TFH 1/30: The Skies Over Nha Trang

January 30, 1968 was a Tuesday - and the beginning of the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War. The communist North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong guerrillas attacked throughout South Vietnam, particularly in rear areas.

The city of Nha Trang and the local air base, home to the United States Air Force's 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron, were targets. Two of the 21st TASS' pilots boarded their Cessna O-2 Skymaster aircraft, normally just used for forward air control duties, and engaged the enemy.

The two heroic pilots were Lieutenant Colonel Karl T. Feuerriegel and Captain Kenneth H. Sellers.


Karl T. Feuerriegel was born in Phoenix, Arizona on November 1, 1916. He earned his pilot's wings during World War II and flew Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1945 for his superior airmanship in combat. After the war, Feuerriegel remained on reserve status and then joined the Arizona Air National Guard in 1947. He was called up to active service in January 1951 for the Korean War and remained with the Air Force thenceforth. In the 1950s and 1960s, he also flew the Republic F-84 Thunderjet and the North American F-86 Sabre and F-100 Super Sabre. He was the 21st TASS' operations officer on January 30, 1968.

Kenneth H. Sellers was born on March 6, 1937 in San Diego, California. He obtained his commission in the Air Force via ROTC in 1959. Prior to becoming a forward air controller and O-2 pilot, he had flown both the Boeing B-47 Stratojet bomber and the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II transport.

Both of these outstanding Americans received the second highest award for valor the Air Force could have bestowed for their actions on this day forty-five years ago: the Air Force Cross.

Citation for Lieutenant Colonel Karl T. Feuerriegel:


The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Lieutenant Colonel Karl T. Feuerriegel (AFSN: 0-762299), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as a Forward Air Controller of the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron, Nha Trang Air Base, Vietnam, in action at Nha Trang, Republic of Vietnam, on 30 January 1968. On that date, in conjunction with the Tet Offensive, a large, well-equipped hostile force entered the city, intent on overrunning military installations and releasing a large contingent of hostile captives from the local prison. The hostiles' entrenched positions prevented reinforcements from reaching the battle areas where friendly forces were in dire need of support. Lieutenant Colonel Feuerriegel, despite great personal risk from heavy automatic weapons fire, repeatedly attacked hostile positions in an O-2 aircraft armed with high explosive rockets. He systematically silenced three machine gun positions and neutralized two fortified hostile companies, thereby preventing the annihilation of beleaguered friendly units. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness, Lieutenant Colonel Feuerriegel reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.


Lieutenant Colonel Feuerriegel later commanded the 21st TASS during the latter half of his tour in Vietnam. He was decorated with the Legion of Merit for his entire tour with the unit. Feuerriegel retired from the Air Force as a full Colonel on March 31, 1974. He passed away on March 4, 2008 at age 81 and rests in peace at the Prescott National Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona.


Citation for Captain Kenneth H. Sellers:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pleasure in presenting the Air Force Cross to Captain Kenneth H. Sellers (AFSN: 0-56287), United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force as a Forward Air Controller of the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron, in action at Nha Trang, Republic of Vietnam, on 30 January 1968. On that date, in conjunction with the Tet Offensive, a large, well-equipped hostile force entered the city, intent on overrunning military installations and releasing a large contingent of hostile captives contained in the local prison. The hostiles' entrenched positions prevented reinforcements from reaching the battle areas where friendly forces were in dire need of support. Captain Sellers, despite great personal risk from heavy machine gun and automatic weapons fire, repeatedly attacked hostile positions in an O-2 aircraft armed with high explosive rockets. He systematically silenced three machine gun positions and neutralized two fortified hostile companies, thereby preventing the annihilation of beleaguered friendly units. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Captain Sellers reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Sellers also received awards of the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross for his combat flying with the 21st TASS. He retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel on December 31, 1981. I believe he is still living.

The 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron is currently inactive.