US Army 1969 Helicopter Pilots MA-1 Flight Jacket

[mkite93]

Local find for me, have spent some time doing some research and identified the pilot and found some history about him. To start with the jacket is 1969 dated and the patches ID this to a pilot who flew with the 239th aviation company assault helicopter who were attached to I corps, 8th Army for patrols along the DMZ in Korea. Interestingly I did not know about the conflict along the DMZ during the late 60s until 1972 or so until researching this jacket, overshadowed by the conflict in Vietnam. 
 

This Jacket is ID’d to then Major J. L. Merchant who became commanding officer of the 239th around 1970. I am still trying to uncover other details about his previous service and any medals he may have earned. But according to his obituary he was an accomplished pilot flying Hueys and Cobras in Vietnam with over 900 combat hours. 

 

Any research assistance would be appreciated to find out some of his Vietnam service. 

 

Some attached pictures I found of his unit online. 

[mohawkALSE]

Very nice jacket.   There was another Toro unit in Army Aviation as well during Vietnam.  Was part of the 2/17th Cav in the 101st Abn Div.  I cant recall if they went by Toros or just Toro.

[mkite93]

Thank you. And thanks for the info. I’m still doing some research I hope to come up with some of his previous units. I took a chance on buying it because I thought it all looked very correct and I was hoping I would be able to find out who it belonged to, so a nice bonus that’s it’s named to a combat vet and commanding officer.