the vhpa aviator

© 2013 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association. All rights reserved.

IINN TTHHIISS IISSSSUUEE2013 Reunion update ..............................10-15

A Pilots Daughter .......................................17

Sharing your Vietnam Experience ..............18

USAF's 20th Helo Squadron ......................24

VHPA Chapter Activities ......................25-29

TAPS ....................................................30-33

Looking For ..............................................34

Welcome to the VHPA ........................36-37

Issue 31-03 ~ May/June 2013

The Newsletter of The Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association

It was billed as the last UH-1 Huey Air Assault ever conducted by the US Army when 21st Cavalry Brigade did a grand job ofplanning, organizing and executing Fort Hood’s version of their Huey Farewell Ceremony. The heart of the day’s

celebration were commemorative flights for all soldiers who fought and served in Vietnam. Al the sorties included a hoveringstop for a moment of reflection amongst the many Vietnam Veterans interred at the State of Texas Veterans Cemetery.

Complete details of all the day’s celebration can be found on page 5 of this,our May & June 2013 edition of The VHPA Aviator……

THE VHPA AVIATOR, THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THEVIETNAM HELICOPTER PILOTS ASSOCIATION

(ISSN 1930-5737) (USPS 001-497) is published six times yearly ~January, March, May, July, September & November.

The VHPA is organized as a 501 (c ) (19) fraternal militaryorganization and one copy of each newsletter is included in each

of our Memberʼs Dues, yearly subscriptions to the Aviatorare available to non-members for $36.00.

Published by See David Adams, Enterprises, LLC,2900 Arbor Court, Round Rock, Texas, 78681

for the VHPA, headquartered at 2100 N. Highway 360,Suite 907, Grand Prairie, TX 75050.

Periodicals Publications postage paid at Round Rock,Texas and additional mailing points.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes toVHPA HQ, 2100 N. Highway 360, Suite 907, Grand Prairie, TX 75050

The VHPA Aviator

E-mail items to The Aviator at:[email protected]

First – We would like to say THANK YOU to members that havecalled and emailed HQ with their updated address, phone or email infor-mation! This is a HUGE help to us!We are diligently trying to get our database information as current as pos-

sible. We know that many of our members are retired and go south in thewinter to avoid the cold, ice & snow and others head north in the summerto avoid the stifling heat. The problem is, we are spending lots of additionalmoney in postage and envelopes to resend items (mostly the Aviator) to ourdues current members, when we really don’t have to; money that is neededto seek out new members to grow the Association.PPLLEEAASSEE help us out. If you are going to be away from your published

address, call HQ at 800-505-8472 or send an email to [email protected] withyour temporary address and the dates you will be away from home. Thatway we can pay for mailing your items just one time – to your temporaryaddress during the time you are there and to your permanent addresswhen you return home. Of course if you are moving permanently, weneed that revised address information as soon as possible.

Life Members do not receive annual invoices for membership dues, sothey don’t always remember to notify HQ of any changes in address orchanges in their phone numbers, but we really need that info as well.

We would love to update the database with current email addresses foreveryone as well. There are updates that are sent out to everyone viaemail, plus it’s great for making contact with old friends.

We are also in the process of updating the units served in Vietnam foreach member. This is also a helpful tool for making contact with oldfriends that you served with.If HQ can do anything to make VHPA a better value for you, PPLLEEAASSEE

LLEETT UUSS KKNNOOWW. We are here to help you!See you in San Francisco!

SShheerrrryy RRooddggeerrssVVHHPPAA OOffffiiccee MMaannaaggeerr

AVIATOR PRIVACY STATEMENTThe VHPA Aviator contains member privacy informationthe VHPA considers propr ietary and conf ident ia l . Thisinformation, including but not l imited to the VHPA Chap-ter l ist, shall not be used for commercial solicitat ion pur-poses or for any correspondence related thereto withoutprior written authorization from the VHPA president. Cor-respondence relating to commercial purposes or solicita-t ions shall only be sent to the VHPA Officers, Commit-tee Chairmen and/or Staff l isted in this publication.

II ’’ MM AA VVII EETT NNAA MM VV EETT EERR AA NN,, TTHH AATT ’’SS WW HHAATT II AAMM

By LTC (Ret.) Donald E. Long

I’m a Vietnam Veteran, that’s what I amI did my best for my Uncle Sam.While doing my best, I made it through,But others, America, have died for you.

You don’t know the hurt, don’t know the pain,That when I came back, things weren’t the same.And you also don’t know the joy insideFor the job I did, I have such pride.

The sad thing is, not everyone was thereTo see me fight with rules “unfair”;To see my love for my fellow man;To see my sacrifice in the air, jungle, and sand.

I didn’t run to Canada, or try to hide.It wasn’t my horse but I had to ride.I had a family, friends and others to protect.If you tried to understand, I’d get more respect.

I don’t expect you to know how I feel.You got your knowledge from a TV reel.You don’t know that the truth about the warIs better learned from those who went ashore.

It doesn’t matter that history is wrong.It matters that I can still sing my songOf pride…and joy…for my Uncle Sam.I’m a Vietnam Veteran, that’s what I am.

It’s too bad congress, newsmen and suchWeren’t concerned enough to want to touchMy soul while I was passing the test.Instead they thought “what makes me look best?”

But I don’t concern myself with themWhose ignorance and selfishness still wear thin.Instead I think now of what to doTo continue to glorify old “red, white and blue”.

If you should ask me “how it was over there?”I’d reply “the public, over here, was very unfair”.I’d also say our politicians blew it.They confused Chicago with Ban Me Thuot.

These things can’t hurt me now my brother.I understand and will soon help anotherTo love those words that sound so grand,“I’m a Vietnam Veteran, that’s what I am”,“I’m a Vietnam Veteran….that’s what I am”.

The above was sent to us by (Ret.) LTC Donald E. Long.It was originally part of a speech he made at a reunion of the14th Avn. Bn. in the early 1990's. “I wrote the poem andread it at the end of the speech. It went over extremely welland I believe the speech and poem did make the men therethat day feel better. Hopefully, this poem can also make oneor two more of our Members feel good about their lives.”

LTC Long served in Vietnam with both the 176th AvnCo and the 161st Avn Co of the 14th Avn Bn. He alsoserved as the Bn Ops Officer for the 123rd Avn Bn and lateras commander of B Co (Aeroscout), 123rd Avn Bn, 16thAvn Gp, Americal Division.

He may be reached at: [email protected]

APPLICATION DEADLINE FORTHE FIVE VHPA/AAAA

SCHOLARSHIPS IS MAY 1st FFRROOMM TTHHEE SSTTAAFFFF AATT HHQQ!!

