THE WALL OF FACES

Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

HOOAH

First Lieutenant Haron Lee Brown II, Served with the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, 214th Aviation Battalion, 12th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, United States Army Vietnam. Montani Semper Liberi !

Operation Klamath Falls (December 1, 1967 – January 8, 1968) was a 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division and 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment search and destroy operation in Binh Thuan, Binh Tuy, and Lam Dong Provinces, RVN. On December 14th, a UH-1H (#66-16211) from the 240th Assault Helicopter Company (Greyhounds) flying in support of Klamath Falls experienced a transmission failure in the Boa Loc Pass in Binh Thuan Province, RVN, causing the aircraft to crash and burn. There were no survivors. The lost crew included aircraft commander 1LT Haron L. Brown II, pilot WO1 William K. Clawson, crew chief SP5 Matthew P. Amaral III, and gunner SP4 Ronny K. Kindred. Reportedly, this aircraft was “Red X’ed” (grounded) the evening before by Amaral and another crew chief at Bearcat Base Camp after they detected a rubber seal failure on the input-output quill connecting the helicopter engine and transmission. The two crew chiefs determined sand had gotten behind the rubber seal causing the input-output oil reservoir to leak. They believed the leakage was serious enough to place the aircraft on a non-flyable status. Paperwork was turned into the flight tower, and they retired for the night. However, sometime before morning, the flightline Sergeant took the helicopter off Red-X status and put it back into service as a flyable helicopter. Around noon the following day, word got back to the base camp that a helicopter was lost. An inquiry into the accident was conducted with unreported results. A memorial service for the four lost crewmen was performed by the base chaplain at Bearcat in the days following the loss. [Taken from vhpa.org and information provided by Roger D. McLean (June 2022)]

Thank you for your service to our country so long ago sir. The remembrance from your friend Butch is moving. May you rest in eternal peace.

Lee,
My daughter found this site and I want everyone who looks to know that I still miss my best bud. I made it back and wish that we could have celebrated your coming home. It didn't t work out, but you've always been there. Love you man.