Remembering our FUHS Class of 1965 classmate, Jose Manuel Deltorre, who was Killed In Action on 18 June 1969 in Vietnam while serving with the 282ND ASSAULT HELICOPTER COMPANY, 212TH AVIATION BATTALION, 1st AVIATION BRIGADE
We lost Jose (Joe) Manuel De La Torre on 18 June 1969 in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam. Joe was a
UH-1 helicopter Crew Chief assigned to the 282ND ASSAULT HELICOPTER Company (Blackcats), 212TH Aviation Battalion, 1ST Aviation Brigade. Joe was within just a few days of completing his third combat tour in-country when he was killed on what would have been his last mission before returning home.
Joe was a crewmember on one of six 282ND “Blackcat” UH-1 helicopters that were engaged in a troop lift west of Quang Ngaill. Joe was flying as crew chief /gunner in the lead helicopter when the flight came under intense fire from enemy ground positions. Joe's aircraft rolled inverted and exploded on short final to the landing zone (LZ). This resulted in the loss of all four men on-board Joe’s helicopter. Five of the other aircraft in the lift were also hit numerous times, with several soldiers receiving minor wounds.
Cathie Sherman (Greer) (1965)
We lost Jose (Joe) Manuel De La Torre on 18 June 1969 in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam. Joe was a
UH-1 helicopter Crew Chief assigned to the 282ND ASSAULT HELICOPTER Company (Blackcats), 212TH Aviation Battalion, 1ST Aviation Brigade. Joe was within just a few days of completing his third combat tour in-country when he was killed on what would have been his last mission before returning home.
Joe was a crewmember on one of six 282ND “Blackcat” UH-1 helicopters that were engaged in a troop lift west of Quang Ngaill. Joe was flying as crew chief /gunner in the lead helicopter when the flight came under intense fire from enemy ground positions. Joe's aircraft rolled inverted and exploded on short final to the landing zone (LZ). This resulted in the loss of all four men on-board Joe’s helicopter. Five of the other aircraft in the lift were also hit numerous times, with several soldiers receiving minor wounds.
Tribute written by Clark Wilson, Class of 1965.