Technical Sergeant Floyd Milton Frazier
Vietnam War – February 11, 1962
1st Air Commando Squadron, 314th Air Division, 13th Air Force, U.S. Air Force
Distinguished Flying Cross
Before the war was called a war, they were already flying into danger.
Technical Sergeant Floyd Milton Frazier served with the 1st Air Commando Squadron, part of the 314th Air Division, 13th Air Force — a unit whose mission in early 1962 was unconventional, secretive, and perilous. These men flew low and alone, over jungles that hid more than trees.
On Sunday, February 11, 1962, TSgt Frazier was aboard a Douglas SC-47A Skytrain (#15732) on a propaganda leaflet mission — a peaceful flight meant to deliver a message of hope and unity from President John F. Kennedy to the people of South Vietnam as the Lunar New Year approached. Their route took them from Saigon to Da Nang, sweeping low over the Central Highlands to drop leaflets across isolated villages and valleys.
Near Bao Lộc, in Lâm Đồng Province, the aircraft descended into a mountain pass near the village of Blao. Hidden below, a Viet Cong force waited. As the Skytrain passed overhead, it came under sudden small-arms fire. Bullets tore through the fuselage and engines. Moments later, the aircraft slammed into the mountainside and exploded in the dense jungle southwest of the village.
All eight Americans aboard were killed, along with two South Vietnamese airmen. The fallen included six U.S. Air Force crewmen — CAPT Edward K. Kissam Jr., CAPT Joseph M. Fahey Jr., 1LT Jack D. Le Tourneau, 1LT Stanley G. Hartson, TSGT Floyd M. Frazier, and A1C Robert L. Westfall — and two U.S. Army passengers — 2LT Lewis M. Walling Jr. and SP4 Glen F. Merrihew.
In the days that followed, a joint U.S.–Vietnamese rescue team reached the crash site and recovered the remains of the crew, who were brought home with honor.
For his heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight, Technical Sergeant Floyd M. Frazier was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
He gave his life before America fully realized how long and costly the war would become — one of the earliest Air Force casualties in Vietnam, and one of the first to fall in a mission meant to win hearts rather than destroy.
His name is engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Panel 1E, Line 35 — among the first of more than 58,000 who would follow.
“They flew low and unarmed — carrying words, not weapons — and gave their lives in the opening shadows of a long war.”

Floyd Frazier is listed as a Notable burial at https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/beaufort.asp.

On February 11, 1962, eight U.S. servicemen and two South Vietnamese air force personnel died when their C47 transport plane was shot down between Saigon and Danang. The mission was to drop propaganda leaflets with lunar new year wishes to Vietnamese people. Among the dead were six members of the U.S. Air Force — the first USAF casualties of the Vietnam conflict. The remains of USAF Technical Sergeant Floyd M. Frazier (b. 1927) and Army Specialist 4th Class Glen F. Merrihew (b.1940) were comingled because of the crash, and Beaufort National Cemetery was selected by the military for their burial between the decedents' next of kin. Frazier, the youngest of twelve, was survived by his wife Doris and three children. Merrihew, just 21 years old, was due for discharge in September; sister Leona was his legal guardian. Funeral services were held March 12, 1962.  

FLOYD M FRAZIER

Service

TSGT

Resting Place

32.44017213, -80.68177956

Mementos

Tributes

Word Cloud

undefined

Milestones

Mementos

Historical Documents

Veteran programs and services

More VA resources

Get VA updates

In crisis? Get help now

Contact us