These THINGS WE DO
Feet Wet in the Yellow Sea
This story began when a North Korean gunboat ventured south of the "DMZ" . The gunboat was equipped with small caliber machine guns. A "South Korean Navy" Destroyer detected the intrusion and pursued the gunboat. The Destroyer was equipped with large guns but made a fateful error of trying to close and capture the gunboat rather than blowing it out of the water from a distance. As a result, the gunboat sprayed the destroyer with machine gun fire resulting in casualties on the destroyer. The request for assistance came in and two HH-43B’s from DET9 41ARRW departed Osan AB, Korea.
This was to be a long flight, first overland to Inchon, then feet wet to the Destroyer, 20 miles off shore
The H-43 Pedro02 aircraft (actual Pedro Call Signs unknown) approaches Inchon and the coast
The flight out was uneventful, but this was to change as the actual rescue got under way. There were 4 wounded Republic of Korea (ROK) Sailors that had to be hoisted aboard and medi-vaced to an onshore Medical Facility. Since each Huskie had a "Stokes Litter" and two victims would have to be hoisted up per aircraft, it was decided that a rotational pick-up would be tried thus allowing one aircraft to move off and secure its patient as the second Huskie made an approach. This maneuver would be completed twice minimizing the total time on-scene.
Pedro 02 goes in to get the first wounded sailor
(RCP) Capt Vance Need Pedro01: The destroyer was located about 20 miles offshore and was stationary. However, a strong cross wind was causing the ship to pitch and roll. The high antenna masts made hovering difficult. One HH-43B would orbit while the other made a high hover to hoist a wounded sailor on board using the stokes litter. We then traded places and repeated this operation twice to pick up four badly wounded sailors. The wounded sailors were flown to the hospital in Seoul.
Pedro01 goes in rotation for another wounded sailor
(RCCP) Capt William A. deVries Pedro02: The seas were somewhat higher than we would like and the wind was rather fresh but we still had the only birds available with hoist and recovery capability. We donned "Poopy" suits as the water temp was quite low and one engine 50 miles at sea is a bit discomfiting. We left early and by the time we reached the ship the ROK Navy had the injured fairly well stabilized so the PJ's were able to hook them up quickly (for which I am thankful since we were going to be low on fuel in a very short time). As I recall, Al and I made the first pickup then stood off until the second man was recovered with the PJ.
The wounded Korean Sailors are offloaded at the Hospital
We then flew loose formation back to a ROK base where we offloaded the men to a Hospital and were taken to the Admiral's office where we were presented with cigarette lighters as a "Thank You" from the ROK Navy. This turned out to be a very smooth and professional mission.
One of the original lighters presented to the DET9 Crewmembers
The inscription reads: Presented by Naval Chief of Staff Admiral Kim Young Kwan
HH-43B-1
(RCC) Capt Vance Need
(RCCP) Capt Robert M. Garlow
(PJ) A1C Jeffery C. Morissette
HH43B-2
(RCC) Maj Alex P. Lupenski
(RCCP) Capt William A. deVries
(FE) TSGt Larry L. Holocker
(PJ) SSGt Thomas L. Bradley
Editors Aside: While researching this story "Johan Ragay" provided the tail number for HH-43B-1 60-0251. Additionally, he provided the following article published in the KAMAN Rotor Tips. As Libby Montana is where I reside, and 60-0251 is the aircraft involved, I thought I’d share this story with you.
Steve 
