THE FINAL FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX

 

By: Kenneth L Mayberry PHOENIX 50  with excerpts from  Mike Sloniker PHOENIX 1H

Published in the Nebraska VFW Newspaper   (Funeral Oct 5, 1990)  

 

In the last issue of VFW News I noticed a paragraph announcing that the remains of four VN era servicemen had been identified.  I'd like to take some time to describe some events surrounding that statement.

 

On the evening of Oct 2, 1 received a phone call from a friend informing me that there would be a funeral service Oct 5, 10AM, at the "old" Ft Meyers Chapel, Arlington VA for our C/158 AHB 101 ABN (Airmobile) DIV "Phoenix" flight crew.  They were shot down in a UH-1H Huey helicopter carrying ARVN’s into Laos during LAMSON 719 Mar 5,1971.  Phoenix 16(Auction Lead for this assault), CPT David Nelson-Aircraft Commander and his crew WO1 Ralph Moreira-Pilot, SP4 Joel Hatley-Crewchief, SP4 Michael King-Door gunner, were finally coming home.

 

Oct 4 found me boarding an aircraft at Omaha enroute DC.  Just as I reached my seat a man in the row behind mine stood up and asked when I had been at Camp Evans (my Evans hat pin gave me away).  I answered and then he asked were I was going.  I responded “DC”.  He then said "I'm going to the funeral too.  I went to school with Joel Hatley.  We were good friends.  " To say I was stunned would be an understatement and erased all doubts I might have had about going.  I also realized this must be something special.  The man I'd just met is a CSM at Ft Bliss, TX

 

At Wash Intl I was met by a friend and his family from St Paul MN and another from Chicago.  Later at the Hotel we were joined by friends from Knoxville TN, Virginia Beach VA, Pensacola FL, and Fairfax Station VA. The next morning, Oct 5, three others from Evansville IN, Baltimore MD, and Norwalk CT joined us in the parking lot at the chapel.  In all, nine former Phoenix pilots were present.

 

The tone of chapel service was set immediately by Joel Hatley's mother who went to the alter, told us the exact hour and minute that Joel had been born, and paid tribute to the blessing of his short life by reading a poem she wrote.  Although she stayed steady throughout her reading of the poem, the emotion of the words gripped the filled chapel.  After the services, while others rode to the burial site, the Phoenix walked behind the horse drawn caisson, rider less horse, band, firing party, and funeral detail soldiers from the 3rd Infantry “Old Guard", a Army ceremonial unit so visible at the Tombs of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

As we wound our way through this place of such great honor on a beautiful, warm, sunny, autumn morning I was struck by the stark beauty of the cemetery and what it represents to generations of Americans.  For each man buried here represents the price of freedom either paid with their lives or duty in service to their country. And I wonder if these Tombstones could speak what stories they might tell of the persons they represent.  Then my thoughts turn to the circumstances that bring us to this place and the Phoenix crewmen ahead of us.  A friend with the 174 AHC (Dolphins and Sharks) had obtained a tape made by Dolphin 16 on that fateful day in Mar 71 which had one of Dave Nelson's last transmissions on it.  Dave was being asked by Red Dragon 09 the status of his approach to LZ Sophia.  Dave calmly responds, on the tape, that he broke off his approach, his aircraft was hit and had been leaking fuel but wasn't now, there were wounded on board, the gunner was hit in the head, and he was going to try to make it back to Kilo Sierra (Khe Sahn).  Other Phoenix remember a similar call on the internal Phoenix frequency, but that Dave was going to try to get to much closer, Aloui.  UH-1H #67-17341 tried valiantly to get her crew home, but she couldn't and exploded at altitude east of LZ Liz.

 

Over the years there has been some controversy surrounding the status of this crew, and CPT Nelson in particular.  But for the men who knew them, who flew with them, and those that witnessed the explosion there is little doubt these men perished in a ball of fire over Laos, 19 years ago.  There has also been a feeling of mission not complete.  One of frustration and anger that some of our own were left behind, KIA- Bodies Not Recovered. For us that has ended, here at Arlington, at the gravesite.

 

At the end of the flag presentations (5 flags-1 to each family, 1 to be flown over Arlington) a Phoenix pilot placed a pair of 23 year old spit shined, jumpboots next to the casket.  At the conclusion, after the 21 Gun Salute and Taps, David Nelson's younger sister came tearfully up to the pilot and asked, "Did you fly with my brother?" As he pointed to each of us in turn he responded by saying "All these men flew with your brother."  The tears flowed as we each embraced our little sister.

 

Later we had the opportunity to meet with some of the families at their Hotel.  It was a wonderful, soulful, emotional experience.  Many questions that had been haunting them were finally answered.  Words cannot describe the expression of sadness turning to relief one sees in a family members eyes when an eyewitness tearfully recounts the aircraft exploding like the "Challenger" and the family knows the possibility of their loved one being an unreturned POW is very remote

 

For myself and the rest of the Phoenix, the men who knew and flew with SP4 Michael King, SP4 Joel Hatley, W01 Ralph Moreira, CPT David Nelson, we can Log them "DOWN, AT THE PHOENIX NEST. 10 AM 5 OCT 1990. MISSON COMPLETE."