Rob Pearce
Marine Sgt Nam 66'67'
Remembering a fellow Pa Veteran lost on this date. Rest in peace!
May 17, 2014 |
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Allen Tucker
eagleonerecon@yahoo.com
In-country Udorn RTAFB-432nd SPS
P.O. Box 563 Apple Valley CA 92307 USA
'So Other May Live- We Never Forget!'
Ssgt. Elwood Eugene Rumbaugh,
As Memorial Day 2013 approaches we that were in-country May 1975, remember you from 38 years ago Koh Tang Island , Cambodia-Call Sign Knife 21 HH-53A, be it Marines, Air Force, Navy, on air bases, ships at sea, support aircraft or helicopters in bound to the staging area Utapao RTAFB, Thailand, 'We Do Not Forget Those Who Gave So Much-So Other May Live.' Know we few in remembrance of all 'Do Not Forget, Nor Will We Ever!' Rest easy you are not forgotten, veterans who were there and knew the losses, 'Will Never Forget!' Proud Member 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron-Detachment 5-Night Reconnaissance-Call Sign: Eagle One. 432nd Security Police Squadron-Tiger Flight-Bravo Sector-Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand-1974-1975
May 24, 2013 |
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BILL WHITE
wtwhite63@msn.com
FRIEND
3436 MORGAN MEADOWS DR. RIO RANCHO NM 87144 USA
WOODY WAS SO CLOSE TO GOING BACK TO THE 'WORLD'
I WAS A MEDIC AT NKP WHEN MY FRIEND WOODY WAS SENT TO RESCUE THE CREW OF THE MAYAGUEZ. HIS CHOPPER WAS HIT AND HIS FLAK VEST, BEING MADE OF COMPRESSED COTTON, BECAME WATER-LOGGED AS HIS AIRCRAFT HIT THE WATER. IT IMMEDIATELY BECAME VERY, VERY HEAVY AND DRAGGED HIM DOWN INTO THE WATER NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN. THE ENTIRE OPERATION WAS A COLOSSAL 'CLUSTER' CAUSING THE DEATHS OF MANY BRAVE AIRMEN AND MARINES, INCLUDING THE 23 USAF PERSONNEL KILLED WHEN THEIR RESCUE HELICOPTER WAS SHOT DOWN LEAVING NKP FOR KOH TANG
ISLAND. GOD BLESS YOU WOODY FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND HEROISM. YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.
Jan 11, 2013 |
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BART ANDERSON
BARTAND@AOL.COM
FORMER GREEN HORNET
FORT MYERS FL 33901 USA
GREEN HORNET
I served with Rumbaugh in the 20th SOS Green Hornets in 1970-71. He was a fine and fun guy to fly with, and I will always remember him, and will be glad to see him again when we meet in Heaven.
Bart Anderson
CC Green Hornet 484
Oct 10, 2012 |
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Joseph Jones
jjones450@tampabay.rr.com
friend
9152 E Swift Pl Inverness Fl 34450 USA
And Some Gave All
Some Gave All!!1 You are missed..
Joe
Aug 2, 2011 |
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Garnet Jenkins
garijen@bresnan.net
Grand Junction Co
~ Your Service And Sacrifice Are Forever Remembered ~
In Tribute to SSgt Elwood Eugene Rumbaugh, with Profound Gratitude for his Courage, Service and Dedication to our Country and for Freedom. Rest in Peace and know that you will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. I am the sister of Sgt David Dickinson, who also made the Supreme Sacrifice in Vietnam 1967.....'NOR SHALL YOUR GLORY BE FORGOT, WHILE FAME HER RECORD KEEPS, OR HONOR POINTS TO THE HALLOWED SPOT, WHERE VALOR PROUDLY SLEEPS' ~ Theodore O''Hara ~
Apr 3, 2011 |
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Eugene Kemp
Fellow Aircrew
On Angels Wings You Shall Sour For Eternity - lest we never forget
Jul 1, 2010 |
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Roy Spencer
Vietnam Veteran-Air Force Pilot
Lest We Forget Their Heroic Mission
On 15 May 1975, the Marines assigned to Operation Mayaguez arrived at the staging area at 0230 hours and were lifting off the ground by 0415 hours in 8 Air Force HH53A Super Jolly Green Giant helicopters. Due to limited air assets, the first wave of the landing force consisted of only 179 Marines from Company G (reinforced). However, the first wave did include a section of 81mm mortars and a small command group. By 0615 hours, shortly after dawn on that clear and bright morning, Lt. Col. John Denham, aircraft commander 1st Lt. Karl W. Poulsen, pilot SSgt. Elwood E. Rumbaugh, flight engineer and a second flight engineer comprised the crew of the lead HH53A, Call sign 'Knife 21,' were attempting to land the first wave of Marines on Koh Tang Island's narrow west beach LZ. This LZ was located approximately 500 feet behind the compound where the hostages were believed held. However, instead of finding a small contingent of troops, the Marines found some 150 to 200 heavily armed soldiers in a heretofore unknown extensive set of fortifications that ringed the beaches, including well-entrenched machinegun pits, bunker complexes and trenches that were all interlocking. This complex allowed enemy troops to attack the American aircraft and ground personnel at will. Also on the morning of 15 May, a ship-seizure team from the USS Harold E. Holt assaulted the Mayaguez while it was anchored near Koh Tang Island only to find the ship deserted. The team took control of the ship and sailed it to a safe location. At the same time the ship-seizure team secured the ship, a helicopter assault of Koh Tang Island was initiated. As the first wave of the rescue operation was underway, the communists pulled a major surprise by releasing the entire crew from another island where they had spent the night. After release, the hostages were in the process of boarding the fishing trawler once again when crewmen from the destroyer USS Henry B. Wilson took control of the hostages.
Lt. Col. Denham successfully reached the west beach, discharged his passengers and attempted to escape the Khmer barrage being leveled at them by turning Knife 21 seaward and racing toward safety. However, it took a direct hit from a RPG round and crashed into the Gulf of Thailand approximately 1 mile west of the island. Lt. Col. Denham and the second flight engineer successfully escaped the Supper Jolly. Karl Poulsen and Elwood Rumbaugh were trapped in the aircraft when it rolled on its side, then upside down before sinking. SSgt. Rumbaugh managed to free 1st Lt. Poulsen, then fought his way to the surface dragging the co-pilot with him. As attempts were made to rescue Karl Poulsen, Elwood Rumbaugh disappeared underwater and could not be located. Later a nearby Navy ship rescued the three Air Force survivors. Elwood Rumbaugh was immediately listed Missing in Action. Two days later, his status was changed to Killed in Action/Body Not Recovered based on survivor reports.
May 17, 2010 |
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Malcolm Kirby
mlkdrk@earthlink.net
USAF Veteran - 191st photo recon.
Vietnam Veterans of America - Chapter 785
Rest in Peace, my Brother. You will not be forgotten...
Apr 7, 2009 |
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Bill Gallenstein
USAF Veteran
Zephyrhills FL 33541 USA
cold war USAF veteran remembers you on this day. My God bless you and your family always. I salute you, Thank you
Mar 15, 2007 |
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