**********************************************
McCAFFERTY VOLUNTEERED FOR DUTY
**********************************************
An heroic 21- year old West Lynn helicopter gunner lived up to his personal code of volunteer duty by relinquishing "a desk job" for service aboard a gunship shot down near Tay Ninh, Vietnam……at the cost of his life.
Spec. 5 Michael (Mike) McCafferty, 702 Summer St., who was relegated to desk duty after 900 hours of combat flying, volunteered his service on a helicopter which needed a gunner desperately.
The ship was shot down last week on its second trip. All aboard were killed.
THIRD VOLUNTEER HITCH
The West Lynn warrior was on his third volunteer hitch involving two years duty in Vietnam, and was due to return home in 58 days.
He was the son of Mr.and Mrs. William J. McCafferty,the grandson of the late William McCafferty and the brother of Robert and William McCafferty.
The Army gunner returned home last February for his grandfathers funeral. Returning to Vietnam, he found that his superior officers decided he had taken personal risks beyond the call of duty. He then was assigned to the desk job.
NEEDED GUNNER
The helicopter he made his last flight needed a gunner because the crew member with that assignment had been detailed to Long Binh for paperwork duty.
A Classical High graduate with the Class of 1964 , Spec 5 McCafferty maintained strong ties with his alma mater. Due for discharge next month, he was eagerly looking forward to attending the traditional football game between Classical and English Highs. He had asked his father to obtain four tickets for the contest. But the game will be played with one of Classical's most rabid rooters missing.
While at Classical, he was the student basketball manager and was a member of the Math, Science, Contemporary affairs and Camera Clubs. His academic prowess was illustrated by membership in the National Honor Society.
ENLISTS IN ARMY
The war hero attended Salem State College for a year before enlisting in the Army, and had planned to resume his education at the Salem college as an English major. He was pledged to Kappa Delta Phi Fraternity.
His commitment to his country was evident in a recent letter to his parents. "There is a lot to do out here, and someone has to do it." He said, a creed by which he lived and died.
AWARDED SILVER STAR
On October 3, 1968, a battalion of Special Forces had come into heavy contact about twenty miles northwest of Tay Ninh along the Cambodian border. An emergency lift of ammunition was requested and CPT Arthur (Tom) Frame the Air Mission commander at Tay Ninh volunteered to take it into the midst of the battle. As he came to a hover over the trees on the ammunition drop his hydraulics and tail rotor were shot out and he crashed into the trees. The crew chief, Specialist Roger Smith was killed instantly in the crash as the aircraft rolled on the left side. CPT Frame was trapped in the wreckage and his pilot Warrant Officer Martin Bixler and gunner SP5 Michael McCafferty came around to pull him out. They pulled him from the wreckage but before they could be picked up, Warrant Officer Bixler and Specialist McCafferty were killed by the enemy raging fire. CPT Frame was dragged away from the contact area by one of the Special Forces personnel and was picked up some hours later when the action subsided. Captain Frame was awarded the Silver Star for refusing to leave his aircraft before he got the passengers out of the cabin area. For their heroic actions, Specialist McCafferty and Warrant Officer Bixler were awarded the Silver Star posthumously. from Annual Supplement History of the 117th Aviation Company (AMBL LT) 222nd Combat Aviation Battalion 12th Combat Aviation Group, First Aviation Brigade, 1 January 1968 - 31 December 1968, Prepared by 1LT David A. Coon, Unit Historical Officer, Approved by: MAJ Lynn B. Knisely, Long Binh, Republic of Vietnam, APO 96279
HONOR ROLL
Anderson, Corp Edward
Atkinson, PFC Frederick George
Cahill, Corp Kevin Arthur
Carter, Sgt Kenneth Robert
Chisholm, Corp David Andrew
Evans, Corp John Douglas
Fisher, Corp Eric Anders
Flint, Corp William John
Grant, Corp Norman William, Jr
Hazard, Corp James Joseph
Mailloux, PFC John Joseph
McCafferty, Michael Leste
Miller, PFC Irvin George
Nelson, Corp Robert Joseph
O'Brien, Corp William Joseph
Odiorne, Corp George Alfred
Pennucci, Corp Peter James
Ramsey, Corp John Louis
Upton, Sgt Carleton Webster
McCAFFERTY VOLUNTEERED FOR DUTY
**********************************************
An heroic 21- year old West Lynn helicopter gunner lived up to his personal code of volunteer duty by relinquishing "a desk job" for service aboard a gunship shot down near Tay Ninh, Vietnam……at the cost of his life.
