Deadliest Day, April 4, 1968: An Unusual and Rewarding Mission

Late in the afternoon of April 4,1968, a company of the 82nd Airborne Division was inserted by helicopter into what was believed to be a blocking position. Instead, the paratroopers were delivered into a killing zone. Ten men were killed and seventeen wounded, which prompted the company commander to request medevac and gunship support. After two medevac helicopters were struck by enemy fire and forced to abandon their recovery effort, one of the supporting gunships from the 101st Airborne Division landed twice in the dark and carried out ten wounded. For that, the ground commander nominated the gunship pilot for the Medal of Honor. This is the story of what happened that night, and of the events that followed.

Quote from a book review: "In preserving this remarkable story, the authors have accomplished far more than documenting a single mission. They have created a lasting tribute to the thousands of Army aviators, crew chiefs, door gunners, medics, and infantrymen whose skill, sacrifice, and devotion to duty defined an entire generation of soldiers. Deadliest Day deserves a place among the finest firsthand accounts of service in Vietnam and will be appreciated by anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the courage, professionalism, and humanity displayed in combat."