TBS 2-67 Cruisebook_Updated_7Jan23

Leonard Edward Dornak
POSTED ON 4.21.2020
POSTED BY: Marco Felix
CPL Marco Felix
LT. Dornak was my Commanding Oficer in Vietnam I
don't know if we were in Phu Bai or Dong Ha. He
had invited me to ly with him to DaNang since I
was on emergency leave I decided to wait for a C
130 plane. I mentioned to him that I felt more
comfortable on a plane. Rest in Peace Sir we stood
with you all the way. SEMPER Fidelis.
POSTED ON 1.19.2013
POSTED BY: Tom Downey
You are not forgotten, Marine.
Leonard and I were in the same platoon at Marine
OCS during the summer of 1965 at Marine Corps
Base, Quantico, VA. In the attached photo, he is
'front‐and‐center,' holding the platoon's sign.
POSTED ON 7.12.2012
POSTED BY: Mike
Prendergast
An Edsman Remembered
Lt. Dornak was a
graduate of St. Edward's
University, Class of
1966, in Austin, TX. He
recieved a B.S. in
Business Administration. I remember him as a
ierce competitor in intramural sports while a
student at St. Ed's. It's no surprise that he chose to
serve as an oficer in the Marine Corps. This
Edsman will not forget his sacriice. He is
commemorated, along with other fallen alumni, on
a plaque in the Campus Chapel. Semper Fi MLPSEU
'62
War Story: (note: This account by CH‐53 Pilot Peter
Starn has been edited to make it shorter and
appropriate for the intended audience. The entire
account can be accessed at the link at the end of
the article)
The MAG‐16 Command Chronology for 8 Jan reads:
"At 1915H one HMH‐463 CH‐53A (YH‐37 Bureau
Number 153710) was declared overdue and
missing after disappearing during an IFR light.
Search and rescue operations commenced." On the
9th and 10th, "The search for the missing CH‐53A
aircraft continued with negative sightings and
search operations hampered by inclement
weather." On the 11th, "The wreckage of the
missing CH‐53A aircraft was sighted by search
aircraft at coord. YD234260, no apparent
survivors. Adverse weather conditions precluded a
search of the crash site until 19 Jan when a recon
team was inserted. The aircraft suffered severe
burn damage and there was no possibility of
survivors." In the casualties (hostile) section, the
names of the ive crew members are listed and the
place is described at 18 miles S Dong Ha, RVN. Ray
Kelley's request for details on Fred Schram's plane
crash deinitely gave me goose bumps in terms of a
30‐year lashback. I have been to the mass grave
site at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery
outside of St. Louis several times and I have spent
time both at the grave marker for Fred's crash, as
well as at the grave marker for Bill Dietz and Lou
Tessier's crash. This area of the cemetery is
reserved for mass graves, primarily crashes from
M‐42