THE WALL OF FACES

Dear Captain Gustave Franklin Gudleske, sir

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

CAPT Gustave F. Gudleske article

Gus's military photo submitted by his daughter Lynelle.

CAPT Gustave F. Gudleske [Image courtesy of Lynelle Gudleske Ochowicz]

The mission of this helicopter was Command & Control and observation during a 'firefly' mission in the Province of Vinh Long. The crash occurred in the vicinity of the Vinh Long airfield in the early morning of the date of the incident. A firefly mission consisted of two gunships and a command and control helicopter. The C&C chopper would fly at approximately 2500 feet and release flares. The crew of the C&C helicopter included 1LT Paul S. Colvin (KIA), ENS James F. Burke Jr. (KIA), and SP4 Ernst Riley (KIA). A MACV advisor would be on board to coordinate the operation and be in contact with other advisors located throughout the province on the ground. The MACV advisor in this incident was CAPT Gustave F. Gudleske (KIA). We usually had our favorite 'hot' spots to visit every night, and then roamed the province as opportunities developed. About six of us on MACV Team 52 had a revolving roster for these missions. The gunships would fly at low altitude and look for enemy movements illuminated by the flares, firing upon targets of opportunity, or responding to outposts under sniper or other attack. These missions usually began between 9:00 and 10:00 in the evening and went until 2:00 AM with a refueling break midway. CAPT Guleske’s chopper was returning to the airfield after the last mission of the evening and encountered a violent thunderstorm just short of the runway. The aircraft went into inadvertent IFR flight. The pilot experienced vertigo and crashed, killing three crewmen and the MACV advisor. A fourth crewman, the gunner, survived the wreck. Severe turbulence was experienced with IFR conditions in the area when the helicopter crashed. The gunships had already landed safely, just avoiding the extreme conditions. (Reported in April 1998 by David A. Radin, MACV 1967, friend of Gudleske) [Taken from vhpa.org]