Hackensack Ugly Angels

The "Ugly Angels" hold the proud distinction of having served as the first Marine aircraft unit in the Republic of Vietnam, going ashore on 15 April 1962 as Marine Helicopter Transport Squadron Light (HMM) 362 with their Sikorsky UH-34s, arriving at Soc Trang in the Mekong Delta south of Saigon, under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Archie Clapp.

The task unit was called "Shufly" and its first operational employment involved lifting Vietnamese troops into battle on April 22. It was the evolution of "Archie’s Angels" to "Ugly Angels" that gave HMM/HMH-362 their well-known call sign.

HMM-362 served in the Republic of Vietnam until 1969, in addition to the first deployment to Soc Trang, the squadron also deployed to Ky Ha, Marble Mountain, and Hue/Phu Bai.

During these years HMM-362 also supported operations in Vietnam from the sea, serving aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2), USS Okinawa (LPH-3), and USS Princeton (CV-37).

HMM-362 lost a total of thirty-three Marines during their years of supporting combat operations in the Republic of Vietnam.