KEY MILITARY PERSONNEL FOR THE MAY 2 MISSION

Military Assistance Command Vietnam,

Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG)

PROJECT SIGMA, DETACHMENT B-56

Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Drake, Commander

First Lieutenant Fred Jones, Launch Officer

Captain Robin Tornow, U.S. Air Force Forward Air Controller (FAC)

PROJECT SIGMA, DETACHMENT B-56 RECON TEAM

Sergeant First Class Leroy Wright, Team Leader

Staff Sergeant Lloyd Mousseau, Assistant Team Leader

Specialist 4 Brian O’Connor, Radioman

Tuan, CIDG Interpreter

Bao, CIDG Point Man

Chien, CIDG Grenadier

CIDG Rifleman

CIDG Rifleman

CIDG Rifleman

CIDG Rifleman

CIDG Ammo Bearer

CIDG Ammo Bearer

214TH COMBAT AVIATION BATTALION (CAB),

12TH COMBAT AVIATION GROUP, 1ST AVIATION BRIGADE

240th Assault Helicopter Company

Major Jesse James, Commander

2ND PLATOON GREYHOUND SLICKS

AC = pilot/aircraft commander, left seat

CP = copilot, right seat

CC = crew chief/left-door gunner

DG = right-door gunner

BM = bellyman

Command and Control (C&C)

Major Jesse James, AC

First Lieutenant Alan Yurman (leader of 2nd Platoon), CP

Unknown, CC

Unknown, DG

First Lieutenant Fred Jones, Detachment B-56 Mission Launch Officer

Special Forces Major (name unknown), Detachment B-56 Observer

Greyhound One* (primary/lead)

Warrant Officer Larry McKibben, AC

Warrant Officer William Fernan, CP

Specialist 4 Dan Christensen, CC

Specialist 4 Nelson Fournier, DG

Staff Sergeant Roy Benavidez, BM

Greyhound Two (primary/wingman)

Warrant Officer Jerry Ewing, AC

First Lieutenant Bob Portman, CP

Specialist 5 Paul Tagliaferri, CC

Unknown, DG

Greyhound Three (reserve/lead)

Warrant Officer Roger Waggie, AC

Warrant Officer David Hoffman, CP

Specialist 4 Michael Craig, CC

Unknown, DG

Unknown, BM

Greyhound Three (second crew)

Warrant Officer Roger Waggie, AC

Warrant Officer David Hoffman, CP

Warrant Officer William Darling, CC

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Thomas Smith, DG

Staff Sergeant Ron Sammons, BM

Greyhound Four (reserve/wingman)

Warrant Officer William Armstrong, AC

Warrant Officer James Fussell, CP

Specialist 4 Gary Land, CC

Specialist 4 Robert Wessel, DG

Specialist 5 James Calvey, BM

3RD PLATOON MAD DOG GUNSHIPS

AC = aircraft commander/pilot, right seat/rockets

CP = copilot, left seat/miniguns

CC = crew chief/left-door gunner

DG = right-door gunner

Mad Dog One (first fire team/lead)

Chief Warrant Officer 2 William Curry, AC

Chief Warrant Officer 1 David Brown, CP

Sergeant First Class Pete Jones, CC

“Swisher,” DG

Mad Dog Two (first fire team/wingman)

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael Grant, AC

Chief Warrant Officer 1 Ron Radke, CP

Specialist 4 Steven Hastings, CC

Specialist 4 Donald Fowler, DG

Mad Dog Three (second fire team/lead)

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Louis Wilson, AC

Warrant Officer Jesse Naul, CP

Specialist 5 Paul LaChance, CC

Specialist 4 Jeff Colman, DG

Mad Dog Four (second fire team/wingman)

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Gary Whitaker, AC

Warrant Officer Cook, CP

Specialist 5 Pete Gailis, CC

Specialist 4 Danny Clark, DG

Mad Dog Five (emergency backup gunship, flown from Bearcat for extraction)

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Don Brenner, AC

First Lieutenant Rick Adams, CP

Specialist 4 John White, CC

Unknown, DG


* All helicopter numbers have been changed for clarity.