President John SorensenVice President Bill "Moon" MullenPast President Mike LawMembers At LargeSenior Member Bob HesselbeinMidterm Member Clyde RomeroJunior Member John ShaferSecretary/Treasurer Tom PayneFounder Larry ClarkVHPA NATIONAL COMMITTEES AND THEIR CHAIRMENChapter Liaison John “Jack” SalmHistorical Mike SlonikerInvestment Bob SmithMembership Mike SheuermanNational Reunion Mike LawPublic Relations/Publications Bob HesselbeinRecords/Database Gary RoushSponsorship/Fundraising Bill "Moon" MullenVHPA Calendar Project Mike Law, EditorVHPA Membership Directory Gary Roush, EditorVHPA Memory Map Project Ron BowerVHPA Scholarship Program Tom PayneVHPA Aviator Newsletter David Adams, Editor

VHPA SUPPORTLegal Advisor Mike PoindexterInvestment Advisor Bob Potvin

VHPA HEADQUARTERS1-800-505-VHPA (8472)

VHPA ELECTRONIC MAIL ADDRESSESVHPA Headquarters [email protected] of The VHPA [email protected] Secretary/Treasurer [email protected] Chapter Liaison [email protected] Chairman [email protected] Chairman [email protected] Reunion Chairman [email protected] Relations/Publications [email protected]/Database [email protected] Calendar Project [email protected] Membership Directory Editor [email protected] Memory Map Project [email protected] Scholarships Program [email protected] Aviator Newsletter [email protected]

Official Web Site of the VHPAwww.VHPA.org

VHPA OFFICERSCommittee Chairmenand Staff ~ 2012-2013

If each one of us has not used the old saying, “Time flieswhen you’re having fun!”, we’ve certainly all heard it. Well,that’s the way I feel as I realized this is my last column towrite as your President, and what a year, what a privilege,and what an honor it has been!

Through the efforts of many others, the VHPA contin-ues to grow. Did you notice that 25% of the new memberslisted in the last issue of this magazine served in either theNavy, Marine Corps, or Air Force. Let’s hope that each ofthese new members find a home in the VHPA and one ofour state chapters. I, like most of us, served in the Army,but remember we were all on the same team! To all ournew members, I say welcome to the VHPA, thank you foryour service, and welcome home.

Registrations continue to come in daily for our upcom-ing reunion in San Francisco, and events are selling out.Everything indicates a very successful, enjoyable, and mem-orable reunion is on the horizon. I certainly hope you areplanning to be there as the VHPAmarks 30 years. My spe-cial thanks go out to our National Reunion Committeemembers and our event coordinator for a job well done.

Sincere thanks also go to our HQ staff, Sherry Rodgersand Ashley Bird, our committee chairmen, and to themembers of the Executive Council. Each one places theinterests of our Association ahead of personal interests andare deserving of our gratitude and appreciation. They cer-tainly have mine.Lastly, saving the best for last, my sincere thanks goes out

to each one of you for the honor of being your President.As I said upon assuming this office, “I do not, nor have Iever considered myself a hero, but I am privileged andhonored to stand with them, and to walk among them.”So, to each one of you: Thank you from the bottom of myheart!

SSeeee yyoouu iinn SSaann FFrraanncciissccoo!!

From John Sorensen, President

of the VHPA

The VHPA Aviator

The VHPA Aviator

I served in Vietnam in1971-72 as an Army heli-copter pilot with LighthorseC/3/17 Air Cavalry. Wewere based at Vinh LongArmy Airfield in the south-ern portion of Vietnamknow as the Delta, or as theArmy designated it, IVCorp,South Vietnam. During thistime, we were given manymissions flying into Cambo-dia. We typically departedVinh Long before sunupand flew to the ARVN(Army of the Republic ofVietnam) outpost at ChiLang, on the Cambo-dia/Vietnam border. Land-ing at Chi Lang, we refueledour helicopters and receivedour mission briefing beforecontinuing into Cambodia. Khmer Forces (Cambodian Army) militaryadvisors flew with us and served as interpreters and coordinators betweenthe Khmer ground troops and our air operations. These Cambodian offi-cers werewell educated and spoke excellent English.I met and became good friends with Lieutenant Choum Sony, one of the

Khmer Forces advisors. One day, he showedme a damaged Browning Hi-Power 9mm pistol and asked if I would be interested in trading for it. Ienthusiastically said, “Yes.” I wanted awar souvenir and I thought this pistolwould be perfect. Lt. Sony indicated he want-ed to trade his pistol for a boom box (bigradio with cassette player). We made arrange-ments to make the trade when I returned toChi Lang. Back at Vinh Long, I went to thePX (Post Exchange) and bought the largestSony boom box in stock. It was about 30inches long with large speakers on each end.It had a cassette player, AM/FM radio and ahandheldmicrophone for recording.Several days later, I was scheduled to fly

another mission into Cambodia. When weapproached Chi Lang, I placed a radio call tooperations asking that they notify Lt. Sony ofour arrival. After we landed at Chi Lang, Lt.Sony came out to the PSP helipad as we wereshutting down our Huey and tying down therotor blades. As he approached, he reached into his fatigue jacket pocketand pulled out the Browning 9mm pistol. I retrieved the new Sony BoomBox frombehindmy pilots’ seat andwemade the exchange. Smiling broad-ly, Lt. Sony turned on his new “rock and roll” apparatus and dialed in AFN,the American Forces Network. When a popular rock song began playing,Lt. Sony grasped the microphone and started singing. To our surprise, hehad a wonderful singing voice. He explained that he was lead singer with arock band in his hometown, PhnomPenh.As I examinedmywar trophy, I found that the pistol had a bullet crease inthe barrel slide, about an inch from the end of the barrel. Lt. Sony explainedthat the pistol had belonged to his brother who was in the 13th Battalion,

Khmer forces. He told thestory of how this pistol wasshot out of his brother’shand during a nighttimeengagement with the KhmerRouge about 60 miles south-west of Phnom Penh, nearHighway 4. Coincidentally, Iflew over this area severaltimes flying command sup-port for the Cambodianarmy.Lt. Sony’s brother found

the pistol the followingmorning. The impact of thebullet damaged the pistol tothe extent that it was nolonger operational. Beingworthless as a firearm, hegave the pistol to his brotherto barter as awar souvenir.Later, as I examined the

pistol, I noticed it had Browning Firearms markings in English indicating itwas manufactured in Belgium. It also had Chinese markings. While I havenever confirmed it, I have been told these are Chinese Armory markings,meaning the pistol came throughChina toCambodia.When I attempted to operate the pistol, I found the bullet crease on the

end of the barrel slide prohibited the slide from retracting to the backmost,locked position. Thus, the slide stop would not engage and not allow thepistol to be disassembled. I was persistent and kept forcing the barrel slide

back until I eventually was able to engage the slidelock. This permitted me to disassemble the pistol. Ithen used a rattail file to remove the protrusion onthe inside of the barrel slide so the pistol would func-tion. After completing the government paperworkfor returning firearms, I brought the pistol homewithmewhen I departedVietnam.The story does not end there. This pistol, along

with other guns, was stolen when our home wasburglarized in 1992. Later, the police found the pis-tol on the burglar when he was caught breaking intoa high school. This pistol was the only gun returnedto me after the robbery, likely because the bulletcrease made it easily identifiable. I fired this pistolone time. It is highly inaccurate, probably due to rustinside the barrel caused by firing corrosive militaryammunition.

NNoottee :: In early 1972, President Nixon was on TV stating that US troopswere not in Cambodia. Yet, we were flying there almost daily. In our missionbriefings, we were told we could not land in Cambodia. We had to fly our mis-sion and return to Chi Lang to refuel. This posed the obvious question, “Whatif we have maintenance problems and have to land?” The answer: “Don’t.”

