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Jerry Elliott

#1 · December 12, 2025, 4:50 pm

Quote from Guest on December 12, 2025, 4:50 pm
US Army Staff Sergeant Jerry Elliott:
On January 21, 1968, aircraft commander Captain Tommy Stiner, pilot Gerald McKinsey, gunner Billy Hill, and crew chief David Howington were aboard the lead UH-1D helicopter and then Private Jerry Elliott was the door gunner on the following UH-1D on a troop insertion mission.

The two choppers were inserting South Vietnamese ARVN troops at an old French fort east of Khe Sanh. Also in the lead aircraft was LTC Joseph Seymoe, senior advisor to the ARVN unit being inserted.

McKinsey's aircraft touched down on the landing zone, NVA troops stood up all around the aircraft and began firing at the aircraft at almost point blank range. As soon as all the ARVN troops were off loaded, the aircraft lifted off. At approximately 8-10 feet off the ground, the aircraft was hit by either a 57mm recoilless rifle or a direct hit mortar fire, burst into flames and crashed. Door gunner Elliott and his crew chief were on another UH-1D that landed approximately 50-60 feet from the crashed aircraft. LTC Seymoe died while pinned under the aircraft. His body was subsequently recovered.

The pilot, Stiner, exited the aircraft successfully, evaded capture and returned to friendly lines. Howington was able to board one of the rescue aircraft that had landed in the LZ. Before leaving the vicinity, Stiner was in a defensive position with McKinsey.

Stiner later reported that he witnessed McKinsey being shot in the back of the head and killed. Elliott and his crew chief exited their aircraft to assist survivors of the downed helicopter. In a matter of seconds, the crew chief returned to his aircraft and advised the pilot to take off immediately because of the highly intense hostile fire. The aircraft lifted off, leaving Elliott on the ground, circled and returned to the LZ, but could not locate Elliott.

Three days after the incident, a helicopter searched the area and observed a body in the tall elephant grass and small trees. By process of elimination, the pilot determined that the body was that of Elliott.

Two sets of remains were recovered from the crash site by an unidentified unit and were later positively identified as those of LTC Semyo and WO1 McKinsey. SFC Billy Hill was last seen by Stiner, just prior to the aircraft being hit in the compartment in which SFC Hill was manning his machine gun.

Captain Stiner stated that SFC Hill was probably struck by the same volley of rounds that downed the aircraft as his machine gun was observed blown to pieces. Captain Stiner searched the area before taking evasive action, but SFC Hill could not be located.

#USArmy #USMilitary #Marines #USMarines #USAirforce #Army

US Army Staff Sergeant Jerry Elliott:
On January 21, 1968, aircraft commander Captain Tommy Stiner, pilot Gerald McKinsey, gunner Billy Hill, and crew chief David Howington were aboard the lead UH-1D helicopter and then Private Jerry Elliott was the door gunner on the following UH-1D on a troop insertion mission.

The two choppers were inserting South Vietnamese ARVN troops at an old French fort east of Khe Sanh. Also in the lead aircraft was LTC Joseph Seymoe, senior advisor to the ARVN unit being inserted.

McKinsey's aircraft touched down on the landing zone, NVA troops stood up all around the aircraft and began firing at the aircraft at almost point blank range. As soon as all the ARVN troops were off loaded, the aircraft lifted off. At approximately 8-10 feet off the ground, the aircraft was hit by either a 57mm recoilless rifle or a direct hit mortar fire, burst into flames and crashed. Door gunner Elliott and his crew chief were on another UH-1D that landed approximately 50-60 feet from the crashed aircraft. LTC Seymoe died while pinned under the aircraft. His body was subsequently recovered.

The pilot, Stiner, exited the aircraft successfully, evaded capture and returned to friendly lines. Howington was able to board one of the rescue aircraft that had landed in the LZ. Before leaving the vicinity, Stiner was in a defensive position with McKinsey.

Stiner later reported that he witnessed McKinsey being shot in the back of the head and killed. Elliott and his crew chief exited their aircraft to assist survivors of the downed helicopter. In a matter of seconds, the crew chief returned to his aircraft and advised the pilot to take off immediately because of the highly intense hostile fire. The aircraft lifted off, leaving Elliott on the ground, circled and returned to the LZ, but could not locate Elliott.

Three days after the incident, a helicopter searched the area and observed a body in the tall elephant grass and small trees. By process of elimination, the pilot determined that the body was that of Elliott.

Two sets of remains were recovered from the crash site by an unidentified unit and were later positively identified as those of LTC Semyo and WO1 McKinsey. SFC Billy Hill was last seen by Stiner, just prior to the aircraft being hit in the compartment in which SFC Hill was manning his machine gun.

Captain Stiner stated that SFC Hill was probably struck by the same volley of rounds that downed the aircraft as his machine gun was observed blown to pieces. Captain Stiner searched the area before taking evasive action, but SFC Hill could not be located.

#USArmy #USMilitary #Marines #USMarines #USAirforce #Army

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