“You Can’t Imagine What 20 And 21 Year Olds Can Do”: Comancheros Flying SOG Recon Teams And Surviving Lam Son 719

Phil Seawright and Brad Burkholder both flew for the Comancheros, A Company, 101st Aviation Regiment in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971. They both flew during Lam Son 719 and provided aviation support to MAC-V SOG CCN (Command and Control North) during their time in Vietnam. Both Phil and Brad were born in 1949. Phil grew up in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and Brad was raised in north-west Ohio. Phil’s father was a bus driver and his mother was a homemaker and beautician. Brad’s parents both worked for the Post Office and his father had served in World War II. Phil had two sisters and a brother and Brad had two brothers and two sisters. In high school, Phil played tennis and Brad played football and ran track, and neither felt that they applied themselves enough. After graduating in 1967, Phil attended Three Rivers Junior College and Brad entered the Ohio State University. In 1969, Phil enlisted because several of his friends wanted to join and it seemed like the right thing to do. He selected Warrant Officer Flight Training. Brad’s draft number was called in 1969, but he took the physical and went to see his recruiter to enlist for Warrant Officer Flight Training. Based on his college experience, he became a Squad Leader during Basic Training. They both experienced the “miserable, hot and humid” Ft. Polk, Louisiana, but then traveled to Ft. Wolters, Texas, for basic flight training. They both lived in the barracks, but since Brad was married, he was able to see his wife briefly on weekends. Flying the TH-55 in Basic Flight Training was exhilarating, and little by little their Instructor Pilots gave them more control over their aircraft. Hovering was most challenging, but hovering at 3 feet was a lot easier than hovering at 120 feet, a lesson they learned in Vietnam when they had to “pick up guys on a string” using the McGuire Rig or rope ladders. After six months at Ft. Wolters, they transferred to Ft. Rucker, Alabama, to learn to fly the Huey and train on instruments. After deploying to Vietnam, Phil went directly to the Comancheros while Brad started in A Company “Little Bears” in the 25th Aviation Regiment, but when the 25th Division returned home, he transferred to the Comancheros (and he had to wait three weeks for a check-ride). In Vietnam they conducted a variety of missions including Combat Assaults, and they both flew CCN missions and participated in Lam Son 719. They describe flying “hover down” missions for resupply at various LZs. Brad describes the day he was shot down in elephant grass. Next, they discuss flying CCN (Command and Control North, based out of Dan Nang) missions. They generally flew 8-man Recon Teams, two Americans and six locals, supported by 4 Hueys, 4 Cobras, and a Covey Rider. Covey Riders were experienced SOG personnel who flew with Air Force FACs (Forward Air Controllers) and were the link between the Recon Team on the ground and aviation elements, assisting the ground team with calling for air support. They then reflect on their experiences during Lam Son 719, the largest helicopter operation of the Vietnam War, consisting of over 150 helicopters. This was an ARVN mission to cut the Ho Chi Minh trail network in Laos. Phil remembers he was in Chalk 17 and they were strung out over 25 miles; “everyone was taking fire.” They came into the LZ “super hot and fast with a big flare,” and they remember when Bob Morris’s and John Gale’s helicopters were shot down. Next, they discuss taking R&R in Hawaii, Australia, and Bangkok. They also describe their living conditions on Camp Eagle, including the food they ate. When they returned from overseas, “nobody wanted to hear about my wartime experiences.” Brad returned to a job as a railroad engineer, and Phil, after a stint working for Chrysler, took a job flying for Chevron and has been flying ever since. Reflecting on their service to the nation, they are both very proud of their service, and of being Comancheros. They like attending reunions for the camaraderie, and note, “It’s special to see the guys. It’s an honor.”