Rex GoochE-mail: [email protected]

My War Souvenir, a Browning Hi-Power 9mm Pistol Manufactured in Belgium & with Chinese markings…….By Rex Gooch

BBrroo wwnnii nngg 99mmmm PPii ss tt ooll –– PPhhoott oo ttaa kkee nn iinn VVii ee ttnn aamm

LLii ee uutt ee nnaa nntt CC hhoouu mm SSoo nnyy –– KK hhmmee rr FF oorrcc eess 11 997711

Rainandhumidity soakedmyclothes as Iwalked toward thehangar remind-ing me that it was the beginning of the rainy season in Chu Lai and it wouldsoon turn cold inVietnam. Our helicopters sat in revetments exposed to sun,salt, rain, sand, lightning and incoming rocket or mortar fire. Despite all thismost of them cranked-up when needed and flew us into combat and usuallybrought us home. They also have that unforgettable “whop, whop, whop,”rotorsoundthatmostVietnamveterans love.Rain and humidity again soakedmy clothes as I walked toward a hangar in

Texas on a Saturdaymorning inAugust; only this time itwas for final farewellmissionof the last threeUH-1Hueyhelicopters remaining atFortHood.Therain would hide my tears as I joined with other old soldiers who came to payour respects to a dear friend. Itwas a bitter sweet day formost of us, we had atleast forty years ofmemories attached to Bell UH-1 helicopters. I am not surewho loved them the most, the men who flew them andmaintained them, orthemenwhorodeonthemintoandoutofthekillingfieldsofVietnam.FortHood’s21stCavalryBrigadedidagrand jobofplanning,organizingandexecuting this Huey Farewell Ceremony. The heart of the day’s celebrationwas commemorative flights for former crewmembers and soldierswho foughtinVietnam. Despite themorningrainthesortieswereaccomplishedsafely, andweredeeplyappreciatedbythosewhoparticipated intheir last ride. Astaticdis-play in the early afternoon allowed for many friendships to be rekindledbetween retired soldiers in the Fort Hood area and new friendships to beformedbetweenretiredandactivedutysoldiers.Weregrouped indryclothesSaturdayeveningat thePhantomWarriorClubon Fort Hood to hear COLNeil S. Hersey, Commander 21st Cav Brigadespeakof theHuey’s unique andhonorablehistoryof service. COLHerseywasfollowedbyLTG(ret)PaulE.Funkwhogavehis remembrancesof theHuey’srole in combat in Vietnam. He compared theHuey’s long and distinguishedservice history to that of the B-52 Bomber, another Vietnam vintage aircraftstill inservicetoday.All in all it was a very proud day for us Vietnam veterans and our younger

brothers and sisters on active duty. It was also a fitting tribute to the venerableUH-1 Huey helicopter, complete with the unforgettable rotor sound of“whop-whop-whop”….

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The VHPA Aviator

TToo tthhee EEddiittoorr ooff tthhee VVHHPPAA AAvviiaattoorr,,I want to extend my compliments to you on the format for the most

recent issue with it’s emphasis on humor. Humor could always befound in the midst of the chaos of our war and was a priceless com-modity to break the nearly unbearable tension that followed those neardeath experiences. Those that had the emotional makeup to find alaugh or two in the misery of that soldier who ended up tumblingdown a hillside, in a porta potty, blown over by a “Big Windy” seem tohave come home, led normal fairly well adjusted lives, and managed tobe successful contributing members of society. Thank you for remem-bering those among us with a grin on our face and a twinkle in oureyes! By the way, the photo on the cover of the ‘Donut Dollies’, seems to

be a Charlie Troop 1/9th LOH, circa 1968-69, on the south side ofthe strip at Phouc Vinh. The ‘Dolly’ on the lower left seems vaguelyfamiliar and may have engaged in ‘Dirty Dancing’ one evening in theSquadron Officers Club. It probably never happened and was just awishful fantasy?

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EE--MMaaiill:: BBrruuccee HHuuffffmmaannBBHHuuffffmmaann@@fflliigghhttaassssuurraannccee..nneett

Editor’s note – we here at the Aviator also received some very nice com-ments on our last issue from (among others) Tom Sands(great FrontCover!), from James Mabrey (the best Aviator I have ever read) andRobert Anderson (Thanks for a great Mar/Apr VHPA Aviator Maga-zine). We want to thank all of our contributers who sent in their workfor you to enjoy and we would love to do another “Lighter Side” issue nextyear. And we can, if you guys out there send us some stories to fill it up!

TToo tthhee EEddiittoorr ooff tthhee VVHHPPAA AAvviiaattoorr,,Let me preface this by saying that while I am a seasonal employee of

Princess Cruise Line and work at the pier in Seattle during the Alaskancruise season, I'm not "hyping" this cruise to try and drum up incomefor my employer. I am sending this to you because I think it's a greatway to help generate a fund-raising project that will assist VietnamVeterans while providing an enjoyable cruise opportunity to those whotake advantage of it. Princess Cruise Lines is offering a 4-day Western Caribbean cruise

from Houston, Texas departing November 5, 2013 where a portion ofyour fare ranging from $100 to $300 per person, depending on state-room category, will be evenly donated on your behalf to the two Sec-tion 501(c)(3) exempt public charities. This donation is fully taxdeductable and Princess Cruises will provide you with a writtenacknowledgment of your donation for your tax records. Then, yourdonation will be matched by Princess Cruise Lines and will then begiven in equal amounts to both the Vietnam Veterans Memorial FundInc. and Operation Homefront Inc. The President of Princess is himself a veteran of the Vietnam conflict

and he is hoping to raise $1 million dollars for those 2 charities.Where else can you take a cruise and get credit for a charitable dona-tion at the same time? I am providing both the regular company web-site URL and the URL for the Cruising For A Cause cruise below. Amore detailed explanation of the cruise can be found on the secondwebsite. BTW – Joe Galloway has just been added to the list of digni-taries that will be accompanying the passengers on this cruise.Normal Princess website: http://www.princess.com

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TToo tthhee EEddiittoorr ooff tthhee VVHHPPAA AAvviiaattoorr,, I thought it very interesting that in the March/April Aviator, on pg.

34 a letter from Steve Maher requested more info on the Army's role inhelicopters spraying of agent orange, he mentioned that "some" sourcesat the DA had said no Army helicopters sprayed agent orange. Flipping several pages over, to pg. 38, there in all it's glory, in an arti-

cle by Tony Humphreys, is a picture of what appears to be an Armyhelicopter spraying, of all things, AGENT ORANGE! Guess this iswhat's referred to as "poetic justice?" PS: Y'all should send a copy ofthe Aviator to Steve with this info attached.......................

