09/02/2026
I shared this in MHC and some friends have asked me to make it public, so here it is.
Does anyone know the persons mentioned?
• Specialist Fourth Class Larry W. Mackey
• Specialist Fourth Class John W. Burke
• Captain Jerry Wagner
Crewchief Brings Chopper Home After Both Pilots Are Wounded
September 1967
WHAT had begun as a routine combat assault mission for the 187th Assault Helicopter Company's Blackhawks, suddenly became a life and death drama for the four crewmembers of the number four ship in the formation.
The flight had just taken off from a landing zone, ten miles north of Saigon, where troops had been unloaded. A burst of enemy fire raked the ship, wounding both the pilot and the aircraft commander in the legs, and the aircraft went into a decending left turn while the pilot fought to regain control before the ship crashed into the ground.
Although unable to use his legs, the pilot succeeded in regaining control and starting a climb away from the hostile fire.
Meanwhile, Specialist Fourth Class Larry W. Mackey and Specialist Fourth Class John W. Burke rushed forward to remove the aircraft commander from his seat. SP4 Mackey then climbed into the vacant seat while SP4 Burke administered first aid to the aircraft commander who was suffering temporary muscular spasms of his arms and legs resulting from a bullet damaging a nerve.
Although he had no flying experience Specialist Mackey took control of the aircraft while the pilot tried to stop the flow of blood from his wounds. Mackey headed the aircraft toward Cu Chi while another aircraft piloted by Captain Jerry Wagner provided close es**rt and reassuring radio messages.
Unable to stop the flow of blood, the pilot soon began to turn very pale. Mackey then flew the aircraft with his left hand while he applied direct pressure on one of the pilot's leg wounds with his right hand in an effort to stop the bleeding.
Concern for the two wounded aviators prompted Mackey to take the aircraft to the small helipad at the Twelfth Evacuation Hospital at Cu Chi, rather than the longer runway of the airfield.
A smooth landing...
The fact that Mackey had no flying experience did not deter him; he was too interested in getting the two wounded aviators to a medical facility. With advice from Captain Wagner and the pilot, Mackey accomplished a normal approach and a smooth landing on the small hospital pad.
Waiting medical personnel rushed both inside for treatment, and Mackey's ordeal was over. Captain Wagner, who had landed his own aircraft, came forward and flew the aircraft to the maintenance area at Cu Chi airfield. Still unruffled, Mackey then began a survey of the damage to the aircraft.
Soon after, groups of amazed officers and enlisted men found him and the showers of congratulations began. The two words most often heard in describing Mackey's feat were "fantastic" and "unbelievable." The most rewarding congratulations for Mackey and Burke came two hours later when they visited the aircraft commander and pilot in the hospital where no flowery words of gracious phrases were spoken. The simple words, handshakes, and looks on the pilots' faces said more than any words could hope to express.
