emblem HMM-165
emblem

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 - 
  

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Updated:12 Jun 2010