For heroism while participating in aerial flight on 6 January 1967 as second crewman of a search and rescue helicopter assigned to U.S.S. Gridley (DLG-21). Upon being given the inland position of a survivor of a naval aircraft shot down by enemy action and with only ten minutes of daylight left in which to attempt the rescue, the rescue helicopter in which Petty Officer Duggan was flying proceeded to the scene in the face of heavy continuous fire from small arms, automatic weapons and antiaircraft batteries, along the line of flight. Petty Officer Duggan, firing his M-16 rifle, calmly exposed himself to the enemy fire until he was mortally wounded, by his courageous and loyal devotion to duty, he upheld the highest tradition of the United State Naval Service.

Few of us who were onboard GRIDLEY that night will forget it.  If you have any particular remembrances of that night, send them to us and we will post them.

I believe that both the pilot and the co-pilot were wounded in ways that effected their ability to fly.  It was only through teamwork that they were able to make the difficult night landing on GRIDLEY's fantail.  The first crewman was relatively untouched and made a heroic effort to stabilize Petty Officer Duggan, who was grievously wounded in the chest.

When the helo landed on GRIDLEY, there were 52 holes in the aircraft.  The mess decks were turned into an emergency surgery but the doc was unable to save Petty Officer Duggan.

We remained on station for weeks after that incident and the damaged helo was strapped alongside the aft missle launcher until we returned to Subic.  At one point during the month, the replacement helo was pushed up on the other side of the launcher and a large helo was on deck in the helo pad area.  GRIDLEY had three helos on her fantail at one time!

These are memories clouded by 33 years, so if anyone remembers something different please let us know.

Jim Hampton BTCM-USN-RET sends us his recollections of that night.  Petty Officer Duggan: It was our first day on the line in Jan 67 that the Helo was hit. Everyone on the Helo was hit except the Asst Gunner. Duggan took a round in the chest that came through the bottom of the helo. He was not wearing the front part of his "flak" jacket.  It was uncomfortable to lay on it and fire the machine gun. We didn't count the holes, but you could see daylight anywhere you looked from.

Several rounds hit the seat that the pilot and co-pilot sat in. This was the only steel that was capable of stopping a round. Both pilot and co-pilot are alive today by a mere half inch.

Due to the need for blood, Duggan was placed on the mess deck and crewmembers with his blood type were Laid on mess deck tables to give blood. More than 75 people showed up to give blood to keep him alive. The Doctor realized that to save him he needed to get him into surgery, as he was pumping it out as fast as he could pump in in. A twin rotored Helo (CH-46) came from the carrier with a medical team. (this was the first known CH-26 that ever attempted to land on a DLG) Duggan was moved to the helo but died before he could be placed in it. He was placed in the reefer overnight his body was flown off the next morning. The second class AD that wasn't hit, refused to fly after that. The Helo Squadron had to send two aircrewmen out to replace Duggan and the PO2. His and the two officers are Ided in the cruise book. I think my sister has all my stuff from that and the next cruise in 68. I'll see if I can get the stuff sent to me.

Note: Guys, this is a memory from 34 years ago. It is clouded by time. But I will never forget the stretcher crew bringing Duggan back into the ship after he died. It isn't something you easily forget. It was a very traumatic experience for a 22 year old BT2. There were "ten" vietnam campaigns, and I have "nine" campaign ribbons, but this is the most vivid of all memories of that time and war. And I was on a ship that was shot at!! As memorial day approaches may we remember him in our prayers as we remember those that gave the ultimant sacrifice in service to their country. " On Behalf of a Grateful Nation" Jim Hampton BTCM-USN-RET

From:  Ed Thralls, 8512 Clematis Ln., Orlando, FL 32819., Rate on Gridley: STG2 Retired from USN on 2/89 at rank of LCDR (23 years, 7 months)

Comment: I remember incident with PO Duggan pretty well. I was on watch in the sonar shack when we heard that the helo crew had taken hostile fire.  We were listening to conversations between the bridge and CIC. The Captain gave orders for the ship to close the distance to the enemy coast to decrease the flight time for the helo. 

By the time we set flight quarters, the watch had changed. I was in the inboard passageway on starboard side heading for the AS Division compartment when PO Duggan was being carried from the fantail to Sickbay. I was told to "suck it in" as I tried to flatten myself against the bulkhead. I saw the wounds on PO Duggan as he was carried by, just inches away from me. Both the pilot and co-pilot were slightly wounded. 

The pilot landed the helo and shut things so quickly that the craft jerked from the rough handling. There were holes in belly of the helo (I had understood that the plating in the floor was thicker than elsewhere on the craft to reduce projectile penetration) from something larger than 30 caliber. Any more than this would be embellishment and not anymore accurate that I have already stated.