September 25, 2010: Wendell Skinner / Left For Dead

Left For DeadIt was almost 21:00 hours on 29 January 1968, the night before the “Tet Offensive,” when Wendell Skinner’s helicopter crashed in Cambodia attempting to extract a Special Forces Long Range Patrol Team that had come in contact with a large force of Viet Cong and NVA. The LZ was a burned-out area in the jungle that was covered with ashes. As the helicopter made its approach, the ashes flew up around the aircraft, blinding the pilot, and he made a hard landing, resulting in the pilot being thrown through the windshield, still strapped in his seat, almost tearing his arm off. The co-pilot and door gunner were thrown against the dashboard and suffered broken bones.Skinner was thrown under the Huey as it rolled over and started to burn. Thinking Skinner was dead, another Huey picked up the wounded crew and the SF Team and left the area, leaving Skinner. Major Earl Carson, CO of the 195th Assault Helicopter Company, was awakened shortly after midnight and told of the crash and the loss of Skinner. Carlson was outraged.”You don’t leave a soldier, dead or alive, behind.” He had never lost a man under his command. He gathered a crew together and went to find Skinner. “I was just doing what a commanding officer is supposed to do.” Hosted by Dale Throneberry.