HINE GORDON L

CPT Gordon L Hine was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 03/31/2007 at the age of 68.0
Lumberton, MS
Flight Class 67-20
Date of Birth 03/13/1939
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with D/1/1 CAV in 66, D/1/1 CAV in 68, B/123 AVN 23 INF in 68-69
This information was provided by Kenny Bunn, Jay Hovers

More detail on this person: Gordon Leroy Hine, 68, died at his home in Patterson, Louisiana on March 31, 2007. He is survived by his sons Douglas of Grand Junction, Colorado, Donavan of Atlanta, Georgia; daughters Leah Lee of Lumberton, Mississippi, Lynette Stewart of Richmond, Virginia and brother, Randall of Sacramento, California. Gordy had seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Gordy was a career helicopter pilot with Air Logistics, who at the time of his death, was home recovering from injuries suffered when his Aerospatial EC120 experienced an hydraulic hardover and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. It is not believed the injuries contributed to his untimely death - Gordy passed away in his sleep.

Gordy enlisted in the Army and became a tanker. He taught armor tactics and tank gunnery in Viseck, Germany. He applied for OCS and was commissioned a 2nd LT. before receiving orders to Viet Nam. In March 1966 he was assigned as an advisor to Vietnamese Rangers in the Mekong Delta. During this time, Gordy received the first of his three Purple Hearts. The first was for a punji stake wound that almost cost him his leg, and a second for shrapnel wounds suffered when a booby trapped artillery round exploded killing eight of his Rangers. It was here that Gordy was awarded the first of his Bronze Stars with three Oak Leaf Clusters. Since he was detailed as an infantry officer with his Vietnamese Rangers, Gordy was awarded the coveted Combat Infantry Badge, one of the few non infantry branch officers to receive it.

After his first tour, Gordy returned to the states and went to Army flight school before returning to Viet Nam in 1968. He was assigned to D Troop, 1st Squadron of the 1st Cavalry, flying Cobras. Later Gordy served with B Company, 123rd Aviation Battalion with the call sign Warlord 37. An exceptional flight leader, Gordy was looked up to by young and old pilots alike. He was outspoken to the point that his superiors knew asking him a question might not get the answer desired. When asked why he had done some unauthorized firing one day, Gordy replied "because they were running." Why were they running, he was asked. "Because I was firing at them," came the reply.

Gordy was riffed in 1971 and worked for a short time for Astro Aviation before joining Air Logistics in 1974. He started flying the Bell 206 before upgrading to the Bell 212, an aircraft he loved. Known for his quick wit, Gordy wore his patriotism and love of country on his sleeve for all to see. One night at the company trailer in Amelia, Gordy, with a few toddys under his belt, decided that President Reagan could use his help with Qadaffi in Libya. Repeatedly he called the White House asking to speak to the President. "Just let me have a gunship," he told the White House operator, "and I'll take care of the situation." When Air Log got the phone bill, they wondered about all the calls to the White House. When they found out Gordy had been in the trailer that night they knew, everyone knew, because that was exactly who Gordy was. As one of his Army buddies said of him, "he was funny, compassionate, lovable and sometimes a real jackass." That's how we all remember him - Gordy we miss you. From: Jay Hovers

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 10/23/2024


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