Bravery in the Air Over Vietnam; FHS Classmates Gordon “Gordy” Skinner and Francis (“FL”) Kirby

 

 

 

"The ability of an aerial scout is to see that which God didn't put there."  

- Hugh Mills 

 

 

 

OH-6A Cayuse Reconnaissance Helicopter 

 

                                  

     Gordon A. Skinner    Francis L. Kirby 

                     

Images: FHS Class of 1962 Yearbook

              

Earlier this year, we discussed one of Framingham’s Vietnam War heroes, Captain Gordon (“Gordy”) A. Skinner, US Army. Recently, we had the opportunity to correspond with yet another Framingham veteran who demonstrated his courage in the air over Vietnam – Captain Francis Leo (or “FL”) Kirby, US Army. Both men attended Framingham High School (FHS Class of 1962), graduated from college in 1966, earned their Army pilots wings in 1967, were assigned to fly the OH-6A Cayuse reconnaissance helicopter and were heavily engaged in combat operations in 1968. Gordon would be posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart for his bravery in combat on 16 August 1968. Details on Gordy’s life can be found here: 

 

https://storiesyet2btold.blogspot.com/2025/01/captain-gordon-armstrong-skinner-ii-us.html. 

 

 

 

Vietnam Veterans Memorial Washington, DC 

Image: TogetherWeServed.com 

 

For his valor on 31 August 1968, FL would also receive the Distinguished Flying Cross. 

 

 

 

Distinguished Flying Cross 

 

FL excelled in sports at FHS, playing both hockey and baseball. He was the co-captain of the 1962 hockey team and a member of the 1961 Massachusetts State Champion squad. 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Images: FHS Class of 1962 Yearbook 

 

 

1961 State Champs! (FL is #16) 

Image: https://ampmedia.biz/flyers61/   

 

In baseball, he caught left-handed pitcher Gordy Skinner. 

 

In 1966, FL graduated from Norwich University, where he was also commissioned as an Army Second Lieutenant. Soon thereafter, he headed off to Army Rotary Wing (helicopter) Flight Training in Texas. 

Upon completing flight school,he deployed to Vietnam with the 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (11th ACR).  

 

 

11th ACR Patch 

 

It’s important to note that the US Armed Forces were engaged in major combat operations in Vietnam during 1968 and 1969. The peak number of U.S. troops in Vietnam was 543,482. This level was reached on 30 April 1969. The bloodiest year of the war for the United States was 1968, when 16,899 Americans died. The total number of Vietnam War related deaths is 58,220. 

 

 

 

Marines fighting it out in Hue City 

Image: UPI 

In January of 1968, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong launched the Tet Offensive. This operation included a wave of surprise attacks on more than 100 South Vietnamese targets, including the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, the US Air Base in Da Nang, and the ancient city of Huế. The initial actions yielded major psychological shock but resulted in a tactical military defeat for the attackers, who suffered heavy casualties.The final operational phase, primarily centered around Saigon, was also defeated by US and South Vietnamese forces. The offensive concluded in September 1968.

 

FL (standing far left w/mustache) w/Squadron Mates 

 

FL in his OH-6A Helo 

Images: F.L. Kirby 

 

On 31 August 1968, the 11th ACR was operating near Saigon. On this date, while conducting an aerial reconnaissance over suspected enemy locations, FL observed a Viet Cong force hidden along a stream. Due to the dense vegetation, he had to make several passes over the area to confirm their presence and maintain visual contact. In doing so,he had to skim the tree-tops at extremely high speeds in his unarmed helicopter to avoid making himself a lucrative target for enemy ground forces. While he skillfully performed these exacting maneuvers, he called in an armed UH-1C scout gunship and directed its fire onto the hostile positions. FL next landed his helicopter beside the positions, and as soon as the gunship landed, led the crew into the area to further press the attack. Valuable intelligence was also collected during this successful action. For his bravery and superb airmanship, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

 

 

 

 

 

UH-1C Scout Gunship 

Image: F.L. Kirby 

 

      

FL’s Helmet 

      Images: F.L. Kirby  

 

       

FL’s Second Helmet (in FHC Collection) 

   Images: Framingham History Center 

Of note are the pictures of Yosemite Sam painted on the squadron’s helmets and helicopters. FL’s “Bandit Squadron” needed a mascot. Yosemite Sam fit the bill. Prior to using this character, he sent a letter (while in Vietnam) addressed to "CEO, Disney Corporation, Los Angeles, CA" asking for permission to use Sam. He did not expect to get a response. Approximately one month later, however, he received a "yes" reply and stencils to help with the task. A pleasant surprise.

