'Volunteered to serve': Lebanon pilot to be honored 53 years after death in Vietnam

On Oct. 13, 1971, Warrant Officer 1 John Stephen Chrin was first pilot on a mission with air medics in far western An Giang Province of Vietnam. For reasons unknown, he and his crew were unaware they had drifted south and were dangerously close to the 2,330-foot mountain peak known as Dop Chompa.

"Radar contact was lost approximately seven miles from a 2,000 foot mountain," official military records state. "Aircraft impacted on the side of a mountain near Chau Lang. A fire was spotted by ground observers who were unable to reach the crash site until the following morning."

Now 53 years later, Lebanon County residents will gather at Holy Cross Cemetery Friday for the 10th annual memorial services for Chrin on Oct. 13 at 9 a.m.

"Following grave-side services, a remembrance breakfast will be held at Heisey’s Diner following the service," organizers said in an email. "Local representatives, Vietnam Veterans, and Lebanon Catholic High School classmates and friends and Veterans of the US are attending."

Chrin graduated from Lebanon Catholic High School in 1967. He was attending Mansfield State College when he enlisted with the U.S. Army in April of 1970.

After graduating with honors from flight school, Chrin volunteered for advanced training as a medical evacuation pilot at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. In July 1971, he arrived in Vietnam as a member of the 57th Medical Detachment, 68th Medical Group.

"John arrived in Vietnam on 5 July 1971, and was assigned to the 57th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance) (The Original DUSTOFF), 68th Medical Group, at Binh Thuy, in the Mekong Delta," organizers said.

While serving overseas, Chrin became a member of the DUSTOFF rescue team. DUSTOFF was the call sign used throughout South Vietnam, from the Delta to the DMZ, and in Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam, to request immediate evacuation of wounded troops.

Flying in unarmed Huey helicopters, the volunteer DUSTOFF crews consisted of pilot, copilot, crew chief and flight medic, and they flew into the most dangerous battle zones to rescue injured soldiers.

DUSTOFF crews went on more than 490,000 missions and rescued over 900,000 wounded in the 11 years they were in Vietnam.

By October, Chrin had flown more than 125 combat medical evacuation missions.

On the evening of Oct. 13, 1971, the crew of DUSTOFF 71 found a mission still on the board from the afternoon due to adverse weather.  Realizing the wounded man had been in the field too long the crew decided to attempt a rescue.

While attempting visual contact with the troops on the ground, DUSTOFF 71 crashed and burst into flames, killing all on board.

"Unknown to 57th Med Det operations, the patient had died long before DUSTOFF 71 took off," organizers said. "He had been wounded in a mine field and no South Vietnamese soldier was willing to verify the patient was still alive."

In 2015, Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello proclaimed every Oct. 13 as John Stephen Chrin Day in the borough.

Chrin was awarded the Purple Heart, six Air Medals, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Aviator Badge for his meritorious service. He also received the Vietnam Campaign Medal from the Republic of Vietnam.

"John Stephen Chrin’s life ended at 22 years," organizers said. "He volunteered to serve in the US Army during the latter part of the Vietnam War, when he was safely in college. He volunteered to fly unarmed medical evacuation helicopters, knowing he would be sent to Vietnam.  He voluntarily flew into 'hot' landing zones and rice paddies and hovered above the jungle to winch wounded aboard, while exposed to enemy fire."

Residents wishing to learn more about the DUSTOFF rescue team can visit the DUSTOFF Association website at dustoff.org .

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth .

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: 'Volunteered to serve': Lebanon pilot to be honored 53 years after death in Vietnam