TheList 5262

The List 5262 TGB


Good Monday Morning April 6 to all. .My granddaughters started online school this morning.

Regards

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Thanks to Dutch

This is an eye opener from a general surgeon

thanks to Ben



Good description on what a bad case of the virus can do.

This Dr really took a hit



You need to read person's experience with CV-19 & how bad it is. From reading this it's easy to see why people die from it & what a grueling death it is. This will make me double my efforts to exercise social distancing.






Now that it's been 15 days and my wife and kids remain asymptomatic, I can now tell my coronavirus story.

I was wrong. I had seen it before. Media had sensationalized the news. SARS was coming, MERS was coming, Swine flu was coming, Ebola was coming. Small groups of people panicked, small groups were affected. The viruses that were to be the next plague faded away and the media shifted attention to some other news to get ratings- one week it was 24/7 discussion about Hilliary and her private server, the next week maybe something about a Kardashian, or members of the US Women's Soccer Team declining an invite to The White House.

With that history of news hysteria, I discounted the admonitions and went on my planned vacation. A week on the 80s cruise. We had received information regarding the travel restrictions for guests who would be on the cruise. We were told of the enhanced embarkation screening and the increased on-boat cleaning and sanitization that staff would be completing during our trip. To my knowledge no staff or guest had any symptoms of the coronavirus during the cruise.

What a great cruise (except for the fact that the cruise cost twice the price for most cruises and the major headline performers cancelled either the day before or day after the cruise set sail. Yeah The B52s, Loverboy, and Brett Michaels- I'm talking about you guys.)

I don't know when I had contracted the virus that week. Amusingly my wife and kids have remained asymptomatic despite being in close quarters with me that week. I wore an N95 mask on the flights to and from Miami, (my family didn't). Only I had used the spa for a massage. I rode shotgun to and from the Port of Miami while my family rode in the back of the taxis we used. I washed my hands many more times than I usually do a day. Mind you, I'm a general surgeon- I wash my hands a lot. I wiped down door knobs and my cell phone with antibacterial wipes I had all the time in back pocket. I did all of that to make me feel better about catching a virus I thought was surely being sensationalized by the media. It was small risk and it wouldn't be so bad even if I caught it.

Let me state this again. I was wrong.

Though we had minimal internet service on the cruise, we were able to get news updates whenever we came into dock. It looked like things were getting REAL. People are hoarding toilet paper? Banning flights from Italy? Disney World is closing? Tom Hanks has the virus? When we got home that Sunday I convinced my wife to go shop for some non-perishables and marvel at the empty shelves where the toilet paper should be. We came home and hunkered down. I had already received a text from my hospital's infectious disease specialist. She knew I was on vacation and wanted me to stay low and surveil for the development of any coronavirus symptoms.

I didn't have to wait long. The next morning, my Day 1 of living with coronavirus, I woke with one of those irritating coughs that tickle the back of your throat. Then a mild headache. Then muscle and joint pain. All of these were allergy symptoms I have every year when the yellow pollen snow coats my home's lawn and driveway. Still cautious, I cancelled my week's scheduled cases and office visits. I isolated from my family and moved into our walkout basement. I got back with our hospital's ID specialist who told me to stay at home but not to be too worried because I had no fevers.

The fevers started on Day 2. These weren't high spiking 102.0 fevers (those would come later), but low grade fevers that made me feel flushed and irritated. They were easily controlled with Tylenol. I drove over to the hospital's new drive thru viral testing center. I knew the staff working there; they laughed at me thinking a was pulling a prank on them. "You don't look sick," they said. Our ID MD came out and shoved the longest cotton swab I've ever seen into my left nostril and told me results would take 48hrs to come back. I know now how wrong I was during my surgical residency to place all those nasogastric tubes at bedside without remorse.

Day 3 and most of Day 4 was a continuation of the same. I was obviously sick but not too bad if I could keep my temperature down.

Then things began to progress quickly. I received a text from our administrator for physician affairs just as I had my first fever above 101.5. 'This is *** ****.
Can I give u a quick call?' Damn. I knew what he was to tell me. So 10 minutes later I have to holler upstairs to my wife and let her know I have coronavirus and we are all in quarantine. She decides since it's late in the evening, she'll sit tight and find a way to break it to the kids in the morning. 2 hours later the fever is worse. Then the breathing problems started. I felt I was trying to breathe through the cardboard tube that holds towel paper- able to be done, but uncomfortable after a few minutes. At midnight I called my wife and told her I was driving myself to the hospital. I called the ER MD that was on call and told him to expect me. My lab work, vitals, chest x-ray, and ekg were all fine and I was told I could go home or be admitted for observation. I had been sick for 4 days and was now much, much worse with shortness of breath- why was I even given an option to go home? I chose admission.

