Info Sheet - SP4 Phillip C. Blackmond
On May 16, 1971 a mortar/rocket attack did heavy damage to an aircraft from F Troop, that was in for maintenance. (U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 69-15272). UH-1 Mechanics SP4 Leonard D. Montes, SP4 Ralph E. Posey and SP4 Phillip C. Blackmond were performing maintenance on the helicopter when an enemy rocket landed in the revetment. SP4 Monte was killed outright. SP4 Blackmond was seriously wounded and died of wounds a few hours after arriving at the hospital. (SP4 Blackmond was pulled from the burning helicopter by CPT Skip Petrie.) SP4 Posey received what appeared to be minor wounds and burns, but died of wounds while in an Army hospital in Japan. (Posey may have inhaled hot gases from the burning helicopter.)
Sp4 Phillip Cornelius Blackmond, Vietnam Veteran, Native of Louisburg, North Carolina. He was a member of the Army Selective Service and a Draftee.
Phillip was born on December 10th, 1950 in Louisburg, North Carolina. SP4 Blackmond is on panel 03W, line 037 of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C.
Phillip was the youngest child of Mary Lou & James Alton Blackmond. He graduated from Bunn High School in 1969. He lived inland but he had a love for fishing especially deep-sea. He was a loving and caring man who had a daughter Kimberly Mario Woods born 1/11/69. Phillip was the horse for his nieces who used to ride on his back.
The Blackmond Family. A Fine Young Man, and a friend.
I knew Philip before he went off to serve his country. He was my bus driver back in North Carolina. He dated my sister and I wish Philip could have lived to get old. He would have been an exceptional person. I still miss him. Clyde Woods, 1912 N. Union, Shawnee, OK 74804, pupwoods@hotmail.com.
We lived and grew up together in the same community. We worked on the farm, helped each other, fished, rode bikes played ball. Once we got our drivers license we would go on double dates with our female friends. After High School we went different ways, I moved to New Jersey and Phillip was drafted in the Army. We still kept in touch and wrote often. In the last letter I received from Phillip, he said that when he finished his tour he come to New Jersey and stay for awhile. Unfortunately I received that letter the day after I heard of his death. It was a shock to me and after thirty seven years, he is still in my heart and mind. I thank God for allowing me to have him in my life, all be it a short time. An Everlasting Friend, Alphonza Harris, 10811 Seen Paths Rd. Spring Hope, North Carolina.
He served with F Troop (Air), 4th Cavalry Regiment, assigned to the 1st Aviation Brigade, USARV.
He was awarded The Purple Heart Medal for his combat related wounds, The Vietnam Service Medal, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Good Conduct Medal and The Air Medal with Multiple Oak Leaf Clusters.
The VHPA Report:
Helicopter UH-1H 69-15272
Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1H tail number 69-15272
The Army purchased this helicopter 0470
Total flight hours at this point: 00000750
Date: 05/16/1971
Incident number: 71051616.KIA
Unit: F/4 CAV
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: XT765385
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Also: OPERA (Operations Report. )
Summary: These three men were killed by an enemy rocket while working on this helicopter on the ground.
Loss to Inventory
Crew Members:
OG SP4 BLACKMOND PHILLIP CORNELI KIA
OG SP4 MONTES LEONARD DANIEL KIA
OG SP4 POSEY RALPH EDWARD KIA