wiki has an additional item of interest about his pick-up:
"Deatrick reported Dengler's claim to be a POW and his identity was confirmed when they reached a hospital in Da Nang. There, a conflict developed between the Air Force and Navy over who would control his debriefing and recovery. The Navy sent a team of SEALs to steal Dengler from the Air Force recovery ward. A fight ensued between the SEALs and Air Force security police in which numerous air force personnel, including several patients, were badly beaten and injured. The SEAL team escaped unscathed and rushed Dengler to the air field on a gurney. He was returned to the USS Ranger and eventually airlifted to the US for medical treatment.[citation needed] At the time of his rescue, he stood at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) and weighed 98 pounds (44 kg).
Fullbore. Papa Scoobs had the pleasure of going through SERE School twice - once during the halcyon days of the late 50's and again a decade later en route to a big grey boat in the Gulf of Tonkin - he said the second time through was a lot sportier thanks to the experiences of Dengler and a few others who had survived their ordeals as "guests" of the communists.
Laos was definitely not a place you wanted to go down - few years back I helped a friend research her grandfather who had flown HH-53 Jolly Green Giants and had gone in after a downed navy A-7 pilot who was wounded and the "locals" were using as flak bait. Two previous helicopters had been shot up before his attempt - he got the closest of three before taking serious hits that knocked out an engine and wounded him and a crewman forcing him to abort - the downed aviator was never heard from again and is still listed as MIA.
As a Jesuit instructor once told me "every answered question may leave other relevant questions unanswered" and so you wonder who were the others that didn't make it back and where are their bodies now. But a tremendous survival story based on sheer will. FULL Bore For Sure
Just finished watching the video. Forwarded it to my daughter, grandson and to a couple of young sailors. Wish my Dad was still alive, he was a door gunner with HAL-3, he would have appreciated that the events of his war are not forgotten.
Incredible escape!!! I worked for Chuck Klusmann in 1980. He related his story to me... he was recaptured as well and escaped a second time. There were two other POW survivors on the staff as well. These were amazing men. I'm humbled to have known some of them.
At 9 or 10 minutes past the hour we see USN ships in port. Must be a dozen Perry's and a coupla Tico's - look at how our capabilities have diminished in 26 years! Travesty!
10 captured in Laos were released from Hanoi in March 1973.
One of them, Ernie Brace, wrote "A Code to Keep" and "Monkey Paw Soup"
There was a book written about 2 two young missionaries ( Lloyd Oppel and my brother Sam Mattix) in that group. who were taken in October 72 "Captive on the Ho Chi Minh Trail' by Marjorie Clark ( kind of a rough read but she really was mire of a children's author)
More recently, much better retelling of that walk from Kengkok to Hanoi was written Lloyd Oppel a couple years ago.
That's an excellent read and look back 40+ years later
GBU GBA
Wow!!!
LT Dengler was born in Germany in 1938. What a path he had to become a Naval Aviator. That alone was tremendously inspirational.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieter_Dengler
Thanks for sharing Sal.
Another great post with an amazing story. God Bless Them All.
wiki has an additional item of interest about his pick-up:
"Deatrick reported Dengler's claim to be a POW and his identity was confirmed when they reached a hospital in Da Nang. There, a conflict developed between the Air Force and Navy over who would control his debriefing and recovery. The Navy sent a team of SEALs to steal Dengler from the Air Force recovery ward. A fight ensued between the SEALs and Air Force security police in which numerous air force personnel, including several patients, were badly beaten and injured. The SEAL team escaped unscathed and rushed Dengler to the air field on a gurney. He was returned to the USS Ranger and eventually airlifted to the US for medical treatment.[citation needed] At the time of his rescue, he stood at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) and weighed 98 pounds (44 kg).
Fullbore. Papa Scoobs had the pleasure of going through SERE School twice - once during the halcyon days of the late 50's and again a decade later en route to a big grey boat in the Gulf of Tonkin - he said the second time through was a lot sportier thanks to the experiences of Dengler and a few others who had survived their ordeals as "guests" of the communists.
Laos was definitely not a place you wanted to go down - few years back I helped a friend research her grandfather who had flown HH-53 Jolly Green Giants and had gone in after a downed navy A-7 pilot who was wounded and the "locals" were using as flak bait. Two previous helicopters had been shot up before his attempt - he got the closest of three before taking serious hits that knocked out an engine and wounded him and a crewman forcing him to abort - the downed aviator was never heard from again and is still listed as MIA.
As a Jesuit instructor once told me "every answered question may leave other relevant questions unanswered" and so you wonder who were the others that didn't make it back and where are their bodies now. But a tremendous survival story based on sheer will. FULL Bore For Sure
Just finished watching the video. Forwarded it to my daughter, grandson and to a couple of young sailors. Wish my Dad was still alive, he was a door gunner with HAL-3, he would have appreciated that the events of his war are not forgotten.
Fullbore, AYE.
Glad to see the film was made. Sending to Brothers who can appreciate it.
Another excellent FBF. Thank you for taking the time and effort to find, research, and post these stories.
Incredible escape!!! I worked for Chuck Klusmann in 1980. He related his story to me... he was recaptured as well and escaped a second time. There were two other POW survivors on the staff as well. These were amazing men. I'm humbled to have known some of them.
At 9 or 10 minutes past the hour we see USN ships in port. Must be a dozen Perry's and a coupla Tico's - look at how our capabilities have diminished in 26 years! Travesty!
LULU, The Legendary Union of Laotian Unfortunates
10 captured in Laos were released from Hanoi in March 1973.
One of them, Ernie Brace, wrote "A Code to Keep" and "Monkey Paw Soup"
There was a book written about 2 two young missionaries ( Lloyd Oppel and my brother Sam Mattix) in that group. who were taken in October 72 "Captive on the Ho Chi Minh Trail' by Marjorie Clark ( kind of a rough read but she really was mire of a children's author)
More recently, much better retelling of that walk from Kengkok to Hanoi was written Lloyd Oppel a couple years ago.
That's an excellent read and look back 40+ years later
My favorite Spad picture...
https://www.midwaysailor.com/midwayva25bomb/va25specbomb-0001b.jpg
for a future Friday:
E Shackleton