Thomas Martin
Barnett
Courtesy of Spur
21, Randy Little
Name BARNETT, THOMAS MARTIN
Panel
07W
Line
091
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ID No. 311429518
Branch ARMY
Component RESERVE
Grade W1
MOS 100E
Posthumous Promotion {n/a}
Birthdate 08/30/43
Tour Date 07/04/70
Casualty Date 09/26/70
Length/Service (yrs) **
Processing Date 09/70
Age 27
Home of Record SELLERSBURG
State
Religion PROTESTANT - NO PREFERENCE
Marital Status
SINGLE
Sex M
Race CAUCASIAN
Disposition BODY RECOVERED
Casualty Type HOSTILE, DIED
AIR LOSS, CRASH - LAND
HELICOPTER-PILOT
Country
Province GINH LONG
CACCF Comment {n/a}
CACCF Ref No. 28385
Notes
------------
BARNETT THOMAS MARTIN
Name: WO1 Thomas Martin
Barnett
Status: Killed In Action
from an incident on 09/17/1970 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Died 9 days later on
09/26/1970.
Age at death: 27.1
Date of Birth: 08/30/1943
Service: AV branch of the
reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: A/3/17 CAV
Major organization: 1st
Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 70-13/70-11
Service: AV branch of the
U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 07W-091
Short Summary: Shot down
by .51 cal near Quan Loi while flying front seat.
Aircraft: AH-1G tail
number 67-15862
Call sign: Silver Spur
Country:
MOS: 100E = Attack
Helicopter Pilot
Primary cause: .51 Caliber
Major attributing cause:
aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause:
vehicular accident
Vehicle involved:
helicopter
Position in vehicle: pilot
Vehicle ownership:
government
Started Tour: 07/04/1970
"Official"
listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
The initial status of this
person was: no previous report
Length of service: *
Location:
Reason: aircraft lost or
crashed
Casualty type: Hostile -
killed
single male
Race: Caucasian
Religion: Protestant - no
denominational preference
The following information
secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as
defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military
class: warrant officer
This record was last
updated on 02/21/1994
________________________________________
Additional information is
available on CD-ROM.
Please send additions or
corrections to: The VHPA Webmaster Gary Roush.
KIA statistics
Date posted on VHPA site:
05/31/2009
==================
6Sept02
SGT Neal,
I was a scout pilot in A Troop when your uncle and my friend, Tom
Barnett, was flying Cobras in the weapons platoon. I was there when Tom
died. This is my recollection:
In about the August to September 1970 timeframe, we were flying visual
reconnaissance (VR) missions out of Quan Loi, which was northwest of
CW2 Toms did a magnificent job in getting the aircraft on the ground in
a controlled crash given the fact that the cockpit was filled with smoke. Both your uncle and CW2 Toms were hurt pretty
bad on impact. One of our slicks, with
ARPs on board, landed to assist the extraction of the crew in the downed
gunship; WO1 Chadara in his OH-58 also landed to help extract the crew. An E-6 [SSG Parsell] and a couple of other
guys pulled both your uncle and CW2 Toms out of the burning Cobra---a couple of
them were injured when a few of the rockets cooked-off in the tubes. They flew both injured pilots back to Quan
Loi. A Special Forces A-team medic was
at our location and he tried everything that he could to save Tom,but he
couldn't; he was too badly injured as a result of the crash. CW2 Toms did
survive, but it took him a long time to recover.
By the way, even as your uncle's aircraft was still burning in the
clearing, more Silver Spur gunships arrived and they finished the mission by
eliminating the NVA unit.
Tom was a good friend and was always a great guy to be around. Because
the scouts and the guns had such a close working relationship, we also got
together after the flying was done for the day. Everyone liked and admired your
uncle, not only for his professional skills as a pilot, but because of his
great sense of humor and positive outlook.
SGT Neal, it was a pleasure and honor to serve with your uncle and I
will never forget him.
As for Tom's DFC, I will ask Roger Young, who is our Troop's webmaster,
historian, and friend, to check with his sources to see if anyone has a copy of
the original orders.
Regards,
Tom White
Silver Spur 13
tgwhite@aol.com
---------------
Tom, Sgt. Neal:
I'm afraid I don't have a copy of Tom's (Barnett) DFC. I will ask the other troopers that we are in
contact with if they might just have a copy -- probably unlikely -- but
certainly worth a try.
Sgt. Neal, my recollection of the tragic loss are very similar to my
good friend, Tom White. I was a scout
crew chief at the time.
I was one of those who helped to carry your uncle from the location
where the Special Forces A-Team medic was working on Tom to the medevac
chopper. We exchanged a few short words
and at the time he was very alert, conscious, and your uncle was more concerned
about CW2 Toms than himself. When we
loaded your uncle aboard the chopper he did not appear to be in any pain.
I did notice your uncle's chest had been injured, probably by the
gunsight when the Cobra made a very hard landing. It was a shock to all of us
when we got the word later that your uncle had passed away some days
later. I took a rubbing of your uncle's
name the last time I was in D.C. on Veteran's Day, 2000. I and other fellow 3/17th troopers placed a
wreath at the Wall in honor of our fallen troopers. Your uncle's name was
included in the laminated dedication that we had placed in the middle of the
wreath.
Tom was very well liked and respected by all who had the honor of
serving with him. As long as those like
Tom White and myself are still around, your uncle and our other fallen brothers
will not be forgotten.....
God Bless, and I want to personally thank you for serving our beloved
country.
Roger "Bear" Young
---------------
16 September 2011:
My account of Dave Toms (Moose) and Tom Barnett is a little
different. As I remember it, the Slick that Tom White talks about was me.
We scrambled and I was the only one that made it to the crash scene. I was the AC
and I had with me a brand new Capt just assigned to the unit. I can not remember
his name but he later took over as Commander of A troop.
I had with me on the slick the ARP leader and 5 grunts. Can not
remember the LT's name. My AC went directly to the scene and dropped off the
troops right on the Cobra, which was burning at that time. Charlie had got
delayed and arrived later.
The scout landed and went to assist the ARPs extract the men from
the bird. I took off and circled the scene waiting for the extraction.
Red Horse 6 came on and landed and his bird was the aircraft that Tom and Dave
were transported back to Quan Loi.
When they were in route to Quan Loi, I landed and picked up the ARPs
and their LT. The ARP leader and the
scout pilot both received awards for their action. (Soldiers Medal for both and
a Purple heart for the scout for burns received. Moose and Tom were transported
back to a base and were later transported to 24th Evac. Tom died of his wounds
received in this action.
The 51 site that the Cobra had engaged was later destroyed and numerous
KIA’s claimed in the battle were notated. Red Horse 6 and his Copilot
also received medals for their actions My account is a bit different but together
they tell the story.
Pat Ramsey, Spur 29
