JOHN C BILENSKI
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HONORED ON PANEL 54W, LINE 40 OF THE WALL

JOHN CHARLES BILENSKI

WALL NAME

JOHN C BILENSKI

PANEL / LINE

54W/40

DATE OF BIRTH

07/06/1939

CASUALTY PROVINCE

QUANG NAM

DATE OF CASUALTY

07/03/1968

HOME OF RECORD

CLIFTON

COUNTY OF RECORD

Passaic County

STATE

NJ

BRANCH OF SERVICE

MARINE CORPS

RANK

SSGT

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Contact Details

REMEMBRANCES

LEFT FOR JOHN CHARLES BILENSKI
POSTED ON 5.29.2022
POSTED BY: Chris Johnson

John was my Uncle by Marriage

John was married to my Aunt Jean O’dell. The last time the majority of the family saw John alive was at my first birthday party, in December of 1967. Obviously I don’t remember him, but I am glad he is remembered here.
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POSTED ON 8.22.2021
POSTED BY: john fabris

honoring you....

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. May you rest in eternal peace.
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POSTED ON 7.3.2018
POSTED BY: Janice Current

An American Hero

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. Thank you for stepping up and answering your country's call. You gave everything you had to give. Rest easy knowing you will never be forgotten.
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POSTED ON 3.14.2017
POSTED BY: Lucy Conte Micik

Remembered

DEAR STAFF SERGEANT BILENSKI,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A HELICOPTER CREWMAN. SEMPER FI. WE ARE IN A BLIZZARD. WE ARE HOME AND HAVE THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THOSE OF YOU WHO PUT IT ALL ON THE LINE FOR US. IT HAS BEEN FAR TOO LONG FOR ALL OF YOU TO HAVE BEEN GONE. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU HAVE DONE, AND YOUR SACRIFICE. WATCH OVER THE U.S.A., IT STILL NEEDS YOUR COURAGE.. GOD BLESS YOU. MAY THE ANGELS BE AT YOUR SIDE. REST IN PEACE. MANY OF US HAVE BEGUN OUR JOURNEY TO EASTER. YOU ARE ALL IN OUR PRAYERS
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POSTED ON 11.13.2016

Final Mission of SSGT John C. Bilenski

On July 3, 1968, a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter CH-46A (tail number 151911) from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 164 (HMM-164) was shot down with the loss of four crewmen and nine passengers. The aircraft was attempting an insertion in an area known as Elephant Valley. The valley is steep and runs east to west with a stream in the middle of it. The bottom of valley is narrow and the only approach is east or west. Aircraft commander CAPT James L. Littler III went in east to west and landed near the stream. Hueys (UH-1 helicopter gunships) covered both sides of the CH-46 during the insertion. CAPT Littler was only in the zone for seconds when he yelled he was taking fire. The gunships sprayed the side of the ridgeline where he called the fire from. CAPT Littler pulled out of the landing zone and was heading west when he made an inaudible radio transmission to one of the gunship commanders. At the same time he made a hard 180 degree turn to go back into the zone. He was belly up to the ridgeline about 100-200 feet when he took fire, lost control and crashed almost where he initially landed. The aircraft exploded upon impact. One of the gunship pilots later stated that he did not see the entire recon team exit the aircraft upon initial landing, but thinks that only one or two had gotten off. When the crew chief informed CAPT Littler of this during the initial departure, it is believed he decided to go back in to get them. He crashed right on anyone who was in the zone. The lost crew members included CAPT Littler, pilot 1LT Raymond C. Daley, and crewmen CPL Randell B. Little and SSGT John C. Bilenski. The nine passengers were CAPT John D. Dalhouse, SGT Joseph J. Jones, LCPL William C. Moon, LCPL Paul Scheckler, LCPL Fay C. Simmons III, CPL William D. Johnson Jr., CPL Gary D. Tisdall, CPL Sherman D. Vance, and PFC Alton House. [Taken from popasmoke.com]
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