Vietnam War Veteran
Cecil Newcomb
Interviewed by:
Natalie Sweeney and Jordan Our
1966
2016
"It was an eye opening experience ... nobody, no matter how much training you have,
is really prepared for war until you're in it."
~ Cecil Newcomb (6:11)
Name:
Cecil E. Newcomb III
Date of Birth:
November 17, 1947 (11/17/47)
Branch of Service:
United States Marine Corps (Corporal)
Dates of Service:
October 3, 1966 - February 17, 1970
Location of Military Service:
Quang Tri, Vietnam (7 months)
Phu Bai, Vietnam (4 months)
Residence at Time of Interview:
Orleans, MA
Cecil Newcomb's Story:
Cecil Newcomb was born and raised on Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the town of Orleans. He was the oldest of nine children and did not plan on going to college right away.
Mr. Newcomb was drafted into the Vietnam War when he was 18 years old. From there, he decided to join the Marine Corps. Mr. Newcomb was trained in boot camp on Parris Island, South Carolina for 8 weeks. He then participated in 3 weeks of training at Cape Geiger in North Carolina. Cecil Newcomb travelled to Memphis, Tennessee for aviation training. Lastly, he went to the active helicopter squadron HMT 302 in California until December 1968. He planned on going to Vietnam in June of 1968, but his mother passed away that May and his orders were deferred to January.
Mr. Newcomb was stationed in the Quang Tri Province in Vietnam and then moved to Phu Bai. As the crew chief of his helicopter, he was responsible for successfully completing medevac trips. Many of those trips included hovering over the jungle canopy and sending down a hoist. Corporal Newcomb was shot down in his helicopter three times, each time trying his best to get everyone to safety. The first time he was shot down was a night that never leaves him.
After ten months in Vietnam, Mr. Newcomb returned to Cape Cod due to his father’s death. As a Vietnam War Veteran, being constantly reminded of the terrible situation was hard on Mr. Newcomb. It was difficult for him to keep a job during the years after the war.
Cecil Newcomb returned to Vietnam with a friend in 1995. He experienced the culture in an entirely different way. The Marine Corps Helicopter Pilot and Crewmen's Association that Mr. Newcomb was a member of has a reunion every year that he occasionally attends. He has also attended a few HMM 262 squadron reunions. Cecil is currently living in Orleans as a retired fisherman with a boat mooring business.
This is the Air Medal Mr. Newcomb received in 1969.
Cecil Newcomb has about 30 of these medals, and each one representing 20 missions.
Mr. Newcomb completed a total of 600 missions.
This is the certificate of authorization for one of Mr. Newcomb's Air Medals.
This is the Purple Heart Medal that Mr. Newcomb received.
It was given to him because he was injured in the war from a piece of
debris after his helicopter was shot down.
This is the certificate of authorization for the Purple Heart Medal.
It took Mr. Newcomb many years after the war to accept his Purple Heart Medal.
Cecil Newcomb did not believe he deserved this medal. It was not until 1999 that he finally accepted it.
The document above was signed and noted by his fellow Marine friend Fred McCorkle.
Mr. Newcomb received the Bronze Star Medal June 5, 1969.
The Bronze Star Medal is rewarded to soldiers for heroic actions during combat.
This is the certificate of authorization for the Bronze Star Medal.
Mr. Newcomb was honored with this medal because
he managed to pull the injured Marines out one of the nights his helicopter was shot down.
His bravery and courage saved the lives of his crew and fellow soldiers.
This is a replica of the helicopter Cecil Newcomb flew when stationed in Vietnam.
As the crew chief of this helicopter, it was his job to make sure it was suitable for flying each day.
The helicopter model is the CH46. It was a random rotor, twin engine and it held 12 troops, a pilot, copilot, crew chief and two gunners.
Cecil Newcomb was interviewed by the Cape Codder 2012 about his experience in the Vietnam War.