Edwin Gilbert Northup

Edwin Gilbert Northup of Taylor County graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY in the class of 1969. Northup started his tour in Southeast Asia on April 2, 1972, and served with the 1st Cavalry Division. On June 20, 1972 in the Bihn Long Province, South Vietnam, CPT Northup was piloting an AH-1G helicopter trying to extract a reconnaissance team. He was flying at a low altitude when he was hit by heavy fire from a hostile ground force. They successfully landed the aircraft, and picked up the reconnaissance team. CPT Northup began the ascent when he lost control of the aircraft after taking extensive damage. The helicopter crashed, killing CPT Northup and his passengers. He was posthumously awarded the Air Medal. His body was buried at the Calvary Cemetery in Corning, IA.