From time to time I use a photo of a very unofficial and never approved patch from 1973. A friend from the Patch Blogosphere asked me about it, and I thought that since January of 1973 marked my beginning of the end of the Vietnam War, I'd share this with you, and with Debby. I asked her to keep an eye on the Blog page. A few months ago, Rep. Matt Smith gathered as many Vietnam Vets as possible for a recognition ceremony in Bethel Park. I had the opportunity to share a unique war story with him, and he asked if I'd mind telling the story to those gathered together.
I guess the backstory is here:
374th TAW patch for the return of U.S. POWs from Gia Lam airbase.
Operation Homecoming
- partial history
In February 1973, POWs held by NVN were to be released. MAC was assigned the mission of returning the POWS to CONUS. C-130E aircrews, from the 374th TAW, transported members of the negotiating team into Gia Lam airport. On the day of release, 2 x C-130Es flew the release team into the Hanoi Airport. Also onboard the aircraft was a Combat Controller Team who setup homing beacons for the incoming MAC C-141 flights evacuating the POW’s. C-130E aircrews escorted the ex-POW’s to the waiting MAC C-141 "freedom birds." On subsequent releases, C-130E aircrews from the 374th TAW participated.
My "war story" that I related to Veterans of the Vietnam War is fairly short, but it points to how much negotiation was going on to insure no one was left behind. I sent this to Bill Moore at Matt's office just before the gathering. The tradition of service runs deep in our family. My maternal grandfather fought for the Kaiser in WWI, and my Dad, John Sr., his brothers Al and George saw combat in Europe in WWII. My younger brother Jim served 4 in the Corps, and Ray and Ron were National Guard, and trained as door gunners, but never deployed. My son Matt was a Marine from 1991 till 1995, and earned the Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters. I was in the rear with the gear during Vietnam. The patch that I sent you as an attachment has a pretty good war story behind it.
I found myself on the ramp at CCK Air Base one afternoon, strolling about, waiting for aircraft to return from patrol missions and bomb runs in country, and I noticed a strangely painted aircraft on the furthest end of the ramp. I asked my buddy, an aircraft mechanic, what kind of a C-130 it was. He responded “there is no C-130.” I pressed him and he repeated, “there is no C-130.” I pressed some more and he told me the aircraft didn’t exist, and to forget I ever saw it. He was pretty stern.
Find out what's happening in Dormont-Brooklinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The patch I sent you is an unofficial and unapproved one, developed by some pretty brave guys who flew into Hanoi to set up the navigation aids for the C-141 aircraft that were to follow and fly the released POW’s home. It's just another example of the bravery and unquestioned devotion to Duty, Honor, Country exhibited by our Nation’s finest. My grandkids haven’t ever asked me “What did you do in the Vietnam War, Pappy?” I can’t wait to regale them with the story of the C-130 that didn’t exist.
I like to tell that story with a chuckle at first, and then become deadly
serious about our aircrews and tactical combat air controllers. How would you
like to be the first aircraft with US markings landing in Hanoi? I assure you
the trust level was not at an all time high.
John DeLallo, MSgt, USAFR (ret.)
Vietnam, 1973