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SSGT John Robert “Bob” Adams
Monument

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SSGT John Robert “Bob” Adams Veteran

Birth
Chico, Butte County, California, USA
Death
8 Nov 1967 (aged 21)
Vietnam
Monument
Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA Add to Map
Plot
Courts of the Missing
Memorial ID
View Source
Name: John Robert Adams
Rank/Branch: E5/US Army
Unit: 189th Aviation Co., 17th Aviation Group
Date of Birth: 31 July 1946 (Anderson Dam ID)
Home City of Record: Chico CA
Date of Loss: 08 November 1967
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 144400N 1073600E (YB800300)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: UH1C
Refno: 0899
Contributor: LBN (49278253)
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Also honored on Panel 29E Line 046 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Unit assigned 189th AHC, 52nd AVN BN, 17th AVN GROUP, 1ST AVIATION BDE, USARV
Incident date occurred on Nov 08, 1967
Death Date occurred Mar 13, 1978 possibly as a result of a gunshot wound received while crew chief on a military aircraft on a combat assult mission.
Known awards: Purple Heart, Air Medal and Good Conduct Medal

Information provided by the Coffelt Group.
----------
Sergeant First Class John Robert Adams, Served with the 189th Assault Helicopter Company, 52nd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade.

"SFC John R. Adams was crew chief aboard a UH1C gunship (tail number 66-00695) flying cover on a Special Forces insertion mission west of Dak Tho, Republic of Vietnam on November 8, 1967. While circling the inserted troops, the helicopter began to lose power and attempted to land. Failing to find a suitable landing zone, aircraft commander WO1 William J. McKenna Jr. allowed the aircraft to settle tail first into the trees. As the helicopter struck the trees, the tail boom snapped off, spun and came to rest on an upslope, caving in the front of the aircraft. McKenna and gunner SP4 Begay exited the right side of the chopper, while pilot WO1 Weeks and Adams exited the left. Begay had suffered a broken leg, Weeks had injured his right foot, and Adams had broken his arm and appeared to be in shock. The four had barely exited the helicopter when they began to receive small arms fire. McKenna radioed for help, and he, Begay and Weeks made their way to an extraction point, with Begay dragging Adams. Begay, because of his own injuries, was unable to carry Adams far, and left him in a slumped-over position against some bushes. Begay later stated that Adams' condition had worsened. While awaiting extraction, McKenna returned to the crash site to see if he could help Adams. He saw two Viet Cong, one of whom appeared to be shooting at Adams. McKenna shot at the Viet Cong, then fell down the slope to the creekbed from which he was extracted. Adams was last seen slumped over just outside the left cargo door of the crashed aircraft. Subsequent rescue efforts were frustrated by enemy fire, and the company commander ordered all rescue attempts terminated. Following termination of rescue efforts, the downed aircraft was destroyed to prevent capture of weapons and equipment. SFC John R. Adams survived the crash of his helicopter, and with the presence of enemy forces, stood a good chance of being captured. His helicopter contained equipment the Army did not want in the hands of the enemy. Twelve 500 lb. bombs, six CBU-2's, 1600 rounds of 20 mm fire, additional bombs and napalm were dropped on the crash site to prevent capture. "[vhpa.org]

JOHN ROBERT ADAMS is honored on Panel 29E, Line 46 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. His remains have not been recovered.
Name: John Robert Adams
Rank/Branch: E5/US Army
Unit: 189th Aviation Co., 17th Aviation Group
Date of Birth: 31 July 1946 (Anderson Dam ID)
Home City of Record: Chico CA
Date of Loss: 08 November 1967
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 144400N 1073600E (YB800300)
Status (in 1973): Missing In Action
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: UH1C
Refno: 0899
Contributor: LBN (49278253)
---------
Also honored on Panel 29E Line 046 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Unit assigned 189th AHC, 52nd AVN BN, 17th AVN GROUP, 1ST AVIATION BDE, USARV
Incident date occurred on Nov 08, 1967
Death Date occurred Mar 13, 1978 possibly as a result of a gunshot wound received while crew chief on a military aircraft on a combat assult mission.
Known awards: Purple Heart, Air Medal and Good Conduct Medal

Information provided by the Coffelt Group.
----------
Sergeant First Class John Robert Adams, Served with the 189th Assault Helicopter Company, 52nd Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade.

"SFC John R. Adams was crew chief aboard a UH1C gunship (tail number 66-00695) flying cover on a Special Forces insertion mission west of Dak Tho, Republic of Vietnam on November 8, 1967. While circling the inserted troops, the helicopter began to lose power and attempted to land. Failing to find a suitable landing zone, aircraft commander WO1 William J. McKenna Jr. allowed the aircraft to settle tail first into the trees. As the helicopter struck the trees, the tail boom snapped off, spun and came to rest on an upslope, caving in the front of the aircraft. McKenna and gunner SP4 Begay exited the right side of the chopper, while pilot WO1 Weeks and Adams exited the left. Begay had suffered a broken leg, Weeks had injured his right foot, and Adams had broken his arm and appeared to be in shock. The four had barely exited the helicopter when they began to receive small arms fire. McKenna radioed for help, and he, Begay and Weeks made their way to an extraction point, with Begay dragging Adams. Begay, because of his own injuries, was unable to carry Adams far, and left him in a slumped-over position against some bushes. Begay later stated that Adams' condition had worsened. While awaiting extraction, McKenna returned to the crash site to see if he could help Adams. He saw two Viet Cong, one of whom appeared to be shooting at Adams. McKenna shot at the Viet Cong, then fell down the slope to the creekbed from which he was extracted. Adams was last seen slumped over just outside the left cargo door of the crashed aircraft. Subsequent rescue efforts were frustrated by enemy fire, and the company commander ordered all rescue attempts terminated. Following termination of rescue efforts, the downed aircraft was destroyed to prevent capture of weapons and equipment. SFC John R. Adams survived the crash of his helicopter, and with the presence of enemy forces, stood a good chance of being captured. His helicopter contained equipment the Army did not want in the hands of the enemy. Twelve 500 lb. bombs, six CBU-2's, 1600 rounds of 20 mm fire, additional bombs and napalm were dropped on the crash site to prevent capture. "[vhpa.org]

JOHN ROBERT ADAMS is honored on Panel 29E, Line 46 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. His remains have not been recovered.

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  • Created by: CindyS
  • Added: Jun 2, 2013
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111688828/john_robert-adams: accessed ), memorial page for SSGT John Robert “Bob” Adams (31 Jul 1946–8 Nov 1967), Find a Grave Memorial ID 111688828, citing Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA; Maintained by CindyS (contributor 18484625).