I spent the next 8 days in the hospital. I was not well. Fortunately I never was hypoxemic where I required oxygen supplementation, though I used a oxygen venturi mask for breathing comfort. The first 6 days of my hospitalization could be summarized easily. My day involved lying under blankets help with my chills and body aches. The blankets would soon be torn off the bed and I'd strip down to my underwear because I'd become feverish and sweat profusely. It was during these sweat fests that my breathing worsened considerably and I prayed to God for a miracle. I always thought, "is this the one where my breathing gets so bad the nurses say, 'he's spiralling, take him to the ICU.'" The cycle of blankets and stripping and sweating and gasping would happen 4 to 6 times a day. Usually the worse episode occurred at night. I'd always get some sleep between 23:00-1:00. Then each night I'd be up for the remaining early morning hours fighting another fever.

There are a limited number of Forensic File episodes. They are played one after another on the HLN channel from Midnight to 6AM. I have quickly approached to seeing almost all of them. I would maybe get another 1-2 hours of sleep during the day.

For those who have never 'sweated a bed' it is a very uncomfortable thing. The breathing difficulty became much more pronounced when I sweated the bed. Moreover it was embarrassing to do it in front of the nursing staff you see daily at work. First time in my life I really took to heart the tale about mothers saying to always wear clean underwear because you'll never know when you get into an accident. Thank you to Dr. Bakhtazde for having the compassion to run over to Target and buy me a fresh 6-pack of briefs on Day 4.

Tylenol is a wonderful drug. It was the only thing that helped break the fevers. Every patient on my ward was needing Tylenol around the clock. On Day 4 the hospital had run out of 325mg tylenol tablets and were using 500mg tablets at six hour intervals to conserve resources until the pharmacy could be restocked. Let that sink in. "Could they run out of TylenoI?" I called our PA and had her buy and smuggle Tylenol into my room. She said she bought the last 2 bottles on the shelf at Walgreen's. If I make it, years from now I'll die and my wife will find a bottle of Tylenol hidden between my bed mattress and boxspring.

I never lost my sense of smell. My room still smelled like a hospital. I lost my appetite. I never lost my sense of taste but it changed. I ate a cookie and it tasted like a stick of butter dipped in cinnamon. Italian dressing on salad tasted like vomit. On hospital day 6 I finally was feeling hungry enough to order out for pizza. I thought I was eating a salt lick.

On Day 6 my MDs were contemplating starting me on the plaquenil/azithromycin regimen because of my persistent fevers. Also I was beginning to experience pleuritic chest pain. I couldn't start the meds due to the fact that the plaquenil would put me at risk for long QT/arrhythmias- I'm already on a risky anti-arrhymic medication to treat/prevent my atrial fibrillation.

Then something good finally happened. My fevers became less severe and only 1 or 2 times per day. I was still short of breath but it was less severe thanks to the break in the fevers. But now I had to deal with the chest pain and a nonproductive cough that could be set off from simply turning in the bed. The coughing fits would last for a minute, but seem forever.

I have nothing but praise for the nurses who took care of me. They knew how food was tasting funny. One of them smuggled in a doughnut and Hershey kisses for me one morning when I said I missed sweets. It was the best cotton ball flavored doughnut I ever ate. Though I didn't feel it, I knew the ward was full and I was likely one of their healthiest patients. Sorry about all the sweaty underwear.

They all have kids and families and recognize the figurative crud is quickly about to hit the fan. They still come to work. God, they all must be scared and stressed. Pray for them.

I was still sick but felt well enough to be discharged to home on hospital Day 8, that's 12 days after I developed symptoms.
I drove home 20 miles per hour with my hazard flashers on and huffing for air. Along the way I saw cars everywhere and people out walking. "Don't they know how bad it is? Don't they know how bad it will get?" I thought to myself. I entered my development and saw a group of 6 older men in their golfcarts ready to tee off at the club's 4th hole. How I wanted to drive up to the tee box and reprimand them. I pulled into my garage and broke down. Nothing is more gut wrenching than spending a week in anxiety wondering if I was going to be a patient who needs mechanical ventilation or worse one of the 1.3%, and having to be welcomed home through a glass window. I've known Angie since I was fifteen (35 years). We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary last year. God knows what she was thinking while I was in the hospital. God knows I held information from her so she wouldn't think the worst. Here I come to home. 2 best friends back together hands separated by a window pane and all emotions coming out at once. When will we finally be able to get a hug?

