THE WALL OF FACES

The following was taken from the USAF helicopter combat loss incident report. On February 7, 1968 PEDRO 56, HH-43F #62-4525, and PEDRO 77, HH-43B #59-1569, both from Det 9, 38th ARRS based at Pleiku, were on a medevac mission to pickup U.S. Army wounded about 10 miles northeast of Kontum. PEDRO 77 was the high bird and 56 the low bird with Army gunships providing cover. The area was reported secure, PEDRO 56 dropped flares and went in for the pickup. At 2028H at 200 feet the aircraft took .50 cal hits, burst into flames and hit the ground at high speed. There were four people on board. The two pilots and the pararescueman, though injured, were able to get away from the aircraft. SGT Jose G. Abara, the flight engineer was not observed departing the helicopter which was destroyed. A ground unit attempted to get to the crash site but made contact with the enemy enroute. An Army helicopter picked up the three survivors about four hours later and took them first to Dak To, then to Pleiku. The co-pilot had a broken elbow and the pararescueman had 2nd degree burns. SGT Abara's body was recovered by a ground unit on the February 9th. [Taken from vhpa.org]

Jose is buried at Woodbine Cemetery in Oceanport, NJ.

Jose Abara is remembered at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Vietnam Era Educational Center. To learn more search on www.njvvmf.org.

SERGEANT

JOSE GENE ABARA

served in the

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

as a flight engineer with

Detachment 9

38th AEROSPACE RESCUE and RECOVERY SQUADRON

based at Pleiku, South Vietnam.

He was lost on 7 February 1968 while participating in a mission to rescue seriously wounded ground personnel, when the helicopter in which he riding was hit by hostile ground fire, exploded then crashed.

He was a recipient of the following military decorations -

DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS

AIR MEDAL with Oak Leaf Cluster

PURPLE HEART

USAF OUTSTANDING UNIT AWARD

USAF GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL

USAF SMALL ARMS EXPERT MARKSMANSHIP MEDAL

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL

VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL

VIETNAM CAMPAIGN SERVICE MEDAL


He was also entitled to wear
AIR CREW MEMBER WINGS
above his military ribbons


Today, he rests in honored glory in Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport, New Jersey.



YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

NOR SHALL YOU EVER BE



provided by -

WWW.HISTORICALMILITARIA.COM

BIOGRAPHER OF THE LOST OF THE VIETNAM ERA - 1955 to 1975 -

Mr. Abara we salute you for the time that you gave in Nam. You'll always be remembered for the service that you gave.