Rank: Chief Warrant Officer W-2
Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 062B – Helicopter Pilot, Utility And Light Cargo Single Rotor
Awards: Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal with Valor Device and Four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Unit awards: Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: OH-6A, Tail # 66-17767, Pilot
Flight class: 67-19, Fort Wolters, Texas
Enlisted by: Reserve
Date of birth: 7-Aug-1946
Hometown: Visalia, California
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 31-Oct-1966
Start of tour: 20-Sep-1968
Incident date: 27-Apr-1969
Date of casualty: 27-Apr-1969
Age at death: 22
Cause of death: Hostile, died. Helicopter Crash — Crew (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea.
Phillip Sherman Mohnike was killed while pilot of a military aircraft on a military mission when the aircraft was hit by hostile ground fire, crashed and burned. / Pilot of light observation helicopter (LOH) on visual reconnaissance mission when received hostile ground fire.
Two Blackhorse troopers died in this incident:
CWO Phillip Sherman Mohnike
SP5 Lorne Jay Sipperley
Location of fatality: Tay Ninh, South Vietnam, XT 425 727
Place of interment: Visalia Public Cemetery, Visalia, California, USA
View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)
SILVER STAR
POSTHUMOUS
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER CW2 PHILLIP SHERMAN MOHNIKE
27 APRIL 1969
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Chief Warrant Officer (CW-2) Mohnike distinguished himself by gallantry in action while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force on 27 April 1969 while serving as a helicopter pilot with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Warrant Officer Mohnike was called to support friendly ground troops which had come in contact with a large enemy force and were pinned down by automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenade fire. Upon arriving over the battle area, he began dropping smoke grenades in order to mark the enemy positions for airstrikes. Despite intense hostile fire directed at him, he continued making low level passes over the enemy positions in order to place suppressive fire on the enemy and enable the friendly force to withdraw in preparation for airstrikes. As he was making a final pass over the area, his helicopter was hit by enemy fire, and he was fatally injured when the aircraft crashed into dense jungle. Chief Warrant Officer Mohnike’s outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1264 (24 May 1969)
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS
POSTHUMOUS
CHIEF WARRENT OFFICER CW2 PHILLIP SHERMAN MOHNIKE
17 MARCH 1969
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Chief Warrant Officer (CW-2) Mohnike distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty on 17 March 1969 while serving as a pilot with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date when he monitored a call that the command and control aircraft had received fire, he immediately flew to the area and engaged the enemy soldiers with his minigun, killing one and wounding another. Continuing with his reconnaissance mission, Warrant Officer Mohnike again monitored a call from the command and control aircraft. Once again he flew to the area of contact and, despite intense enemy automatic weapons fire, marked the hostile positions with smoke and directed an airstrike on the enemy fortifications. When he came under fire from a heavy antiaircraft weapon, he marked the position for a helicopter gunship. Later in the day when he no longer had any smoke grenades, he spotted approximately thirty hostile troops and hovered dangerously low over them so that the helicopter gunship pilots and forward air controller could direct fire upon them. Chief Warrant Officer Mohnike’s outstanding courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1313 (26 May 1969)
AIR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE AND FOURTH OAK LEAF CLUSTER
POSTHUMOUS
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER CW2 PHILLIP SHERMAN MOHNIKE
4 MARCH 1969
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Chief Warrant Officer (CW-2) Mohnike distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight on 4 March 1969 while serving as an aerial observer with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date Warrant Officer Mohnike feeling that the resulting increased maneuverability would aid in making evacuations, volunteered to fly his helicopter unarmed into an area of heavy contact. When an evacuation was called for, he aided the pilot in descending into a tight landing zone by guiding the aircraft down through the thick bamboo to a semi-stable position on a pile of crushed bamboo underbrush. Disregarding the intense ground fire, Warrant Officer Mohnike directed the loading of the wounded aboard the aircraft and then directed it out of the landing zone. After unloading the casualties at a hospital, he returned to the area of contact and performed another evacuation. Chief Warrant Officer Mohnike’s courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1477 (13 June 1969)
