CARTER JAMES DEVRIN

Narrative

James Carter was aboard a UH1D helicopter on a Command and Control mission on June 13, 1968 in South Vietnam. The aircraft landed, picked up passengers and departed to fly a visual reconnaissance mission near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The Operation Center at Duc Pho near Da Nang, South Vietnam, that was controlling the flight received a report that Carter's aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision with a U.S. Air Force O2 aircraft. The helicopter and the O2 crashed. Another helicopter crew in the area observed Carter's helicopter impact with the ground and stated that they did not see anyone escape from the site. The aircraft was burning. Another element from an infantry unit was airlifted to the crash site and could find no survivors at either site. A maintenance aircraft arrived and assisted in the search. No remains were recovered that could be associated with Carter. On subsequent searches, the remains of the pilot of the O2, Major Brenner, and the crew of the UH1D were recovered, but Carter's remains were never located. Compiled by Homecoming II Project 30 June 1990 from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. War Story: Casualties were 7: The four crewmembers that you have noted plus LTC Frank A Barker (CO 4/3 Inf), CPT Earl R Michles (S-2 4/3 Inf), and 1LT Michael L. Phillips (LnO 6/11 Arty). Additional remains were discovered, recovered and identified in a joint survey operation between the US and VN governments on 28 Jun 1993 and 5 Oct 1993 and buried in the same common grave at Arlington as were the original remains. Correction Needed: The passengers were picked-up at LZ Dottie in Quang Ngai Province and the incident happened approximately 10 KM to the ESE of the pick-up point and approximately 1 KM North of the village of My Lai (4). The language in your current article states "near the DMZ". Also, I've found no reference to the passenger listed in your article, Edward E Stroud, but will try to determine if he was among the group. O-2A Pilot involved was Air Force MAJ David G Brennen (AC Tail Number 67-21415) Of interest, but not for publication, is that LTC Barker commanded Task Force Barker during the My Lai incident in March of '68. CPT Michles commanded Company B, 4/3 Infantry at My Lai, and 1LT Phillips was the S-2 of the 6/11 Arty while elements of his unit supported TFB in the My Lai area. It is strange to me that they all perished in the vicinity of My Lai (4). Also, in two accounts of the crash I have read that MAJ Brennan was found with a gunshot wound to his head. Perhaps the VC arrived at the scene first. I hope some of this will help. Jim Wambold (former) CPT, FA 6th Bn, 11th Arty, 1967-1968