| Dennis Ray Christie | |
|---|---|
| Location on the Wall: | Panel 21E - Line 87 |
| Age at Loss: | 20 |
| Race: | Causasian |
| Sex: | Male |
| Date of Birth: | 11 Jun, 1946 |
| Home of Record: | Imperial Beach, CA |
| Religion: | Roman Catholic |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Branch: | Marine Corps |
| Length of Service: | 1 year |
| Grade: | E3 |
| Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| ID Number: | |
| Unit: | 3rd Recon |
| MOS: | Helicopter-Non Crew |
| Date of Loss: | 11 Jun, 1967 |
| Country of Loss: | Quang Tri, South Vietnam |
| Loss Coordinates: | 165454N 1065530E |
| Status: | Body Not Recovered |
| Type of Loss: | Hostile, died missing |
| Reason: | Air Loss, Crash on Land |
| Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: | CH46A |
| Incident Ref. #: | |
Other info:
On 11 June 1967, 1LT Curtis Bohlscheid was the pilot of a CH46A helicopter inserting a seven-man Marine Force Recon team into a predesignated area 11 1/2 nautical miles northwest of Dong Ha, South Vietnam — right on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). A total of four aircraft were involved in the mission, two CH46’s and two UH1E helicopter gunships.
Bohlscheid flew the lead aircraft. His crew included MAJ John S. Oldham, LCPL Jose J. Gonzales (crew chief), and PFC Thomas M. Hanratty (crew chief).
Members of the 3rd Recon Company, 3rd Recon Battalion, 3rd Marine Division who were being inserted were CPL Jim E. Moshier, LCPL Dennis R. Christie, LCPL John J. Foley III, LCPL Michael W. Havranek, LCPL James W. Kooi, PFC
Charles D. Chomel, and PFC James E. Widener.
The flight departed Dong Ha at about 11:15 a.m. and proceeded to the insertion location. The gunships made low strafing runs over the landing zone to clear booby traps and to locate any enemy troops in the area. No enemy fire was received and no activity was observed. The lead aircraft then began its approach to the landing zone. At an estimated altitude of 400-600 feet, the helicopter was observed to climb erratically, similar to an aircraft commencing a loop. Machine gunmen had been waiting for the opportune time to fire on the aircraft. Portions of the rear blades were seen to separate from the aircraft and a radio transmission was received from the aircraft indicating that it had been hit. The helicopter became inverted and continued out of control until it was seen to crash by a stream in a steep ravine.
Subsequent efforts by ground units to reach the crash area failed due to a heavy bunker complex surrounding the site. The ground units inspected the site from within 500 meters through binoculars and observed no survivors. All eleven personnel aboard the helicopter were therefore classified Killed In Action, Body Not Recovered.
Other USMC records indicate that the helicopter also burst into flames just prior to impacting the ground.
Source: POW NETWORK
Members of this USMC Helo unit and families have since visited the crash site. More recent information on this incident can be found at the following websites: