Fallen Hero's / Jolly Green 70 / 37th ARRS / HH-53

25th November 1971

Jolly Green 70

37th ARRS

HH-53C #68-10366

Two HH-53C helicopters from the 37th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Jolly Green 70 and 73, departed Bien Hoa Air Base on a mission to rescue survivors of a crash near Can Tho. Jolly 70 successfully retrieved 14 out of 21 passengers and crew from a downed CH-46, enduring enemy fire during the operation. After delivering the survivors to Can Tho, Jolly Green 70's crew assessed the aircraft's condition and determined it was fit to return to Bien Hoa. While flying in formation back to base, they encountered challenging weather conditions, including a 100 to 300-foot overcast with moderate to heavy rain showers.

At 1550hrs, flying below the cloud cover, Jolly Green 73 lost contact with its wingman. Despite efforts to re-establish radio communication, search and rescue operations were initiated. Jolly Green 70 was eventually located approximately 13 nautical miles southeast of Tan Son Nhut Air Base in the Song Nha Be River, near Nha Be in Gia Dinh Province, South Vietnam. The wreckage lay close to the river's east bank, an area considered hostile territory. Tragically, four crew members lost their lives, while Flight Engineer Sgt. Hank L. Theriot and Pararescue Sgt. Richard L. Stead survived the crash. Sgt. Theriot was rescued by Jolly 73, and Sgt. Stead was picked up by a US Navy helicopter.

Jolly Green 70 Crew
Pilot Maj. Robert B. Swenck	Co-Pilot Capt. John W. George
Pararescue A1C. Thomas D. Prose	Pararescue TSgt James R. Thomas