Isaiah Anthony Dobbins

Specialist Fourth Class Isaiah Anthony Dobbins was born on January 29, 1944 to Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Dobbins. Known to friends and family as “Pete,” he grew up in Magnolia, NJ, and graduated from Sterling High School in 1963, where he played center on the varsity football team. He enlisted in the Army and trained as an aircraft mechanic. Isaiah Dobbins planned for a career in aircraft maintenance when he finished his enlistment.

Specialist Fourth Class Dobbins began his tour of duty in Vietnam on April 26, 1966, one week after his wedding. On February 7, 1967, UH-1C helicopter #64-14153 lost power and crashed into a river on take-off from a refueling pad 30 miles southwest of Saigon. Specialist Fifth Class Willard A. Godfrey, the crew chief, and Specialist Fourth Class Dobbins, the gunner on this mission, were killed. The pilots, Captain J. L. Hill and Lieutenant William Robertson, escaped without major injuries.

Isaiah Dobbins was brought home and buried at Beverly National Cemetery, Section J, Site 321. He was survived by his parents, then of Somerdale, NJ; his wife, Lois L. Dobbins of 724 Primas Court, Camden, NJ; and two stepchildren. He also left two brothers, Wallace K. and Jerome Dobbins, both of whom were then on active duty, in Hawaii and Japan respectively; and three sisters.

Isaiah Dobbins was awarded the Bronze Star. He is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Panel 15E, Line 4.

Isaiah Dobbins and Willard Godfrey are forever linked, appearing next to each other on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC.

Pete,” as he was fondly known as, was a loving and wonderful husband and stepfather who brought about many great changes in my children and my life. We loved him dearly.

— Written by Lois L. Dobbins, Wife — May 14, 2004

Information on U.S. Army helicopter UH-1C tail number 64-14153:

Date: February 7, 1967
Incident number: 670207091ACD — Total loss/fatality accident
Unit: 162nd Assault Helicopter Company, South Vietnam
Number killed: 2 — Injured: 2
Original sources: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database; Army Aviation Safety Center database; OPERA (Operations Report)

Crew Members:
AC — O2 Robertson, N.W.
P — O3 Hill, J.L.
CE — SP4 Isaiah Anthony Dobbins, KIA
G — SP5 Willard Ansel Godfrey, KIA

Accident Summary: The aircraft crashed into the river on take-off.

SP4 Isaiah Anthony Dobbins:
Status: Killed in Action, February 7, 1967
Age at death: 23
Home City: Magnolia, NJ
Unit: 162nd Assault Helicopter Company
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 64-14153
MOS: 67B20 (O-1/U-6 Airplane Repairman)
Position in vehicle: door gunner
Started Tour: April 26, 1966

SP5 Willard Ansel Godfrey:
Status: Killed in Action, February 7, 1967
Age at death: 29
Home City: Milton Junction, WI
Unit: 162nd Assault Helicopter Company
Aircraft: UH-1C tail number 64-14153
Position in vehicle: crew chief
Started Tour: April 30, 1966

A good and noble man / soldier

I served with him in the 162nd Aslt.

— Michael Bajish, Solvay, NY — May 18, 2004

I will always remember the day notification came of your untimely death. We were in school when they came to get your brother Curtis from our class. We were young and not very cognisant of war. But as I got older I am proud to honor those that answer their country’s call to arms to defend and fight. Thank you and God be with you.

— Gary Polito, Beverly, NJ (went to school with younger brother) — November 10, 2004