Yankee Whiskey History

HMM-165

The historical facts on this page reflects Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 service from its activation until the end of the United States' involvement in the War in Vietnam. Included here are the Awards earned by the White Knights and the Commanding Officers who lead our Squadron.

The LINEAGE of...

Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165
1965 - 1975

(the War in Vietnam)
Activated 1 July 1965 at Santa Ana, California as
MARINE MEDIUM HELICOPTER SQUADRON 165, MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 36, III MARINE AIRCRAFT WING

Reassigned during August 1965 to MARINE WING SERVICE GROUP 37

Deployed during September-October 1966 to the Republic of Vietnam and reassigned to
MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 36, I MARINE AIRCRAFT WING

Participated in the War in Vietnam, October 1966 - August 1969,
operating from:

Ky Ha
	Hue/Phu Bai
		USS Valley Forge
			USS Tripoli
				Marble Mountain

Redeployed during August 1969 to Futema, Okinawa and reassigned to
MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 15, 9th MARINE AMPHIBIOUS BRIGADE

Reassigned during December 1969 to
MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP 36, I MARINE AIRCRAFT WING

Participated during the early 1970s as part of the SPECIAL LANDING FORCE
in support of the War in Vietnam, and with the
31st MARINE AMPHIBIOUS UNIT assigned to the SEVENTH FLEET

Participated during July and August 1972 in Philippine Flood Relief

Participated during April 1975 in the evacuation of Saigon

HONORS
AWARDED
HMM-165
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165

PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER with one BRONZE STAR
Vietnam:
1966 - 1967
1968

NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER with three BRONZE STARS
Vietnam:
1968
1968
1969
1972

MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION STREAMER with one BRONZE STAR
Vietnam:
1973
1975

NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE STREAMER

VIETNAM SERVICE STREAMER with two SILVER STARS and three BRONZE STAR

ARMED FORCES EXPEDITIONARY STREAMER

VIETNAM CROSS OF GALLANTRY with PALM

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION STREAMER

HMM-165
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165
~
Commanding Officers

Wings

Maj Oliver G. McDonald	`1 Jul 1965 -`	`22 Sep 1965`
LtCol William R. Duncan	`23 Sep 1965 -`	`26 Feb 1966`
LtCol. William W. Eldridge, Jr.	`27 Feb 1966 -`	`30 Apr 1967`
LtCol John A. Reames	`1 May 1967 -`	`6 Oct 1967`
LtCol Richard E. Romaine	`7 Oct 1967 -`	`31 Mar 1968`
LtCol Elvyn E. Hagedorn	`1 Apr 1968 -`	`22 Aug 1968`
LtCol George L. Patrick, Jr	`23 Aug 1968 -`	`25 Feb 1969`
LtCol Thomas E. Raines	`26 Feb 1969 -`	`23 Nov 1969`
LtCol David H. Mitchell	`24 Nov 1969 -`	`15 Aug 1970`
LtCol Herbert M. Herther	`16 Aug 1970 -`	`15 Jun 1971`
Maj Donnie M. Griffay	`16 Jun 1971 -`	`21 Jul 1971`
LtCol Paul L. Moreau	`22 Jul 1971 -`	`15 Jun 1972`
LtCol Charles H. F. Egger	`16 Jun 1972 -`	`1 May 1973`
LtCol Arthur B. Colbert	`2 May 1973 -`	`18 Mar 1974`
Maj Joseph L. James	`19 Mar 1974 -`	`25 Jul 1974`
LtCol. James P. Kizer	`26 Jul 1974 -`	`19 Jul 1975`
LtCol James A. McGinn	`19 Jul 1975 -`	`20 Jul 1976`
LtCol Ross S. Plasterer	`21 Jul 1976 -`	`13 Jun 1977`
Maj Forest E. Walker	`14 Jun 1977 -`	`3 Aug 1977`
LtCol Robert G. Mitchell	`4 Aug 1977 -`	`27 Nov 1977`
LtCol Richard P. Bland	`28 Nov 1977 -`	`2 Jul 1980`
LtCol Gary E. Thiry	`3 Jul 1980 -`	`16 Dec 1981`
LtCol Marion F. Stone	`17 Dec 1981 -`	`13 Oct 1982`
LtCol Alfred J. Ponnwitz	`14 Oct 1982 -`	`10 Feb 1984`
LtCol Marvin S. Blair	`11 Feb 1984 -`	`8 Feb 1985`
LtCol Thomas A. Braaten	`9 Feb 1985 -`	`9 May 1986`
LtCol Bernard F. Luby	`10 May 1988 -`	`14 Apr 1989`
LtCol Gene S. Mead	`15 Apr 1989 -`	`16 Mar 1990`
LtCol Marvin D. Hall	`17 Mar 1990 -`	`26 Nov 1991`
LtCol Phillip R. Westcott III	`27 Nov 1991 -`	`7 May 1993`
LtCol Gary G. Gisolo	`8 May 1993 -`	`2 Nov 1994`
LtCol Lawrence G. Walker	`3 Nov 1994 -`	`14 May 1996`
LtCol Richard M. Rasmussen	`15 May 1996 -`	`16 Apr 1998`
LtCol Guy M. Close	`17 Apr 1998 -`	`21 Jan 2000`
LtCol Robert M. Zeisler	`22 Jan 2000 -`	`13 Jul 2001`
LtCol Gregg A. Sturdevant	`14 Jul 2001 -`	`19 May 2003`
LtCol Jon Doering	`19 May 2003 -`	`29 Oct 2004`
LtCol Eric Steidl	`29 Oct 2004 -`	`13 Jan 2006`
LtCol Chris Papaj	`13 Jan 2006 -`	`15 Jun 2007`
LtCol Preston W. Jones	`15 Jun 2007 -`	`16 Jan 2009`
LtCol Todd J. Oneto	`16 Jan 2009 -`	`4 Feb 2011`
LtCol Jan M. January	`4 Feb 2011 -`	`11 Apr 2011`

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Updated:19 April 2011