So now I'm in my 15th day with coronavirus symptoms. I have no more fevers. The coughing is terrible, uncontrollable. I remain very weak. I can stand for no more than 3-5 minutes. I'm able to walk from my basement door to my front porch though it takes some time and I need to sit down for 20-30 minutes once I get there. I got exhausted organizing puzzle pieces.

Angie brings breakfast down to the basement door and we talk each morning through the basement windows via our cell phones. I've become a good listener. I can't talk for very long- too tiring. My family come down and sit on the back porch for lunch and dinner. Angie knows how my appetite and taste had changed. She has changed her cooking and meals appropriately. She doesn't know that the taste thing is back to normal. Let's keep it all a secret for now. I am certain she is perplexed why grilled ham and cheese with brown mustard is extremely palatable, but cooked vegetables make me nauseous.

I've regressed into being a teenager. I spend my time on the couch- minimal activity. Netflix is my closest friend. I've not watched any more episodes of Forensic Files, but I've saw enough episodes last week to see the patterns of spousal homicide. There is no doubt in my mind. CAROLE BASKIN KILLED HER SECOND HUSBAND AND FED HIM TO THE TIGERS.

I have become more spiritual. I have spent 25 years in the Catholic church and never officially converted. It's now on my to do list. I've prayed every night I've been sick and sometimes during the day. I've thanked The Lord for keeping me alive and helping me recover. I thanked him for keeping my family healthy without symptoms where surely they should have been sick. I asked to keep them protected. I asked for this craziness to end. I went to mass via the tv twice. I am surprised that I know the entire Nicene Creed- I always thought I was repeating what the lady 2 rows behind me was saying a little faster than what our priest was saying. Sometimes it takes bad times to help us recognize the good things.

I did a drastic thing and shaved my head and beard. I was many weeks due for a haircut, and no chance of a cut for the next few weeks. The continuous sweats left my hair knotted and unmanageable. I washed my hair 5 times in the last 2 weeks and I still couldn't keep it clean. Interesting how literally and figuratively a bald head can make one feel cooler.

This is the longest I've ever been away from work. I have no idea when I will not be considered a risk to patients. I have no idea when I will feel better. I have no idea when I will be back to work. My only prediction- not soon.

So let me give you the take home points.

1) This virus is bad. I have never felt this sick before in my life. I'm nearing fifty and I have controlled hypertension, 25 pounds overweight, and controlled atrial fibrillation. I exercise almost daily. That's pretty much healthy. Trust me, I am a doctor and I see patients 15 years younger than me who are much worse off medically. I got thrown for a loop. If you get it, you will too. You could die.

2) Age isn't as big of a factor as we were lead to believe. Young people get sick. Young people can die. Telling youth that they should practice social distancing so their grandparents don't get sick is the wrong message. Tell the kids the truth. You can likely get sick too. There is a chance you could die. You can spread it to your friends and they could die, too.

3) Social distancing is necessary. I'm the example of what happens when you don't distance yourself from infection risk. No one was 'sick' on that cruise ship. Truth in the matter is people were likely infectious and passing the virus unknowingly. Until proven otherwise, everyone has the cheese touch and they just need to stay away.

4) Spread the message. It's okay to be deemed the crazy one and lose some social status and friends over the next few weeks. How close does this virus have to affect you before you say, "wow , this is real."? Don't be me. Don't be lying in a hospital riddled with guilt. Don't be afraid that when the phone rings from your wife she's not calling to see how you are doing. Don't be in the position where you're afraid she's going to tell you that one of your kids are going to the ER with symptoms.
I called my 81 year-old father. I told him that this is real. He had his girlfriend over. She needed to go home. Role reversal. I told him my brothers could drop off supplies but not enter the house. I told him that the weekly cleaning ladies stay away for the rest of the month. I called my brothers and told them to stay out of the house. Call people out when they are going to do something stupid. Infuriate your kids. Deny playdates and girlfriend visits and planned 'look who I bumped into' visits at the grocery store. No one died from missing one too many get togethers. There's a method of logical decision making where the best decision is based on the worst of all outcome possibilities if your logical assumptions are wrong. Though they could likely weather the storm, it's the reasoning method for why commercial planes and cargo ships change their travel paths far from rather than staying close to projected hurricane paths. I failed to use this logic and I was dealt the consequence.

