On January 21, 1968, Captain Tommy C.
Stiner, pilot; WO Gerald L. McKensey Jr., co-pilot; SSgt. Billy D. Hill, doorgunner; and SP5 David
H. Harrington, crewchief; were aboard the lead UH1D helicopter on a troop insertion mission. PVT
Jerry W. Elliott was the doorgunner on the UH1D following the lead ship. The two choppers were
inserting ARVN troops at an old French fort approximately 1200 meters east of Khe Sanh. Also in
the lead aircraft was LtCol. Semyo, senior advisor to the ARVN unit being inserted. As WO
McKensey's aircraft touched down on the landing zone, NVA troops stood up all around the
aircraft and began firing at the aircraft at almost point blank range. As soon as all the ARVN troops
were off-loaded, the aircraft lifted off. At approximately 8-10 feet off the ground, the aircraft was hit
by either a 57mm recoilless rifle or a direct hit mortar fire, burst into flames and crashed. PVT
Elliott's UH1D landed approximately 50-60 feet from the crashed aircraft. LtCol. Semyo died while
pinned under the aircraft. His body was subsequently recovered. The pilot, Stiner, exited the aircraft
successfully, evaded capture and returned to friendly lines. Harrington was able to board a rescue
aircraft that had landed in the LZ. Before leaving the vicinity, Capt. Stiner was in a defensive position
with WO McKensey. Stiner later reported that he witnessed McKensey being shot in the back of
the head and killed. PVT Elliott and his crewchief exited their aircraft to assist survivors of the
downed helicopter. In a matter of seconds, the crewchief returned to his aircraft and advised the
pilot to take off immediately because of the highly intense hostile fire. The aircraft lifted off, leaving
Elliott on the ground, circled and returned to the LZ, but could not locate PVT Elliott. Three days
after the incident, a helicopter searched the area and observed a body in the tall elephant grass and
small trees. By process of elimination, the pilot determined that the body was that of PVT Elliott.
Two sets of remains were recovered from the crash site by an unidentified unit. The remains were
later positively identified as those of Semyo and McKensey. Hill was last seen by Capt. Stiner, just
prior to the aircraft being hit in the compartment in which Hill was manning his machine gun. Stiner
stated that Hill was probably struck by the same volley of rounds that downed the aircraft as his
machine gun was observed blown to pieces. Stiner searched the area before taking evasive action,
but Hill could not be located. Hill and Elliot were declared Missing in Action. Although it is believed
that both men were injured, perhaps mortally, there is no proof that they died. The proximity of
enemy troops allows for the possibility that the two were captured. They are among nearly 2500
Americans who remain missing from the Vietnam war. Although over 10,000 reports relating to
Americans missing, prisoner or unaccounted for in Southeast Asia have been received by the U.S.
Government, its official policy is that no conclusive proof has been obtained that is current enough to
act upon. Detractors of this policy say conclusive proof is in hand, but that the willingness or ability
to rescue these prisoners does not exist. Hill and Elliot, if among those hundreds said to be still alive
and in captivity, must be wondering if and when their country will return for them. In America, we
say that life is precious, but isn't the life of even one American worth the effort of recovery? When
the next war comes, and it is our sons lost, will we then care enough to do everything we can to
bring our prisoners home? Billy D. Hill was promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant and Jerry W.
Elliott was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant during the period they were maintained Missing in
Action.
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