SSiinncceerreellyy,, TToomm WWoooodd,, CCWW44,, UUSSAA,, RReett.. ((MM0022444433))

EE--MMaaiill:: wwooooddggoohheeeellss@@hhoottmmaaiill..ccoomm

Editor’s note – I received an e-mail from Steve letting me know that hehas received feedback from almost a dozen of our members and is veryappreciative of what we have sent him, including a copy of the issuecomplete with the photo mentioned above. Tony Humphreys, the manthat wrote the story about the VA’s new policy on Agent Orange, alsowrote us to say that he had just received his copy of an informative, no-cost VA publication entitled Agent Orange Review . It is a periodicnewsletter published by the VA for the benefit of RVN Vets and it issent to all Vets who are on the VA's Agent Orange Registry. It is avail-able to all RVN Vets and you can request a free subscription by sendinga written request to: Department of Veterans Affairs, AITC-ATTN:Mailing List Update (32B), 1615 Woodward Street, Austin, TX78772-0001. The newsletter i s also available online atwww.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange

LLeetttteerrss ttoo tthhee EEddiittoorr

The VHPA Aviator

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TThhee SSkkyy BBeehhiinndd MMee

The VHPA Aviator

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Want to see your Reunion publicized here?Send details to: [email protected]

UPCOMING REUNIONSTToo TThhee EEddiittoorr ooff tthhee VVHHPPAA AAvviiaattoorr,,I really enjoyed the story that you

ran about FireHawk Helicoptersthat ran in the in the VHPA’ers inthe News section of last year’s Sep-tember/October issue (#30-05). Itwas great to catch up on the currentlife of my old friend Chuck Brainerdwho always was one to amaze mewith his knowledge and ingenuity. I though our Members wouldenjoy some photos of how I first served with Chuck while we wereboth in Vietnam.

Chuck was the Chief Pilot and A/C for one of the speciallyequipped Nighthawk H Model’s in our unit (the 57th Assault Heli-copter Company) based in Pleiku, Vietnam. The Nighthawks we flew were armed with a door mounted M-134

mini gun, Starlight Scope and Xeon light on the left side. The rightside was armed with an M2-.50 cal machine gun and a M-60 machinegun on the right side. Chuck named his bird "REVENGE" in honor of Jeff A Coffin

who was KIA south of Pleiku on 22 Nov 71. On most nights I flewcover for Chuck in a C-model gunship, but I also logged severalhours as Revenge 31’s Peter-Pilot. More missions than you wouldexpect just called for dropping Chu Hoi leaflets but when we got intoa fight, the NVA were definitely not happy to see us show up.

Regards,James E. Nunn

E-Mail: [email protected]

CW2 James Nunn, Pleiku RVN, 1971

The VHPA Aviator

Vietnam Combat Helicopter T-ShirtsSALE ON!! - buy any two 58's, AH-1-G or the new Huey T-Shirts (or mix andmatch them)

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AMightyPatOnTheBackBy Charles W. Abbey

Army Aviation Warrant Officers - indeed all Warrant Officersin my experience - are members of a unique brotherhood ofArmy professional men and women. Aviation Warrants, theArmy’s specialized corps of full-time aircraft handlers, from time-to-time allow some few of us Commissioned aviators to assistthem with certain of the more simple flying skills.I have long noted that compliments of any degree, extended by

aviation Chief Warrant Officers to Commissioned aviators, arefew; possibly because we seldom measure-up to their high stan-dards of military flying skill – at least in their studied opinion.

Once however, I recall receiving a strong compliment ifoblique - from a well seasoned and respected Chief Warrant Offi-cer (who incidentally happened to be a relative of one of avia-tions‘ greatest pioneers)... This compliment, recalled fromtime_to-time has pleased me and has evoked pleasant smiles ofrecollection.ln this instance, the setting was a rotary wing instrument flight

simulator at Fort Rucker, Alabama. lt should be noted that heli-copter simulators of the day, unlike the old blue "Link" box of athing, were large , technologically advanced, fully articulatedmachines with exactly duplicate cockpit controls and instrumentpanels of the UH-1 helicopter and came complete with the heli-copter’s noise and “feel”. Computer console operators moni-tored the operation of several simulators and were able to furnishexperience on many diverse airways or aerodrome sites during a

single training session. When compared to actual flying, thesemachines were a cost effective bargain.Now for the compliment: He, the Chief Warrant Officer Four

was the Instrument Flight Examiner conducting an extensiveannual instrument flight certification renewal...I, the LieutenantColonel, was the examinee, "under the hood" and I was sweatingbullets.Required examinations of this sort were often somewhat diffi-

cult to schedule since they required a block or two of scarce sim-ulator time and due to busy schedules, frequently were conductedwell after duty hours. If you were not careful, things could get alittle testy in the cockpit.

We had flown (what seemed like a five hour) an instrumentround-robin flight and my IFE friend was having great funpulling circuit breakers to disable certain flight instruments, revis-ing my flight clearances and injecting nasty weather with which Iwas expected to deal, calmly and efficiently. . .more bullets.Finally, it was over and perhaps by some fluke I had passed the

flight check. Before beginning his incisive and through debrief,as the Examiner gathered his notes and materials, he voiced theaforementioned and long-remembered gracious compliment ofmy flying performance.

““GGeeee SSiirr,, ddiidd yyoouu uussee ttoo bbee aaWWaarrrraanntt OOffffiicceerr??””

Charles W. AbbyUSA. LTC (Ret.)Clemmons, NC

UH-1 Polo Shirts now available! Only $4.00 more!For Selection, Payment & Shipping... GO TO ~

http://northwestvets.com/spurs/miller-2.htmQUESTIONS?

[email protected] or 619-997-1421

The VHPA Aviator

The Cub Inn is a 5,000-square-foot logcabin that offers unique charm that blendsour love of aviation with the great outdoors.Located in Californiaʼs Sierra Nevada moun-tains just 25 miles from Yosemite NationalPark, our five guest rooms sleep either twoor four people, and they all feature a privatebath.Our guests start each day with a heartycountry breakfast and are also invited tojoin us in the living room each evening toenjoy a glass of wine and a light snack.The Cub Inn is the life-long dream of hus-band and wife team, Piper Cub ownerand pilot Charleen Beam and VHPA LifeMember Joe Riley.

Full details and booking informationare available on our website:

TheCubInn.comOr call us at: 209-962-0403

(land line) to book.

Only 3 hoursfrom the2013 ReunionReserve Now!

VHPA Member Bill Hatounian is a 24-year mili-tary veteran and a retired Army Aviator, He servedwith the 1st Squadron, 4th United States Cavalry inVietnam and after active duty, he flew with the997th AHC of the Arizona Army National Guard.He has recently retired from being both a pilot anda Lieutenant with the Phoenix Police Departmentand is enjoying retired life by writing books, beingactive and traveling with his wife.

TOLTANICAArcheology assistant professor Austin Tripp, anexpert in Mesoamerican civilizations, acceptsan assignment to a recently discovered, ancientToltec city. The lack of any artifacts shroudsthe city in a mystery as to why the entire popu-lation vanished, and took everything with them.

CAUSAL CONNECTIONDetective Milo Necalli, an energetic veteraninvestigator with the Phoenix Police Depart-ment's Night Detective Unit, is secretly delight-ed when he is assigned to investigate the deatho f a man who was found asphyx i a t ed andshrink-wrapped - inside an empty waterbedmattress.