5) Tylenol. It was the only thing that helped me. Look in your cabinet see how much you have in stock. You don't need to stockpile tylenol, but you should have enough on hand to treat everyone in your home. Maximum dosage of Tylenol (acetaminophen) is 4 grams/day for an average adult. I (as well it seemed for all of the other inpatients) were taking 2-325mg tablets every 4-6 hours for several days. I had fevers for 13 days (today is my first day without a recorded fever). I would recommend having a supply of tylenol for everyone in your house that would be equivalent to taking 500-650mg every 4-6 hours for 14 days (again, I was on a similar regimen for 13 days.) Add that up, and you have quite a few tylenol tablets. 14 days = 164 - 325mg tablets. I'm relaying dosing not as medical advice, though I am a physician. Overdosing and prolonged dosing of tylenol is toxic to the liver. Follow.bottle dosing recommendations. I am only telling you how much Tylenol I was given as an inpatient, and advocating that people have reasonable amounts available if they should get sick and need to manage their fever symptoms at home. This febrile phase of the illness lasted longer than any flu or cold I had encountered in my past.

6) Things will get better, but only after they will get worse. Alot more people are going to get sick. You may even know someone who is going to die. Do whatever we can to lower the chances. Our president is polarizing. Some people can't stand him. Now is not the time to be partisan. His ego is not going to change. He will never be referred to as ,"The Great Communicator." Trump will always say what he wants to say without filter and be cringeworthy. Roll your eyes and move on. Accept that the US people, government, and economies have been dealt a very disabling blow and the executive branch is working hard and fast to remedy the situation. They are doing a good job. Take the $1200 and donate it to the Red Cross or some other relief fund if you disagree with the president. Don't toss the bones back at the person that served you a Thanksgiving turkey leg.

7) Practice thanksgiving. Appreciate what you have. Appreciate those around you and be nicer to people. Appreciate your faults, search for some internal reconciliation and move on. Rekindle relationships- safely. Rekindle the relationship with your God. Don't sweat the small stuff. Pray you don't sweat the bed.

8) Stay healthy.

Share this where you want. This came from David Helton. Long read. Very real and scary from a General Surgeon










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This Day In Naval History – April 6

1776

The Continental Navy Squadron, commanded by Commodore Esek Hopkins, is attacked by the British frigate HMS Glasgow and her tender while entering Long Island Sound.

1862

Naval gunfire from gunboats Tyler and Lexington protect the advanced river flank of Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's army at the Battle of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing).

1909

Cmdr. Robert E. Peary reports reaching the North Pole, dropping a note in a glass bottle into a crevice in the ice that states: "I have this day hoisted the national ensign of the United States of America at this place, which my observations indicate to be the North Polar axis of the earth, and have formally taken possession of the entire region, and adjacent, for and in the name of the President of the United States of America."

1917

Following the sinking of U.S. merchant vessels by German U-boats, the U.S. declares war on Germany, entering World War.

1945

The first heavy kamikaze attacks begin on ships at Okinawa.USS Bush (DD 529), USS Colhoun (DD 801), USS Emmons (DMS 22) and LST 447 are damaged beyond repair.

1945

USAAF B-25s attack Japanese convoy HOMO-03 and destroy a Japanese destroyer, minesweeper, a cargo ship and other ships. USS Besugo (SS 321) and USS Hardhead (SS 365) also sink Japanese ships.

1968

USS New Jersey (BB 62) is recommissioned for shore bombardment duty at Vietnam.

2013

The commissioning ceremony for USS Arlington (LPD 24) is held at Naval Station Norfolk, the ship's homeport. The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship joins sister ships USS New York and Somerset to be named for the sites attacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001. Steel salvaged from the Pentagon, based in Arlington, are showcased in the ship's museum.

Thanks to CHINFO

Executive Summary:

• In an interview with Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, Secretary Thomas Modly explained his decision to relieve the commanding officer of USS Theodore Roosevelt.

• USNI News reports that some patients testing positive for COVID-19 were inadvertently transferred to USNS Comfort.

• The New York Times continued coverage on USINDOPACOM Commander Adm. Phil Davidson's report to congress on deterring China.



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On this day in history (April 6):



1199 English King Richard I is killed by an arrow at the Siege of the Castle of Chalus in France.

1789 The First U.S. Congress begins regular sessions at Federal Hall in New York City.

1814 Granted sovereignty in the island of Elba and a pension from the French government, Napoleon Bonaparte abdicates at Fontainebleau. He is allowed to keep the title of emperor.

1830 Joseph Smith and five others organize the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Seneca, New York.

1862 Confederate forces attack General Ulysses S. Grant at Shiloh, Tennessee.

1865 At the Battle of Sailer's Creek, a third of Lee's army is cut off by Union troops pursuing him to Appomattox.

1896 The Modern Olympics begin in Athens with eight nations participating.

1903 French Army Nationalists are revealed to have forged documents to guarantee a conviction for Alfred Dreyfus.

1909 Americans Robert Peary and Matthew Henson become the first men to reach the North Pole.

1917 The United States declares war on Germany and enters World War I on Allied side.

1924 Four planes leave Seattle on the first successful flight around the world.

1938 The United States recognizes Nazi Germany's conquest of Austria.

1941 German forces invade Greece and Yugoslavia.

1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson authorizes the use of ground troops in combat operations.



