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Belchertown’s Fallen from the Vietnam War

ROGER CONRAD GAUGHAN 

Personal Data:

Birth Date:  June 24, 1946

Birth Place:

Race:  Caucasian

Religion:  Roman Catholic

U.S. Citizen:  Yes

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Marital Status:  Single

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Home of Record:  Belchertown, Massachusetts

Service Branch:  Marine Corps                    

Service Component:  Regular                      

Rank:  Corporal

Rank Abbrev:  CPL   

Pay Grade:  E4         

MOS:  0311               

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Length of Service:

Southeast Asia Tour Data:

Date Tour Commenced: May 1, 1967

Major Command:  1st Marine Division          

Land Assignment:

Regiment:  5th Marines

Battalion:  3rd Battalion                          

Company:  M Company

Casualty Data:

Casualty Date:  May 1, 1967

Casualty Time:

Casualty Age:  20

Casualty Data 1: Non-Hostile, Died of Other Causes        

Casualty Data 2:  Air Loss, Crash at Sea      

Casualty Data 3:  Helicopter - Non-Crew      

Casualty Province:  Offshore, Military Region 1

Casualty Country:  South Vietnam

Casualty Vehicle:  CH-46A Seaknight serial number 150268

Casualty Coordinates:  BT 750 150 (153013 North 1085408 East)               

Located In Or Near: over water

Aircraft Incident Data:  click here for Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association report

Body Recovered:  No 

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Belchertown’s Fallen Casualty Order:  1st 

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Panel Number:  19E  Line Number:  5

Helicopter CH-46A 150268

War Story:
CPT J.Q. Nesmith, Jr. departed the First Hospital Company with two HMM-165 aircraft for a night Emergency Med-Evac to the hospital ship SANCTUARY. While on his approach the the SANCTUARY, CPT J.C. Tatum, CPT Nesmith's wingman, lost both engines and auto-rotated into the water alongside the ship. CPT Tatum successfully landed in the water and the CE, PFC T.S. Blosser, began assisting the med-evacs in their exit from the aircraft. CPT Tatum was believed to be the last man to exit the aircraft, which he did with difficulty while the aircraft was approximately 20 feet underwater and sinking fast. Meanwhile, CPT Nesmith had dropped his passengers aboard the SANCTUARY and was attempting to hoist one of the survivors out of the water, while also guiding the SANCTUARY's life boats to the scene with his searchlight. CPT Nesmith managed to get one man into the sling but the hoist jammed and would not come up. Therefore CPT Nesmith lifted the survivor out of the water and onto the ships deck; and after safely depositing the man aboard the SANCTUARY, he returned to the scene to assist the rescue boats by guiding them with his searchlight. CPT Nesmith then, due to a low fuel state, had to return to Ky Ha. Meanwhile, HMM-165 began launching SAR flights to search for survivors, and Naval ships rushed to the scene to render assistance. Out of the 17 men aboard the aircraft, including three of the crew, only nine survivors were rescued from this tragic accident. Seven of the med-evacs plus the HMM-165 gunner, Sergeant S.L. Corfield, were lost at sea. HMM-165 continued search operations throughout the night and the next day, but to no avail. The search was discontinued but renewed again during the night of the 2nd of May. The eight missing Marines are presumed to have been lost at sea. The above was taken from the HMM-165 Command Chronology

This record was last updated on 09/20/98

The following is crew member information for this incident:

The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter CH-46A tail number 150268
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter and is not intended to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in .
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
6705   0    0 HMM165 HMM-165          VIETNAM                     OW

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