Pictorial History of Fort Wolters, Volume 7: Heliports, Stagefields, Directory Page: 65 of 171
165 p. : ill., map ; 30 cm.View a full description of this book.
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Just prior to his death, Colonel Dempsey, 45, was piloting a UH-ID "Huey" helicopter and
observing an airlift of troops in an operation against the VC. A troop carrying helicopter had been
shot down in the landing area. A medical evacuation helicopter was shot down while attempting
to rescue the crew of the troop helicopter. Both crews were in extreme danger from Viet Cong
fire, as the VC were in well-fortified positions around the landing zone and were well equipped
with automatic weapons, rifles and machine guns. When he attempted a personal rescue of the
crews and was less than five feet from the ground, he was mortally wounded.
The U. S. Army Primary Helicopter Center/ School paid tribute to this selfless Army
aviator by dedicating and naming its west heliport, Dempsey Army Heliport.
On February 2, 1968, at 2:00 p.m., Mrs. Juanita Dempsey, widow of Colonel Dempsey,
unveiled a memorial plaque in memory of her late husband. Witnessing the dedication of the
heliport was US Congressman Omar Burleson and Lieutenant General Lawrence J. Lincoln
commanding general of the Fourth U. S. Army. Both spoke at the dedication ceremony.
This article is a summary of two articles written for the Fort Wolters Trumpet by Jane
Coats and Sgt. Phil Dodson and from personal notes. Copied for historical purposes only.
Willie H. Casper, Jr.
Colonel U. S. Army (Ret.)
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Casper, Willie H. Jr. Pictorial History of Fort Wolters, Volume 7: Heliports, Stagefields, Directory, book, Date Unknown; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth24849/m1/65/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boyce Ditto Public Library.