James Price "Jimmy" was born on Friday, May 3, 1940, at War Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky. He was the first son born to Price and Golden Gross Spencer, and Price's second son due to a previous marriage. Jimmy was killed in action while serving in combat near Bien Hoa in the Republic of Vietnam on Tuesday, January 24, 1967. His name is listed on the Memorial in Washington, D.C. at Wall/Plot Coordinates
14E 075.This was Jimmy's 3rd Vietnam tour. He held the rank of Corporal, in Troop D, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. Following is an account of the circumstances of Jimmy's death: Final Mission of CPL James P. Spencer
Posted on 12/21/14 - by [email protected]
On January 24, 1967, CPL James P. Spencer was the stand-in door gunner on a helicopter participating in a "checkmate" operation. The action was an identification check of indigenous Vietnamese, a mission that helped in maintaining stability in the 25th Infantry Division area of operations (AO). The highly motivated Viet Cong (VC) constantly pressured the Vietnamese population to cooperate and capitulate. It was difficult to tell them apart, and neither could the Vietnamese authorities without checking their identification. These frequent checkmate operations were routine, but risky. During the approach to the impromptu Landing Zone (LZ) on the mission that day, pilot MAJ Myron E. "Mike" Squires landed with a slight skid to the right to give his port door gunner CPL Spencer a better field of fire. The checkmate team quickly exited and the individuals disappeared from view in nearby shoulder-high grass as the helicopter hovered away. On the ground, aero rifle platoon leader LT John Alto hustled to quickly get his few men into a search formation. In mere seconds, but before they can move forward, there was a distinctive burst from an AK-47 rifle and a short burst by door gunner CPL Spencer. As the aircraft began to hover away sideways, MAJ Squires spotted a VC with an AK-47 in the cane and alerted his substitute door gunner CPL James Spencer. Nearly simultaneously with his intercom check with Spencer, he was hit and tumbled forward out of the gunner's seat, hitting the ground a short distance away from LT Alto. MAJ Squires immediately attempted to recover Spencer and had a fuel failure due to fuel system damage from that same single AK-47 burst. The downed helicopter was quickly secured. It was determined later that the VC was first seen lying face down. As the helicopter started to hover away sideways, he suddenly flipped over, firing his AK-47 at Spencer. Spencer received multiple hits to his flak jacket from below that resulted in fatal ricochets strikes to his head. Other rounds hit the chopper fuel system. Spencer had failed to secure his monkey safety strap and fell out of the Huey and to the ground dead. At troop operations the initial action was monitored on the tactical command radio. Based upon the current situation of slick lead down, a door gunner killed in action and just one aero rifle squad on the ground, MAJ Peterson elected to take the remaining three slicks of aero rifles to reinforce LT Alto and recover the downed slick with the causality. In a brief minute or two the aero rifles captured a lone VC carrying an AK-47, who was suffering from a fresh gunshot wound. This was obviously the VC that had shot Spencer. The VC was later returned to Cu Chi for interrogation.[Taken from centaursinvietnam.org]
A few years ago David Olsen, a soldier who served in Jimmy's Unit in Vietnam, though at a different time, began creating memorial pages for all the men Jimmy's unit who were lost (400). With David's permission, below is a link to the page he created for Jimmy. http://army.togetherweserved.com/profile/69792.
Thank you Jimmy for your service and sacrifice. We love you and God Bless. Rest in Peace!
