From the Annual Supplement History of the 191st Assault Helicopter Company, page 19: The company suffered the loss of three crew members on 3 September when their ship was shot down while supporting a combat operation near Rach Kein. The aircraft, a UH-1C gun ship, Tail number 66-00613, was being used to suppress known enemy positions when it came under intensive enemy fire and crashed at 103441N 1063728E. Listed as killed were: CPT David C. Burch, WO1 Ronald M. Cederlund, and SGT Paul R. Frazier. According to the report, SP5 Heinmiller, the crew chief, survived. However, an eye witness says that SP4 Edward Davis, door gunner, was the sole survivor. SP5 Robert Lynn Heinmiller, Fresno, California and was not involved but was killed later in his tour when the operations building was hit with mortars. Ed Davis was burned in the crash and evacuated to Fort Sam Houston Texas. CW2 Richard VanDusen visited SP/4 Davis a few hours prior to his flight back to the U.S. Ed stated they had some 'Charlies' in spider holes and CPT Birch was trying to position the aircraft for the best shot. Ed's M60 jammed, while he was trying to unjam it, he looked up in time to see one enemy sit up in his spider hole and fire his AK47. CPT Birch and Mr. Cederland were killed instantly. The aircraft nosed into the ground and Davis was thrown (blown) clear of the crash in the fireball. He woke up to see an OH6 making an approach to his location. As soon as the OH6 was close to his position, he got to his feet and dove into the passenger area of the OH6 amid intense enemy fire. According to Mr. VanDusen at the time, he said CPT Birch made the mistake he cautioned each new aviator not to make: "Don't ever hover". Read the entire summary of events for the crash of UH-1C 66-00613 here at the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association website. Details of the Search and Rescue efforts are located there. The four unit members involved when their helicopter crashed and burned were: CPT David Caroll Burch, Faison, North Carolina (Pilot) WO Ronald Michael Cederlund, Chicago, Illinois, (Pilot) SGT Paul Reid Frazier, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Crew Chief - Not Recovered) SP4 Edward Davis (Gunner - Rescued) CPT Burch attended Hobbton High School and graduated in the Class of 1962. He also graduated from North Carolina State University. CPT Burch was reported as Missing in Action on September 3, 1968 and his status was changed to dead on September 6 after his body was recovered. He was survived by Georgiana Hines Burch (1920-1993) and William David Burch (1922-1976), Rural FD 1, Faison, NC. He is buried with his parents in Wayne Memorial Park, Goldsboro, Wayne County, North Carolina. - - - The Virtual Wall, July 22, 2018

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