Photo In Uniform |
Service Details |
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Last Photo |
Personal Details
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Home State
 Texas | |
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Year of Birth 1930 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SFC Anthony Eugene Santa Maria, IV
to remember
Lewis, Frederick Harry, SFC.
If you knew or served with this Soldier and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Casualty Info
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Home Town San Antonio, TX |
Last Address Breezy Hill Trailer-Court, Fayetteville, NC
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Casualty Date Oct 18, 1966 |
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Cause Hostile, Died |
Reason Multiple Fragmentation Wounds |
Location Ba Xugen (Vietnam) |
Conflict Vietnam War |
Location of Interment Lafayette Memorial Park - Fayetteville, North Carolina |
Wall/Plot Coordinates 11E 087 |
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Last Known Activity
On October 18, 1966, Operation Crimson Tide took place, a n mission credited as being the first to attempt to recover an American POW (USAF CAPT Carl E. Jackson) who was being held by the Viet Cong at one of their R&R center located at Soc Trang. A SOG size company element was formed and commanded by CAPT Frank Jaks, a Czechoslovakia by birth, and was tasked with the rescue mission. SFC Charles R. Vessels and SFC Frederick H. Lewis were part of the 3rd Platoon. Their helicopters landed them directly in front of two heavily armed Viet Cong Battalions and the 306th NVA regiment with an estimated 1,000 soldiers. The entire 3rd Platoon was annihilated. All of the SOG participants were members of FOB-2. Unfortunately, the hastily crafted mission caused the force to land right in the middle of two well trained VC battalions. Needless to say, they did not rescue anyone and FOB-2 suffered very heavy casualties, including a couple of U.S. reconnaissance personnel (SFC Vessels and SFC Lewis). This operation is covered in a couple of different chapters in Jay Veith's book: CODE NAME: "Bright Light, The Untold Story of U.S. POW Rescue Efforts During the Vietnam War". [Taken from macvsog.cc]
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Comments/Citation
Your top secret Search and Rescue mission is in a book entitled "SOG" by John Plaster, where you volunteered for a mission to rescue downed USAF pilot Captain Carl Jackson, who in 1965 was shot down in his C130 transport plane. You were attempting to rescue him from a POW camp that intelligence had advised he was being held in. The fact that you bravely continued to fight the enemy even after your Huey landed in the middle of intersecting 50 caliber machine gun fire and two full Vietcong battalions shows your true heroism. Although Captain Jackson is still listed as MIA, perhaps his family can appreciate the sacrifices made by your SOG platoon in trying to rescue Captain Jackson.
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