WHAT I CAN DO - I WILL -

By early 1967, the Bell UH1 Iroquois was already the standard Army assault helicopter, and was used in nearly every "in-country" mission. Better known by its nickname "Huey," the troop carriers were referred to as "slicks" and the gunships were called "Hogs." It proved itself to be a sturdy, versatile aircraft which was called on to carry out a wide variety of missions including search and rescue, close air support, insertion and extraction, fire support, and resupply to name a few. It usually carried a crew of four.

On 2 December 1967, WO Wallace "Skeeter" Leeper, aircraft commander; WO Floyd W. Strange, pilot; then SP4 Manuel J. Moreida, crewchief; and SP4 Richard A. Crosby, door gunner; comprised the crew of a UH1D helicopter (aircraft #66-00811) that was conducting an administrative mission to return Captain Woo Shik Pak, a South Korean officer, to his unit. The helicopter departed Phu Hiep Airfield for the short flight to the Republic of Korea (ROK) facility, which was located on the coast approximately 25 miles southwest of Phu Hiep Airfield and 5 miles southwest of the village of Van Ninh, Phu Yen Province, South Vietnam.

Weather conditions were marginal with low overcast clouds and rain. The terrain between Phu Hiep and their destination included forested rolling mountains from the shore westward. Rice fields were scattered from the mountain foothills to the shore. Highway 1, the primary north/south road that ran nearly the full length of the country and usually within a few miles west of the coastline, ran along side a single-track railroad line. Both were located 1 to 3 miles inland. The Huey's planned flight path was also over a populated region that was dotted with small hamlets and villages.

The Huey was last seen as it departed Phu Hiep Airfield and flew toward the southeast in order to follow the coast. When the helicopter failed to return to base at the scheduled time, a communications and ramp check was initiated without success. Search and rescue (SAR) operations were immediately initiated. Aircraft searched along the coastline and mountains from 3-9 December. At the same time the aerial operation was underway, ground troops questioned local residents along the briefed flight path. Unfortunately, no information about the Huey's fate was forthcoming.

Subsequent information indicated the aircraft crashed and burned in the mountains north of Vung Ro Bay. The northern edge of the Bay was located 12 miles south of their airfield. When no trace of the aircraft or crew and passenger could be found, the formal search operation was terminated and Richard Crosby, Wallace Leeper, Manuel Moreida and Floyd Strange were listed Missing in Action.

On 3 September 1973, a source reported that 3 local villagers of Hoa Xuan village reported that they had discovered a US helicopter with 2 or 3 remains in uniform at the crash site. Other reports were received by US intelligence personnel that this report possibly correlated to this incident, but later when the wreckage was examined, the hulk belonged to another aircraft loss.

10/16/2002
From Larry Klein:
Subject: 811 Flight Crew Service

I feel it is appropriate to update the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc about the MIA-POW file referenced as number 0933. The remains of the crew of UH-1D 66-00811 assigned to the 48th Assault Helicopter Company will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on October 24, 2002.

WO Wallace Leeper, WO Floyd W. Strange, Specialist Manuel J. Moreida, and Specialist Richard A. Crosby departed Phu Hiep on December 2, 1967 to return a Korean Captain Woo Shik Pak to his unit nearby. The aircraft did not return. Search and rescue efforts conducted along the coastal and mountain area from December 3-9 were unsuccessful. The missing aircraft and remains of the crew were finally found in 1993.

The scheduled events include a family visitation on the evening of October 23, 2002 from 7-9 pm at Murphy's Funeral Home. A joint service with full military honors begins at 11 o'clock am October 24, at Old Chapel. Family and friends will afterward walk behind the caisson(s) to the burial site. At the burial site there will be a final service with a volleyed rifle salute, the playing of Taps, folding of flags and a presentation of the flags to the families. A representative will attend on behalf of the Secretary of Defense and a mournful nation. A reception follows the ceremony, at Spates Hall.

Biographical and incident of loss information was obtained from either POW/NET and/or Task Force Omega, Inc (unless otherwise noted). Additional information may be found via remembrances at The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund or The Virtual Wall Vietnam Veterans Memorial.