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Date Posted: 21:39:27 03/12/01 Mon
History of the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company
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This History is an excerpts taken from:
ANNUAL REPORT
HISTORY OF THE
173RD AVIATION COMPANY (ASLT HEL)
11TH AVIATION BATTALION (COMBAT)
12TH AVIATION GROUP (COMBAT)
1ST AVIATION BRIGADE
1 January 1969 - 31 December 1969
Prepared by
CPT DANNY M. VAUGHAN
UNIT HISTORIAN
SP5 JEROME E. KOCHA
SP4 GERALD R. PROVOST
SP4 CHARLES R. BOLTON
HISTORICAL CLERKS
Approved by
RICHARD J BURTNETT, JR.
MAJOR, INFANTRY
Commanding
173RD AVIATION COMPANY (ASLT HEL)
APO San Francisco 96289
Lai Khe, Republic of Vietnam
The 173rd Aviation Company (Aslt Hel) officially entered into combat action in the Republic of South Vietnam on the 10th of May 1966, in operation "Birmingham". The 173rd Aviation Company (Aslt Hel) arrived incountry with the nickname "Robin Hoods" and because their new home was within the rubber trees of Lai Khe Plantation, it became known as "Sherwood Forest". The original unit symbol was a heart with an arrow through it, however, this was changed to the present symbol. The gunship platoon, nicknamed the "Crossbows", also designed a special crest for the gunship platoon. The crest is circular in shape with a red background with a skull having wings superimposed over a crossbow. The flying skull symbolizing death and the crossbow signifying the deadly accuracy in which the Crossbows are able to effectively place surpressive fire upon the enemy. Since their arrival in the Republic of South Vietnam, the Robin Hoods of Sherwood Forest have distinguished themselves with a long list of awards and decorations. The Robin Hoods were the first aviation unit to have a member, SP4 Gary G. Wetzel, awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism in the Republic of Vietnam.
COMMAND AND CONTROL:
MISSION: The mission of the 173rd Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter) is to provide tactical air movement of combat troops in airmobile operations, and to provide tactical air movement of combat supplies and equipment.
The mission of the 759th Medical Detachment is to provide medical care and preventive medicine to the 173rd Aviation Company (Aslt Hel) and its assigned or attached units.
COMMANDER:
Major Richard J. Burtnett, present commander of the 173rd Aviation Company (Aslt Hel), entered the service in December 1948 as an enlisted man. He was discharged in December 1952 to continue his education. After graduating from college in 1957 he entered the Army as a regular officer. He attended Army Aviation Flight School in 1959, rotary wing qualification course in 1961 and holds both a rotary wing and fixed wing instrument ticket. He has attended numerous other Army schools to include the Infantry Officers Advanced Course and the Airospace Safety Engineering Course. His overseas tours include tours in Germany, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. He has been awarded the Bronze Star, Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, China Service Medal, Occupation Medal, National Defense Nations Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal. He is authorized to wear the Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal and the Korean Presidential Unit Commendation Medal.
ORGANIZATION:
The 173rd Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter) was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia on the 1st of September 1965, under General Order 268, dated 31 August 1965, Headquarters Third Army. The Company was attached to the 10th Aviation Group and was further attached to the 101st Aviation Company (Airmobile) (Light) as
commanded by General Order 30, dated 27 September 1965, Headquarters 10th Aviation Group, Fort Benning, Georgia. 173rd Aviation Company (Aslt Hel) consisted of a headquarters platoon, two flight platoons, a gunship platoon, and a service platoon. Also attached to the company under the same General Order was the 408th Transportation Detachment, the 451st Signal Detachment, and the 759th Medical Detachment.
The 173rd Aviation Company remained at Fort Benning, Georgia, organizing and training until January 1966 at which time the company began its movement to the Republic of Vietnam.
The company was deployed overseas in four phases which included a minimum essential equipment element, main body, advanced party, and an aircraft movement element. The main body element consisting of 44 officers and 151 enlisted men departed Columbus, Georgia, 15 February 1966 and arrived in Vung Tau, Vietnam 10 March 1966. From Vung Tau, the company was flown by Air Force C-130's to its new home, Lai Khe, later to become known as "Sherwood Forest". By the time the company arrived at Lai Khe, it consisted of 56 officers, 173 enlisted men and 24 UH-1B and D model helicopters.
The 173rd Aviation Company (Aslt Hel) arrived in country with the nickname of the "Robin Hoods" and since their new home was under the rubber trees of Lai Khe plantation, the Robin Hoods designated the company area as "Sherwood Forest". In keeping with the tradition, the gunship platoon was nicknamed the "Crossbows", and the maintenance section designated as "Friar Tuck", and the avionics section was dubbed "Little John".
From the period of 18 March to 31 March 1966, the unit not yet being fully operational, flew missions with other companies and assisted the 11th Aviation Battalion (Combat) with administration flights. The Robin Hoods continued throughout the month of April in a non-operational status. However, the unit was committed heavily in Operation Birmingham beginning 29 April 1966. The Robin Hoods continued to support the 11th Aviation Battalion (Combat) until 10 May 1966, when the company was declared fully operational. This date was later declared as "Unit Day" for the 173rd Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter) by the Chief of Military History in Washington, D.C.
OPERATIONS:
During the reporting period of 1 January 1969, through 31 December 1969, the Robin Hoods of the 173rd Aviation Company (Aslt Hel) participated in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th phases of Operation "Toan Thang" (Complete Victory) which encompassed the entire III Corps area of operations. The operation for the year netted 6,533 enemy killed and tons of enemy arms and equipment captured. During this period, normal operations consisted of company and battalion size combat assaults during both daylight and night hours, with gunship support and direct combat support roles of medical evacuation, re-supply, and "Sniffer Missions". The Robin Hoods flew a total of 31,100 hours and carried 194,734 passengers during the year.
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