14E 075.This was Jimmy's 3rd Vietnam tour. He held the rank of Corporal, in Troop D, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. Following is an account of the circumstances of Jimmy's death: Final Mission of CPL James P. Spencer
Posted on 12/21/14 - by [email protected]
On January 24, 1967, CPL James P. Spencer was the stand-in door gunner on a helicopter participating in a "checkmate" operation. The action was an identification check of indigenous Vietnamese, a mission that helped in maintaining stability in the 25th Infantry Division area of operations (AO). The highly motivated Viet Cong (VC) constantly pressured the Vietnamese population to cooperate and capitulate. It was difficult to tell them apart, and neither could the Vietnamese authorities without checking their identification. These frequent checkmate operations were routine, but risky. During the approach to the impromptu Landing Zone (LZ) on the mission that day, pilot MAJ Myron E. "Mike" Squires landed with a slight skid to the right to give his port door gunner CPL Spencer a better field of fire. The checkmate team quickly exited and the individuals disappeared from view in nearby shoulder-high grass as the helicopter hovered away. On the ground, aero rifle platoon leader LT John Alto hustled to quickly get his few men into a search formation. In mere seconds, but before they can move forward, there was a distinctive burst from an AK-47 rifle and a short burst by door gunner CPL Spencer. As the aircraft began to hover away sideways, MAJ Squires spotted a VC with an AK-47 in the cane and alerted his substitute door gunner CPL James Spencer. Nearly simultaneously with his intercom check with Spencer, he was hit and tumbled forward out of the gunner's seat, hitting the ground a short distance away from LT Alto. MAJ Squires immediately attempted to recover Spencer and had a fuel failure due to fuel system damage from that same single AK-47 burst. The downed helicopter was quickly secured. It was determined later that the VC was first seen lying face down. As the helicopter started to hover away sideways, he suddenly flipped over, firing his AK-47 at Spencer. Spencer received multiple hits to his flak jacket from below that resulted in fatal ricochets strikes to his head. Other rounds hit the chopper fuel system. Spencer had failed to secure his monkey safety strap and fell out of the Huey and to the ground dead. At troop operations the initial action was monitored on the tactical command radio. Based upon the current situation of slick lead down, a door gunner killed in action and just one aero rifle squad on the ground, MAJ Peterson elected to take the remaining three slicks of aero rifles to reinforce LT Alto and recover the downed slick with the causality. In a brief minute or two the aero rifles captured a lone VC carrying an AK-47, who was suffering from a fresh gunshot wound. This was obviously the VC that had shot Spencer. The VC was later returned to Cu Chi for interrogation.[Taken from centaursinvietnam.org]
A few years ago David Olsen, a soldier who served in Jimmy's Unit in Vietnam, though at a different time, began creating memorial pages for all the men Jimmy's unit who were lost (400). With David's permission, below is a link to the page he created for Jimmy. http://army.togetherweserved.com/profile/69792.
Thank you Jimmy for your service and sacrifice. We love you and God Bless. Rest in Peace!
James Price "Jimmy" was born on Friday, May 3, 1940, at War Creek, Breathitt County, Kentucky. He was the first son born to Price and Golden Gross Spencer, and Price's second son due to a previous marriage. Jimmy was killed in action while serving in combat near Bien Hoa in the Republic of Vietnam on Tuesday, January 24, 1967. His name is listed on the Memorial in Washington, D.C. at Wall/Plot Coordinates
14E 075.This was Jimmy's 3rd Vietnam tour. He held the rank of Corporal, in Troop D, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. Following is an account of the circumstances of Jimmy's death: Final Mission of CPL James P. Spencer
Posted on 12/21/14 - by [email protected]
On January 24, 1967, CPL James P. Spencer was the stand-in door gunner on a helicopter participating in a "checkmate" operation. The action was an identification check of indigenous Vietnamese, a mission that helped in maintaining stability in the 25th Infantry Division area of operations (AO). The highly motivated Viet Cong (VC) constantly pressured the Vietnamese population to cooperate and capitulate. It was difficult to tell them apart, and neither could the Vietnamese authorities without checking their identification. These frequent checkmate operations were routine, but risky. During the approach to the impromptu Landing Zone (LZ) on the mission that day, pilot MAJ Myron E. "Mike" Squires landed with a slight skid to the right to give his port door gunner CPL Spencer a better field of fire. The checkmate team quickly exited and the individuals disappeared from view in nearby shoulder-high grass as the helicopter hovered away. On the ground, aero rifle platoon leader LT John Alto hustled to quickly get his few men into a search formation. In mere seconds, but before they can move forward, there was a distinctive burst from an AK-47 rifle and a short burst by door gunner CPL Spencer. As the aircraft began to hover away sideways, MAJ Squires spotted a VC with an AK-47 in the cane and alerted his substitute door gunner CPL James Spencer. Nearly simultaneously with his intercom check with Spencer, he was hit and tumbled forward out of the gunner's seat, hitting the ground a short distance away from LT Alto. MAJ Squires immediately attempted to recover Spencer and had a fuel failure due to fuel system damage from that same single AK-47 burst. The downed helicopter was quickly secured. It was determined later that the VC was first seen lying face down. As the helicopter started to hover away sideways, he suddenly flipped over, firing his AK-47 at Spencer. Spencer received multiple hits to his flak jacket from below that resulted in fatal ricochets strikes to his head. Other rounds hit the chopper fuel system. Spencer had failed to secure his monkey safety strap and fell out of the Huey and to the ground dead. At troop operations the initial action was monitored on the tactical command radio. Based upon the current situation of slick lead down, a door gunner killed in action and just one aero rifle squad on the ground, MAJ Peterson elected to take the remaining three slicks of aero rifles to reinforce LT Alto and recover the downed slick with the causality. In a brief minute or two the aero rifles captured a lone VC carrying an AK-47, who was suffering from a fresh gunshot wound. This was obviously the VC that had shot Spencer. The VC was later returned to Cu Chi for interrogation.[Taken from centaursinvietnam.org]
A few years ago David Olsen, a soldier who served in Jimmy's Unit in Vietnam, though at a different time, began creating memorial pages for all the men Jimmy's unit who were lost (400). With David's permission, below is a link to the page he created for Jimmy. http://army.togetherweserved.com/profile/69792.
