Unit History

1969:
 Formation:

The 238th Aerial Weapons Company was a new unit that was formed at Ft. Riley Kansas. The 238th was made up out of the gun platoon of the 297th Assault Helicopter Company when it was redesignated C/158th Avn Co.  Most of the pilots and aircraft were moved over and designated the 238th Aerial Weapons Company. The unit had the aircraft but there weren’t any weapons systems on them.  Larry Smith, the supply officer, signed for the systems when they mysteriously showed up at the supply room shortly after the unit formed. The first Commander of the new unit was a Major Giese, who wanted the unit callsign to be "Chiefs" after the Kansas City football team. Major Geise, and the "chiefs" name both left the unit before it was deployed to Viet Nam. Maj David Dross was the XO then CO when Maj Giese left, and Maj D. Kilborn was the Ops Officer.  The platoon leaders were CPT Jesse Chapman, CPT Bill Coots and CPT Freeman Smith. CPT Gary Hatfield was the company Maint Officer.  WO1 Jerry Powell was the Motor Officer, WO1 Steve Root was the CBR and Mess Officer, CPT Larry Smith was the Supply Officer, and WO1 Jim Wilkinson was the Asst Supply/Property book officer. Capt Tom Bruns commanded the 587th TC DET. The supply Sgt was SSG Fraley, the clerk was SP O'conner and the helpers were PFC Banks and PFC ?.  Maj Giese wanted a water trailer to accompany us, however, there wasn't one on the TO&E.  One did appear mysteriously one cold day in Nov or Dec on a Saturday morning.  It found its way to the motorpool where the MPs we shared the motorpool with helped us paint on the bumper numbers.
  To get ready to fly in Nam, Maj Kilborn (SIP) used to beep the rpm down to 6000 and we would fly.  Maj Kilborn was dual rated as were several of our pilots.  He flew a mission taking some packs to Kansas City and Iced up on the way home and had to land in some farmer’s field.  From there he called in and later they recovered the aircraft. While still at Ft. Riley, the unit got it's first "mission" when two aircraft were put on standby to provide cover for an armored car that was delivering payroll. Someone had gotten word that the "Mob" was going to try to hijack the payroll. For deployment to Viet Nam, the aircraft were flown to Sharp Army Depot and loaded aboard ship there. Capt Ron Moore, and a small group went with the aircraft, while the remainder were flown over.

03/20/1969:
Event or source: unit arrival South Vietnam

Description: The personnel of the 238th AWC and the 587th TC Det (KE) arrived at Phu Cat AFB. Their 12 UH-1Bs arrived at Qui Nhon aboard the SS Del Sol on 1 April and moved to An Khe. Originally this unit was programmed to support MACV operations from Holloway but this was changed to An Khe because the 52d CAB at Pleiku seemed to be meeting daily requirements with 22 gunships while the 268th CAB at Phu Heip was not able to meet daily requirements with the 12 gunships to put up each day. (from official unit arrival summaries).

An Khe:
  While stationed at An Khe, the unit was in general support of II Corps. It's primary missions included convoy escort, standby alert teams, and direct support of Korean Army operations. The "Operations Area" of the 238th covered about 47% of the total land mass of South Viet Nam. When the unit got to An Khe we found out that pilots from other units would be flying with us until we became in country oriented.  That is also when we found out that some of our personnel would be going to other units to set up a DROS shuffle so everyone didn't leave at the same time. Several pilots extended in order to stay in the 238th. Others, including CPTs Chapman, Coots, Freeman Smith, Al Hewitt, WOs Bill Dunlap, Paetz, and Gary Hesselgessernd, went to different units within the Battalion.  

  During this time, there were two "sapper" attacks on the base at An Khe, but the unit did not suffer any losses in those attacks. There were some losses however.  Dale Shoemaker and Charles Avery became the first to be shot down. Charles' account of that incident can be found in the "stories" section. This same aircraft was destroyed later in an accident. Capt Larry Smith was probably the first wounded in the unit. His account of that incident is also in the “stories” section. Maj Ed Koffman took command of the unit at An Khe in June 69, when Major Dross was moved to Group Asst S-3, and Dale Shoemaker became XO.

1970:
Early in 1970 the unit was moved to Phu Hiep, where the 268th CAB HQ was located. There was no real change in their mission. In January of 70 Major  Claude Stults took command of the company. Since the unit had deployed as a unit, most of the senior pilots rotated out at the same time in March. This left Major Stults to select new Aircraft Commanders from pilots who had very little time in country. Phu Hiep was hit by mortar attacks during this period, that damaged many of the units aircraft. An account by Maj Stults is also in the "stories" section.

April/May 70:
The incursion into Cambodia was announced by Nixon to the American people on 30 Apr 70 and the 238th entered Cambodia on 1 May 70. They staged out of Camp Holloway at Pleiku. The units missions were the usual CA cover, LZ prep, and just being in the air for anyone who needed support. It was a large operation involving some 32,000 troops up and down the border. A shortage of "B" model type aircraft, and losses, had left the 238th short of it's normal 12 aircraft, so only 8 were sent for this operation.

