Frederick (Freddie) John Follette

   

    He may be gone, but he is not forgotten – On this day May 2, 1969, Army Sergeant Frederick (Freddie) John Follette – 21, helicopter maintenance and door gunner, died while serving with the 116th Attack Helicopter Company based in Cu Chi, 20 miles northwest of Saigon. He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with a Silver Star plus one Bronze Star for the six campaigns Freddie was involved in from November 16. 1967 thru May 2, 1969. He was also awarded the Air Medal for heroic actions as a crew member, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and a Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation. He was born July 13, 1947 and died May 2, 1969 at the age of 21 years and 10 months. At the time of his death, he was survived by his mother Evelyn (Holbrook), his father L. Reid Follette, his sister Mrs. Jane R. Ripley and his brothers Ellis and Reid Follette. Fred was a graduate of Braintree High School class of 1965 and had a special bond with many people in town. His warm smile, fun personality and at times his mischievous behavior is something that a lot of us will remember about Fred. One memory I have is on a few occasions I was able to visit Fred’s cellar and play on his pool table. Since Fred was a couple of years older than me, this was quite the honor. His cellar was for sure a popular hang-out for some of his closest friends. About a year after high school he went to work at Boston Gear Works before he was drafted into the United States Army in June 1967.

    Fred began his tour in Vietnam on November 16, 1967. He was a member of the 116th Attack Helicopter Company and based at Cu Chi, Hau Nghia Province in South Vietnam. When he first arrived there, you can only imagine what it was like for Fred to land in a combat area as Cu Chi was considered a hot LZ. There were casualties occurring almost daily and incoming would greet them as they arrived. Cu Chi was also known as an area loaded with Viet-Cong tunnels. It was at Cu Chi in both 1968 and 1969 that the VietCong launched Tet offensive attacks against the airbase Fred was on. Cu Chi was the main avenue of action between Saigon and Cambodia, and that is where the North Vietnamese were coming from. Because of the tunnel complex there, the base was in a beehive, a highly active area. Fred’s unit was supporting a lot of combat operations most days.

    Fred began his first tour in supply and later helicopter maintenance which he serviced Bell UH-1 Iroquois nicknamed Huey gunships. Many people who served in Vietnam define the sound of the Huey as the “sound of war”. His squadron provided transportation for the ground troops of the 25th, 101st and the 82nd airborne as well as air assault, medical evacuation, search and rescue and a whole host of other general support duties. Fred not satisfied with his maintenance support duties later volunteered for flight school and become a qualified door gunner able to accompany the modified Huey Helicopters known as slicks. These choppers had special bullet proof seats and only contained two M60 machine guns on fixed door mounts manned by the crew chief on the left and a door gunner on the right. There was no heavy armament such as rocket launchers and this allowed them to be lighter when transporting six to eight ground troupes. These flight sorties were often subject to enemy incoming. It was on May 2, 1969 that during his last mission while transporting troupes, a hand grenade somehow got loose in the craft. Fred was trying to secure the grenade when he accidentally fell to his death. It took several days to recover Fred’s body. Fred was on his second tour and served 17 months in Vietnam with only one month left to go before he would have been sent home. He was drafted by Uncle Sam and served his country by fighting for our freedom. Fred is a hero and warrior and made the ultimate sacrifice doing what he was asked to do.

He is memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Wall Panel 26W, Line 98 and is buried at the Plain Street Cemetery in Braintree, Ma.

War drew us from our homeland
In the sunlit springtime of our youth.
Those who did not come back alive remain
in perpetual springtime -- forever young --
And a part of them is with us always.

    --- Author Unknown ---

.Further note – Sergeant Follette and other Braintree residents who have died in Vietnam, and those who later died from wounds or Agent Orange related illnesses, or served in Vietnam and have passed, are honored and remembered at the Braintree Vietnam Veterans Memorial Golf Tournament. This event has been held annually for the past 32 years. The contributions collected are then given in the form of scholarships to high school students in their memory. Contributions and sponsorships  can be sent at any time to the Vietnam Memorial Scholarship Fund, care of Peter Schiavone, 1752 Washington Street, Braintree, Ma. 02184. The next tournament will be held on August 26, 2024 at the Braintree Municipal Golf Course..  Following the tournament, all are invited to the Braintree Sons of Italy, King Hill Road in Braintree, Ma. for a luncheon.