Edward Louis Ott III
Petty Officer First Class, U.S. Navy

On 1 September 1967, Petty Officer First Class Edward Louis Ott III was serving with DET-1 (USS Garrett County), HA(L)-3, TF 116, U.S. Naval Forces Vietnam, in Vinh Long Province, South Vietnam.

On that day, PO1 Ott died while missing in the crash of the helicopter (due to non-hostile action) in which he was a crew member. His body was not recovered.

Information from http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/o/o360.htm states the following regarding the crash:

PO1 Edward L. Ott III, a jet engine mechanic, was assigned to Light Helicopter Attack Squadron 3, Detachment 1, onboard the USS Garrett County (LST 786). On 1 September 1967, he was scrambled on a predawn emergency launch to interdict Viet Cong forces attacking a friendly outpost. The UH-1H on which he launched carried a full crew, including LCDR Robert D. Johnson [Honoree Record ID 256510], Assistant Operations Officer and pilot of the aircraft.

The helicopter was seen to lift off the deck of the USS Garrett County and crash into the Bassac River. When the survivors of the crash appeared on the River's surface, Ott and Johnson were not among them. An immediate search was initiated using River Patrol Boats and other helicopter search aircraft. The search lasted for several days and nights, however, the results were negative.

The cockpit/cabin portion of the aircraft was located partially covered by mud, and debris was scattered over the river bottom. It was believed that the bodies of Ott and Johnson could not be recovered. Both were listed as Killed, Body Not Recovered. It is not likely that Ott and Johnson survived the crash of their helicopter to be captured under such closely observed circumstances.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Air Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Vietnam Service Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Naval Air Crew Badge

Honors

The name Edward L Ott III is located on Panel 25E Line 079 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Memorialization

The name of Petty Officer First Class Edward Louis Ott III is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI.

The name of Petty Officer First Class Edward Louis Ott III is also inscribed on a cenotaph (stone marker) at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, San Diego County, CA, in Plot MA, 0, 99.