D Troop

The Kavanaugh Collection

D Troop – Aviation & Firebase Archive

D Troop HUEY on Blackhawk Firebase helipad

Maintenance on the T-55 Lycoming turbine engine

Hot engine maintenance work in the field

Maneuver area – Vietnam

Firebase at one o’clock on road

Blackhawk firebase, helipad, and refuel point

Blackhawk firebase TOC (Tactical Operations Center)

Track problems in the field

D Troop Captain Hudson at a Ceremony

D Troop guys at An Khe and at leisure

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Mother’s Day 1969

By Charlie Poe

Some Background

LZ Penny was hit hard on May 9, 1969 by a regiment of an NVA Division. The LZ positioning upset the NVA timetable for either continuing on to Enari or withdrawing from their mission. D Troop’s mission was to find and fix any NVA units that might still be in the area. We did!!

Clover leaf maneuver: Used to protect front, flanks and rear of military formations from surprise attacks.

The Story

On May 11, we left An Khe with two heavy teams and approximately 6 Hueys. Late in the day, we responded to a firefight involving a 4th Inf Div platoon. As we hovered to drop supplies, automatic weapon fire raked the Huey from the tree line. The helicopter went into a spin, striking the ground and breaking apart with flames shooting from the exhaust.

“Captain Poe did not have his most graceful landing as his slick crashed through the trees to our left… entrapping both Captain Hudson and Captain Poe within their seats until they could be pried out.”

Joe McManus’ Story

It was “Mother’s Day” 1969. We flew west towards the Mang Yang Pass. SFC Charles Penley was our Platoon Leader. The LZ they dropped us into was a cleared area compliments of a 500 pounder dropped by a B-52. Doc Tippet moved the wounded into the crater while SFC Penley spread us out in a defensive perimeter.

Historical Archive & Visual Evidence

The Helicopter – 80 hours Total Time when lost: Rear view tail boom broken off

Main rotor destroyed

Nose section crashed on a stump

Side view illustrating nose damage where Cpt. Poe’s feet were trapped

Another side view of the aircraft

Map showing locations of events

Captain Hudson at An Khe with marauding tiger (Pre Mother’s Day)

Charlie Poe

Stan Hudson

Joe McManus

Dan Kavanaugh

Dan Kavanaugh demonstrates door gunner duties to his grandson during a recent VHPA Reunion

SFC Charles Penley Tribute

A Visit to Asheville, North Carolina

D Troopers visit the grave of their fallen comrade in Asheville, North Carolina. Joe McManus, Dan Kavanaugh, and Russ Stuecklin were there when SFC Penley was killed on Mother’s Day, 1969. None of us have ever forgotten him and that day.

SFC Charles Penley’s final resting place in Asheville, NC

Russ, pondering the events of so many years ago

Joe McManus, Dan Kavanaugh, and Russ Stuecklin

View SFC Charles Penley Obituary (PDF)

Reunion this year is in Kansas City

2026 Reunion Hotel Application Here
2026 Reunion Fillable Registration Here