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Welcome back to the Bear

Gentlemen... I begin my RTR posts anew by introducing an unpublished archive of some of the greatest accounts of Naval Aviation on-the-attack ever recorded. The posts will be a weekly reprise of an era of gallant men and gutty deeds that made history more than 50 years ago. The documentation supporting their heroics constitutes the bulk of this new series of RTR remembrances...

Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻

The first of the tales is published. Check it out!


ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED… When Naval Aviation Roared… Tales of the Brave and Bold…

COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR (1961-1973)... and honoring the intrepid Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers and aircrews who carried the war to the heartland of North Vietnam in the years of Operation Rolling Thunder. This is the initial post in a series of weekly posts retelling episodes...





ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED… When Naval Aviation Roared… Tales of the Brave and Bold…

April 5, 2020Bear Taylor0 Comments



COMMEMORATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR (1961-1973)… and honoring the intrepid Naval Aviators, Naval Flight Officers and aircrews who carried the war to the heartland of North Vietnam in the years of Operation Rolling Thunder. This is the initial post in a series of weekly posts retelling episodes of strike warfare waged by the Navy's Carrier Air Wings flying from the carriers of Seventh Fleet's Carrier Striking Force 77 operating from Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin. The sources for these tales of extraordinary heroism and professionalism include notes the author made in 1985 while researching the combat awards files of the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet.



Good Morning, it is 6 April 2010 and I have a story to tell. But first, a remembrance of the war being fought by nearly 500,000 of America's bravest in the swamps and jungles of South Vietnam fifty years ago this day. While the world was listening to the Beatles sing "Let It Be" and Simon and Garfunkel were introducing "Bridge Over Trouble Water," more than 100 of our warfighters perished in the first week of April 1970 bringing to 41,660 the number of men killed-in-action in Vietnam. More than 16,500 more young Americans would die before it was over. Among the fallen was Private ROBERT S. ALEXANDER, USArmy (KIA, 3 April 1970, Panel 12, Line 86). Private Alexander is buried at Sunset Memorial Park, Trevose, PA, and is remembered here with respect and admiration on the 50th anniversary of his death in the service of our country. Lest we forget.

FIXED WING AIR LOSSES in Vietnam for this week fifty years ago: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com



WHEN NAVAL AVIATION ROARED…EPISODE #1…

USS CONSTELLATION and CVW-14 STRIKE VAN DIEN on 10 JUNE 1967…

Connie and Air Wing 14 were on their third deployment to Southeast Asia in support of Operation ROLLING THUNDER. They had departed North Island, San Diego on 29 April and would return on 4 December 1967. They logged 121 days on-the-line at Yankee Station in the most intense and deadly fighting months of the air war. The air wing flew more than ninety major Alpha Strikes against JCS targets in the North Vietnam heartland and lost 12 aircraft in the process. Nine aviators were killed-in-action and 7 remained behind as POWs. This is the story of one of those strikes.



THE MISSION. On 10 June 1967 Attack Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN was directed to participate in a two carrier coordinated strike on the Van Dien vehicle storage, repair and supply depot within the heavily defended and restricted area near Hanoi, North Vietnam. The depot was used by the enemy as a major overhaul and repair facility for trucks being used to transport and infiltrate war materials into South Vietnam. An Attack Carrier Air Wing TWENTY-ONE strike group embarked in USS BON HOMME RICHARD accompanied, and followed entrail, CVW-14 into the target complex to conduct simultaneous strike ops against the Hanoi Thermal Power Plant in Hanoi.

TARGET DEFENSES. The Van Dien depot was located fifty miles inland, five miles south of downtown Hanoi. The target was defended by early warning radar, 29 occupied anti-aircraft sites of several 37mm, 57mm or 87mm weapons at each site, many radar controlled. In addition, there were five occupied and active surface-to-air missile sites covering the target area. MIG bases at Phuc Yen and Gia Lam were also active and prepared to counter the CVW-14/CVW-21 coordinated attack on the two targets in Hanoi. USS ENTERPRISE and CVW-9 was also striking targets in the Hanoi and Haiphong area later the same day.

