 brother and sister-in-law to Gary Lee Haught |
Remember...Gary Lee Haught
|
Gary Lee Haught was born on September 29, 1948, near Fairview, West Virginia, which is located in Marion County. Gary's parents lived across the county line in Monongalia County. Fairview is a small town of around 400 residents with a rich history tied to the oil, gas, and coal industries. Gary was born at home to Mabel Maxine Wright Haught and Henry Robert Haught, who fought with the 1st Cavalry in World War II. Gary was the oldest of four children including a brother, Terry Lynn, and two sisters, Patricia Darlene and Cindy Lou.
| According to his brother, Gary spent a lot of time riding horses, and he enjoyed rabbit hunting with his beagles and coon hunting with his friends. Gary also had a passion for muscle cars and purchased a 1965 GTO convertible prior to leaving for Vietnam. |  Gary with his horse |
 Gary, elementary school |
 Gary, high school |
Gary attended Fairview Elementary School and graduated from Fairview High School in 1966. |
He completed the Chicago Technical College Engineering Drawing Lessons A-1 through A-13 correspondence course on August 10, 1967, prior to joining the U.S. Army.
| Gary Lee enlisted in the U.S. Army in March 1968 for a three-year period but actually entered the army on June 28, 1968, and completed his basic training at the United States Army Training Center Armor at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Gary is the first soldier from the left in the top row of his graduating class. After basic training, Gary completed subsequent training in Aircraft Maintenance at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The second photo to the right was taken of Gary and a squad leader, Roderick C. Kiehl, from California, while at Fort Rucker. |  |
 |
 Gary's diploma from Aviation School |
Unit insignia |
Gary's tour of duty in Vietnam started on January 1, 1969. Upon arrival in Vietnam, Gary served as a hydraulic mechanic. He served with the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. |
| Although initially Gary worked on helicopter maintenance, he became a door gunner, which is what he was doing when he died on September 17, 1969. Here are three photos of Gary taken in Vietnam: |  |
Colonel James M. Connell provided the following account of the events of Gary's death:
Specialist Five Haught distinguished himself by heroic actions on 17 September 1969, while serving as a door gunner with the 3d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division in the Republic of Vietnam. When elements of the 5th Battalion, 60th Infantry made contact with a well fortified enemy force, the Brigade Command and Control ship flew to the embattled area. As the aircraft began a series of low level passes over the enemy stronghold, Specialist Haught placed suppressive fire on the insurgents' positions. On several occasions, Specialist Haught leaned out of his aircraft, fully exposed to the deadly hostile fire, to more accurately direct intense fire on the aggressors and pinpoint enemy bunkers to the ground troops. As the helicopter maneuvered through the maze of fire, it crashed, fatally wounding Specialist Haught. His valorous actions contributed immeasurably to the success of the mission and the defeat of the hostile force. Specialist Haught's bravery, aggressiveness, and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, the 9th Infantry Division and the United States Army.
 |
For these reasons, Gary Lee Haught was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. |
| Another military account reported: SP5 Gary Haught was killed in a mid-air collision that occurred between a 3rd Brigade Command and Control UH-1H and an AH-1G during Operation Toan Thang, Long An Province, South Vietnam. He was serving as a gunner aboard the UH-1H. Those who perished with Gary on the UH-1H included these crew and passengers: 1st Lt. Richard A. Snowdon (P), WO1 Robert P. Mayer (AC), SP5 William A. Fitch (CE), Capt. Donald W. Dietz, Maj. Dana W. Mitchell, Lt. Col. Leo P. Sikorski, Maj. David R. Mackey, Maj. William T. McNair, and Col. Dale J. Crittenberger (Commander, 3rd Brigade, 9th Infantry). The crew of the Cobra who also died included WO1 Gary J. Davis (AC) and WO1 Theodore V. Skiles (CP). |  A memorial service was held in Vietnam for these fallen soldiers. |
 An unidentified soldier contemplates the memorial to Gary and his comrades. |
Gary Lee Haught was also awarded the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
 Gary's military marker |
One of Gary's closest high school friends, Specialist 4th Class Thomas Efaw Jr., who was also serving in Vietnam at the time of Gary's death, escorted his body home. The body of Specialist 5 Gary Lee Haught was interred in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Fairmont, West Virginia. |
| Gary is also honored on Panel 18W, Line 102, of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. |  |
Article prepared by Patricia and Terry Haught. All photos courtesy the Haughts.
November 2020
West Virginia Archives and History welcomes any additional information that can be provided about these veterans, including photographs, family names, letters and other relevant personal history.
