"Son of Mr. & Mrs. Paul J. Hess Sr., after completing his required training, he had been accepted for a commission in the U.S. Army. He was later assigned to the Green Berets, Special Forces.

He was mortally wounded while on a supply mission near the Cambodian border.

During his time in Vietnam Lt. Hess sent a special American flag, flown in Vietnam, to the Shenango Valley Veteran's Day Parade Committee. The actual day it was used in the 1966 Veterans Day Parade... Lt. Hess was killed.
He also helped form a Boy Scout troop in the indigenous tribes that lived where he was stationed"

Published by:
Mercer Co (PA) Vietnam Era Veterans

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Home of Record: Sharon, PA
Date of birth: 03/21/1938

MILITARY DATA
Service: Army of the United States
Grade at loss: O2
Rank: First Lieutenant
ID No: O5227613
MOS: 74960: Petroleum Products Supply Officer (Airborne Qual)
Length Service: 10
Unit: DET C-2 (TF PRONG), B CO, 5TH SF GROUP, USARV

CASUALTY DATA
Start Tour: 09/14/1966
Incident Date: 11/11/1966
Casualty Date: 11/11/1966
Age at Loss: 28
Location: SVN; 4 MSFC, Airboats, Moc Hoa, Kien Tuong Prov.
, South Vietnam
Remains: Body recovered
Casualty Type: Hostile, died outright
Casualty Reason: Helicopter - Noncrew
Casualty Detail: Air loss or crash over land

ON THE WALL Panel 12E Line 054

During resupply, aboard UH-1B 63-08600 of the 281st Assault Helicopter Company.
The "Intruders" were stationed at Nha Trang, Republic of Vietnam 1965-1970. It was originally attached to the 5th Special Forces Group and was situated inside the Special Forces Operating Base (SFOB). The 281st AHC was the first US Army Helicopter Company organized and trained as a Special Operations Aviation unit in the Republic of Vietnam. It was placed under Operational Control (OPCON) of 5th Special Forces Group (ABN), Detachment


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Notes from The Wall:


David De La Rocha
[email protected]
Admirer
1833 S. Olive Avenue
Alhambra, CA 91803 USA
Special Forces Hero

1st Leuitnent Paul Hess gave his life for his country on November 10, 1966, during operation Paul Revere IV. Combined with elements of the 4th Infantry Division, the 5th Special Forces Task Force Prong went into the Plei Trap Valley near the Cambodian borber.
On 08, 1966. The 3rd Mike Force surprised a Mobile Task Force of North Vietnamese soldiers with 12.7mm antiaircraft weapons.
On 9 November 1966, Sgt. Caro's CIDG company ran into North Vietnamese trench lines along a river near a dry lake bed. Sgt. Caro pulled back his men, but came under heavy enemy fire. Fighting continued throughout the day.
On 10 November, Captain Sincere of Task Force Prong who had returnmed to Pleiku with some prisoners from the day before boarded a resupply helicopter returning to the battlefield. On the same helicopter he was joined by 1st Lt.Hess who helped load ammunition and other desperately needed supplies being delivered to the Mike Force.
The Mike Force by this time was being surrounded by the North Vietnamese. By the time the helicopter carrying Captain Sincere and 1st Lt.Hess arrived to the LZ the North Vietnamese had already forced the Mike force into a small ridge.
The helicopter carrying Captain Sincere and 1st. Lt.Hess radioed the Mike Force to "pop their smoke" due to all the confusion and the closeness of the enemy.
Apparently both the Mike Force and the North Vietnamese popped yellow smoke confusing matters even more.
The Helicopter took heavy fire as it flew into the enemies line.
1st Lt. Hess along with Sergeant Dan Panfil also aboard the helicopter were killed instantly from enemy fire.
In order to avoid the helicopter from going down, Captain Sincere jumped off in an effort to lighten the load. He was later rescued by the Mike Force.
Thursday, March 14, 2002