One of the more unique chapters the Navy occurred during the brown water operations in Vietnam. Helicopter Attack Squadron (Light) 3 “Seawolves,” would operate from the Mekong Delta, supporting special forces and riverine patrols. Flying UH-1B Iroquois (Huey) gunships, they manned detachments operating from Landing Ship Tank (LSTs). The ships also served as patrol craft tenders and housed the SEAL teams HA(L)-3 aviators would insert and extract from the jungle. The helicopters provided an unmatched level of mobility. 
It was not without its dangers. 44 members of the squadron died. One crew on a combat patrol were killed when a rotor blade broke 24 miles west of Saigon September 20, 1976. The crash site was quickly secured and all bodies recovered.
Pilot Lieut. Cmdr. Lawrence Cover is interred at Arlington National Cemetery. He was 34.
Co-pilot Lieut. j.g. Arnold Winfield Barden Jr. is interred at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego. The U.S. Naval Academy graduate was 25. His father, @USMarine Col. Arnold Barden Sr., is also interred there. Barden Sr. served in World War 2, Korea and Vietnam. A naval aviator as well, he died in 2010.
Aviation Structural Mechanic First Class (AMS1) Harold Edward Cowen is interred at New Eminence Cemetery in Eminence, Missouri. He was 28.
His father is also there. Chesley Cowen was an @USArmy Pfc in World War II. He Died in 1998, age 74. Like all eligible Veterans can, he received a VA headstone.
Aviation Machinist (Jet Engine Mechanic) 2nd Class, (ADJ2) Charles Henry Goldbin is interred at Los Angeles National Cemetery. He was 22.

The HAL-3 squadron emblem. It's a blue dragon spitting fire, holding shield and trident.

The Landing Ship (Tank) that supported the HA(L)-3 Hueys. They provided berthing and support to SEALs and aircrews who operated in Vietnam.

The Landing Ship (Tank) that supported the HA(L)-3 helos and patrol craft. 2 helos are aboard.

CHARLES HENRY GOLDBIN

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