Altus AFB honors Khe Sanh vet, remembers heritage

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nathan Clark
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Retired U.S. Army Master Sgt. Dale Jennings shared his experience during the Battle of Khe Sanh, at the Freedom Community Center, Aug. 7, 2014.

The event was hosted to promote a better understanding of Air Force heritage and its influence on modern operations.

The Battle of Khe Sanh lasted nearly six months and more than 6,000 U.S. service members and South Vietnamese Rangers were cut off from all overland resupply.

Jennings served his second of three tours to Vietnam in Khe Sanh with the U.S. Army 1st Special Forces Group.

During the siege, the U.S. Air Force was responsible for keeping the outpost supplied with ammunition and food. C-123 Providers and C-130 Hercules delivered supplies by landing at the outpost, but due to heavy mortar attacks during unloading, aircrews moved to offloading via air drop and a new method for heavier items called low altitude parachute extractions system.

"I saw almost every plane the Air Force had at the time," said Jennings. "We saw low altitude bombings, air drops and medevacs."

During his tour, Jennings said he was wounded when he volunteered to drive a water truck, but came under fire as he stopped to avoid hitting some Marines running for cover.

He was later transported from the battlefield in a C-130 when he contracted staph infection. "I've got nothing but praise for the Jolly Greens," said Jennings referring to the C-130.

"Any knowledge of the past can be used to save a lot of lives," said Senior Airman Christopher Huffer, 97th Air Mobility Wing ground safety technician, who couldn't imagine what it would be like experiencing something like the Battle of Khe Sanh.

"Today we are reminded we truly do stand on the shoulders of giants. Our ability to complete our mission requirements, to prosecute our generation's war is a direct result of those like you," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col Mike Peeler to Jennings.

During the Battle of Khe Sanh, the Air Force took part in more than 1,100 missions and delivered 12,400 tons of support. Air and ground crews involved were awarded the Navy Presidential Unit Citation for their actions.

The events that took place helped shape today's Air Force and are remembered as a strong pillar of air power heritage.