In Memory of ..... SFC Richard Darryl Martin.
*** Staff Sergeant Martin was a member of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On May 1, 1968, he was the crew chief of a Hughes Loach Observation Helicopter (OH-6A) on a visual reconnaissance over A Shau Valley, South Vietnam, when the aircraft crashed into a canyon. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
RICHARD DARRYL MARTIN - Army SFC E7 1st Cav Division (AMBL)
Age: 31
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth May 9, 1947
From: HONOLULU, HI
Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC
Marital Status: Single
His tour began on May 1, 1968
Casualty was on Jun 19, 1978
In THUA THIEN, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was not recovered
Panel 53E - Line 37
Other Personnel in Incident: Warren T. Whitmire, Jr. and Donald P. Gervais (missing)
Link to warren Whitmore
Link to Donald Peter Gervais
On 1 May 1968, WO1 Warren T. Whitmire, pilot; Sgt. Donald P. Gervais, door gunner;and then Cpl.Richard Darryl Martin, crewchief; comprised the crew of an OH6A helicopter in a flight of two aircraft conducting a screening operation for the 5th Battalion in South Vietnam.
Sgt. Gervais and Cpl.Richard Darryl Martin scanned the terrain on each side of the aircraft as WO1 Whitmire flew low over the countryside.
Lt. Baker heard WO1 Whitmire yell something over the FM radio, then Lt. Baker looked down in time to see the Loach appear to clip a dead tree while dodging enemy ground fire.
Both the lieutenant and his crewchief saw the scout ship spin before crashing into a ravine located approximately 1 miles north of the Vietnamese/Lao boarder.
The gunship's crew knew the general area of the crash, but could not locate the exact position due to the extremely dense vegetation below.
It was mid-morning before Company B was prepared to conduct ground reconnaissance/ rescue mission. Once the platoon approached the area of the downed OH6A, the pointman spotted the aircraft through the foliage. The platoon leader observed three NVA soldiers on and near the helicopter.
He also noted that the Loach did not burn upon landing. And in fact, it appeared to be in good shape other than the rotor blades being missing. Further, he did not see signs of any US personnel anywhere in the area.
Lt. Lagacky began moving his platoon toward the aircraft. When they were between 200 to 300 meters away from it, his platoon came under enemy machine gun fire. The Americans suffered 3 Killed in Action and 6 Wounded in Action during the ensuing fire fight. They were ordered to withdraw.
The fact that NVA troops were in total control of the area also confirmed the fact that the crew members' fate was absolutely known to the enemy.
Because there was no confirmation of capture, Warren T. Whitmire, Jr., Donald P. Gervais and Cpl.Richard Darryl Martin were listed Missing in Action.
*** Staff Sergeant Martin was a member of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On May 1, 1968, he was the crew chief of a Hughes Loach Observation Helicopter (OH-6A) on a visual reconnaissance over A Shau Valley, South Vietnam, when the aircraft crashed into a canyon. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
RICHARD DARRYL MARTIN - Army SFC E7 1st Cav Division (AMBL)
Age: 31
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth May 9, 1947
From: HONOLULU, HI
Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC
Marital Status: Single
His tour began on May 1, 1968
Casualty was on Jun 19, 1978
In THUA THIEN, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was not recovered
Panel 53E - Line 37
Other Personnel in Incident: Warren T. Whitmire, Jr. and Donald P. Gervais (missing)
Link to warren Whitmore
Link to Donald Peter Gervais
On 1 May 1968, WO1 Warren T. Whitmire, pilot; Sgt. Donald P. Gervais, door gunner;and then Cpl.Richard Darryl Martin, crewchief; comprised the crew of an OH6A helicopter in a flight of two aircraft conducting a screening operation for the 5th Battalion in South Vietnam.
Sgt. Gervais and Cpl.Richard Darryl Martin scanned the terrain on each side of the aircraft as WO1 Whitmire flew low over the countryside.
Lt. Baker heard WO1 Whitmire yell something over the FM radio, then Lt. Baker looked down in time to see the Loach appear to clip a dead tree while dodging enemy ground fire.
Both the lieutenant and his crewchief saw the scout ship spin before crashing into a ravine located approximately 1 miles north of the Vietnamese/Lao boarder.
The gunship's crew knew the general area of the crash, but could not locate the exact position due to the extremely dense vegetation below.
It was mid-morning before Company B was prepared to conduct ground reconnaissance/ rescue mission. Once the platoon approached the area of the downed OH6A, the pointman spotted the aircraft through the foliage. The platoon leader observed three NVA soldiers on and near the helicopter.
He also noted that the Loach did not burn upon landing. And in fact, it appeared to be in good shape other than the rotor blades being missing. Further, he did not see signs of any US personnel anywhere in the area.
Lt. Lagacky began moving his platoon toward the aircraft. When they were between 200 to 300 meters away from it, his platoon came under enemy machine gun fire. The Americans suffered 3 Killed in Action and 6 Wounded in Action during the ensuing fire fight. They were ordered to withdraw.
The fact that NVA troops were in total control of the area also confirmed the fact that the crew members' fate was absolutely known to the enemy.
Because there was no confirmation of capture, Warren T. Whitmire, Jr., Donald P. Gervais and Cpl.Richard Darryl Martin were listed Missing in Action.
In Memory of ..... SFC Richard Darryl Martin.
