Note: This story speaks of the grim realities of
war. It should not be read by young children without an adults permission.
[The Webmaster]
SEAWOLF
AND RIVER RATS, BURNING MAN IN THE WATER
By
Bill Rutledge, SeaWolf Gunner
HA(L)3
Detachment 8, In the early afternoon on 6 March1971, 18 year old Airman Norm Stayton was the left Door Gunner on the
lead Seawolf Gunship staging out of the Rach Gia short strip . The Fire Team was
assigned to fly cover for a convoy of Army Mike boats and U.S PBRs transporting
munitions and fuel to outposts on the Can Gao canal. These missions were very
long and boring .Having to sit in the door at the ready, Flying, refueling and
back out again and again, But not on this day. The lead Boat loaded with 9000
Gals of fuel hit a mine and then by two B40 rockets from the bank of the canal
shocking all hands on the boats and Gun ships into action. The canal was a
blazing inferno, the Boats and Helos opened up with all weapons, but to save the
other Mikes and covering PBRs from being incinerated they had to retreat down
the canal around a curve away from the engulfing flames.
The crew in
the lead bird spotted a wounded American in the burning water trying to swim to
the bank where the VC fire was coming from. This was a brother in the water and
needed help and with complete disregard for his own safetyStayton dove from the airborne helo through the enemy fire into the
burning water,, Stayton was immediately wounded but swimming under and around
the flames he madeit to the wounded
man (an Army Capt.)..Stayton, shielding the man with his own body from the enemy
fire, put a life vest on him pulling him to the bank where there were several VC
sampans stashed. As Stayton was loading the Capt. in one of them, several of the
enemy ran to the bank of the canal to get a better shot at the two, and were
killed by the helo crews or River Rats. Stayton then paddled the sampan to an
open area away from the fire which was now burning down. The lead Gun Ship
hovered, while the PBRs who had returned, and the trail helo kept Charlie under
cover. Stayton stood in the sampan and with the help of the other gunner tried
to load the survivor in the helo, but the rotor wash and current of the canal
made this impossible. On his second attempt he put a gunners belt (a 9 foot long
belt to attach the gunners to the bird in case they get shot and fall out or get
pushed out by the other gunner when in training) around the man and tried to
hook him to the skid to bring him out, the belt fell off in the water. On
Stayton’s third attempt to get the wounded man in the bird, when the other
Gunner reached down to grab the man’s arms all the meat and skin pulled off
(he was burned over 80% of his body) he fell back in the water. As the Capt. was
floating away Stayton swam to the bank and got a motorized sampan, started it
and retrieved the man again and as he loaded him up the motor stopped. Now
drifting down the canal ...enemy still firing he could see the River Boats
coming toward him since the fuel fire had subsided, The River Rats thinking
Stayton was the enemy were about to take him under fire until he started waving
wildly and they recognized him as a friendly...They loaded Stayton and the Capt.
on one of the Boats, cleared the area to safety where one of the Lead Gunship
extracted them both. The bird was too heavy and had to land at a nearby POL.
Although wounded, exhausted and having just spent 30 minutes in the water on the
rescue, he volunteered to stay while the gravely injured survivor was raced to a
medical unit. Airman Stayton was picked up later by the other Seawolf gunship
and ended up at Long Binh hospital and returned to flying duty 3 weeks later.
Through the combined efforts of the River Rats and Seawolves another American
was saved from capture and torture. This young Navy Airman was recommended for
the MEDAL OF HONOR but higher authority deemed the Navy Cross the appropriate
award, he also awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon for this action.
Rach Gia 1971; One Hootch, No wire, No
compound, No bunkers. This was the whole Base. Open for ground rocket
mortar attack.
Always looking for Material
and Scans of "Anything" related to US Fighter/Bomber/Helicopter Units to add to this site.
