SGT. Harry T. Wilson, USMC

From Garry D. Marsh:

     "I met Harry on my second tour in Viet Nam 1969 and 70. I worked and flew with Harry for several months before we lost him. For all of those that knew him, he was a great person to be around. He was funny guy that almost always made you want to laugh and smile."

     "The day he didn't return was a shock to everyone. My memories of that day are thirty years old but they seem very clear even though I wasn't on that particular mission. As I remember the flight was some sort of insertion or resupply."

     "The LZ was what we called a two wheel zone. In other words there wasn't room to land the helicopter, you could only set the main gear down and had to hover the nose of the aircraft while you loaded or unloaded people/cargo. This LZ was reportedly on a hill side so they not only were short on room but they had to back the aircraft into the landing area."

     "The report from the flight crew was a little vague. While they were in the LZ there was reported ground fire and there was also a wind condition. As they were backing into the LZ, Harry was looking out the right rear emergency exit clearing the rear of the aircraft when the nose pitched up and the aft main rotors struck the hill side."

     "When the rotors struck the hill the aircraft broke in two. The forward portion slid several yards down the hill where the pilot and gunners escaped. Harry was reportedly pinned under the right rear stub wing and his body was not able to be recovered at the time."

HMM-262 Command Chronology - June 1970:
While on a Recon Team extract the pickup aircraft received heavy automatic weapons fire and crashed in the zone. The crew chief received fatal injuries, the aircraft commander major injuries and the rest of the crew minor injuries.

--- General / Personal ---

Last name: WILSON
First name: HARRY TRUMAN
Home of Record (official): GRAND PRAIRIE
State (official): TX
Date of Birth: Monday, January 17, 1949
Sex: Male
Race: Caucasian
Marital Status: Single

--- Military ---

Branch: Marine Corps
Rank: SGT
Serial Number: 463781394
Component: Regular
Pay grade: E5
MOS (Military Occupational Specialty code): 6132 - Helicopter Dynamic Components Mechanic

1st Marine Air Wing, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262

--- Action ---

Start of Tour: 24 November 1969
Date of Casualty: 4 June 1970
Age at time of loss: 21
Casualty type: (A1) Hostile, died (Body not recovered)
Reason: Air loss - Crashed on land (Crew member - CH-46D Tail number: 153403)
Country: Laos
Province: Unknown/Not Reported
The Wall: Panel 09W - Row 011