All four of Bill’s Books,The Afgan Deception, Tank Witch,Causel Connection and Toltancina

are available at:www.MyNovelTales.com

Come see ourbooth at theVHPA 2013Reuinon

The VHPA Aviator

Speaking for the VHPA Executive Council, theHeadquarters Staff, and the entire ReunionCom-mittee – I want so share several ideas with you.I’m writing this on Easter Sunday, 31 March soplease factor this date into the following ideas:First, we mentioned in the last issue, we madea significant reduction in the number ofReunion pages starting with the Mar/Apr issueof The Aviator. Instead of taking 6 to 8 pages,we are down to 3 or 4. Now, for those whodon’t have access to a copy of the Jan/Feb issueor need a full copy of all printed Reunion mate-rial, please contact HQ who will gladly provideyou with a copy of our special 8-page ReunionGuide. Naturally www.vhpa.org contains allthe details and up to date information.Second, a word of warning ~ the VHPA’s

Hilton San Francisco room block is 73% soldout! Now to the hotel’s credit, they haveexpanded our contract room block significantly.For example, for the night of 1 July the VHPAcontract had 40 rooms. As of Easter Sunday,we’ve sold 126 and the hotel has set the block at151! I want to point out to everyone that theHilton is doing this because they will makemoney; HOWEVER they did not have to do sounder the contract. Yes, this is a huge hotel!Yes, they must honor the VHPA rate from June28 through 10 July, but they only have to do thatthrough Tuesday, June 11th. Howmuch longerwill they generously increase the block? Willthey still honor the VHPA room rate after June11th? Don’t know. Message - book ASAP or beprepared for some expense alternatives!! Peoplehave had good luck using the hotel’s reservationline 415-771-1400.Third, THANK YOU for heeding our

repeated pleas to register early. Depending onwhich ‘forecasting technique’ you favor, ourcurrently registered 900 adults projects to afinal attendance of more than 1,800. Thiscompares favorably with the New OrleansReunion and better than both the San Diegoand San Antonio Reunions. So, sports fans, wehave a good one on tap!Fourth, let’s put the ‘zoom lens’ on the

KIA/MIA Gold Star Family Breakfast. Atten-dance at this event has steadily increased in thelast few years. As of 1 April, 2012 had 38 regis-tered to attend. 2013 has nearly double at 68.What’s going on? Ernie and Ann Arzabalattend most every VHPA Reunion. Ernie metEddie Molino in flight class 69-36. These twoAmerican Indians became friends. Ernie wasthe Best Man at Eddie’s wedding. Eddie servedin C/7/1st Air Cav and died 10 May 1970when their C&C Huey crashed after throwinga main blade. Ernie escorted Eddie’s bodyhome and has stayed in touch with the Molinofamily who live in Nevada for years. This year

Eddie’s sister, Connie Hopper, and brother,George Molino, are coming with severalother family members to attend the GoldStar Family Breakfast because the Reunion isrelatively near-by. Many of us ‘talk about’inviting KIA Family members to a VHPAReunion. Ernie is my hero! He did it!!!This is exactly what a Reunion is all about!Fifth, I can’t describe how excited I am

about having so many Black helicopterpilots join us for this Reunion. While thecenter piece is Herb Metoyer’s HPFpresentation titled “the Collective His-tory of Black Helicopter Pilots” sched-uled for Saturday, July 6th 2 to 4 pm. Iam excited to announce that Herb’sfriends, Vic Thornton (current presi-dent of the United States Army BlackAviation Association - USABAA) plusJ Nance and Clovis Jones will be join-ing Herb. Additionally the Black heli-copter pilots will have their own TOCfor the entire Reunion. As good for-tune would have it, the VHPA hasaccess to a DOD database that con-tains ethnic codes so we “crossed” itwith the VHPA database that is colorblind to get a roster of 559 Black heli-copter pilots. Sadly many have passedon, were KIAs, or don’t have a goodmailing address in our database. But wemailed a special invitation to 420. Theresponse is impressive!!Sixth, using similar techniques to

those outlined above, we mailed out aspecial invitation to more than 600guys who served with the 1/9th Cav ~pilots, crew chiefs, gunners, Blues,clerks, bakers and mechanics to join usat this Reunion. This invitation doesNOT REPLACE the normal Bull-whip Squadron Association Reunions~ just an opportunity for anyone inter-ested in meeting up during the VHPAReunion to do so.Seventh, I’m a little disappointed at

the rate of Mini-Reunion sign-ups.Please go to the Reunion Informationpage on www.vhpa.org and click the‘Here is what is already scheduled’ linkon the Mini-Reunion line (two belowthe Reunion logo). If you see yourunit’s mini on the schedule, GREAT;but if not, complete the form torequest one.

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VHPA 30th Annual Reunion • San Francisco, CA • 2-6 July 2013

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The election will take place at the Annual BusinessMeeting during the 2013 reunion in San Francisco,CA. to fill the positions of Vice President (VP) andJunior Member at Large, and each brings a three-yearcommitment to ensure leadership continuity. Theelected VP candidate will serve the first year as VicePresident, the following year as President, and the finalyear as Immediate Past President; the elected Memberat Large will serve one year as Junior, one year asMidterm, and one year as Senior Member at Large.Rules for conducting the election shall be provided inthe application packet. The requirement for candidates is straightforward:

the individual must be an active member for one yearprior to the first day of the 2013 annual VHPANational Reunion. The nomination process is easy, aswell. You may personally volunteer or you may nomi-nate another active VHPA member who is willing toserve. The nomination, however, must be received inwriting (e-mail or letter) by John Shafer, the VHPAEC Junior-Member at Large and Election Coordina-tor not later than midnight, June 15, 2013. John Shafer will provide you with an application

packet and form to complete and return. The nomi-nee form details basic biographical information whichwill be posted to the VHPA website by June 20, 2013.This notice itself fulfills VHPA policy to notify mem-bers and to seek nominees for the Vice President andJunior Member at Large positions.

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The VHPA Aviator

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Friday – July 5th, 2013

Saturday – July 6th, 2013

WWOOCC CCHHOORRUUSS SSIINNGGEERRSS!!YYoouurr lleeaaddeerr MMiikkee RRoouuiilliieerr hhaass aa nneeww ee--mmaaiill aaddddrreessss..CCoonnttaacctt hhiimm aatt:: MM..RRoouulliieerr@@ccoommccaasstt..nneett

MMiikkee iiss ssttiillll llooookkiinngg ffoorr aa ffeewwmmoorree ""GGoooodd MMeenn"" ttoo jjooiinn tthheemm!!

Book nowfor the 2013 Reunion!!

