On 10/04/2019 the Son of a possible Seawolf found and posted on Forum:
“I lost my dad Jan 2019, he did not talk much about the war,
but was connected with Hal-3 looks like around 67 (from what I can tell from dd214 / papers), wondered if anyone knew him, went by Ray brooks.”
I asked him to email me, but after two days not being contacted, I searched and found son Phillip. After talking with him, it sounded legit, and I asked him to email me copies of all the records he had.
The next day I received 26 of his Dad’s records.
During a period when he was YN1 assigned to NAVSUPPACT Saigon from 7 Sep 1966 to 1 Sep 1967, one of the records was a Navy Achievement Medal Citation citing:
YN1 Ira Ray Brooks for serving TAD with HA(L)-3 from 6 May 1967 through 15 June 1967, during the subject period of time this squadron was in its infancy as the United States Navy’s first and only Attack Helicopter Squadron.
Petty Officer Brooks was primarily responsible for initial establishment and organization of entire Administrative Department and integrating all of Naval Support Activity's personnel requirements, unique to those who serve in the Republic of Vietnam,
into the newly formed Helicopter Attack Squadron, contributing significantly and directly toward the administrative organization of Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron THREE, as set forth in the Citation for his Navy Achievement Medal.
He also received the PUC for HA(L)-3 for the period 6 May 1967 to 15 Jun 1967.
He had quite a Naval Career retiring as YNCS with a Joint Service Commendation Medal for his service with MAAG, in Iran and DOD Meritorious Service Medal in June 1981 when he retired with 20 years’ service on Recruiting Duty at AFEES, Memphis.
He passed away 18 Jan 2019, (aged 74 - Agent Orange related).
Find A Grave Ira Ray BrooksNavy Together We Served Profile~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~P.S. Jeff/Shannon, he will be ordering the "Scramble the Seawolves" Blu-Ray
So along with RAAF Gunner Tony Huntley and Chaplain Lester Westling, I am also including YN1 Ira Ray Brooks as a Seawolf raising the total# to 2,558.
The following numbers are affected:
Of our
2,558 confirmed Seawolf names, 176 Seawolves still left to be found, which includes 14 Enlisted Plank Owners. (no change here except the number 2,558)
Of our 2,558 Seawolves, we now have
699 confirmed DAT (Died After Tour),
and 744 TOTAL confirmed Seawolves who have passed on before us (includes KIA, WIA-Died later as result of wounds, Died in Country Vietnam, and DAT).
Dan
Locked
