Barry Port

from 2022 Veterans Banners

Eric D. Hedeen

U.S. Army 1970–1971

Written by Russ Speidel

Amember of the Wenatchee High School Class of 1966, Barry Port was All-American in every way: • Champion wrestler for the Panthers at WHS • Tuba player and member of the Golden Apple Band • Excellent student • Always a better friend • Active with his LDS Church • Played football for the Cougars at WSU • Leader of his peers

Barry Port was true, honest and always willing to help another. As a young man, Barry showed great promise for the future, for his community and our country. Losing Barry to the War in Vietnam is an incalculable loss for all of us.

Barry is buried in the Wenatchee Cemetery next to his brother Scott. The location is the northwest corner just east of the mausoleum building.

Written by Dick Crawley

Barry was a soft-spoken but serious individual who was always focused on the task at hand. He neither smoked nor drank, a rarity in our Troop. His balance of judgment was the reason why he was flying as co-pilot to check and evaluate Mark’s performance as an aircraft commander.

We were flying South, just east of the Rockpile, a landmark, when I saw, out of the corner of my eye, a fast mover heading directly toward us at the same altitude.

“Fox four, nine o’clock, break formation!” (NOTE: Lead ship was supposed to drop altitude, ships two and three were supposed to break left and right respectively and trail was supposed to gain altitude.)

As the jet passed in front of me, I could actually see the rivets in the aircraft, seemingly close enough to reach out and touch each and every one.

The flight resumed formation and the chatter began, “Shit!”, “What the hell was he doing so low?” a few expletives and a collective “Phew!”

While refueling and rearming at Vandy, I asked if everyone and their aircraft were OK and received a “Roger” from the other ships.

It was almost 5 p.m. and we still had 15 minutes to reach the probable launch area which we assumed was on the East-West blue line south of our base at Quang Tri. (Rivers are shown as blue lines on maps, hence the name.)

We arrived on site and maintained 2,000 feet AGL and began scooping the area before we sent the “little bird” down for a closer look. Looking at my 11 o’clock, I saw one of the Cobras take an unusual altitude and watched the main rotor separate from the aircraft.

The blade struck Barry, the co-pilot, who was in the forward seat and there was a scream over the radio. Immediately dropping the collective, I started to follow Mark and Barry and pick them up as I had done so many times before. Their ship slammed into the ground and an immediate fireball resulted from the fully armed ship with its full fuel tank.

The rest was and remains surrealistic to me. I augured into the fireball until my better judgement took control and I pulled out and failed to pick them up and felt I failed for the first time even though I knew it was impossible to go further without killing my crew. This was at 5:26 p.m., March 7, 1971.

Barry’s story was proudly submitted by WHS Classmate Russ Speidel.