Havre's Neiss to be honored at The Never Forgotten 34 Memorial

Press release

The Angry Skipper Association is hosting the Never Forgotten 34 Memorial May 10, 2022, to honor 34 brothers-in-arms who died in a helicopter crash on May 10, 1972 in Vietnam, including SP4 Terry Duane Neiss, of Havre, Montana, son of Perry and Betty J. Neiss. 

May 10, 1972, members of the 1st Cavalry Company D 2nd/8th were pulled out of the combat zone in the middle of the enemy’s Easter offensive, and sent for a three-day stand-down at the Army’s beachfront Rest and Recreation Center at Vung Tau, Vietnam. They boarded Chinook helicopters for the journey, joining the flight crew and soldiers from other units for the 40-mile flight. Tragically, one of the helicopters experienced sudden mechanical failure and crashed, according to official reports. There were no survivors and 34 souls perished that day.

On the 50th anniversary of this tragic accident, the invited Gold Star Families, friends, and supporting Vietnam veterans will gather at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall to remember and honor these fallen warriors.

On the day before the memorial, a private banquet will be held for the Gold Star Families of the 34 fallen so they can mingle with combat veterans and share memories, photos, and memorabilia from the lives of their soldiers. It will be at held at the AUSA Conference Center, 2425 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 at 5 p.m. May 9, 2022.

The main Never Forgotten 34 ceremonial event will be held at the Vietnam Memorial Wall, 5 Henry Bacon Dr. Northwest, Washington, D.C. 20037, at 10:25 a.m. May 10, 2022,50 years to the day after these men gave their last full measure of devotion.

For more details about the Never Forgotten 34 Memorial, including names of all the soldiers who perished, people can visit http://34goldstarfamilies.weebly.com online.

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To discover what this memorial means to the families in 2022, people can visit the Never Forgotten 34 Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/991992785071116 .

To learn more about the Angry Skippers, an association of Vietnam Veterans who served in Delta Company, Second Battalion, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile) people can visit http://www.angryskipperassociation.org online.