Captain Kirby returned to the US after completing his one-year Vietnam combat tour. His tour was marked by a number of instances of bravery and superb airmanship. In addition to the DFC, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal w/a V for valor and multiple awards of the Air Medal. 

                        

         Bronze Star Medal       Air Medal

Soon after discharge from active duty, he established a brokerage business. He has remained in the investment advising industry for over 50 years. He lived in Framingham until 2002. In 2003, FL relocated to Lake Forest, Illinois. While there, he was a member of the state National Guard. This area was his home until he moved to Florida in 2020, where he currently resides.

Of particular interest, FL comes from a family with a rich history of military service. His father, originally a Milford (MA) resident, Francis Leo “Bud” Kirby served in the US Army Air Force (USAAF) during World War II. He was a C-47 troop carrier pilot. Bud flew 18 combat missions in the European Theater of Operations, including the D-Day para-drop. He was Honorably Discharged in 1945. Bud worked for AT&T/New England Telephone for many years. In 2005,he also moved from Framingham to Lake Forest, Il. He passed away in 2006.

                         

   

       Bud Kirby               Bud Kirby WWII Pilot

Image: Milford High (MHS) 1935 Image: F.L. Kirby 

 

Bud’s brother, Donald Tower Kirby (FL’s uncle) also served during WWII. Donald was a member of the Milford High School Class of 1936. 

          

Image: MHS 1936 Yearbook   Image: Framingham News 

 

He was assigned to the Army’s 119th Infantry Regiment, which was assigned to the 30th Infantry Division. On 13 June 1944, Corporal Kirby deployed to Normandy. Unfortunately, he was killed in action on 12 July during heavy fighting near St. Lo, France. His final resting place is in the Normandy American Cemetery just off Omaha Beach. 

 

    

 

Image: Mr. Dominique Potier 

Another uncle, Robert E. “Bob” Kirby was a B-17 Flying Fortress Navigator. First Lieutenant Kirby was assigned to the 100th Bomb Group’s 418th Bombardment Squadron. He was the Lead Navigator on 17 combat missions and 6 wing crew missions. For his gallantry and airmanship, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. 

    

Bob Kirby              DFC      Air Medal

Image:100th Bomb Group Foundation   

While FL’s father and uncles hailed from Milford, their stories serve to remind us of the service and sacrifices made by many American citizens and families to defeat militarism, fascism and totalitarianism during WWII.  

 

Sources/Recommended Reading

Multiple conversations with Francis L. Kirby

The Kirby Family 

The 100th Bombardment Group Foundation 

Arthurs, Ted. Land With No Sun; A Year in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne. Stackpole Books, 2006. 

Bowden, Mark. Hue 1968. Atlantic Monthly Press, 2017. 

Caputo, Phil. A Rumor of War: The Classic Vietnam Memoir (40th Anniversary Edition). Picador, 2017. 

Downs, Frederick. The Killing Zone. W.W. Norton, 2007. 

Framingham High School 

The Framingham History Center 

Hall of Valor, by Military Times,Distinguished Flying Cross Citation for First LT Francis L. Kirby, (https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-43003/)

Hastings, Max. Vietnam; An Epic Tragedy, 1945-1975. Harper Collins, 2018. 

Milford High School 

Moore, Harold and Galloway, Joseph. We Were Soldiers Once and Young: Ia Drang – The Battle That Changed the War in Vietnam. Presidio Press, 2004. 

The National Archives 

O’Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. Flamingo/Harper Collins, 1990. 

US Army Center of Military History 

US Army War College