The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

Vietnam Veteran Frank Chupko, Jr. Recalls Helicopter Rescue Experience

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Nothing encountered went according to the book for Third Class Petty Officer Rescue Air Crewman Frank Chupko during his first helicopter airsea rescue mission in January of 1970.

Before his two tours of duty in Viet Nam, his orders said “Helicopters West Coast” said Mr. Chupko. “I knew where I was going.”

He was sent to Imperial Beach, Calif.

“We had to go through a lot of training before we went to Vietnam. I had to go through handtohand combat, physical education, paramedic school and survival school,” he said. “Everybody was there at survival school.There were pilots, navy seals and air crewmen for helicopters.”

Mr. Chupko recalled his first rescue experience. “We were off the coast of Washington (state). It was a bad night with a storm. The planes were practicing takeoffs and landings. Our rescue helicopter had a pilot, a copilot and two guys in the back. One guy would be the swimmer and one would run the hoist. This time, I was the swimmer.”

A fighter pilot was waved off while coming in for a landing on the carrier, but he decided to land.

“He came in on an angle, and the tail hook caught the cable. He punched out(ejected)sidewayslike a rocket into the water.”

Mr. Chupko dropped into the ocean for the rescue. The waves were high, and their guide lights bobbed in and out of view in the darkness.

“I finally got to him and had to get him away from his parachute before it choked him. His arm was broken, and he was screaming.”

After clearing him, Mr. Chupko discovered that the pilot did not have a Dline that all pilots are required to have for rescues. A screwed up series of unexpected and dangerous situations ensued.

Mr. Chupko grabbed onto the pilot like an octopus. The helicopter was off with them dangling on the cable, high over the sea. The carrier was now about three miles away.

“I had my arms and legs wrapped around him. We started going up

and he passes out. Now, he’s dead weight and is sliding down my hands,” recalled Mr. Chupko.

As the helicopter approached the carrier, they were waved off to the far end of the deck. The deck was being hosed down. “The hoses knocked the plane over the carrier. Theplanewas dangling.Ifthecable broke, it could cut you in half,” explained Mr. Chupko.

“We were about to set down but had to move. In the meantime, the pilot wakes up and starts fighting

business from Belmont Abbey, NorthCarolina in1967,Mr.Chupko joined the navy and got involved with aviation electronics. His buddy, Paul Konyha, also from Scotch Plains, signed up and joined the army.

“We wanted one last fling before we shipped off. So, we rented a Cadillac Hearse and drove across country to California,” he said. “We slept in the car like campers, picked up hitchhikers and stopped in Vegas.”

Mr.Chupkohad twotoursinViet times. He is presently Senior ViceCommander.

Two years ago, he was the district VFW Commander in charge of all Union County chapters. He was selectedasAllStateandAllAmerican Commander that consisted of 16 people who received awards for their outstanding service. He was Commander of the American Legion, Scotch Plains, in 1985.

Mr. Chupko is truly a hometown boy with his local real estate business and with a 20year career in the St. Bartholomew’s Oldtimers Softball League.

Publisher’s note: This is part of a seriesonveteransof theregionfromall eras to archive their stories. If you have a story or photograph, please contact us. On Veterans Day, November 11, there will be a celebration Dinner Dance, open to all, at the Westfield National Guard Armory on Rahway Avenue. Be part of the fun. Secure a table for your group by calling Charles Brown at (908) 654394.

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me. I lost my grip, and he fell onto the deck.”

Remarkably, the pilot was all right.

“It turned out that the Captain of the ship put me in for a medal. The Captain said that it was the best thing he ever saw. We knew that it wasn’t textbook.” Mr. Chupko received the Navy Commendation Medal.

Just two days later, Mr. Chupko and his crew made a textbook rescue. Everything was according to plan. “This time there was no medal.”

After graduating from college with a degree in economics and

nam – May of 1970 on the carrier

USS Oriskany and October of 1971 on the carrier USS Constellation.

He received The Air Gallantry Medal from the South Vietnamese government.

During his tour in Vietnam, Mr. Chupko related his good times. “When you are out to sea 30 to 40 days, pulling into port was like a wild west city. You have two to three days off and you go back to sea again.”

Mr.Chupko livesinScotchPlains since he moved there from Jersey City when he was four years old.

Now 55, Mr. Chupko has been Commanderof thelocalVFWeight

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JUST HANGING AROUND… Frank Chupko hangs from the hoist which is used to rescue pilots and any other personnel in need. Photo is circa 1970.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times DISPLAYING HIS MEDALS… Frank Chupko, as he appears today, displays his medals for outstanding service during his days in the United States Navy.