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Wednesday – July 3rd, 2013

Tuesday – July 2nd, 201377::3300 aamm –– 99::0000 aamm77::3300 aamm –– 99::3300 aamm88::3300 aamm –– 22::3300 ppmm88::3300 aamm –– 44::3300 ppmm99::0000 aamm –– 55::0000 ppmm99::0000 aamm –– 1111::0000 ppmm1100::0000 aamm –– 1122::0000 ppmm1100::0000 aamm –– 44::0000 ppmm1100::0000 aamm –– 55::0000 ppmm1111::0000 aamm –– 1111::0000 ppmm 1122::0000 ppmm –– 22::3300 ppmm1122::0000 ppmm –– 55::0000 ppmm11::0000 ppmm –– 44::3300 ppmm11::0000 ppmm –– 33::0000 ppmm22::0000 ppmm –– 44::0000 ppmm22::0000 ppmm –– 55::0000 ppmm

88::0000 aamm –– 99::3300 aamm88::0000 aamm –– 55::0000 ppmm 99::0000 aamm –– 55::0000 ppmm99::3300 aamm –– 33::0000 ppmm1100::0000 aamm –– 1122::3300 ppmm1100::3300 aamm –– 11::3300 ppmm1122::0000 ppmm –– 55::0000 ppmm1122::3300 ppmm –– 11::0000 ppmm1122::3300 ppmm –– 11::3300 ppmm11::0000 ppmm –– 55::0000 ppmm11::0000 ppmm –– 44::0000 ppmm22::0000 ppmm –– 44::0000 ppmm44::0000 ppmm –– 66::0000 ppmm55::4455 ppmm –– 1111::0000 ppmm

Thursday – July 4th, 2013

Official Schedule of Events - The 30th Annual Reunion of the VHPASan Francisco, California, 2 through 6 July, 2013

Updated as of 15 February, 2013See our Website at: www.VHPA.org for the latest details and to register for the Reunion

Reunion Continuing Events:UUnniitt MMiinnii--RReeuunniioonnss aanndd UUnniitt TTOOCC’’ss aarree sscchheedduulleedd ddaaiillyy aatt vvaarriioouuss ttiimmeess eevveerryy ddaayyooff tthhee RReeuunniioonn –– sseeee HHQQ ffoorr aa sseeppaarraattee sscchheedduullee ffoorr yyoouurr iinnddiivviidduuaall uunniitt’’ss ddaattee,, ttiimmeeaanndd rroooomm aassssiiggnnmmeenntt..

TThhee VVeennddoorr RRoooomm –– ffiirrsstt ooppeennss oonn JJuullyy 22nndd aatt 11::0000ppmm aanndd rreemmaaiinnss ooppeenn ddaaiillyy ffrroomm99::0000aamm -- 55::0000ppmm tthhrroouugghh tthhee llaasstt ddaayy ooff tthhee RReeuunniioonn,, JJuullyy tthhee 66tthh

TThhee OO CClluubb –– OOppeenn ffrroomm 1111::0000aamm ttiillll 1111::0000 ppmm oonn 22 tthhrroouugghh 55 JJuullyy,, oonn 66 JJuullyy ooppeennoonnllyy ffrroomm 1122::0000 nnoooonn ttiillll 55::0000 PPMM..

The VHPA Aviator

VHPA30th Annual Reunion • San Francisco, CA • 2-6 July 2013

WWaanntt ttoo hheellpp oouutt HHQQ aatt tthhiiss yyeeaarr''ss RReeuunniioonn??We need volunteers to help with numerous duties at this year's

Reunion - registration packets, name tags, tickets, manning the Infor-mation, Banquet and T-Shirt booths. The list goes on and on.

FFuullll ddeettaaiillss aarree aavvaaiillaabbllee bbyy ccaalllliinngg HHQQ ((11--880000--550055--VVHHPPAA))aanndd aasskkiinngg ttoo ssppeeaakk ttoo RReebbeeccccaa

Gold Star Family BreakfastThey will never be forgotten.This is an opportunity for family and friends of the fallen to be among veterans, to learn of the camaraderie that their loved one experienced.

We all loved - and lost - the same people.

Let’s remember them together.

The Gold Star Family Breakfast will be held during the

2013 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Reunion

Where: !Hilton San Francisco Union Square - Imperial Room A on 2nd level

! 333 O’Farrell Street, San Francisco - 415-771-1400

When: !7:30-9:00 am Friday, July 5, 2013

Questions about the breakfast: Julie Kink, Family Contacts Committee Member

Pre-Reunion: [email protected] ~or~ During Reunion: call her room @ Hilton

Reunion information: http://www.vhpa.org/news.htm or 800-505-VHPA (8472)

Honor the lives of the fallen by gathering with the loved ones they left behind

For Veterans and KIA/MIA Families

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Where: Hilton San Francisco Union Square - Imperial Room A on 2nd level

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When: 7:30-9:00 am Friday

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~or~ During Reunion

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: call her room @ HiltonDuring Reunion

A (8472).vhpa.org/news.htm or 800-505-VHP or 800-505-VHPA (8472)

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WWaanntt ttoo sseett uupp VVeennddoorr TTaabblleeaatt tthhee RReeuunniioonn??

Know any Vendors you would like us to invite to our Reunion?

PPlleeaassee ccoonnttaacc tt oouurr VVeennddoorr RRoooomm CChhaa ii rrmmaann::Woody McFarlin

EE --MMaa ii ll :: wwoooodd yymm cc ff aa rr ll ii nn@@ggmmaa ii ll .. cc oommPPhhoonnee ((770066)) 224455--22661177 HHoommee oorr ((440044)) 443333--99770011 CCeell ll


HPF Event Fee $25.00One $25.00 PER-FAMILY fee buys access to everyone of the three HPF events for 2013. You will alsoreceive a CD of all of last year’s HPF and WSCevents. For 2013, this ticket may also be purchasedat the door of each event. Remember, every personin your family gets in under this one ticket.

EVENT #Attending Price TotalRegistration through 4/30/2013* @$25Registration 5/1/2013 and after* @$35Registration for under age 21 @$15Tour of the USS Hornet #1 (includes box lunch) (July 2) @$65Group Dinner at Fisherman's Grotto (July 2) @$65Group Dinner at Fog Harbor (July 2) @$65Early Bird Reception (July 2) No ChargeTour of the USS Hornet #2 (includes box lunch) (July 2) @$65City Tour #1 (July 3) @$31Alcatraz Tour #1 (July 3) @$71Bridge to Bridge Cruise (July 3) @$45Poker Tournament #1 (July 3) @$25Group Dinner at R&G Chinese (July 3) @$67Group Dinner at Stinking Rose (July 3) @$571st Time Attendee Reception (July 3) No ChargeWelcome Reception (July 3) No ChargeBob Hope USO Show (July 3) @$30Golf Outing with Lunch ** (July 4) @$136Muir Woods & Sausalito Tour (July 4) @$56City Tour #2 (July 4) @$31Cable Car & Walk-the-Bridge #1 (July 4) @$40Writers Panel Presentation (July 4) No ChargeCable Car Tour #1 (July 4) @$34Dinner Cruise (fireworks viewing) ** (July 4) @$159KIA/MIAGold Star Breakfast (July 5) @$20Gold Star Breakfast Sponsorship (July 5) @$20Winery Tour & Lunch #2 (July 5) @$92Hiller Museum & Helicopter Display (July 5) @$55HillerMuseum&HelicopterDisplay&TankMuseum (July 5) @$80Alcatraz Tour #2 (July 5) @$71California Academy of Science Tour (July 5) @$41Cable Car Tour #2 (July 5) @$34Quilt Show & Tell w/outing (July 5) No ChargePoker Tournament #2 (July 5) @$25Memorial Service (July 6) No ChargeSpousal Murder Mystery & Lunch (July 6) @$55Annual Business Meeting (July 6) No ChargeCable Car &Walk-the-Bridge #2 (July 6) @$40Closing Banquet – Adult (July 6) @$76Closing Banquet – Child (July 6) @$18Non-Registered Guest at Banquet (July 6) @$90Total From Sidebars XXXXX XXXXXVHPA Dues (if not dues current) 1 year @$36VHPA Dues (if not dues current) 3 years @$99Life membership (Call HQ for exact amount)2013 CD or Paper Directory Fee @$10Mult. Year CD or Paper Directory Fee (# of Years x $10)

