Resupply mission to Ban Me Thuot

Bridges, Jerry Glen
Army Staff sergeant

Jerry Glen Bridges, age 20, from Columbia, Tennessee, Maury county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, October 20, 1968
Death details: On November 13, 2000, Joint Task Force–Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Staff Sergeant Jerry Glen Bridges, missing from the Vietnam War. Staff Sergeant Bridges entered the U.S. Army from Tennessee and served with the 243rd Assault Helicopter Company, 10th Combat Aviation Battalion. On October 20, 1968, he was the flight engineer aboard a CH-47A Chinook (tail number 66-19053, call sign “Freight Train 53”) that took off from Dong Ba Thien Airfield, South Vietnam, on a resupply mission to Ban Me Thuot. While over the Ninh Hoa Valley area, the helicopter crashed for unknown reasons, killing SSG Bridges. His body was not recovered at the time. The crash site was eventually located in Khan Hoa Province and in 1995, a U.S. investigative team recovered human remains that analysts were able to identify as those of SSG Bridges.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Deitsch, Charles Edward
Army Chief warrant officer 4

Charles Edward Deitsch, age 46, from Mt. Dora, Florida, Lake county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, October 20, 1968
Death details: On November 13, 2000, Joint Task Force–Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Charles Edward Deitsch, missing from the Vietnam War. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Deitsch entered the U.S. Army from Florida and served with the 243rd Assault Helicopter Company, 10th Combat Aviation Battalion. On October 20, 1968, he was the aircraft commander aboard a CH-47A Chinook (tail number 66-19053, call sign “Freight Train 53”) that took off from Dong Ba Thien Airfield, South Vietnam, on a resupply mission to Ban Me Thuot. While over the Ninh Hoa Valley, the aircraft crashed for unknown reasons, killing CW4 Deitsch. His body was not recovered at the time of his loss. The crash site was eventually located in Khan Hoa Province and in 1995, a U.S. investigative team recovered human remains that analysts were able to identify as those of CW4 Deitsch.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Knight, Henry Clay
Army Chief warrant officer 2

Henry Clay Knight, age 25, from La Habra, California, Orange county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, October 20, 1968
Death details: On November 13, 2000, the Joint Task Force–Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Warrant Officer 2 Henry Clay Knight, missing from the Vietnam War. Warrant Officer 2 Knight entered the U.S. Army from California and served with the 243rd Assault Helicopter Company, 10th Combat Aviation Battalion. On October 20, 1968, he piloted a CH-47A Chinook (tail number 66-19053, call sign “Freight Train 53”) that took off from Dong Ba Thien Airfield, South Vietnam, on a resupply mission to Ban Me Thuot. While over the Ninh Hoa Valley, the helicopter crashed for unknown reasons, killing WO2 Knight. His body could not be recovered at the time. The crash site was eventually located in Khan Hoa Province and in 1995, a U.S. investigative team recovered human remains that analysts were able to identify as those of WO2 Knight.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Meldahl, Charles Howard
Army Staff sergeant

Charles Howard Meldahl, age 20, from Monroe, Washington, Snohomish county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: Sunday, October 20, 1968
Death details: On November 13, 2000, Joint Task Force–Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Staff Sergeant Charles Howard Meldahl, missing from the Vietnam War. Staff Sergeant Meldahl entered the U.S. Army from Washington and served with the 243rd Assault Helicopter Company, 10th Combat Aviation Battalion. On October 20, 1968, he was the crew chief aboard a CH-47A Chinook (tail number 66-19053, call sign “Freight Train 53”) that took off from Dong Ba Thien Airfield, South Vietnam, on a resupply mission to Ban Me Thuot. While over the Ninh Hoa Valley, the helicopter crashed for unknown reasons, killing SSG Meldahl. His body could not be recovered at the time. The crash site was eventually located in Khan Hoa Province and in 1995, a U.S. investigative team recovered human remains that analysts were able to identify as those of SSG Meldahl.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

Stanton, Ronald V.
Army Sergeant 1st class

Ronald V. Stanton, age 21, from Massillon, Ohio, Stark county.

Service era: Vietnam

Date of death: October 20, 1968
Death details: On November 13, 2000, the Joint Task Force–Full Accounting (JTF-FA, now DPAA) identified the remains of Sergeant First Class Ronald V. Stanton, missing from the Vietnam War. Sergeant First Class Stanton entered the U.S. Army from Ohio and served with the 243rd Assault Helicopter Company, 10th Combat Aviation Battalion. On October 20, 1968, he was the door gunner aboard a CH-47A Chinook (tail number 66-19053, call sign “Freight Train 53”) that took off from Dong Ba Thien Airfield, South Vietnam, on a resupply mission to Ban Me Thuot. While over the Ninh Hoa Valley, the helicopter crashed for unknown reasons, killing SFC Stanton. His body was not recovered at the time. The crash site was eventually located in Khan Hoa Province and in 1995, a U.S. investigative team recovered human remains that analysts were later able to identify as those of SFC Stanton.
Cemetery: Arlington National

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, findagrave.com

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