THE STRIKE PLAN. The Alpha Strike was planned, briefed and led by CDR M. WESLEY TOWNSEND, JR., Commanding Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FORTY-THREE. A detailed plan was developed to insure the employment and precise coordination of the specific capabilities of the various air wing aircraft were effectively brought to bear on the critical JCS target. This included careful route planning and positioning of various elements of the strike group enroute to the target and the setup for the coordinated attack on specific targets in the Van Dien target complex.

STRIKE GROUP COMPOSITION. The attack elements consisted of two F-4B aircraft from VF-143 with CDR TOWNSEND in the lead, and six A-6A aircraft from VA-196 led by CDR EDWARD BAUER. The TARCAP mission was assigned to two sections of F-4B aircraft from VF-143 with LCDRs THOMPSON and SHIFLETT leading. The Flak Suppression mission was assigned to four F-4B aircraft from VF-142 led by LCDR ALEXANDER. The Iron Hand mission was executed by six A-4C Shrike armed aircraft from VA-55 with CDR ROBERT KIRKSEY, Commanding VA-55, in the lead. (Strike Group=6 F-4s; 6 A-6s and 6 A-4s) Supporting aircraft included tankers, ECM aircraft to bring total aircraft participation in the strike to 29.

APPROACH TO TARGET. The enemy's Integrated Air Defense System protecting the Red River Valley, Hanoi, Hai Duong and Haiphong was the most lethal in the world at the time of this attack. CDR TOWNSEND and his Radar Intercept Officer, LTJG MICHAEL MALCHIODI, chose to lead the strike groups from Connie and Bonnie Dick to the target from the southeast, coasting in 12 miles north of Thanh Hoa, and using the Song Ma River to close the first 30 miles toward the target. Navigation was assisted by COMMANDER BUAER and his B/N LCDR GERALD C. CARON, Jr., in the lead A-6 Intruder. Twenty miles southwest of Hanoi the two strike groups turned north through the mountains to the initial point where Air Wing TWENTY-ONE detached to proceed a few miles to the north to conduct their attack. As the Connie strike group made the turn 20 miles southwest of Van Dien intense radar-directed and barrage anti-aircraft fire took the strike group under attack. The intense enemy anti-aircraft fire of all calibers held the group in their sights for the rest of the approach across highly populated areas south of Hanoi. SAM acquisition radar locked-on was also noted to coincide with the radar directed gun fire. The first enemy SAM was launched while the strike group was ten miles from the target. Violent defensive maneuvering was required and executed without loss of flight integrity as a result of the strike lead's forceful, calm and reassuring tactical radio calls and directives. His own gallant persistence in the face of withering enemy fire enabled the flight to reach briefed initial point attack positions in good order. Then came a volley of several SAMs… and then another…

THE ATTACK. Approaching the target CDR TOWNSEND accelerated his section ahead of the main strike division of A-6 Intruders. Several SAMs took the strike group under fire and guided on various aircraft as they maneuvered to rollin on the target. Subsequent evasive action by the eight aircraft assigned targets in the Van Dien complex led CDR TOWNSEND to suspend the initial attack on Van Dien and regroup for a reattack. He selected alternative military targets in the complex consisting of covered storage areas and delivered his bombs directly on the storage facility. LCDR HERSHEL ALEXANDER accelerated his division of F-4 flak suppressors ahead of the main strike group, and as a consequence of the extra attention which they received from enemy gunners, the flak suppressors had no trouble identifying active sites. All four F-4s selected and concentrated on their individual attacks, unloading their weapons on guns and gunners silencing four of the dozens of sites actively opposing the Connie attack. The six A-6 strike aircraft led by COMMANDER BAUER followed the lead of COMMANDER TOWNSEND and conducted a separate attack on the alternate target in the Van Dien complex with devastating results. The TARCAP led by LCDR SHIFLETT maintained station west of Van Dien through several volleys of SAMs and continuous anti-aircraft opposition. No enemy MiGs rose to challenge the Connie strike group (the sky was filled with AAA and SAMs). The TARCAP division and COMMANDER TOWNSEND remained on station to cover the exit from the target area and return to the carrier.