** Denotes a Non-Refundable Event

Member name: Member No.: Wheelchair? � YesAddress: Address change? � YesCity: State: Zip:Email address: Telephone: ( )Wife/guest name: Hometown: 21 or older? � Yes/Wheelchair? � YesGuest name: Hometown: 21 or older? � Yes/Wheelchair? � YesGuest name: Hometown: 21 or older? � Yes/Wheelchair? � YesGuest name: Hometown: 21 or older? � Yes/Wheelchair? � Yes

T-Shirts Total $

Banquet Meal

* Each person 21 and older must pay the fullregistration fee, except for banquet-only guests.

Voluntary Contributions:VHPAMembership Fund $VHPA Scholarship Fund $VHPA General Fund $Vietnam War Museum $VHPA Reunion Sponsorship $

VHPA 30th Annual Reunion • San Francisco, CA • 2-6 July 2013NATIONAL REUNION REGISTRATION FORM

Toll Free (800) 505-VHPA (8472)Email [email protected] (817) 200-7309

Information and register online at www.vhpa.org or mail completed form to:VHPA Headquarters, 2100 N Highway 360, Suite 907, Grand Prairie, TX 75050

GRAND TOTAL $

___S@$18 ___M@$18 ___L@$18

____Beef ____Fish ____Vegetable

___XL@$18 ___XXL@$19 ___XXXL@$20

CHECK OR MONEY ORDER PAYMENT

CREDIT CARD PAYMENTMC/Visa #:Exp. Date:Signature:

In lieu of a credit card, you can maila check or money order payable to

“VHPA” with form.

OFFICIAL REGISTRATIONCANCELLATION DATE IS Noon,CST, Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Total $SOLD OUT SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT SOLD OUTSOLD OUT SOLD OUT SOLD OUT SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT SOLD OUT SOLD OUT SOLD OUT

SOLD OUT SOLD OUT



REFUND POLICYIMPORTANT: Please review the detailsof the Refund Policy, including thelimited opportunity to purchase aRefund Guaranty available onlyon a one-time basis at the time ofregistration, which is posted onlineat the official VHPA website:

Refund Gurantee Fee(10% of Total Events) $

www.vhpa.org

VHPA30th Annual Reunion • San Francisco, CA • 2-6 July 2013

The VHPA Aviator

At this year’s Annual Reunion in SanFrancisco, on Friday, July 5th, at 1PM youwill have the opportunity to learn about atruly unique organization for helpingseverelywounded and injured veterans.The Wyakin Warrior Foundation is a

non profit (501c3), nationwide organiza-tion based in Boise, Idaho that was found-ed solely for the purpose of assisting severe-ly wounded, disabled and injured veteransof the post 9/11 era transition from thetrauma of life-altering wounds or injuriesto successful and rewarding careers in civil-ian life. The Foundation is unique due tothe comprehensive educational, profession-al development; multi-level mentoring andnetworking theWarrior is offered.WWHHAATT IISS AA WWYYAAKKIINN:: According

to Native American legend, a wyakin is aspiritual guide that advises and protectsa person throughout his or her life. Thefoundation’s motto is: They served.They sacrificed. Now it is our turn tohelp our country’s wounded soliders.The Wyakin Warriors come to us from

all branches of the military and from allparts of the country. We give the veteran afull ride, fifty-one month scholarship to apost secondary institution (including alltuition, fees and housing expenses not paidfor by the GI Bill). The cost per War-rior for the 51 month program isapproximately $50,000 and a new stu-dent is not brought into the programuntil the entire amount has been identi-fied. There is no academic grade require-ment to be accepted into the program andthe warrior may choose either a four yeardegree program or a shorter professional ortechnical program. Currently we are send-ing our warriors to Boise State Universityor the College of Western Idaho. Nowinto our third year, we have a 100% reten-tion rate.On Friday, July 5, at 1PM, The WyakinWarrior Foundation will be giving an open and informational presenta-tion to the attendees of the VHPA Reunion about the organization, andwhat we do. The presentation will be extremely educational and infor-mative, and I urge you and your families to attend. We will also have aninformation booth open in the vendor area for the reunion.You may know a veteran who has returned from the War on Terror,

who is looking for a way to transition back to civilian life. After learningabout us, you may wish to tell him or her about our foundation. To date,over 50,000 American service men and women have been wounded inOperation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Around 17,000 ofthem were wounded severely enough to prevent their return to duty. Asthe conflicts continue, more veterans will need help. And that’s what weare trying to do.I am a two tour veteran of the Vietnam War, and a life member of

VHPA. I was introduced to the Wyakin Warrior Foundation a littleover a year ago after I met US Navy Captain Jeff Bacon, (the founder of

the organization). Once he explained the program to me, I had to getinvolved. Our staff is made almost entirely of volunteers who give theirtime and energy to the organization and the vast majority of staff mem-bers are retired or prior military officers, many of whom have been award-ed the Purple Heart.The USO has named the Wyakin Warrior Foundation “Best in Class”,and the two organizations recently entered into a formal partnership.

MMoorree iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn iiss aavvaaiillaabbllee tthhrroouugghh oouurr WWeebbssiittee::hhttttpp::////wwwwww..wwyyaakkiinn..oorrgg// or from me directly.

TThhaannkkss ffoorr yyoouurr ttiimmee aanndd hhooppee ttoo sseeee yyoouu iinn SSaann FFrraanncciissccoo!!

CClliiffff GGaassttoonnEE--mmaaiill:: GGaassttoonn@@wwyyaakkiinn..oorrgg

The VHPA Aviator

WWyyaakkiinn WWaarrrriioorr FFoouunnddaattiioonn ttoo jjooiinn uuss iinn SSFFOO

The VHPA Aviator

Paul E. BartlettVietnam Veteran Helicopter Pilot

413-329-0168 Cellwww.He l i P l a qu e . c om

Custom HelicopterRotor Blade Plaques

~ MILITARYAWARDS ~ HONORS~ CHALLENGE COINS

Complete with laser image options that include:Aircraft ~ Unit Patches ~ Photographs

Plaque insert options include: Medal Challenge Coins,Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star,Purple Heart, Air Medal, Vietnam Veteran Coin and

all levels of Aviator and Crew Wings.Coin Inserts can be made removable

to expose engraved information on their back.

