Say His Name to Remember : Cpl Dennis Hudson

On October 23, 1969, a UH-1H helicopter (tail number 68-16274) from the 158th Aviation Battalion, flying out of Camp Evans, was involved in an accident that resulted in the deaths of six individuals on the ground. The incident occurred in Quang Tri Province, RVN, at a landing zone (LZ) that had been cleared by engineers in a wooded area with an approximate 10% incline. The mission was a combat assault to insert 180 soldiers from A Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne. The aircraft was leading a flight of six helicopters, and the initial lift into the LZ was completed without incident.

Tragically, the accident happened during the third drop-off of infantrymen. Cpl Hudson was in this group.  The small LZ contained several large tree stumps, some reaching about three feet high. Six soldiers exited the helicopter on the right side, while four disembarked on the left, moving about thirty feet away from the aircraft. Before leaving the LZ, the aircraft commander (AC) lifted to a stabilized two-foot hover and performed a takeoff check. The gunner and crew chief confirmed with "clear right" and "clear left." Maximum power was necessary to avoid the stumps in front of the helicopter.

All gauges appeared normal as the AC applied power. However, unbeknownst to him, a stump on the right side protruded at about a 60-degree angle. The landing skid slid under it without making contact, which would have triggered an instrument signal. As the aircraft ascended, the skid caught, causing the helicopter to roll and crash hard onto its right side. 

The helicopter crashed, and the large rotor blades impacted the ground and the six soldiers next to it....killing all 6 and wounding 4. Cpl Hudson was one of the six.

Although the 6 men's death was classified as an aircraft accident, not under enemy fire, they were completing a combat air assault with the unit.

He was the platoon medic.