Spec. 5 Michael (Mike) McCafferty, 702 Summer St., who was relegated to desk duty after 900 hours of combat flying, volunteered his service on a helicopter which needed a gunner desperately.
The ship was shot down last week on its second trip. All aboard were killed.
THIRD VOLUNTEER HITCH
The West Lynn warrior was on his third volunteer hitch involving two years duty in Vietnam, and was due to return home in 58 days.
He was the son of Mr.and Mrs. William J. McCafferty,the grandson of the late William McCafferty and the brother of Robert and William McCafferty.
The Army gunner returned home last February for his grandfathers funeral. Returning to Vietnam, he found that his superior officers decided he had taken personal risks beyond the call of duty. He then was assigned to the desk job.
NEEDED GUNNER
The helicopter he made his last flight needed a gunner because the crew member with that assignment had been detailed to Long Binh for paperwork duty.
A Classical High graduate with the Class of 1964 , Spec 5 McCafferty maintained strong ties with his alma mater. Due for discharge next month, he was eagerly looking forward to attending the traditional football game between Classical and English Highs. He had asked his father to obtain four tickets for the contest. But the game will be played with one of Classical's most rabid rooters missing.
While at Classical, he was the student basketball manager and was a member of the Math, Science, Contemporary affairs and Camera Clubs. His academic prowess was illustrated by membership in the National Honor Society.
ENLISTS IN ARMY
The war hero attended Salem State College for a year before enlisting in the Army, and had planned to resume his education at the Salem college as an English major. He was pledged to Kappa Delta Phi Fraternity.
His commitment to his country was evident in a recent letter to his parents. "There is a lot to do out here, and someone has to do it." He said, a creed by which he lived and died.
AWARDED SILVER STAR
On October 3, 1968, a battalion of Special Forces had come into heavy contact about twenty miles northwest of Tay Ninh along the Cambodian border. An emergency lift of ammunition was requested and CPT Arthur (Tom) Frame the Air Mission commander at Tay Ninh volunteered to take it into the midst of the battle. As he came to a hover over the trees on the ammunition drop his hydraulics and tail rotor were shot out and he crashed into the trees. The crew chief, Specialist Roger Smith was killed instantly in the crash as the aircraft rolled on the left side. CPT Frame was trapped in the wreckage and his pilot Warrant Officer Martin Bixler and gunner SP5 Michael McCafferty came around to pull him out. They pulled him from the wreckage but before they could be picked up, Warrant Officer Bixler and Specialist McCafferty were killed by the enemy raging fire. CPT Frame was dragged away from the contact area by one of the Special Forces personnel and was picked up some hours later when the action subsided. Captain Frame was awarded the Silver Star for refusing to leave his aircraft before he got the passengers out of the cabin area. For their heroic actions, Specialist McCafferty and Warrant Officer Bixler were awarded the Silver Star posthumously. from Annual Supplement History of the 117th Aviation Company (AMBL LT) 222nd Combat Aviation Battalion 12th Combat Aviation Group, First Aviation Brigade, 1 January 1968 - 31 December 1968, Prepared by 1LT David A. Coon, Unit Historical Officer, Approved by: MAJ Lynn B. Knisely, Long Binh, Republic of Vietnam, APO 96279
HONOR ROLL
Anderson, Corp Edward
Atkinson, PFC Frederick George
Cahill, Corp Kevin Arthur
Carter, Sgt Kenneth Robert
Chisholm, Corp David Andrew
Evans, Corp John Douglas
Fisher, Corp Eric Anders
Flint, Corp William John
Grant, Corp Norman William, Jr
Hazard, Corp James Joseph
Mailloux, PFC John Joseph
McCafferty, Michael Leste
Miller, PFC Irvin George
Nelson, Corp Robert Joseph
O'Brien, Corp William Joseph
Odiorne, Corp George Alfred
Pennucci, Corp Peter James
Ramsey, Corp John Louis
Upton, Sgt Carleton Webster
**********************************************
McCAFFERTY VOLUNTEERED FOR DUTY
**********************************************
An heroic 21- year old West Lynn helicopter gunner lived up to his personal code of volunteer duty by relinquishing "a desk job" for service aboard a gunship shot down near Tay Ninh, Vietnam……at the cost of his life.
