NAVY SEAWOLF DOOR GUNNERS Doug Taylor, 21, of Grady County, and Patrick Keech, 19, stand by for their next mission in the Mekong Delta in 1971. Photo courtesy of Doug Taylor.
Vietnam veteran and Huey helicopter enthusiast Doug Taylor of Grady County is encouraging local residents to tune into Georgia Public Television on Monday night to learn more about the most decorated squadron in U.S. Naval Aviation history.
“Scramble The Seawolves” reveals the untold story of the HA(L)-3 Seawolves. From meager beginnings, the most effective and offensive Navy squadron, Helicopter Attack Light Squadron Three Seawolves, was established inside the Republic of Vietnam in support of Task Force-116, Operation Gamewarden in 1967.
The Navy Seawolves were an all-volunteer squadron of approximately 3,000 brave young men. Nine detachments, consisting of two crews, four men each, were strategically located throughout Military Regions III and IV, Mekong Delta.
Over its five year existence, The Battle of VC Lake, September 1970, is remembered as one of the most intense combat events that included multiple Seawolf detachments, Sealords and Dustoff 86.
Viewers will hear the raw emotional account of this battle from those who survived and saw their Seawolf brothers perish.
The HA(L)-3 Seawolves would become the most decorated Squadron in the Vietnam War, arguably in all of naval aviation history, with five NAVY Crosses awarded, 31 Silver Stars, 219 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 15,964 Air Medals, countless other Medals, and multiple Presidential Unit Citations, yet their story is virtually unknown to most.
Taylor was a Seawolf door gunner. He now owns and operates Taylor Hydraulics in Cairo.
“Scramble the Seawolves” will air beginning at 9 p.m. Monday and run for an hour and a half.
