Spec. 4 Gary Dennis Holton

Aug. 5, 1949 - July 3, 1968

Chico

Gary Holton was born in Chico and grew up in Southern California.

A friend from the time remembered him as “kind of a loner, quiet.” who nevertheless joined the leadership group and the chess club in high school.

Perhaps because his father lived in town, Holton listed Chico as his home of record when he enlisted in the Army in August 1967, just two months after graduating from Gardena High School.

He was trained as a helicopter repairman. and arrived in Vietnam on March 10, 1968, where he took over as a helicopter crew chief in the 240th Assault Helicopter Company.

Holton lasted three-and-a-half months at this hazardous duty. On July 3, 1968, his chopper was hit by hostile fire and crashed into a river. Holton’s cause of death was listed as drowning.

Chico News & Review, May 26, 1988

18853230 SP4 USA (MOS 67N20: UH-1 Helicopter Repairer)

Casualty Details: Drowning

Listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall Washington, D.C. Panel W53 Line 1

Burial: Sunnyside Cemetery, Long Beach, Los Angeles Co, CA

Jonquil Section, Lot 83, Space D

Purple Heart, Air Medal, Aircrew Wings

SP4 Gary Holton died, July 3, 1968, when the UH-1 Helicopter he was serving on board as a crew member (acting crew chief) was shot down and crashed in the Song Vam Co Dong River 18 mi SW of Saigon in the Long An Province, U.S. Military Region 3, Republic of South Vietnam. He was 18 years old and had been in Vietnam for less than two months when he was killed. Gary was born in Chico and grew up in Gardena, Southern California. A friend from the time remembered him as “kind of a loner, quiet.” who nevertheless joined the leadership group and the chess club in high school. Perhaps because his father lived in town, Holton listed Chico as his home of record when he enlisted in the Army in August 1967, just two months after graduating from Gardena High School in Los Angeles Co, CA. He was trained as a helicopter repairman and arrived in Vietnam on March 10, 1968, where he took over as a helicopter crew chief in the 240th Assault Helicopter Company. Holton lasted three-and-a-half months at this hazardous duty. On July 3, 1968, his chopper was hit by hostile fire and crashed into a river. Holton’s cause of death was listed as drowning. 1st Aviation Brigade Arrived in Vietnam 25 May 1966 and Departed Vietnam 28 March 1973. The 1st Aviation Brigade was activated 25 May 1966 in South Vietnam using the assets of a provisional unit organized 1 March 1966 and eventually became one of the largest commands in Vietnam. Possessing, at the height of its involvement, some 64d1 fixed-wing aircraft, 441 Cobra AH-1G attack helicopters, 311 CH-47 cargo helicopters, 635 OH-6A observation helicopters and 2,202 UH-1 utility helicopters, the brigade had complete airmobile dominion of the skies. Flying in support of UI.S. and allied forces, the brigade conducted missions as varied as tactical combat

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Chico News & Review

Bill Edmiston