IRON HAND (SAM Suppression). CDR BOB KIRKSEY was the flight leader of six A-4C aircraft whose mission was to provide protection for the strike group by seeking out, suppressing and destroying enemy surface-to-air missile sites. As the strike group approached the target CDR KIRKSEY deployed his aircraft in three elements of two aircraft each, forming an eight mile semi-circle around the southern side of Hanoi. LCDR CHUMLEY and LTJG LEWIN comprised the element on the left flank, which had the additional responsibility of protecting the Bonnie Dick strike group CDR KIRKSEY and LCDR SHEWCHUK were in the center section, and LCDR GRAY and LCDR DAVE KUSHNER were on the right flank. As briefed, CDR TOWNSEND utilized the superior directional accuracy of the F-4 electronic counter-measures equipment to provide initial azimuth vectors to the Iron hand aircraft, enabling CDR KIRKSEY to acquire specific sites and position his three sections for instant counteraction. As the enemy launched their missiles, CDR KIRKSEY and his flight skillfully maneuvered their aircraft into firing positions and sent air-to-surface Shrike missiles streaking toward the launch sites. Each of the Shrike aircraft were required to take immediate evasive action against the four SAMs which were homing on the three Iron Hand sections. One missile detonated so close to CDR KIRKSEY's A-4 the aircraft shuddered violently and incurred numerous shrapnel holes in his wings. Despite the damage to his aircraft, CDR KIRKSEY remained in complete charge and positioned his aircraft for another attack on a SAM site he had acquired visually. His second attack was aborted in the face of a second volley of missiles. Meanwhile, all three of the Shrike elements were able to position and fire effective attacks on firing missile sites. In addition, intense anti-aircraft shell bursts at all levels made evasive maneuvering a pure-luck choice to avoid being hit. LCDR SHEWCHUK maintained section integrity on CDR KIRKSEY through the attacks, evasive maneuvering and conducting his own lethal Shrike attack on a firing site. LCDR SHEWCHUK alerted CDR KIRKSEY of a third SAM attack on the section and directed evasive maneuvers that barely took CDR KIRKSEY out of the missile's flight path. CDR KIRSEY's battle damaged A-4 never-the-less sustained another storm of sharpnel that led to cascading aircraft system failures. CDR KIRKSEY immediately turned his crippled and burning Skyhawk seaward (50 miles to go over highly populated delta area of North Vietnam). As the strike group retired to the southeast CDR KIRKSEY jettisoned his drop tanks and discovered that he was able to fly the aircraft on manual control, even as electrical failure followed the loss of both his utility and flight control hydraulic systems. LCDR SHEWCHUK remained in close formation for the transit to feet-wet. The fire burned itself out. The situation was looking up. By employing extraordinary flying skills CDR KIRKSEY was able to not only fly the badly damaged Skyhawk to feet-wet, he continued the flight another hundred miles to make an emergency landing of the aircraft at Danang, where he was met by a Marine offering a cold beer. Post-flight inspection of CDR KIRKSEY's A-4 revealed over 60 holes, some as large as 8-inches in diameter, severe damage to the nose wheel and nose gear assembly where the aircraft had taken a direct hit from anti-aircraft fire. In all, a confirmed total of 20 SAMs were fired at the strike group and the Iron Hand sections. There was a high probablity that some of the twelve Shrike missiles fired at four active and firing SAM sites damaged enemy radar facilities, although the pilots were too busy to confirm direct hits.

RETIREMENT TO SEA. The eighteen aircraft of the Connie strike group retired over heavily defended enemy territory without further incident. CDR TOWNSEND remained behind the retiring strike group to defend against a late MiG attack that never materialized. In spite of his prolonged presence over the target and repeated clearing sweeps for fighter aicraft, CDR TOWNSEND's careful planning and airborne management of his strike groups execution of the mission, all aircraft were able to return without refueling. It is a tribute to the soundness of the tactical planning and leadership of CDR TOWNSEND that all aircraft returned from this strike deep into the enemy's heavily defended heartland, and that very few of them were damaged by the deadly hail of enemy fire.

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT. Heavy damage was inflicted on the Van Dien complex (alternate targets in the complex). A total of 110 MK-82s, 16 CBU-24s and 12 AGM-435 Shrikes were delivered on target. Visual observations by strike group pilots, including the Iron Hand and flak suppressors indicated that all ordnance fell in the target areas and many direct hits were achieved. No civilian or collateral damage was observed.



BITS OF RIBBON. Combat awards were recommended and approved for the following Carrier Air Wing FOURTEEN aviators who shared the skies over Hanoi on 10 June 1967 with ten thousand rounds of North Vietnamese anti-aircraft fire and nearly two dozen SA-2 Surface-to-Air missiles. All 34 warriors who had "seen the elephant" that day came home with a freshened set of memories never to be forgotten. The following CVW-14 aviators were rewarded with "bits of ribbon"* for their heroism on the 10 June mission… (Humble Host apologizes for falling short on full names)… VF-143: TOWNSEND and MALCHIODI, LT MILBURN HOLMES and LTJG RUSSELL IRVINE, SHIFFLETT and SOUDER, LT BURNER BOB HICKEY and LCDR RICHARD MORROW…VF-142: ALEXANDER and LT EUGENE PARTYKA, DAVIS and ELIE, COMMANDER GENE TISSOT and MULLINS, COMMANDER McGLOHN and BORST… VA-196: COMMANDER BAUER and LCDR GERALD CARON, SUERETH and ACORD, LT FORREST BROWN and LTJG EDWARD SOSNOWY, TREMBLEY and SCOTT, COMMANDER MARLAND MORROW and LT JAMES WRIGHT… VA-55: COMMANDER BOB KIRKSEY, SHEWCHUK, LEWIN, CHUMLEY, GRAY and DAVE KUSHNER…. Gangway, Yankee Air Pirates… OOOHRAH…

