On Oct. 13, 1971, Warrant Officer 1 John Stephen Chrin was first pilot on a mission with air medics in far western An Giang Province of Vietnam. For reasons unknown, he and his crew were unaware they had drifted south and were dangerously close to the 2,330-foot mountain peak known as Dop Chompa.
“Radar contact was lost approximately seven miles from a 2,000 foot mountain,” official military records state. “Aircraft impacted on the side of a mountain near Chau Lang. A fire was spotted by ground observers who were unable to reach the crash site until the following morning.”
Now 53 years later, Lebanon County residents will gather at Holy Cross Cemetery Friday for the 10th annual memorial services for Chrin on Oct. 13 at 9 a.m.
“Following grave-side services, a remembrance breakfast will be held at Heisey’s Diner following the service,” organizers said in an email. “Local representatives, Vietnam Veterans, and Lebanon Catholic High School classmates and friends and Veterans of the US are attending.”