On Hurley Alvin Smith, Morgan Weed, Gary Tomlinson and the Civil Defense helmets at Woolworth's
Alabama "white civil defense helmet" - Google Search
February 13, 1968 TogetherWeServed - LCpl Hurley Alvin Smith
Lance Corp. Hurley Alvin Smith ,by killed in action by friendly fire at Quang Tri Province Vietnam February 2nd,1968.
1965
The Cambodian incursion began on my 20th birthday, April 29, 1970
Gary Tomlinson August 3, 1971
Remembering and Honoring this Soldier of the Vietnam War and his supreme sacrifice for his Country and those oppressed
FIRST LIEUTENANT
•. GARY PRESTON TOMLINSON of Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.
He was born in 1947 in Florida and died in a mid air collision in Thua Thien Province, Vietnam.
He is the husband of Suzanne Tomlinson and the son of George & Myrian Tomlinson.
Gary Tomlinson is a graduate of Banks High School and a 1970 graduate of the University of Alabama.
Lieutenant Tomlinson is a Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot assigned to Battery A, 4th Battalion 77th Artillery, 101st Airborne Division.
On July 3, 1971, two Cobra AH-1G helicopters from A Battery, 4th Battalion, 77th Field Artillery (Aerial Rocket), 101st Airborne Division (Airmobile) were involved in a night-time mid-air collision southwest of Camp Eagle, Thua Thien Province (I Corps), RVN, with the loss of both crews and aircraft. The lost crewmen included CAPT Phillip R. Bergfield and CAPT Terry J. Martell from aircraft 68-15185 and CW2 Robert S. Schettig and 1LT Gary P. Tomlinson in aircraft 67-15760. The following is a summary of the loss by Army investigators:
The aircraft in question were on 2-minute alert status with an aerial rocket artillery battery. They received a contact mission at approximately 2320 hours and were immediately launched.
Arriving on station at 2330 hours in trail formation, a circling orbit was set up by the lead aircraft and was observed by ground troops, who indicated the orbit got smaller and smaller. The last radio transmission monitored was that the lead aircraft, flown by CAPT Bergfield, was, "Rolling in hot." At this time the troops on the ground observed a large flash of fire and some rockets being fired. The burning aircraft fell to the ground over a ridge line 800 meters from the ground troops who also reported shortly after the flash of fire in the sky, there was another flash on the ground over the ridge line. The flash of fire in the sky was also observed by CW2 Barry Martens, 310-56-6339, of A Battery, 4/77th Artillery, 101st Airborne Division, who watched the aircraft launched and depart the Phu Bai combat base to the southwest in trail formation. CW2 Martens observed the aircraft set up their orbit over the contact area and was watching for the section to commence their firing runs. CW2 Martens then observed a large flash in the area of the aircraft and could no longer see the aircraft positions lights. He went to the battery operations center and informed the personnel on duty, who initiated a radio search with negative results. The ground commander also radioed that it was possible that the aircraft had crashed. At this time the 4th Battalion, 77th Artillery Headquarters Tactical Operations center was notified, who in turn launched a search and rescue team in a UH-1H helicopter. Upon arriving on the scene, two fires were observed approximately 200 meters apart and with close observation of the fires, it was determined that both aircraft were totally destroyed with little chance of survivors.
This honored Soldier was repatriated and is at rest today in the hallowed grounds of the Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Florida. He is memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall at Panel 03w Line 99.
“A man is not dead until he is forgotten”

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