Throughout 1965 the 119th Aviation Company has been blessed with a series of outstanding commanders. Under the guildance of Major Seyward N. Hall, who assumed command 4 Nov 1964, the unit progressed into the new year gaining esperience and developint technique. Major Hall commanded the 119th Aviation Co. until the night of 7 Feb 1965, at which time he was seriously wounded during the mortar attack on Camp Holloway. He died 21 April 1965 as a result of those wounds.

It was on that night at 0200 hrs, that a Viet Cong mortar attack hit Camp Holloway and the 119th Aviation company. The Casualities at Camp Holloway included eight dead and more than one hundred wounded including Major Sayward N Hall commanding Officer of the 119th Aviation Company who died two months later. The next day President Johnson ordered retaliatory airstrikes on North Vietnam and the "Escalation" began.