SAIGON-- The incoming commander of the 199th Light Inf. Brigade was seriously
injured Sunday when his command and control UH1 Huey helicopter crashed with
eight persons aboard 75 miles east of Saigon.
     Col. James B. Hendry, who was to have taken command of the 199th July 18, was
evacuated to Japan with internal injuries, according to a brigade spokesman.
     The chopper had reportedly taken heavy fire earlier in the day as troops of the 
brigade's 3rd Bn., 7th Inf., were inserted into the area for combat.
     "They reportedly were about 50 feet off the ground," the spokesman said.  "There
was a loud pop, and at first some of the occupants thought they had hit a tree.  But 
later investigation showed that they weren't near a tree.  There was some speculation
that they may have received more of the fire they had earlier," the spokesman said.
     Less than a week ago a helicopter carrying the commanding general of the 1st
Air Cav. Div. Was lost in the central highlands with seven persons on board.
     Last April 1, the commanding general of the 199th, Brig. Gen. William Bond was
killed in Vietnam.
     Listed in satisfactory condition after the latest crash were Lt. Col. Bibb A. 
Underwood, commander of the 3/7th, WO Nelson Blue, the pilot, and Spec. 5 Mike
Freeman, crew chief of the chopper.
     Hendry became deputy commander of the 199th only this month.  He had been 
assigned to MACV headquarters since arriving in Vietnam in August 1969.

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