It was probably mid to late November 1868 that  the squadron  was informed they would  be transferred  from  MAG-36 at  Phu Bai to MAG-16 at Marble Mountain Air Facility.  The pace of  flying support missions  was not reduced so  a lot  of our Marines had  to assume  double duties of packing the squad- ron's  equipment  and  records  in  anticipation  of  the  time  we were told to depart  Phu Bai while continuing  to man and repair aircraft and  perform all the associated administrative duties.
 

I recall  the events that follow because I  have recently  found  LtCol. Edward W.  Graham, who as a Major, was our  Executive Officer.  I  have maintained vivid  memories of  him even though it  has been nigh on to  37 years  since  I last saw him last.  I called Ed prior to a mini reunion that was in the planning stages for Washington, D.C. in  the spring of 2006.  We  talked at  length and in closing  I  asked  if  he  had  ever  forgiven  me, the  Aircraft  Maintenance Control Officer, for the condition of the last  aircraft I had  presented to him to  be flown out of Phu Bai.

Our conversation  centered  around  the events that  unfolded soon  after  the warning  order to  move  had  been  received,  probably  around  the  first  of December.  Ed had called me to his office to discuss the  aircraft maintenance Marines ability  to have  all the squadron's  aircraft ready to fly out when the date was resolved.  I assured him  we would do everything  humanly  possible to achieve that desired goal.  Fortunately for the  first nine days of December none of our aircraft had  received any  battle damage which  allowed my men to  concentrate their efforts on remedying  those deficiencies of the birds that were not  flyable.  We begged, borrowed, and yes, even stole as  many CH-46 parts from  our sister units at Phu Bai and Quang Tri to  include a full set  of six rotor blades.

Operations  at Phu Bai  were  suspended  on 9 December  and the  Command Chronology  indicates  we had to that  point in  the month  flown 537 sorties, for 175.5 flight hours, transported 968 troops/passengers, hauled 86.7 tons of cargo and carried  57 medical evacuees.  In  addition, and  in spite of our eff- orts to obtain  parts by whatever means possible, we still had 12 aircraft  that were  not  considered  "combat capable"  due to  19 Aircraft  Out of  Comm- ission  Parts (AOCPs) against 12 aircraft and  another list of 26 Aircraft  Not Fully  Equipped (ANFEs)  outstanding  requisitions  against  all 26 of  our on hand aircraft.

On the morning of  10 December operational control of  the squadron passed to MAG-16.  All  personal gear was packed, the  last embarkation boxes were sealed  and the  aircraft and  personnel  departed for  Marble  Mountain  Air Facility.  By  late that afternoon  it had begun to rain and there was only one CH-46 left to launch.  It was the "Queen" of hangar queens.  It had been  hit with a mortar round some months before and had been severely cannibalized for parts the supply system could not deliver to us.  My guess  is that most of the AOCPs and ANFEs previously  mentioned were against  this one  aircraft. When we rolled  it, well actually humped it because  the tires were square, out of  the  hangar I said my "Hail Mary".  We  also found scads of  bird's nests, spiders, crawlies  by  the  millions and  noticed  that all  the SAS  (gyroscopic stabilization equipment) components  were missing as well.  After we changed the tires the crew chief, can't recall who  it was, said we could get it to Marble Mountain in spite of the unbelievable number of missing parts.

The  last remaining embarkation  boxes were loaded, we jerked  the tori  arch containing  the squadron logo out of  the ground and threw it  in the belly  of the bird.  Then I notified the last two pilots, Maj. Graham and 1stLt. William A. "Grease Gun" Beebe that we were ready to depart.

Once  airborne and  heading for  the coast, since  we  were a  single  bird  and without  gunners, this horrible shuddering  shit house was getting  the best of Ed Graham. He turned to me and yelled (I was between he and  Beebe), "You little  bastard you told me this damn thing was up!"  I replied to  him saying, "Major, may  I  remind  you that  I have been with you since  we slipped  the surly  bonds of earth."  I  glanced over  at  Beebe and saw a slight  smile  and evidence that  he was attempting  very hard to  not  laugh out  loud.  What  a sight we must have been as we waddled and stumbled through the rainy night skies toward Marble Mountain with me clutching a Rosary in my hand where Maj. Graham couldn't see it.

And yes, he did forgive me.