Leon Mortland was born in Tyler, grew up on the family farm near Tyler and attended Tyler Public Schools, graduating from high school in 1964. He attended Mankato State College, before transferring to Winona State College. He met Augustana College student Marilyn Hokenson on a blind date and they married in August 1968. Marilyn graduated and began teaching in Winona as Leon began his fifth year of college. But he had used his four years of student draft deferments and received his draft notice that December.

Marilyn continued teaching in Winona while Leon completed Army training to be a stock control and accounting specialist in the supply system. The Army deployed him to Vietnam in July 1969 and assigned him to the 5th Transportation Battalion (5th Trans), part of the 101st Airborne Division at Camp Eagle in the northern region of South Vietnam.

Leon described the 5th Trans area at Camp Eagle.

“We had two big hangars and the motor pool area that was a lot smaller. We had three or four rows of hootches from the road all the way up to the mess hall. An opening in the middle and off to the side was where you’d have formations in the morning. Then the sergeants and the civilians had an area. Up behind them was the officers’ quarters and their mess hall.”

The 101st Airborne Division was an airmobile unit, meaning they used helicopters to insert and resupply large numbers of troops for combat patrols and other missions far from Camp Eagle. Leon explained the mission of the 5th Trans in support of the division and how his unit was organized for that mission.

“We supported about 205 helicopters. Most of the time it was Hueys (single-rotor, utility aircraft hauling troops and supplies), Cobras (single-rotor, gunships providing fire support for troops on the ground), and Loaches (single-rotor, lightweight, scout and observation aircraft). Our mission was to keep the helicopters flying. We had people trained in sheet metal work; engines; rotors; and electronics, avionics they called it. Sometimes they landed hard and were smashed up, so we had people trained in (repairing airframes). We had civilians who could do repairs that GIs weren’t qualified to do. Sheet metal had the biggest area because there were a lot of (aircraft) with bullet holes and they would fix them.”

Leon explained his role in this complex operation.

“I worked in Production Control. (We had) a four by eight foot sheet of Plexiglas we could write on. Across the top we put “Sheet Metal,” “Engine,” and all the other shops that could be working on an aircraft. We had the aircraft number (in the left column). You bring your helicopter — let’s say it’s #324. Our tech inspectors look at it. It needs engine work because it took a bullet by the engine. It needs rotor work. It needs sheet metal work. So, your aircraft is going to end up underneath all of those (repair shop columns). We sent out work orders to each of these shops, telling them what to do.”

The damaged aircraft arrived in one of two ways.

“They could fly some of them. If the Crew Chief put a Red X on it that meant it wasn’t flyable. But the pilot could look at it and say, ‘We can make it over to 5th Trans,’ but they had to sign that decision. When they got it there, it was definitely “Red X’d” and had to be fixed. Quite a few of came in by sling load. They got shot down or had engine or rotor problems without getting shot down. The Hueys could sling in a Loach. The Cobras or Hueys had to be brought in by Chinooks. They would announce they were in-bound and asked us to throw a smoke grenade so they knew where to put it. We had all kinds of smoke grenades in our area, so you’d grab one; get out towards the end of the bunker; and throw it. You could probably see them coming. They had dollies you’d put under the aircraft to get it on wheels and then pull it in.”

Leon described how they tracked the status of each aircraft delivered for repair.

“Every morning these (shops) came in and reported what they were doing across the board. So, when Battalion or Division called, we’d be able to tell them what’s going on.”

Their mission was not yet done when the necessary repairs were complete.

“When Sheet Metal said they’re done, the tech inspectors went and checked it to confirm so Sheet Metal could sign off. Then Engine came in and pretty soon everybody’s signed off. Then our pilots took the aircraft for a test flight. We had two pilots; Captain Ewert and Lieutenant Jones. They inspected the helicopter after the tech inspectors said it was ready to go and then took it for a test flight. When they were flying and everything was OK, they’d radio back and tell us, ‘Bird 324 is ready for issue.’ We’d put that on the board and I’d call Battalion and tell them, ‘324 is released and flyable.’ Somebody would run over in a Jeep; they’d hop in that sucker (the aircraft); and away they went.”

The aviation units 5th Trans supported were always anxious to get their “birds” back.

©2024 William D. Palmer

Please visit our exhibit at the Lyon County Museum, “The Vietnam War and Lyon County,” to learn more about the experiences of our area Vietnam veterans. You can reach me at prairieviewpressllc@gmail.com with any comments about or story suggestions for “Prairie Lives.”