DANNY D GARD
DANNY D GARD
41E/65
REMEMBRANCES
Remembering An American Hero
As an American, I would like to thank you for your service and for your sacrifice made on behalf of our wonderful country. The youth of today could gain much by learning of heroes such as yourself, men and women whose courage and heart can never be questioned.
May God allow you to read this, and may He allow me to someday shake your hand when I get to Heaven to personally thank you. May he also allow my father to find you and shake your hand now to say thank you; for America, and for those who love you.
With respect, and the best salute a civilian can muster for you, Sir
Curt Carter
Last Mission of U.S. Marine Corps helicopter CH-46D tail number 153360
This aircraft was downed by heavy automatic weapons fire enroute to Khe Sanh on a recovery mission. The helicopter crashed, rolled down a mountain, exploded and burned. There were no survivors. The crew included aircraft commander MAJ Edwin G. Meixner, pilot CAPT Robert L. Sevell, crew chief CPL Alfredo Benigni, and gunners CPL Danny D. Gard and SGT Marc W. McCabe. The aircraft was also carrying 18 passengers: CPL Kenneth R. Bradley, LCPL Ronald S. H. Christman, CPL Donald N. Cooper, LCPL John A. Thotland, SGT John P. Toth, CPL William O. Turner, BU1 Charles O. Spillman, CAPT Jay W. Stull, PFC Emmett C. Stanton, SGT Charles E. Parsons, SGT James H. Mikels, CAPT John P. Ellis, LCPL Matthew M. Dwyer, CPL Ronald L. Dempsey, LCPL Kyle J. Coles, CPL Robert E. Caldwell, PFC David Z. Balades, and HN Donald A. LaBonte. The HMM-262 Command Chronology reports this CH-46D incident as follows: 'One (1) aircraft was shot down by enemy fire while enroute to Khe Sanh, (XD916522) all twenty three (23) occupants on the aircraft were killed.' The 3rd Marine Division operations log February 28, 1968 entry 154 at 1315H says: 'From 4th Marines: At [1229H] one CH-46 aircraft proceeding from Dong Ha to Khe Sanh with crew of 4 and 19 other personnel was downed by enemy fire in grid square XD9453 ... ' Entry 155 says 'Platoon from 39 reached downed aircraft. One survivor reported badly burned not expected to live.' Entry 175 says in part 'Lima 39 platoon inserted as reaction force moved bodies and survivor to LZ 100 meters from crash site. Extraction completed at 1650H. 22 dead, 1 medevac.' It is clear there were 23 men on the helo, 22 were killed, and 1 survived the crash but was not expected to live. However, there is no known 'Died of wounds received in helo incident' between February 28 and March 31, 1968 inclusive. There are two possibilities: DD1300 for Donald A. LaBonte, 6857405 HN (E3) USN. LaBonte is in the CACCF as A2-D-7, died of wounds, small arms fire, ground. However, the DD1300 is specific in saying LaBonte was 'Killed in action February 28, 1968 in the vicinity of Khe Sanh Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam as a result of wounds sustained when aircraft was hit by automatic weapons fire.' The CACCF is correct in saying LaBonte died of wounds, but it is wrong in classifying his death as due to small arms fire in a ground engagement. Looking at it from a different direction, we have documented all personnel KIA on February 28th except LaBonte, as well as one WIA who died May 28, 1968. It seems clear that he was the badly burned survivor from 153360 (From Ken Davis) [Taken from vhpa.org]
