Capture the flag — with a helicopter

The Poplar Bluff Museum tells many unknown tales of our community. I want to tell you some of those hidden tales found within the museum walls.

In August 1967, the Viet Cong had captured a village in the Hau Nghia province of South Vietnam. The 27th Infantry, the “Wolfhounds,” were operating in that district and wanted some intelligence on its enemy activity. Poplar Bluff native Maj. Arno Ponder dispatched the 3rd Squadron, 4th Air Cavalry to recon the sector. The Huey helicopter found the village occupied. They saw the Viet Cong were boldly flying their red and blue flag over the school house. With door guns blazing, the helicopter hovered right up next to the building. The door gunner climbed out onto the skid and snatched the flag from the flag pole. The Viet Cong were not the only ones who were bold that day. When they returned to base, the flight crew proudly presented the captured flag to Ponder to confirm that the village was occupied by the enemy.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Vietnam, another Poplar Bluff native was busy stealing enemy equipment. Lt. Cmdr. John Holland was conducting operations in the Mekong Delta. He inserted SEAL teams from his swift boats on search and destroy missions. Many times, he accompanied the teams on their raids. On one such raid, Holland captured a Chinese SKS rifle from a Viet Cong bunker.

When Sam Giambulluca opened the Poplar Bluff Museum, the first couple of artifacts presented to the Veteran’s Museum were the Viet Cong flag donated by Ponder, and the Chinese SKS rifle donated by Holland. These items can be viewed in the Vietnam War exhibit. The flag and rifle are displayed together as the spoils of war.

The museum is open free of charge and handicap accessible. It is open 1-4 p.m. Sunday at 1010 N. Main St. Tell them Mike sent you!