*** Staff Sergeant Martin was a member of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On May 1, 1968, he was the crew chief of a Hughes Loach Observation Helicopter (OH-6A) on a visual reconnaissance over A Shau Valley, South Vietnam, when the aircraft crashed into a canyon. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
RICHARD DARRYL MARTIN - Army SFC E7 1st Cav Division (AMBL)
Age: 31
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth May 9, 1947
From: HONOLULU, HI
Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC
Marital Status: Single
His tour began on May 1, 1968
Casualty was on Jun 19, 1978
In THUA THIEN, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was not recovered
Panel 53E - Line 37
Other Personnel in Incident: Warren T. Whitmire, Jr. and Donald P. Gervais (missing)
Link to warren Whitmore
Link to Donald Peter Gervais
On 1 May 1968, WO1 Warren T. Whitmire, pilot; Sgt. Donald P. Gervais, door gunner;and then Cpl.Richard Darryl Martin, crewchief; comprised the crew of an OH6A helicopter in a flight of two aircraft conducting a screening operation for the 5th Battalion in South Vietnam.
Sgt. Gervais and Cpl.Richard Darryl Martin scanned the terrain on each side of the aircraft as WO1 Whitmire flew low over the countryside.
Lt. Baker heard WO1 Whitmire yell something over the FM radio, then Lt. Baker looked down in time to see the Loach appear to clip a dead tree while dodging enemy ground fire.
Both the lieutenant and his crewchief saw the scout ship spin before crashing into a ravine located approximately 1 miles north of the Vietnamese/Lao boarder.
The gunship's crew knew the general area of the crash, but could not locate the exact position due to the extremely dense vegetation below.
It was mid-morning before Company B was prepared to conduct ground reconnaissance/ rescue mission. Once the platoon approached the area of the downed OH6A, the pointman spotted the aircraft through the foliage. The platoon leader observed three NVA soldiers on and near the helicopter.
He also noted that the Loach did not burn upon landing. And in fact, it appeared to be in good shape other than the rotor blades being missing. Further, he did not see signs of any US personnel anywhere in the area.
Lt. Lagacky began moving his platoon toward the aircraft. When they were between 200 to 300 meters away from it, his platoon came under enemy machine gun fire. The Americans suffered 3 Killed in Action and 6 Wounded in Action during the ensuing fire fight. They were ordered to withdraw.
The fact that NVA troops were in total control of the area also confirmed the fact that the crew members' fate was absolutely known to the enemy.
Because there was no confirmation of capture, Warren T. Whitmire, Jr., Donald P. Gervais and Cpl.Richard Darryl Martin were listed Missing in Action.
*** Staff Sergeant Martin was a member of Troop B, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. On May 1, 1968, he was the crew chief of a Hughes Loach Observation Helicopter (OH-6A) on a visual reconnaissance over A Shau Valley, South Vietnam, when the aircraft crashed into a canyon. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.
You may be gone, no longer living on this earth; but you will live on - in the memories of your family and friends. There will always be a part of you living in those who knew you. You will live on because we remember you!
RICHARD DARRYL MARTIN - Army SFC E7 1st Cav Division (AMBL)
Age: 31
Race: Caucasian
Date of Birth May 9, 1947
From: HONOLULU, HI
Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC
Marital Status: Single
His tour began on May 1, 1968
Casualty was on Jun 19, 1978
In THUA THIEN, SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, HELICOPTER - CREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was not recovered
Panel 53E - Line 37
Other Personnel in Incident: Warren T. Whitmire, Jr. and Donald P. Gervais (missing)
Link to warren Whitmore
Link to Donald Peter Gervais
On 1 May 1968, WO1 Warren T. Whitmire, pilot; Sgt. Donald P. Gervais, door gunner;and then Cpl.Richard Darryl Martin, crewchief; comprised the crew of an OH6A helicopter in a flight of two aircraft conducting a screening operation for the 5th Battalion in South Vietnam.
Sgt. Gervais and Cpl.Richard Darryl Martin scanned the terrain on each side of the aircraft as WO1 Whitmire flew low over the countryside.
Lt. Baker heard WO1 Whitmire yell something over the FM radio, then Lt. Baker looked down in time to see the Loach appear to clip a dead tree while dodging enemy ground fire.
Both the lieutenant and his crewchief saw the scout ship spin before crashing into a ravine located approximately 1 miles north of the Vietnamese/Lao boarder.
The gunship's crew knew the general area of the crash, but could not locate the exact position due to the extremely dense vegetation below.
It was mid-morning before Company B was prepared to conduct ground reconnaissance/ rescue mission. Once the platoon approached the area of the downed OH6A, the pointman spotted the aircraft through the foliage. The platoon leader observed three NVA soldiers on and near the helicopter.
He also noted that the Loach did not burn upon landing. And in fact, it appeared to be in good shape other than the rotor blades being missing. Further, he did not see signs of any US personnel anywhere in the area.
Lt. Lagacky began moving his platoon toward the aircraft. When they were between 200 to 300 meters away from it, his platoon came under enemy machine gun fire. The Americans suffered 3 Killed in Action and 6 Wounded in Action during the ensuing fire fight. They were ordered to withdraw.
The fact that NVA troops were in total control of the area also confirmed the fact that the crew members' fate was absolutely known to the enemy.
Because there was no confirmation of capture, Warren T. Whitmire, Jr., Donald P. Gervais and Cpl.Richard Darryl Martin were listed Missing in Action.
Gravesite Details
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