15 May 1967

There are many amazing artifacts in the Army Aviation Museum’s collection, but perhaps none are as special and inspiring as this body armor plate.

The background:

On 15 May 1967, then-MAJ Charles S. Kettles performed the actions that eventually led to his being awarded the Medal of Honor on 18 June 2016.  On that day, MAJ Kettles led a flight of 6 UH-1D Hueys on a mission to extract 44 soldiers from an ambush in the Song Tra Cau river valley.  The flight reached the LZ and picked up the soldiers under very heavy enemy fire.  While returning to base MAJ Kettles received word that eight soldiers remained in the LZ.  They were pinned down by enemy fire and had been unable to reach the helicopters along with the other soldiers.  Passing off flight lead to another aircraft, he returned to the LZ to pick up the pinned-down troops.  Lacking any fire support, and becoming the sole target for all the enemy weapons in the area, MAJ Kettles successfully picked up the eight who remained Despite severe damage to his Huey from mortar and small arms fire, MAJ Kettles flew his passengers and crew to safety.

The artifact:

This body armor plate belonged to SP4 Scheck, who flew on this mission and was himself seriously wounded.  His name appears at the upper left of the photo of the plate, along with the date of the mission, 15 May 1967. Just below the impact point, MAJ Kettles wrote his name.  At the upper right the soldiers who were rescued that day wrote their names. Also to be seen are many messages to SP4 Scheck from members of his unit.  All this alone would make it a remarkable and significant artifact.  However, there is one more name on this armor plate that makes it truly special, and quite poignant as well.

Just to the lower left of the impact point one will see written, in block letters,  the name “CPT Adams “.  This man, who also flew on the mission that day, would almost exactly four years later write another page in the Book of Heroes.  For you see, now MAJ William E. Adams was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions of 25 May 1971, while on a mission in the Kontum Province.

  Fifty years ago, two Medal of Honor Army Aviators, and many other brave soldiers besides, wrote their names on this armor plate.  Simply amazing.  How fortunate we are that it has survived, and that it found its way into the Museum’s safekeeping.  When this plate goes on display it will inspire future generations of Army Aviators, and serve as a reminder to all just why Army Aviation is truly “Above the Best”. 

Story by Mr. Robert Barlow