AIR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE AND THIRD OAK LEAF CLUSTER
POSTHUMOUS
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER CW2 PHILLIP SHERMAN MOHNIKE
21 FEBRUARY 1969
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Chief Warrant Officer (CW-2) Mohnike distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight against a hostile force on 21 February 1969 while serving as a pilot with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while conducting a routine reconnaissance mission, he suddenly observed five-armed Viet Gong soldiers moving along a well-concealed jungle trail. Although he quickly came under intense enemy automatic weapons fire, Warrant Officer Mohnike made a number of low-level passes over the hostile positions to place suppressive fire upon them and mark them with smoke for gunship runs and tactical airstrikes. Upon learning that friendly ground forces could not be inserted into the area for at least 45 minutes, he continued making his daring low-level passes over the area and kept the enemy soldiers pinned down until the troop’s Aero Rifle Platoon arrived. Chief Warrant Officer Mohnike’s courage and dedication to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1476 (13 June 1969)
AIR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE AND SECOND OAK LEAF CLUSTER
POSTHUMOUS
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER CW2 PHILLIP SHERMAN MOHNIKE
13 FEBRUARY 1969
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Chief Warrant Officer (CW-2) Mohnike distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight against a hostile force on 13 February 1969 while serving as a pilot with the Air Cavalry Troop of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date in the vicinity of Bien Hoa, Warrant Officer Mohnike was conducting a routine reconnaissance mission when he suddenly observed a Viet Cong soldier attempting to conceal himself in same tall grass. Reacting instantly, Warrant Officer Mohnike directed his aircraft in a low-level assault of the communist trooper. Suddenly his aircraft came under an intense barrage of enemy automatic weapons fire from an unknown sized enemy force. During the initial burst of fire, a number of enemy small arms rounds smashed into Warrant Officer Mohnike’s aircraft, seriously wounding his observer, smashing the cyclic handle near his control panel and inflicting numerous shrapnel wounds to his face. Although in pain and half blinded by his wounds, Warrant Officer Mohnike managed to keep control of his aircraft and upon calling in ”Cobra” gunships, he flew his wounded comrade to an evacuation hospital. Upon inspecting the damage done by the enemy fire, Warrant Officer Mohnike returned to the scene of the engagement to assist the troop’s Aero Rifle Platoon in a search of the contact area. Chief Warrant Officer Mohnike’s dedication to duty, disregard of personal safety, deep concern for the welfare of his comrades and professional ability were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1475 (13 June 1969)
AIR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE AND FIRST OAK LEAF CLUSTER
POSTHUMOUS
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER CW2 PHILLIP SHERMAN MOHNIKE
24 JANUARY 1969
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Chief Warrant Officer (CW-2) Mohnike distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight on 24 January 1969 while serving as a pilot with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while performing a routine reconnaissance mission, he suddenly came under intense automatic weapons fire from a well-concealed enemy force. After evading the initial hostile fire, he directed his aircraft in several low-level assaults upon the enemy position and raked it with minigun fire. He then marked it with smoke grenades to guide the helicopter gunships. After landing his aircraft and checking it for damage, he returned to the scene of the engagement and continued making gun runs over the enemy position until friendly ground units had arrived and overrun it. Chief Warrant Officer Mohnike’s courage and dedication to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1474 (13 June 1969)
ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
POSTHUMOUS
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER CW2 PHILLIP SHERMAN MOHNIKE
23 JANUARY 1969
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Chief Warrant Officer (CW-2) Mohnike distinguished himself by heroism in connection with military operations against a hostile force on 23 January 1969 while serving as a pilot with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while he was flying support for the troop’s Aero Rifle Platoon, his aircraft was suddenly subjected to a hail of enemy automatic weapons fire, damaging the engine and fuel cell. Although his aircraft was leaking oil and fuel, Warrant Officer Mohnike made a number of low-level passes through intense hostile fire in order to mark the enemy positions with smoke grenades to guide the friendly ground troops. Chief Warrant Officer Mohnike’s courage and dedication to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 1024 (22 April 1969)