AW3 Michael Duwayne "Ping-Pong" Ampong
HSL-33  SH-2F
BUNO: Unknown
6/21/61-01/21/85
Hometown: Hawaii
Nighttime crash in the ocean off San Diego.
Shipmates Comments:
AW1 Gordon Permann:
I must add this -- in my life, I believe the finest, nicest man I have ever met was Michael Ampong. He would loan you his last dollar, and give you his shirt. He was a warm, happy person and in every respect, deserving of admiration. A Hawaiian native with a heart of gold, I miss him deeply. His helicopter, Seasnake One One, crashed into the sea alongside USS Reid.

His best friend, Boomer Boomenglag, made a desperate attempt to save him, but his seat failed, sending Ping-Pong to the ocean bottom. The pilot, CDR Carlson, also died. He was sighted by the Rescue Motor-whaleboat, but they assumed he was dead and they left him floating while they searched for LT Paul and Boomer. By the time they recovered Carlson, he had drowned. Lt Paul had his throat slit, but Boomer managed to hold the gaping cut closed until they could be rescued. Boomer lost teeth and broke his arm, and never really recovered from letting his friend die...

The rest of us that flew in the back of these helicopters wasted no time in throwing those untrustworthy seats over the side of the ship. Danny and I carried the seat from our helo right to the deck edge, and tossed it into the sea, right in front of everyone. No one said a word about us destroying Government Property.

Scott Fitzpatrick:
I went through HSL-31 with Mike Ampong, in fact, he was in my class. Mike was one of those guys that was always smiling and was probably the most squared away sailor that I've ever met, and his appearance was always "recruiting poster" perfect. He was pretty close buddies with Mike "Boomer" Bumanglag and were in the aircraft together when it crashed. The co-pilot was also lost in this mishap.

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