*BITS OF RIBBON: One SILVER STAR (KIRKSEY), a handful of DFCs, a bunch of AIR MEDALS and a few NAVY COMMENDATION MEDALS with COMBAT "V" devices …about average for a summer '67 Alpha Strike into Route Pack 6… NAPOLEON: "A soldier will fight long and hard for a colored bit of ribbon." He also said: "You call these baubles, well, it is with baubles that men are led… Do you think that you would be able to make men fight by reasoning? Never. That is only good for the scholar in the study. The soldier needs glory, distinctions, and rewards."…



FINAL NOTE. USS ENTERPRISE and Carrier Air Wing NINE also flew strikes into the Red River Valley on 10 June and suffered the painful loss of COMMANDER PETE SHERMAN, CO-VA-56. The following is quoted from Chris Hobson's VIETNAM AIR LOSSES, avaialble on line at https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com

"The series of raids on the Van Dien SAM support depot continued. Cdr Sherman was the CO of VA-56 and was leading an Iron Hand flight in support of a raid on the depot. As Cdr Sherman and his wingman reached a point about 10 miles southwest of Hanoi they had to take evasive action to avoid numerous SAMs that had been fired at them. During the maneuvering the wingman lost sight of his leader. No ejection was seen or SAR beeper heard but it was assumed that Cdr Sherman's aircraft had been the victim of an SA-2 missile and that he had been killed. The remains of Cdr Sherman were eventually handed over by the Vietnamese on 19 January 1991."

Pete Sherman rests in peace in Arlington National Cemetery.

NEXT POST: 13 April 2020… Naval Aviation Roars: Episode 2… The VA-212 Rampant Raiders take on the two railway bridges at Hai Duong with Walleyes on 1 July 1967…

Lest we forget… Bear

Brother inlaw.

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This Day in Aviation History" brought to you by the Daedalians Airpower Blog Update. To subscribe to this weekly email, go to https://daedalians.org/airpower-blog/



April 5, 1962

NASA pilot Neil A. Armstrong flew an X-15 to a speed of 2,830 miles per hour and an altitude of 179,000 feet at Edwards AFB, California. The Naval aviator achieved the marks during a test of an automatic control system intended for incorporation in Apollo spacecraft and the DynaSoar rocket-boosted hypersonic glider used in the development of a manned orbital vehicle for bombing and reconnaissance. The Dyna-Soar program was subsequently cancelled. Armstrong made seven flights in X-15s from December 1960 to July 1962, attaining a maximum speed of 3,989 mph in X-15-1 and a peak altitude of 207,500 feet in X-15-3.



April 6, 1938

Testing begins on the radically different Bell XP-39 at Wright Field, Ohio. The XP-39's engine was midway down the fuselage, behind the pilot's compartment, with a 37mm cannon mounted to fire down the fuselage centerline. During World War II, nearly 5,000 P-39s are sent to the Soviet Union, where Russian pilots praised its heavy firepower and rugged construction.



April 7, 1916

Lt. Herbert A. Dargue, Daedalian Founder Member #1738, and Capt. Benjamin D. Foulois, Founder Member #321, are fired upon over Chihuahua City, Mexico, as they deliver dispatches to the U.S. Consul. This is the first American airplane to receive hostile fire.



April 8, 1940

An Army Air Forces Douglas B-18 Bolo bomber flies nonstop for the first time between Denver, Colorado, and Miami, Florida.



April 9, 1918

The first American fighter unit, the 94th Pursuit Squadron, was assigned to the front in World War I.



April 10, 1913

The Secretary of the Navy approved performance standards for qualification as a Navy Air Pilot and the issuance of a certificate to all officers meeting the requirements. Capt. Washington I. Chambers of the Bureau of Navigation described these requirements as being different from those of the "land pilot," and more exacting than those of the international accrediting agency, the Federation Aeronautique Internationale.



April 11, 1908

Lt. Frank P. Lahm, Daedalian Founder Member #211, assumes responsibility for the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Army Signal Corps.



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