DUSTOFF
57th Medical Detachment (Hel Amb)
1962/1963

(Under Construction - Send Input/Photos)

temperilli2

CPT JOHN TEMPERILLI
aka, COL "T"

SAVIOR OF DUSTOFF

In February 1962, CPT John Temperilli, Commander, 57th Medical Detachment, spearheaded events that formed DUSTOFF. Assigned to Vietnam, his unit arrived, bringing the first Hueys in country. He fought with success to preserve and maintain the medical evacuation mission and an ultimate respect for priority life-saving usage of his helicopters.

TO
CPT TEMPERILLI

EARLY SAVIOR OF DUSTOFF

KEN AUNGST, 1ST SGT RET, was with the 57th Med Det (HA)from 59-63. Thanks to Ken for the info and early photos.

   

         

  

NOTES FROM KEN AUNGST:

THE 57TH PICKED UP WO HOLLOWAY IN DEC 62 (HEAD WOUND). MY UH1A PICKED HIM UP AT TUY HOA SOUTH. I DID NOT HAVE A MEDIC ON BOARD BUT THERE WAS NOTHING WE COULD DO FOR HIM. HE DIED IN ROUTE TO 8TH FLD HOSP. "CAMP HOLLOWAY" NAMED AFTER HIM. WE WERE PART OF EARLY VIETNAM AVIATION HISTORY. "COL T" (THEN CPT) WAS A GREAT LEADER AS WAS PAUL BLOOMQUEST, DON NAYLOR, MAJ HAWKINS, LT THOMPSON, LT JACKSON AND "WILD BILL" BALLINGER. WE ATE A LOT OF RUSTY C RATIONS AND FLEW WITH 55 GAL DRUM AND 12GPM PUMP FOR AUX FUEL. MY A/C PICKED UP THE FIRST ARVN WOUNDED PICKED UP BY DUSTOFF (SEE PIC. IT WAS ALL SINGLE SHIP WITH NO FLIGHT FOLLOWING,BUT WE SURVIVED. I HAD 3 TOURS: 57TH AIR AMB,57TH AHCO KONTUM 67-68, 330 TRANS NCOIC 70-71. WAS IT WORTH IT? HELL YES.

     

TOMMY R. TRAMPP served with the 57th Med Det in Vietnam from 16 APRIL 1962 TO 13 APRIL 1963. Thanks to Tommy for the info and early photos.

NOTES FROM TOMMY TRAMPP:

I WAS ATTACHED TO THE 3rd SURGICAL HOSPITAL AT FORT MEADE MARYLAND. I FLEW WITH ALL THE EQUIPMENT FOR THE 57TH ON A C-130 CARGO PLANE FROM MARYLAND TO SAIGON, THEN TRANSPORTED EVERYTHING TO NHA TRANG. THE 57th WAS ATTACHED TO THE 8th FIELD HOSPITAL. I WAS WITH THEM FOR ABOUT A WEEK WHEN EVERYONE ELSE SHOWED UP. WE HAD FIVE CHOPPERS TO COVER ALL OF NAM AT THAT TIME. THEY WERE THE "A" MODEL HUEYS. ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER THEY WERE REPLACED WITH THE "B" MODEL HUEY.

NOTES:

THESE PHOTOS, BELONGING TO ALVIN COOPER, WERE CONTRIBUTED BY MARTIN BRADWELL.


Early Medevac Card:

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