Thank you Jimmy for your service and sacrifice. We love you and God Bless. Rest in Peace!
14E 075.This was Jimmy's 3rd Vietnam tour. He held the rank of Corporal, in Troop D, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division. Following is an account of the circumstances of Jimmy's death: Final Mission of CPL James P. Spencer
Posted on 12/21/14 - by [email protected]
On January 24, 1967, CPL James P. Spencer was the stand-in door gunner on a helicopter participating in a "checkmate" operation. The action was an identification check of indigenous Vietnamese, a mission that helped in maintaining stability in the 25th Infantry Division area of operations (AO). The highly motivated Viet Cong (VC) constantly pressured the Vietnamese population to cooperate and capitulate. It was difficult to tell them apart, and neither could the Vietnamese authorities without checking their identification. These frequent checkmate operations were routine, but risky. During the approach to the impromptu Landing Zone (LZ) on the mission that day, pilot MAJ Myron E. "Mike" Squires landed with a slight skid to the right to give his port door gunner CPL Spencer a better field of fire. The checkmate team quickly exited and the individuals disappeared from view in nearby shoulder-high grass as the helicopter hovered away. On the ground, aero rifle platoon leader LT John Alto hustled to quickly get his few men into a search formation. In mere seconds, but before they can move forward, there was a distinctive burst from an AK-47 rifle and a short burst by door gunner CPL Spencer. As the aircraft began to hover away sideways, MAJ Squires spotted a VC with an AK-47 in the cane and alerted his substitute door gunner CPL James Spencer. Nearly simultaneously with his intercom check with Spencer, he was hit and tumbled forward out of the gunner's seat, hitting the ground a short distance away from LT Alto. MAJ Squires immediately attempted to recover Spencer and had a fuel failure due to fuel system damage from that same single AK-47 burst. The downed helicopter was quickly secured. It was determined later that the VC was first seen lying face down. As the helicopter started to hover away sideways, he suddenly flipped over, firing his AK-47 at Spencer. Spencer received multiple hits to his flak jacket from below that resulted in fatal ricochets strikes to his head. Other rounds hit the chopper fuel system. Spencer had failed to secure his monkey safety strap and fell out of the Huey and to the ground dead. At troop operations the initial action was monitored on the tactical command radio. Based upon the current situation of slick lead down, a door gunner killed in action and just one aero rifle squad on the ground, MAJ Peterson elected to take the remaining three slicks of aero rifles to reinforce LT Alto and recover the downed slick with the causality. In a brief minute or two the aero rifles captured a lone VC carrying an AK-47, who was suffering from a fresh gunshot wound. This was obviously the VC that had shot Spencer. The VC was later returned to Cu Chi for interrogation.[Taken from centaursinvietnam.org]
A few years ago David Olsen, a soldier who served in Jimmy's Unit in Vietnam, though at a different time, began creating memorial pages for all the men Jimmy's unit who were lost (400). With David's permission, below is a link to the page he created for Jimmy. http://army.togetherweserved.com/profile/69792.
Thank you Jimmy for your service and sacrifice. We love you and God Bless. Rest in Peace!
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