Condolences

On behalf of the 134th Assault Helicopter Company, our sincerest condolences to the families. Each brothers obituary will open in a new tab by mouse clicking his photo. If you'd like to send me a photo for posting please add the link to his obituary.

To navigate this page, you can use the scroll bar or click the Year button at the top. Exiting this page may require multiple clicks on the Back button.

Last Modified: Wednesday February 11th, 2026

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Last Flight Check 2026
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John Gorski











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Last Flight Check 2025
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David Zurawski
Corky Lauritsen
Kenneth Canup
Walter J. Chrobak
Robert Burchard









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Last Flight Check 2024
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Frank C. Oathoudt
Terry M. Wiczek
Joseph Hyde
Robert Milton Giebner
John D. Samek
Robert Gallegos
Summers, Lincoln (Butch)
Larry A. Woodall, Jr


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Last Flight Check 2023
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Martin D. Dillingham
John E. DeAntonis
Jerry A. Berg
James Hilton
Jere J. Gibson
Patrick M. Graham
L. Mike Zale Jr.
Carlton Nipper
Gary Kelleher
Thomas J. Edwards
Robert (Bob) Krakora


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Last Flight Check 2022
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John C. Kletter
Stephen Gasper
Otis J. Roberson
Elliot Jerome Welch
Curtis Holdridge
Kenneth C. Scott
George F. Myers
Donald C. Lawson
Gary B. Metag
Robert Akemann


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Last Flight Check 2021
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Lynn C. Bates
George Drabner Sr.
Stephen McCrady
Thomas A. Pippi
Wheeler Parker II
Albert Traynham
Davis E. Chessher
George Whitaker
Robert M. Cadarr
Randall T. VanNover
Gary L. Ditch
Steven E. Flaugher


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Last Flight Check 2020
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Roger L. Harris Jr
Robert "Bob" Warth
Arthur J. Yerden
Ronald J. Plude
James B. Cowan
Orville James Knott
Marvin Feinburg


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Last Flight Check 2019
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Anthony DaCosta
Richard Swartz
Andrew Davis
Larry Douglass
James Robert Korn
Bruce L. Willis









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Last Flight Check 2018
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Raymond Labier
Rockne Green
Herman S. Heath
Mel Bailey
Ronnie A. Poarch Sr.
Douglas Vick
Mike Howard








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Last Flight Check 2017
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Allen Albert
Major Webb, Jr.
David Hargest
William C. Murphy
Donald Fahey
Gustavo A. Tijerina
Benny Doyal
Howard M. Thomas

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Last Flight Check 2016
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Charles Lee Owens, Jr.
Richard D Stewart
Wayne T. Hall
Ronald Allen Dare, Sr.
Christopher A. Maggio
Grady T. Caldwell
Robert Palmer
Tim Feaver

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Last Flight Check 2015
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Bernie J. O'Donnell
William Cutillo
Adolph K. Fromm
Orlando E. Gonzales









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Last Flight Check 2014
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Stanley R. Gause
Roger Peirce








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Last Flight Check 2013
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John C. Thorpe
Tom Baldridge
Jerry M. Godwin








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Last Flight Check 2012
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Arthur H. Partin, Sr
Joel S. Harris
James E. Smith








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Last Flight Check 2011
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David M. Burnett
Curtis P. Wellborn
Larry C. Johnson








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Last Flight Check 2009
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David Nappier
William P. George III








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Last Flight Check 2008
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Gordon L. Hoy








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Last Flight Check 2007
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Terry Allen Buttram








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Last Flight Check 2006
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Alfred T. Gach








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Last Flight Check 2002
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Thomas Mark Plunk








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Last Flight Check 1999
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Arvine E. Coleman was the first to take on the role of webmaster for the 134th Assault Helicopter Company, building and hosting the Demon Soul website. Back then, it was more than just a webpage, it became a place where scattered memories found a home, thanks to Arvine's dedication and vision. If anyone possesses a photograph of Arvine, please contact the webmaster, Hans J. Underwood.
Arvine E. Coleman









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Last Flight Check 1996
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Richard L. Slade









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Last Flight Check 1976
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Henry "Hank" Pietrzak
Gravesite








