On 10 February 1936, Company "H" 2nd Battalion, 47th Quartermaster Truck Regiment, United States Army was raised and entered active Service.It served with distinction in both World War II and the Korean conflict.On 1 April 1954, at Fort Riley Kansas it was redesignated the 93rd Transportation Company (LH). The Helicopter became the primary vehicle of the unit.During July 1956 the 93rd with its CH-21C Helicopters, was Placed on TDY (Temporary Duty) to Douglas Arizona where it played a significant role in the search for and the removal of survivors and/or deceased from the mid-air collision of two commercial passenger aircraft over the Grand Canyon. The unit also assisted in the recovery of aircraft parts from this mid-air. At the end of this mission (Fall 1956) the 93rd was given PCS (Permanent Change of Station) Orders to Fort Devens Massachusetts. Again in 1958 the unit was on TDY to the State of Illinois for humanitarian service during the "Blizzard of 58". Acclaim for the unit grew as every report of its accomplishments spread throughout the United States. The 93rd had the reputation of being one of the most decorated peacetime helicopter units.
The 93rd Transportation Company, (Light Helicopter) with a full complement of CH-21C, Helicopters, while stationed at Fort Devens MA. received Deployment Orders to an unknown distention. Preparation for departure began. On 15 December 1961 the 93rd with attached units ( 80th Trans. Det (CHFM) and 134th Medical Det) departed CONUS from Quonset Point, RI. aboard the USNS Card. According to Clyde Emery: "They awoke the first morning at sea to a beautiful sunrise. They deducted that Europe was their destination, after a few more days at sea they passed Gibraltrar "could it be Italy" a few days later it was a trip through the Suez Canal, this was when they started to worry. When they arrived at Subic Bay, PI they were told that VIETNAM was to be their new place of duty. They transferred aircraft, men and equipment to the USN Princeton and departed for duty in The Republic of Vietnam. On 26 January 1962, while still approx.10 miles off shore, (according to Emery it was more like 50 miles) in less than ideal weather conditions (monsoon season), the 93rd flew off the Princeton and landed at Da Nang. While this was a routine operation for Marines and while other H-21 Companies had practiced this in the States, this was probably the first time an Army helicopter unit had deployed from a carrier into a combat zone. Maj. James E. Gray, Commanding Officer 93rd Trans. Company with CWO John Cooney piloted the first aircraft to take off. On 1 February the 93rd was operational, only 6 days from their arrival at Da Nang. Their mission was to support two ARVN divisions stationed in I Corps, numerous US Special Forces camps and other support missions as required.
The H-21s became "the pack horse of the Vietnamese Mountains and Jungles". Soon the crews were at home shuffling equipment across the mountains. Loads varied from howitzers attached to slings riding below the aircraft to the disassembled parts of bull dozers that were flown to U.S. Special Forces outpost to build an airstrip, along with bags of rice, chickens, pigs and passengers to resupply Vietnamese outpost. This type of flying was taking its toll on the H21's. The horizontal and vertical stabilizers were cracking; they had become a flight hazard. Maintenance removed the vertical stabilizers; this seemed to help the problem. Along with other problems (A/C weight Vs power, the mountainous terrain etc.) it was recommended that the 93rd exchange locations with