History of the 227th Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter)
Continued

After the battalion had been back at the Golf Course for a couple
of weeks, the Viet Cong attacked the Special Forces camp at 
Plei Me in force and the long and costly Plei Me - Ia Drang Valley 
Campaign was under way. The morning after the attack, 
23 October 1965, Company "C" was ordered to Pleiku to support 
the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry. Within a few days the entire 
battalion was committed in support of the 1st Brigade, whose 
mission was to seek out and destroy the Viet Cong and North 
Vietnamese Army forces in the Plei Me area.
 
This support was continued routinely with each of the lift companies
supporting an infantry battalion daily until late in October. When the
large North Vietnamese Army were located near the Ia Drang Valley,
the 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion began lifting the 1st Brigade
units in combat assaults on  enemy positions. On 3 November 1965,
the 227th and the 1st Brigade units were relieved by other units of 
the division and returned to the Golf Course for a well deserved rest.

On 10 December, Company "A" moved to Pleiku to support the 2nd 
Battalion, 8th Cavalry in search and destroy operations reaching from
Pleiku to Kontum and west to the Cambodian border. As the year came 
to a close, Company "A" was still in Pleiku supporting units of the 
1st Brigade and the remainder of the battalion supporting the 
Division's units at An Khe preparing for the next large combat 
operation.

The 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion's first half of the year with 
the 1st Cavalry Division was highly successful. Their accomplishments 
exceeded all expectations and have helped remove all doubt about the
application of the air mobility concept to limited warfare in 
Southeast Asia. The battalion has continually emphasized further 
training and the development of new ideas and equipment. 

Ever looking to the future, The keynotes have been flexibility, 
mission orientation, and "Pouvoir".

KEY PERSONNEL

COMMANDING OFFICER

Lieutenant Colonel Jack Cranford

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Major Otrie B. Barrett

COMMANDING OFFICER
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS COMPANY

Major John S. Bond
Major Eugene T. Boyd

COMMANDING OFFICER
COMPANY "A"

Major Floyd R. Wirthlin

COMMANDING OFFICER
COMPANY "B"

Major Donald G. Curry
Major Fred C. Headley

COMMANDING OFFICER
COMPANY "C"

Major Thomas I. McMurray

COMMANDING OFFICER
COMPANY "D"

Major Jack Kincaid

S-1

Major Robert C. Burgess

S-2

Major William J. Gorman

S-3

Major David L. Johnson

S-4

Major D. Joiner

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