Spec. 5 Michael (Mike) McCafferty, 702 Summer St., who was relegated to desk duty after 900 hours of combat flying, volunteered his service on a helicopter which needed a gunner desperately.
The ship was shot down last week on its second trip. All aboard were killed.
THIRD VOLUNTEER HITCH
The West Lynn warrior was on his third volunteer hitch involving two years duty in Vietnam, and was due to return home in 58 days.
He was the son of Mr.and Mrs. William J. McCafferty,the grandson of the late William McCafferty and the brother of Robert and William McCafferty.
The Army gunner returned home last February for his grandfathers funeral. Returning to Vietnam, he found that his superior officers decided he had taken personal risks beyond the call of duty. He then was assigned to the desk job.
NEEDED GUNNER
The helicopter he made his last flight needed a gunner because the crew member with that assignment had been detailed to Long Binh for paperwork duty.
A Classical High graduate with the Class of 1964 , Spec 5 McCafferty maintained strong ties with his alma mater. Due for discharge next month, he was eagerly looking forward to attending the traditional football game between Classical and English Highs. He had asked his father to obtain four tickets for the contest. But the game will be played with one of Classical's most rabid rooters missing.
While at Classical, he was the student basketball manager and was a member of the Math, Science, Contemporary affairs and Camera Clubs. His academic prowess was illustrated by membership in the National Honor Society.
ENLISTS IN ARMY
The war hero attended Salem State College for a year before enlisting in the Army, and had planned to resume his education at the Salem college as an English major. He was pledged to Kappa Delta Phi Fraternity.
His commitment to his country was evident in a recent letter to his parents. "There is a lot to do out here, and someone has to do it." He said, a creed by which he lived and died.
AWARDED SILVER STAR
On October 3, 1968, a battalion of Special Forces had come into heavy contact about twenty miles northwest of Tay Ninh along the Cambodian border. An emergency lift of ammunition was requested and CPT Arthur (Tom) Frame the Air Mission commander at Tay Ninh volunteered to take it into the midst of the battle. As he came to a hover over the trees on the ammunition drop his hydraulics and tail rotor were shot out and he crashed into the trees. The crew chief, Specialist Roger Smith was killed instantly in the crash as the aircraft rolled on the left side. CPT Frame was trapped in the wreckage and his pilot Warrant Officer Martin Bixler and gunner SP5 Michael McCafferty came around to pull him out. They pulled him from the wreckage but before they could be picked up, Warrant Officer Bixler and Specialist McCafferty were killed by the enemy raging fire. CPT Frame was dragged away from the contact area by one of the Special Forces personnel and was picked up some hours later when the action subsided. Captain Frame was awarded the Silver Star for refusing to leave his aircraft before he got the passengers out of the cabin area. For their heroic actions, Specialist McCafferty and Warrant Officer Bixler were awarded the Silver Star posthumously. from Annual Supplement History of the 117th Aviation Company (AMBL LT) 222nd Combat Aviation Battalion 12th Combat Aviation Group, First Aviation Brigade, 1 January 1968 - 31 December 1968, Prepared by 1LT David A. Coon, Unit Historical Officer, Approved by: MAJ Lynn B. Knisely, Long Binh, Republic of Vietnam, APO 96279
HONOR ROLL
Anderson, Corp Edward
Atkinson, PFC Frederick George
Cahill, Corp Kevin Arthur
Carter, Sgt Kenneth Robert
Chisholm, Corp David Andrew
Evans, Corp John Douglas
Fisher, Corp Eric Anders
Flint, Corp William John
Grant, Corp Norman William, Jr
Hazard, Corp James Joseph
Mailloux, PFC John Joseph
McCafferty, Michael Leste
Miller, PFC Irvin George
Nelson, Corp Robert Joseph
O'Brien, Corp William Joseph
Odiorne, Corp George Alfred
Pennucci, Corp Peter James
Ramsey, Corp John Louis
Upton, Sgt Carleton Webster
McCAFFERTY VOLUNTEERED FOR DUTY
**********************************************
An heroic 21- year old West Lynn helicopter gunner lived up to his personal code of volunteer duty by relinquishing "a desk job" for service aboard a gunship shot down near Tay Ninh, Vietnam……at the cost of his life.
