David Henard – Helicopter Pilot

When David Henard headed off to college, he had three things in mind: aviation, electrical engineering, and military service.

As a sophomore at the University of Missouri, Henard learned that joining the Advanced ROTC program and passing the US Army flight physical would enable him to receive 40 hours of flight training in a Cessna 150 (two years of ROTC were required of all students at the university, known today as the Missouri University of Science and Technology)

The training moved Henard one step closer to his goals. With a father who served in World War II, a grandfather who was in World War I and two uncles in the Korean War, there was no question Henard would follow in their footsteps.

“I just grew up feeling like I had an obligation to serve my country,” said Henard.

Centaurs Slick burned Inside by Parachute Flare

During his junior year, the workload of the engineering program and flight lessons at an airport ten miles from campus was heavy. Lacking a vehicle of his own, Henard caught rides to the airport and often hitchhiked back to campus where a pile of homework awaited him.

“The solo ride came with less than seven hours of flight time,” Henard wrote in his 2018 book, Victory Stolen: The perspectives of a helicopter pilot on the Tet Offensive and its aftermath.

Henard graduated in 1965 and entered the Army as a second lieutenant in May 1966. Initially assigned as a signal officer (Army aviation began under the signal corps), Henard attended flight school at Fort Wolters, Texas, and Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Henard chose rotary wing training over fixed wing school because the line for helicopter training had no waiting.

Cpt Henard with Diamondhead 10 Team in May ’68

Henard was commander of the helicopter providing support for ground troops attempting to retrieve wounded soldiers in the village of Tan Hiep. When the aircraft came under heavy enemy fire, Henard led an assault on a pagoda suspected of containing enemy personnel. After several gun runs resulting in the destruction of the pagoda containing roughly forty enemy soldiers, his door gunner was hit when two rocket motors struck by a .50 caliber machine gun round, exploded, damaging the aircraft.

The battle was described in the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded to Henard: “His valorous actions and outstanding leadership contributed immeasurably to the successful completion of the mission and the defeat of the enemy force.”

Hundreds of combat missions flown by Henard are detailed in Stolen Victory. The author takes exception to the mainstream media’s war coverage. He is especially critical of broadcast journalists who opined that the U.S. was defeated in the Tet Offensive.

Nui Ba Den in Monsoon Season

Henard headed home in 1969 to attend the University of Illinois for a master’s degree in industrial engineering. He worked as assistant director for systems development at the University of Illinois and later served as computer services director at Eastern Illinois University.

Henard retired in 2000 and with his wife Gail, served with missionary efforts in Scotland, Mexico, and central Asia. They moved to Clinton in 2010 to be near their three children and six grandchildren.