Rex Russell Sage was born on May 16, 1919 and
joined the Armed Forces while in Roberta, Georgia.
He served in the United States Army.
In 26 years of service, he attained the rank of Colonel. He began a tour
of duty in Vietnam on May 10, 1968.
On September 8, 1968, at the age of 49, Rex
Russell Sage perished in the service of our country in South Vietnam, Quang
Duc.
"Colonel Sage, you were the Senior US/MACV Advisor to
the ARVN 23rd Division based in Ban Me Thuot City, Darlac Province when
we first met on 30 July 1968. Then assigned to the Darlac Sector MACV/RF/PF/CORDS
pacification 'side' of the team, I was interviewed by you as was your custom
with each newly assigned person. And with rare leadership style, you placed
'things' into perspective and got to know each of us... always leaving
a direct line open. During the sometimes long evenings, when in from the
field at the Ban Me Thuot base, the "Bungalow"--an old hunting lodge of
Bao Dai's, we would usually find you in the 'rec' hall reading and listening
to your private stock of classical, jazz and Broadway music ('Camelot'
was among your favorites). You urged all, officer and enlisted, to share
the time and place to listen, write and reflect -- mortar attacks or not.
And then I recall the day the 'slick' carrying you, Master Sergeant Barnard,
your Vietnamese counterpart, his aide and crew went down. As we monitored
the frequency, heard the "May Day" calls and voice traffic of the follow-up
ships, it became apparent that all was lost amidst the fiery tall teak
trees... So we secured your base camp quarters. The final image of closing
that door never escapes me, nor does the short span of time that our paths
crossed, sad yet enriching. Thank you." Anthony F. Benfatti.
Helicopter 67-17149
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail
number 67-17149
The Army purchased this helicopter January
1969
Total flight hours at this point: 00000642
Date: 09/08/68
Incident number: 680908091ACD Accident case
number: 680908091
Total loss or fatality Accident
Unit: 155th Avn Co
Ban Me Thuot Province, South Vietnam
Number killed in accident: 6 Injured: 2 Passengers:
4
costing: $514,554
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
AC WO1 KOPPEL REDLICK SIMS KIA
P WO1 HARWOOD WILLIAM PHILLIP KIA
CE E5 LECOUNT GW
G W1 DW HACKER
Passengers: X1 AN TQ, , PX, KIA; UNK AN DT,
, PX, KIA; COL SAGE REX RUSSELL, AR, PX, KIA; MSG BARNARD THOMAS WALTER,
AR, PX, KIA;
Accident Summary:
The aircraft was on a VIP flight from Ban Me
Thout to Duc Lap, Vietnam. On a direct route from Ban Me Thuot to destination
at 2000 AGL, a loss of power occurred while WO1 Harwood was at the controls.
Loud popping and grinding noises from the transmission/engine area were
heard by the gunner and crew chief simultaneously with the loss of power.
Immediately, the aircraft commander WO Koppel, took control of the aircraft
simultaneously initiating a mayday call and an autorotation. At this time
the left cargo door was opened but the right cargo door was left closed.
MSG Barnard had a PRC-25 fm radio on board and was making a call. With
absolutely no forced landing areas to autorotate into, the aircraft commander
was forced to land into 200 foot trees and extremely dense foliage. The
autorotation was terminated with zero airspeed at tree top level causing
the helicopter to fall straight through the trees. Upon nearing the ground
the aircraft turned on its left side and hit the ground with the left front
first. The tail boom remained intact but was severed from the fuselage.
The main rotor and transmission were still in place. Upon contacting the
ground, the gunner broke the window out of the right cargo door and pulled
himself out. It appeared that all personnel in the cargo compartment were
unconscious. The gunner attempted to pull the General out through the window
of the cargo door but his attempt failed. He then went forward to the right
pilot door and attempted to open it but was unable to get the door open.
At this time the helicopter burst into flames and the gunner jumped back
from the burning aircraft. The crew chief was able to crawl out of his
position just prior to the fire. The flames were observed coming through
the tree canopy by a forward air controller aircraft. Within ten minutes
the forward air controller aircraft was on the scene and assisted "dust-off"
into the area. A medic was lowered down to the crash area and assisted
in getting the two survivors into the "dust-off" aircraft.
The following is crew member information for
this incident:
Name: WO1 Redlick Sims Koppel
Status: Killed In Action from an incident
on 09/08/68 while performing the duty of Aircraft Commander.
Age at death: 21.9
Unit: 155 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-501
Service: AV branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 44W-003
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17149
Country: South Vietnam
Position in vehicle: aircraft commander
Started Tour: 05/06/68
Location: Quang Duc Province II Corps.
Name: WO1 William Phillip Harwood
Status: Killed In Action from an incident
on 09/08/68 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 24.0
Unit: 155 AHC
Major organization: 1st Aviation Brigade
Flight class: 68-9
The Wall location: 44W-003
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17149
Country: South Vietnam
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 08/14/68
Length of service: 04
Location: Quang Duc Province II Corps.
Name: MSG Thomas Walter Barnard
Status: Killed In Action from an incident
on 09/08/68 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 34.3
Service: regular component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: MACV Advisors
Major organization: MACV advisors
Service: U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 44W-001
Aircraft: UH-1H tail number 67-17149
Country: South Vietnam
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 07/06/68
Length of service: 18
Location: Quang Duc Province II Corps.
Name: COL Rex Russell Sage
Status: Killed In Action from an incident
on 09/08/68 while performing the duty of Passenger.
Age at death: 49.3
Unit: MACV Advisors
Major organization: MACV advisors
Service: IN branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 44W-006
Country: South Vietnam
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected
not at sea
Position in vehicle: passenger
Started Tour: 05/10/68
Length of service: 26
Location: Quang Duc Province II Corps.
Sage, Rex R
Born 16 May 1919
Died 8 September 1968,
US Army, Colonel
Residence Macon, Georgia
Section: 30, Grave 606 LH,
Buried. 20 September 1968
Posted: 1 September
2001 Updated: 24 December 2006 |
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