the helicopter suffered a main transmission failure. The ship began to fall, and the aircraft commander assisted as control of the helicopter was lost. Without sufficient rotor speed to accomplish autorotation, the aircraft made a hard landing inside the PZ. The fuel cells ruptured on impact and the ship burst into flames. Infantrymen from the ground unit helped the crewmembers out of the burning aircraft. Three crewmen were critically injured in the crash. The crew chief, SP4 Richard L. Irvin, was treated at a military medical facility in Vietnam for burns to his lower body and fractures to both legs and his lower back. He was evacuated to the burn center at the 106th U.S. Army General Hospital in Yokohama, Japan; Irvin was later transferred to Brooke General Hospital at Fort Sam Houston, TX, where he died due to cerebral fat emboli on August 5, 1969. The co-pilot, WO1 Fred A. Fedder, was also evacuated to the Army burn center in Japan; he succumbed to his injuries on August 9, 1969. The aircraft commander suffered 3rd degree burns over 60% of his body and fractures to both legs. He was evacuated to Japan and survived with the loss of his left arm. The gunner, who reportedly leapt from the aircraft before impact, walked away from the crash with some burns and other minor injuries. [Taken from coffeltdatabase.org and vhpa.org and information provided by Jim Coleman and Ron Hope (October 2020)]

Warrant Officer Fred Anderson Fedder, Served with Company B, 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 11th Aviation Group, 1st Cavalry Division, United States Army Vietnam.