The Vietnam War was the first real helicopter war as the US used choppers in a new concept called "air mobility". Despite their vulnerability to ground fire, the Army moved massive amounts of troops by air with some combat operations involving over 100 helicopters at a time. But air mobility came at a heavy price as the US lost 4,869 helicopters – 53% of these losses were due to enemy fire costing the lives of 3,007 crewmen.
By 1967 the bombing of North Vietnam continued and American troop strength had grown to 525,000. The South Vietnamese government had stabilized and the communists were being pushed out of many of their strong positions. Despite growing opposition to the war in the USA, the military outlook seemed good. Ridgewood's Edwin S. Brague and others in 'Nam at the time were optimistic.
Brague was born in Wilkes Barre, Pa. February 25, 1943 but moved to Ridgewood with his family to live at 623 Delaware Ave. After attending the Maywood Avenue School in Maywood, where his mother was Secretary in the Junior High School, he graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1961 where he was in the band and on the cafeteria patrol. While at Rutgers he was in ROTC, in Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and was a member of the marching band, graduating with a degree in general agriculture. He enlisted in the service July 14, 1965 and was trained as a helicopter pilot at Fort Wolter, Texas, going to Vietnam September 14, 1966. He was 6' 2" with brown hair. He married and his wife, Barbara Ann, lived with his parents.
He flew almost every day to transport men, supplies and to pick up the wounded as a member of the 129th Assault Helicopter Co. He flew a UH-1D Iroquois helicopter. UH was short for "Utility Helicopter", nicknamed a "Huey". These helicopters' main duty was for troop transport, command and communication. It had room for seven men or three stretchers in a cargo compartment behind the pilot. Depending on the model, the UH-1 was 53' long, weighed 4,700 lbs, could cruise at up to 127 mph with a range up to 314 miles. It could carry a payload of up to 4,500 lbs.
Lt. Brague suffered a gun shot wound to the head and was killed instantly January 7, 1967 while attempting to land his chopper after having taken ground fire during aerial action near Kontum in Quang Tin Province while flying a command and control operation in support of the infantry.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with First Oak Leaf Cluster and the Legion of Merit, posthumously, which said he "distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service during the period September 1966 to January 1967 while serving as an aerial command post pilot, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in the Republic of Vietnam. Flying an average of six hours a day, he often brought order out of chaos by functioning as an aerial relay station. On numerous occasions, Lt. Brague disregarded his safety to rescue casualties and re-supply combat units, despite adverse weather conditions and intense hostile action. When the battalion was subjected to fierce and continuous insurgent probes, he dauntlessly continued to provide critical aerial support, flying emergency re-supply missions and medical evacuations. In addition, Lt. Brague assiduously advised the Battalion Commander on landing zones, load data, airlift capabilities and armed helicopter support."
The former First Congregational Church of Hackensack created a fund in his memory to sponsor an overseas student in Hackensack. His fraternity at Rutgers University set up the E. Stephen Brague Memorial Award to be given annually to the brother most active in house sports. Brothers and alumni also instituted a memorial brotherhood loan fund in his honor. The Maywood Public schools established the Lt. Edwin Stephen Brague Memorial Award which is still awarded to the highest achieving science student in the 8th grade. Lt. Brague is buried in Lot 615, Section A in Fern Knoll Burial Park. Dallas, PA. At death he was 23 years old.