SP4/E4 James R. Bodish
United States Army (1969-1970)
James Robert Bodish was born on April 18,
1951. He lived at 2001 Plainview Avenue, on the corner with Capital Avenue, where
his parents operated a Mom and Pop store. James enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1969,
at the age of eighteen. After boot camp and flight mechanic school, his tour of
duty in the Republic of Vietnam began on March 10, 1970.
James had the rank of Specialist
Four/Engineer Four. His Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) was 67U20-Multi
Engine Tandem Rotor Helicopter Mechanic, assigned to the 213th Assault Support
Helicopter Company (ASHC), 11th Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade,
12th Combat Aviation Group.
Midway through his tour of duty, on
September 16, 1970, Specialist James R. Bodish was the Flight Engineer on U.S.
Army helicopter CH-47C, tail number 69-17100. The Chinook was on a routine
combat resupply mission which originated from the Pho Loi Air
Base.
At 11:00 the aircraft picked up a 14,000
pound external sling load of cement at the Tay Ninh Province East Airfield. The
torque and all systems were in the green and the aircraft began a takeoff. As the
aircraft reached about 1000 feet above ground level, the CH-47 leveled off and
began a shallow right turn.
A muffled explosion was heard from the right
rear of the aircraft and flames were immediately observed inside the Chinook, in
the aft pylon section. Flight Engineer Bodish immediately released the sling load
and an emergency descent toward an open area was initiated.
Almost immediately the heat became so intense
and the smoke so dense in the cockpit that all instrument and radio panels were
obscured. The aircraft Commander executed a left descending turn with his head out
the left window in order to breath.
Full control was maintained throughout the
descending turn and on the initial approach. As the aircraft Commander flared to
set the Chinook down, control was lost and the aircraft assumed an extreme nose
high attitude. The Chinook was consumed by fire.
The five crew members on board the helicopter
when it crashed were: AC W1 R.G. Young, P W1 G.P. Burns CE E4 G.E. Fowler,
G E3 J. Jacob, and FE SP4 J.R. Bodish. Four of the crew members were injured.
Flight Engineer Bodish was the only crew member killed.
On September 22, the Pittsurgh Post-Gazette
announced the death of SP4/E4 James Bodish. His body was eventually returned to the
United States and buried at the Mount Lebanon Cemetery. James Robert Bodish was the
51st and final soldier to fall during wartime from Brookline. His memory is honored
on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, Panel 07w, Line 67.
SP4 James Robert Bodish -
Virtual Wall
* Written by Clint Burton:
May 11, 2018 *
The original source(s) and
document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence
Agency Helicopter Loss database. Army Aviation Safety Center database. Also: OPERA
(Operations Report.)
The Brookline
War Memorial
Listed below are
many of the sons of Brookline who gave their
lives to preserve freedom and contain aggression during
World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died.
Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.”
General George S. Patton
World War I
(1917-1919)
The World War I Memorial -
Washington D.C.
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World War II
(1941-1945)
Alm, William H.
Pioneer Avenue
Army
Details |
Arensberg, Roy T.
Fernhill Avenue
Army
Details |
Bracey, Bruce H.
Plainview Avenue
Army
Details |
Brickley, Edward G.
Woodward Avenue
Army
Details |
Capogreca, James J.
Merrick Avenue
Navy
Details |
Copeland, Clarence R.
Creedmoor Avenue
Navy
Details |
Cullison, Thomas J.
Birtley Avenue
Army
Details |
Dempsey, Howard F.
Berkshire Avenue
Army
Details |
Dempsey, Walter F.
Milan Avenue
Navy
Details |
Diegelman, Edward R. Jr
Norwich Avenue
Army
Details |
Dornetto, Frank P.
Jacob Street
Navy
Details |
Doyle, John F Jr.
Eben Street
Navy
Details |
Fagan, Gerald B.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Falk, Harold E.
Pioneer Avenue
Army
Details |
Fehring, Robert M.
Fernhill Avenue
Army
Details |
Gmuca, Joseph J.
Brookline Boulevard
Army
Details |
Heil, Robert F.
Bayridge Avenue
Army
Details |
Hynes, Richard E.
Waddington Avenue
Army
Details |
Kestler, Paul C.
Creedmoor Avenue
Navy
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Ketters, Robert C.
Berkshire Avenue
Army
Details |
Mahoney, Michael J.
Oakridge Street
Army
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Majestic, Arthur B.
Starkamp Avenue
Army
Details |
Mayberry, Alexander G.
Breining Street
Army
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Mazza, John
Alwyn Street
Army
Details |
McCann, Robert F.
Edgebrook Avenue
Navy
Details |
McFarland, Hugh R.
McNeilly Road
Army
Details |
Meisner, Walter F.
Berwin Avenue
Merchant Marine
Details |
Miller, William J.
Norwich Avenue
Army
Details |
Napier, Edward J.
Brookline Boulevard
Army
Details |
Nicholson, John D.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
O'Day, John R.
Creedmoor Avenue
Navy
Details |
Orient, Andrew D.
Fordham Avenue
Army
Details |
Pisiecki, Raymond A.
Wolford Avenue
Army
Details |
Reeves, Alfred M.
Brookline Boulevard
Army
Details |
Reitmeyer, John P.
Bellaire Avenue
Navy
Details |
Rhing, Vern M.
Norwich Avenue
Army
Details |
Ruane, Roy J.
Berkshire Avenue
USMC
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Shannon, Harry C.
Midland Street
Army
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Shannon, Jack E.
Midland Street
USMC
Details |
Simpson, James D.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Spack, Harry
Linial Avenue
Army
Details |
Tobin, Paul M.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Vierling, Howard F.
Fordham Avenue
Army
Details |
Wagner, Ralph G.
Shawhan Avenue
Army
Details |
Wentz, Walter L. Jr
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Zeiler, Harold V.
West Liberty Avenue
Army
Details |
The World War II Memorial -
Washington D.C.
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Korean War
(1950-1953)
Korean War Memorial -
Washington D.C.
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Vietnam War
(1965-1973)
Vietnam War Memorial -
Washington D.C.
The Brookline
Monument - The Cannon
<Brookline
War Memorial> <> <Brookline
History> |