The flight line at Holloway seemed to be the target for 122 rockets almost a nightly. A maintenance tent was hit and some personnel from other units were killed. The 238th was fortunate in that they were in billets and not sleeping under the aircraft. It was said of the operation that it set the enemy back about two years because of the equipment and munitions that were destroyed.

On their return to Phu Hiep, the 238th faced another kind of challenge. An "IG" inspection team was waiting for them. Despite being short of aircraft, and continuing to fly missions, the unit passed the "IG" after a reinspection of the motor pool.

June 1970:  A mortar attack on the base at Phu Hiep seemed to target the 238th's aircraft, and most of them were damaged in that attack. June saw one of the biggest operations that Battalion had taken part in to that point, and Major Stults was assigned as air mission commander for all gunships. The patched up Gunrunners aircraft played a major role in that operation. The next day Major Homer Lewis took command of the 238th. This period also saw the start of the conversion from "B" models to "C" model gunships. The conversion wouldn't be complete for months, but would bring the unit back up to it's normal 12 aircraft strength.

October 1970: The 238th AWC, as well as the rest of the 268th Battalion, moved onto the main air base at Tuy Hoa, just north of Phu Hiep. The facilities proved to be much better. Also during this period, Charlie Company of the 75th Rangers was still operating in the area, and the 238th was called on to support their operations. Operations also continued to include convoy escort, and support of Korean units, as well as supporting other aviation units anywhere in II Corps when they ran short of gunships.

1971:
Early 1971 was suppose to see the conversion of the 238th to Cobras, and a new commander. We got the commander, Tommy Greer, but the conversion got delayed. At least one AH-1G had arrived for the unit, but it was transferred out again and the unit was placed on orders to be ready to move to another base. The location and nature of the move were kept secret as long as possible. This was the opening move of Lam Son 719.

History of 238th in Lam Son 719

Lam Son 719 Map
(very large file!)

Apr/May 71: When the 238th returned to Tuy Hoa after Lam Son 719, pilots, flight crews, ground crews, and even the aircraft needed some rest, and the old familiar convoy escort and standby missions almost seemed like R&R. There was one major operation during this period, when the Korean's swept the valley west of Phu Cat. One of our aircraft went down in this operation, but everyone got out alive. The 238th was back in their usual role filling in where ever they were needed, and once again short of aircraft.

Late May/Early June 71: Once again the 238th started to "stand down" for the conversion to AH-1G Cobras. Missions were cut back to standby only, and many of the pilots, who were not Cobra rated, prepared to leave. A new commander, Bill Ryan, arrived. Maybe "Charlie" knew what was going on, or maybe he just chose this time, but the result was one of the largest battles in II Corps that year.

For a full account of the battle at Cung Son, click here.

June 71/Jan 72:
The conversion to Cobras didn't change much for the 238th, except to add more missions to those they already had. The new missions were "over the fence" into Cambodia, and were classified at the time. In some cases, so classified that only the ACs could attend the briefings. Most of these missions were flown out of Ban Me Thout, often in the company of VNAF "King Bee" helicopters and USAF 20th SOS UH-1Ns. But still, there were the convoy escorts, standbys, and fill ins all over II Corps. The 238th AWC was deactivated and returned to the US in Dec71/Jan72. It was later reactivated at Hunter/Stewart Georgia and served several more years there. About half of the 238th aircraft and crews were transferred to the newly formed 60th AHC. As the "gun platoon" of the 60th, they kept the callsign "Gunrunners", and our "roadrunner" character. 

Summary:
The service of the 238th AWC in Viet Nam was short compared to many units, but it's record speaks for itself. The unit flew UH-1B, UH-1C, and AH-1G model gunships. The unit had a reputation for fast response from alert status that was earned early in it's tour and lasted throughout. The units aircraft flew throughout II Corps, and took part in most major operations in II Corps during the period the unit was there. The unit flew into Cambodia in support of US troops in early 70, and again later in support of the CCC operations mentioned above. The unit also flew the entire Lam Son 719 operation, in UH-1C model gunships, covering everything from medivac missions to CH-47s in all areas of that operation, and faced some of the worst AAA of the war. In several respects this unit was somewhat unusual. Being an all gunship "Aerial Weapons Company" with only 12 gunships, it was one of the smallest aviation units. Being in "general support" of II Corps, the unit was given a wide variety of missions over a huge area. The unit went through mortar and rocket attacks, as well as sapper attacks at both An Khe and Khe San. Like most all aviation units, the unit lost aircraft, both on the ground, and due to AAA fire. But unlike most every other unit that served in Viet Nam, this unit never had a combat KIA. One thing is certain though, we always tried to "go for it", and are proud to have served!
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