CASWELL EUGENE WILLIAM

Narrative

From 8 May 66 through 30 June 66, the 155 AHC operated from Camp Holloway, Pleiku in general support of the 25th Infantry Division, with time out for battalion operations with the 22d Division ARVN on 19 May in the vicinity of Bong Son. Tragedy struck the company on 27 May 66 during a troop lift south of Pleiku near fire base Oasis. WO Eugene W. Caswell was killed when the aircraft he was flying failed to clear tall trees in the takeoff path from a confined area and crashed. Crew chief, PFC Robert C. Luce, and gunner, PFC Richard E. Dabney, Jr. were severely burned in the crash and required medical evacuation to Nha Trang. PFC Dabney subsequently died on 3 June 66 while enroute to an Army hospital in San Antonio, Texas. from History of the 155th Aviation Company 1 Jan 66 - 31 Dec 66.