THE WALL OF FACES

Curtis Richard Bohlscheid

DATE OF BIRTH: December 9, 1936

HOME OF RECORD:
Pocatello, Idaho


Distinguished Flying Cross
AWARDED FOR ACTIONS
DURING Vietnam War
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Captain
GENERAL ORDERS:

CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Curtis Richard Bohlscheid, United States Marine Corps, for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a Helicopter Aircraft Commander attached to and serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE (HMM-265) in Vietnam on 29 May 1967. Captain Bohlscheid launched as a Pilot of a CH-46A helicopter to attempt an emergency re-supply and medical evacuation for a company of United States Marines, previously engaged in a heavy fire fight with enemy forces for four hours. The mission was complicated by the small size of the landing zone located on a steeply sloping ridge, With complete disregard for the enemy fire directed at him, Captain Bohlscheid commenced his approach, guided only by a red lensed flashlight in the zone. Skillfully hovering his aircraft in the small zone, he dropped the much needed supplies to the ground, then calmly placed the rear wheels of his aircraft on the ground and remained in a partial hover with his rotor blades inches away from the trees and sloping terrain, while twelve wounded Marines were loaded aboard. When the wounded were safely aboard, Captain Bohlscheid skillfully flew his aircraft out of the zone and returned to medical aid. His heroic actions in accomplishing his mission under adverse conditions undoubtedly saved several lives. Captain Bohlscheid's exceptional courage, superior airmanship and inspiring devotion to duty at great personal risk were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

DEAR CAPTAIN BOHLSCHEID,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS A HELICOPTER PILOT, HMH/M/L/A (I). SEMPER FI. YOU ARE STILL MIA.
PLEASE COME HOME.
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. YOU ARE ALL IN OUR PRAYERS. IT IS EASTER WEEK, AND PASSOVER - GOD'S BLESSINGS ON YOU.

Dear Captain Curtis Richard Bohlscheid, 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, Sir

Curt Carter

Dick, we met in the third grade at Lincoln elementary (long gone) all through school, hunting, fishing, football, skiing, beer drinking, college, military, marriage. Judy asked me to be the God Father to Jeff and Marni, what a privilege. You would be very proud of them. My own son carries your name.

I don't know where to start, except to say that the day Dick [Bohlscheid] went down still echoes in my soul. I was lead of the section of the [VMO-2] gunships which escorted Dick's recon insert. We briefed early in the morning. Dick was mission command; he briefed. He was nervous for no reason I could understand. I knew him from the time we were flight instructors together in VT-2, Unit 4, at Whiting. I remember so clearly those recon Marines outside the briefing hooch, their faces covered with camouflage paint, but uneasy also. As I remember and have remembered forever, Dick tried to insert the team somewhere west of the China Wall, got shot out; we returned to Dong Ha; rebriefed, refueled, went somewhere almost at the base of the China Wall, shot out again. Dong Ha, refueled, rebriefed again. Then ordered to insert that team, period. I guess there was suspicion of pressure, heavy pressure, from the north. This time we tried just northwest of Dong Ha. I think this was right. I looked at my log book and find that I have three flights that day, the first for a 3.9, the second for a 1.0, and the third, a 0.3. I remember clearing the zone and seeing nothing, nor experiencing any fire. It was a terrible day at that point, and I was relieved. I called Dick in clear and turned to escort him on his port side. As he transitioned to landing speed, in almost slow motion his nose rose, then rose more sharply, then climbed toward the vertical. Then the aircraft rolled inverted, split S, and dived down and exploded. To this day, I will never forget, can never forget, that Dick keyed the mic at about the time he was inverted and started to say something, but what came out was a strangled cry, "Mama!" Then it was over. Sorry to get emotional, but this event, this tragedy, was and is the apotheosis of Vietnam to me. Dick was such a gentle man. God bless him, and all who went with him. For a long time, Dick's name was not on the Wall, because, I guess, he was still MIA, but it is now, and I have touched it. (Submitted by Hank Trimble, VMO-2 gunship escort) [Narrative taken from pownetwork.org; image from wikipedia.org]