Spec. 5 Michael (Mike) McCafferty, 702 Summer St., who was relegated to desk duty after 900 hours of combat flying, volunteered his service on a helicopter which needed a gunner desperately.
The ship was shot down last week on its second trip. All aboard were killed.
THIRD VOLUNTEER HITCH
The West Lynn warrior was on his third volunteer hitch involving two years duty in Vietnam, and was due to return home in 58 days.
He was the son of Mr.and Mrs. William J. McCafferty,the grandson of the late William McCafferty and the brother of Robert and William McCafferty.
The Army gunner returned home last February for his grandfathers funeral. Returning to Vietnam, he found that his superior officers decided he had taken personal risks beyond the call of duty. He then was assigned to the desk job.
NEEDED GUNNER
The helicopter he made his last flight needed a gunner because the crew member with that assignment had been detailed to Long Binh for paperwork duty.
A Classical High graduate with the Class of 1964 , Spec 5 McCafferty maintained strong ties with his alma mater. Due for discharge next month, he was eagerly looking forward to attending the traditional football game between Classical and English Highs. He had asked his father to obtain four tickets for the contest. But the game will be played with one of Classical's most rabid rooters missing.
While at Classical, he was the student basketball manager and was a member of the Math, Science, Contemporary affairs and Camera Clubs. His academic prowess was illustrated by membership in the National Honor Society.
ENLISTS IN ARMY
The war hero attended Salem State College for a year before enlisting in the Army, and had planned to resume his education at the Salem college as an English major. He was pledged to Kappa Delta Phi Fraternity.
His commitment to his country was evident in a recent letter to his parents. "There is a lot to do out here, and someone has to do it." He said, a creed by which he lived and died.
AWARDED SILVER STAR
On October 3, 1968, a battalion of Special Forces had come into heavy contact about twenty miles northwest of Tay Ninh along the Cambodian border. An emergency lift of ammunition was requested and CPT Arthur (Tom) Frame the Air Mission commander at Tay Ninh volunteered to take it into the midst of the battle. As he came to a hover over the trees on the ammunition drop his hydraulics and tail rotor were shot out and he crashed into the trees. The crew chief, Specialist Roger Smith was killed instantly in the crash as the aircraft rolled on the left side. CPT Frame was trapped in the wreckage and his pilot Warrant Officer Martin Bixler and gunner SP5 Michael McCafferty came around to pull him out. They pulled him from the wreckage but before they could be picked up, Warrant Officer Bixler and Specialist McCafferty were killed by the enemy raging fire. CPT Frame was dragged away from the contact area by one of the Special Forces personnel and was picked up some hours later when the action subsided. Captain Frame was awarded the Silver Star for refusing to leave his aircraft before he got the passengers out of the cabin area. For their heroic actions, Specialist McCafferty and Warrant Officer Bixler were awarded the Silver Star posthumously. from Annual Supplement History of the 117th Aviation Company (AMBL LT) 222nd Combat Aviation Battalion 12th Combat Aviation Group, First Aviation Brigade, 1 January 1968 - 31 December 1968, Prepared by 1LT David A. Coon, Unit Historical Officer, Approved by: MAJ Lynn B. Knisely, Long Binh, Republic of Vietnam, APO 96279
HONOR ROLL
Anderson, Corp Edward
Atkinson, PFC Frederick George
Cahill, Corp Kevin Arthur
Carter, Sgt Kenneth Robert
Chisholm, Corp David Andrew
Evans, Corp John Douglas
Fisher, Corp Eric Anders
Flint, Corp William John
Grant, Corp Norman William, Jr
Hazard, Corp James Joseph
Mailloux, PFC John Joseph
McCafferty, Michael Leste
Miller, PFC Irvin George
Nelson, Corp Robert Joseph
O'Brien, Corp William Joseph
Odiorne, Corp George Alfred
Pennucci, Corp Peter James
Ramsey, Corp John Louis
Upton, Sgt Carleton Webster
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