John was assigned to Charlie Troop on September 29, 1970 and was Killed in Action on December 24, 1970. John was a Pilot of an OH-6A Light Observation Helicopter. John was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and a set of Army Aviator Wings.
The following was taken from the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Association’s website www.vhpa.org which gives credit for this incident report to www.flyarmy.com.
1LT HARMON ACCEPTED THE AIRCRAFT FOR THE VISUAL RECONNAISSANCE MISSION. AFTER
FLYING FOR ALMOST TWO HOURS 1LT HARMON WAS DESCENDING FROM ALTITUDE WHEN AT 150
FEET AGL, AS HE BEGAN TO APPLY COLLECTIVE PITCH HE NOTICED THE N2 RPM WAS
DETERIORATING. LT HARMON APPLIED AFT CYCLIC IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN OPERATING
RPM. THIS DID NOT WORK SO LT HARMON CONTINUED TO APPLY AFT CYCLIC IN ORDER TO
STOP HIS FORWARD AIRSPEED PRIOR TO IMPACTING THE TREES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT
LT HARMON DID NOT MAKE A MAYDAY CALL TO HIS HIGH BIRD. FROM THIS POINT ON LT
HARMON HAS NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO THE AIRCRAFT EXCEPT THAT IT CRASHED. FROM
WITNESSES THAT WENT ON THE GROUND AFTER THE ACCIDENT IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE
AIRCRAFT WAS HEADING GENERALLY SOUTH, SOUTHEAST WHEN IT FIRST CONTACTED A TREE
NINETY FEET NORTHWEST OF ITS FINAL RESTING PLACE. IT IS FURTHER ESTIMATED THAT
THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN A TAIL LOW ATTITUDE AND THEN BOUNCED AND CAME
TO REST POINTING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION.\\
Also on this flight was John Buchanan and SP/4 G. Cameron Door Gunner.
If any family member or friend reads this blog, please contact me as I am looking for personal stories about this brave man.
Charlie Troop 1st Squadron 9th Cavalry Regiment 
Brad Jackson
August 14, 2011
My father in law was in the same unit and crashed the same day. M y father in law was the only survivor I believe. I would assume that my father in law was on that helicopter with John.
Brad