Walker Statement

The Springfield 50 Project
WMVVM
Western Massachusetts Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Project Fallen by County Site Map
Links Spiritual Contact Home

THE SPRINGFIELD 50 PROJECT
www.springfield50.org

On May 19, 1968, Captain James M. Basta interviewed SGT E5 Henry Jackson, US53447935, Trp A, 7/17 Cav, at the 71st Evacuation Hospital, Pleiku, RVN. The taking of SGT Jackson's statement by Captain Basta was necessitated because of the incapacitating wounds he received one day earlier.

SGT Jackson died from these wounds in 1971, while a patient at a VA hospital in Pineville, Kentucky. His name was not listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, until May 31, 1999. Charles R. Rayl, Troop A Commander at the time of the shootdown, and later president of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, was instrumental in correcting this oversight.

"On 18 May 68, CW2 Douglas A. Walker, W3154720, and I were flying an OH-6A helicopter serial no 66-7806 in the area of operations 20 kilometers West Northwest of Dak To, RVN. As we hovered along a trail we started receiving intense automatic weapons fire. CW2 Walker made one call that we were receiving fire and then was hit.

...the aircraft started to roll and burst into flames. When the aircraft came to rest my uniform was on fire and I released my safety harness and left the aircraft. After rolling in the dirt to put out the flames I returned to the right side of the aircraft. CW2 Walker was already dead and the aircraft was in total flames at this time. I believe that CW2 Walker was dead prior to the aircraft hitting the ground...

The entire time I was on the ground the enemy continued to fire at the aircraft trying to make the recovery."

/s/HENRY JACKSON
HENRY JACKSON
SGT E5, US53447935
Trp A, 7/17 Cav

[ Home ] [ Up ]