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Last Flight Check 1970
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On January 11th while providing gun cover for a medivac in the Phu Cat Mountains, a Devil gunship (66-15151) went IFR and crashed into a mountain. SP4 Edward Hamrick was killed when the aircraft hit, rolled over and the transmission crushed him. The door gunner, SP4 R. D. Tipple, was not injured but the two pilots sustained serious injuries. Captain Porter suffered a broken leg and the copilot, WO Larry Ingle had a partially collapsed lung and was in shock. SP4 Tipple managed to pull the pilots out of the wreckage through the windshield and get them away from the crash site, successfully avoiding nearby NVA/VC troops. SP4 Tipple, a former infantryman on an extension, had the presence of mind to break off the magnetic compass from its mount on the instrument panel and grab a map of the area. They spent 3 days in the mountains, evading the enemy while seriously injured and slowly making their way east toward Phu Cat Air Base. On the 3rd day they were finally spotted by search aircraft and rescued. SP4 Tipple was awarded the Soldiers Medal for his actions in saving the injured pilots from capture during this incident.
Edward J. Hamrick








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Last Flight Check 1971
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At approximately 1530 hours on 7 October 1971, CAPT Gerald F. McGlone and SP5 Addison W. Page Jr. began preparations to take a UH-1M helicopter, SN: 66-00636 on a local test flight. The stated purpose of the flight was to re-check a previous pilot's opinion that a high frequency vibration had been eliminated. CAPT McGlone's preflight activities did not include the filing of a flight plan. The pre-flight and run-up of the aircraft proceeded normally until just prior to take-off when SP4 Rafael Perez-Verdeja approached the aircraft and climbed aboard, apparently just for the ride. All this took place at 1610 hours, at which time 00636 was cleared for take-off from Tuy Hoa Army Airfield. CAPT McGlone proceeded south toward Phu Hiep, RVN, an abandoned airfield used exclusively for local test flights. He made at least two trips around the airfield, encountered an undetermined in-flight emergency, and attempted to land. This resulted in a crash and fire. There were no survivors. Smoke from this fire was observed by the THAAF tower operator and he directed an aircraft in the traffic pattern to the Phu Hiep area. Upon arrival there, this aircraft located the burning wreckage of 00636 and the bodies of McGlone, Page, and Perez. Soon thereafter, a crowd began to gather around the crash site. The time was now 1645. (SP4 Rafael Perez-Verdeja was to DEROS on 12 October 1971.)
Gerald F. McGlone
Rafael Perez-Verdeja
Addison W. Page, Jr








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Last Flight Check 1969
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On 6 February 1969, the 134th Assault Helicopter Company conducted a Combat Assault with ROK units near Phan Rang. At the landing zone, the VC were waiting in spider holes for the incoming aircraft. The lead ship was hit by ground fire and crashed in the LZ while another (66-16326) was destroyed by a B-40 rocket as it landed. CW2 William M. Harrison, the AC with 24 days left in country, was killed by shrapnel from the B-40. The crewchief, SP4 John Baxter, was hit numerous pieces of shrapnel and also took a hit in a leg that had to later be amputated. The last ship (66-16319) in the 3 ship formation went around the crashed lead ship. As it did, it was hit by a hail of fire and a round hit the gunner, PFC William Ogden, in the neck killing him instantly. The rest of the crew somehow escaped serious jury and managed to get the badly damaged ship back to Phan Rang Air Base.

William M. Harrison
William S. Ogden






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Last Flight Check 1968
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On 7 February 1968, the 134th Assault Helicopter Company suffered its first combat casualties. An entire crew and aircraft were lost while on a MACV support mission at Phu Bon near Cheo Reo. The aircraft flew MACV senior advisors and local commanders to a village that was to have been secured earlier in the morning by nearby PF (Popular Forces) ground troops. These passengers included LTC Vorin E. Whan and 1LT Harmon L. Remmel III. On arrival over the village there was no radio contact with the ground unit supposedly at the site but smoke was popped by someone on the ground and the crew landed. However, the PF troops had not yet arrived and the village was occupied by VC who had taken it over the previous night. After landing and shutting down the aircraft, the crew and six others were ambushed and killed. The aircraft was set on fire and destroyed. Members of the crew were CW2 Roy E. Worth, CW2 Guido S. Reali, SGT Ronald R. Loveland and SGT Harold O. Hoskins. This was a very traumatic experience for everyone in the unit since the 134th was a close knit group and everyone knew the lost crewmembers well. The war hit home to all in a very personal way. After this, aircraft from the 134th were not allowed to land in remote locations without establishing radio contact with ground personnel or positive identification. In a bizarre twist, less than an hour before the ambush of the crew, WO Trainee Hall and WO Mike Harding had been searching for a MACV advisor with the PF troops and had landed at the same village after smoke was popped on the ground. However, they did not shut down or get out of the aircraft. They saw what appeared to be local troops, waved to them (their waves were returned) and realizing their intended passenger was not there, they took off again.

Guido S. Reali Jr
Roy E. Worth
Harold O. Hoskins
Ronald R. Loveland