DPMO recently posted the accounting for Major Larry J. Hanley,USAFR, listed as MIA in Laos on November 4, 1969, while flying anF105D Thunderchief. His remains were recovered February 24, 2012,and identified on March 8, 2013.The number of Americans announced as returned and identified

since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is now 932; another 63 USpersonnel, recovered post-incident and identified before the end of thewar, bring the total to 995. Of the 1,651 total unreturned Americanveterans from the Vietnam War, our POW/MIAs, 90% were lost inVietnam or in areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam’s wartimecontrol. Detailed numbers are Vietnam – 1,278 (VN-469, VS-809);Laos – 313; Cambodia – 55; Peoples Republic of China territorialwaters – 7. Over 450 of these were over-water losses, these losses areamong the 630 DPMO lists as No Further Pursuit (NFP).JOINT FIELD OPERATIONS: In early March, a Joint Field

Activity (JFA) began in Laos, but consisted of only three RecoveryTeams (RTs) with no Investigation Team (IT) deployed, and is expect-ed to conclude on April 10th. Recently, and at long last, the Lao Gov-ernment decided to renew a business license for Helicopters NewZealand, the foreign company previously contracted by JPAC to pro-vide smaller, certified-safe helicopter support for access to remote sites.The next JFA in Laos will be May 2 – June 15th, consisting of fourRTs, and again there will be no ITs deployed from JPAC Headquartersin Hawaii. In Vietnam, a Joint Advance Work (JAW) Team beganpreparation for arrival of a full JPAC contingent on March 12th. AJFA is now ongoing in Vietnam with three RTs and two VietnameseRecovery Teams (VRTs) working at five different locations in southernprovinces. This operation is expected to conclude on April 14.


The VHPA Aviator

On November 8th 2012, at the world's busiest airport, travelers pass-ing through the Main Atrium paused to witness a dedication ceremonybeing conducted to honor the memory of a local Soldier killed in actionduring the Vietnam conflict.WO1 Francis McDowall, Jr. from Lawrenceville, Georgia served as a

"Blue Max" Cobra helicopter pilot with C Battery, 2nd of the 20th Aer-ial Rocket Artillery based in Quan Loi, South Vietnam. On August12, 1969, he was killed in action while fighting to repel a North Viet-namese Army attack on Landing Zone Andy. His skillful and aggres-sive actions while employing his aircraft to defeat the enemy forcesattempting to overrun the landing zone denied their advance and savedthe lives of his fellow soldiers.WO1 McDowall was posthumously awarded the Distinguished FlyingCross and Purple Heart for his selfless actions.The dedication ceremony on November 8, 2012, was hosted by the

Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association (AVVBA.org), an asso-ciation composed of approximately 350 successful business men andwomen from the Atlanta area and who take the words, “Never Forget”as their creed. The AVVBA originally dedicated a memorial to WO1McDowall back in 1991 at the airport, but when new constructionclosed that concourse, the management of the Airport invited them to

re-dedicate a new memorial in Mr. McDowall’s honor.This time the Members of the association were able to procure an

actual Cobra helicopter rotor blade that had been used in service inVietnam to appropriately serve as the centerpiece for the memorial.The memorial itself was also relocated to the Main Atrium to allow eas-ier access for WO1 McDowall’s family and friends and to make it morevisible to the traveling public. The blade was positioned on the Atriumwall directly below the Atlanta Airport’s USO.The ceremony was attended by WO1 McDowall's four sisters and

extended family, seven members of the Blue Max unit with whom heserved in Vietnam and numerous other members of the AVVBA. Thekeynote speaker for the event was an association member who servesas the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Georgia.The Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association takes pride in its

mission to honor those from the Atlanta area who were lost in Viet-nam. When you travel through the Atlanta Airport please take time tosalute one of our own who, with his life, proved his dedication to hiscountry and to his fellow soldiers.

Memorial Service for “Blue Max” AviatorWO1 Francis McDowall

Conducted at Atlanta’s Hartsville-Jackson International AirportBy members Max Torrence (Superhook 16) and Rick Lester (Joker 94)

LLooookkiinngg FFoorr ssoommee hheellpp……..My son just bought this “Cherry looking” OH-23/UH-12B Raven helicopter. Both

he and I are looking for some help with the “tips” on flying and maintaining her that youjust can’t find in any of the printed and formal flight manuals. Heck, the Dash-10 thatwas passed to us is dated April 1958!

I know nothing about paddle-boards, wooden blades, etc., but I’m sure a lot of you outthere do, and if so, please contact me and we’ll both get started “picking your brain”!

Jeff Houser, Apache 12E-Mail: Apache12_@ HotMail.com

When I was eleven years old, I used to walk down the streets of Stuttgart,Germany on an American army base, holding my father’s hand. Nearly all ofmy childhoodmemories invoke a clear mental image inmymind ofmy fatherwearing that olive green flight suit bearing his name, embossed and stitched inblack letters on that nametag proudly affixed to the front of it, along with all ofthose other patches lining the arms, my favorite of which were the small, blackand silver bars that lined the top of his sleeve. I candidly admit that at the time,I didn’t understand what it meant to have a pilot as a father. I didn’t reallyunderstandwhat it wouldmean in life to be a pilot’s daughter.I didn’t fully understand the significance of his chosen profession or its rolein helping to assure freedom for the rest of us. I didn’t realize that wearingthat uniformmeant that he could, at any time, be called into war if there everwas one, because there hadn’t been one for so long, the thought never creptintomymind. All I knew ismy dad flew helicopters, and Iwas his daughter.I wasn’t really aware of the tremendous respect that existed between my

father and any military member he saluted when they passed us by on thatsidewalk, and he quickly droppedmy hand to offer a proper salute.I didn’t realize what it truly meant on the rare occasions when I overheard

my father mention that he had done two separate tours in a war torn placecalled Vietnam. As a Cobra pilot, he strapped himself into two-man gunshipsand flew them into the horizon, often into hot zones, to rain fire down uponthe fields where it was needed, providing relief and much needed cover andsupport for those walking hell on earth among the rice patty fields and greenbackdrop of a place called ‘nam.As my father walked along side me throughout my childhood, I didn’t real-ize that he had an emotional scar etched deeply upon his heart from losing hisbest friend, Harold McCaslin, Jr., on what turned out to be that courageous,young pilot’s last birthday – his 24th. As fate would have it, the dinner anddrinks the two shared at theOfficers’ Club the evening prior toMac’s gunshipbeing shot out of the sky would serve as a beautiful, but painful memory of afinal farewell; one last celebration of camaraderie and friendship that daddyandMac would ultimately share. I never saw that scar hiding beneath daddy’ssmile. I didn’t realize. It never showed.Walking down that sidewalk at the age of eleven, I had no clue thatmy fatherhad previously been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism inbattle. To me he was just “daddy.” It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I hadthe opportunity to read the followingwords in an e-mail frommy aunt:For heroismwhile participating in aerial flight evidenced by voluntary actionsabove and beyond the call of duty:Warrant Officer Paye distinguished himselfby exceptionally valorous actions in aerial flight, while acting as an aircraft com-mander of a Cobra gunship scrambled to aid two besieged outposts and anambushed supply convoy, in the Republic of Vietnam. Warrant Officer Payearrived on station and found he could only obtain 500 feet of altitude becauseof low cloud cover. Despite this handicap he decided to engage the enemypositions. As he began his attack he immediately came under intense automaticweapons fire from numerous locations. Warrant Officer Paye continued hisattack until all of the enemy positions had been silenced. His heroic actionswere in keepingwith the highestmilitary traditions and reflect great credit uponhimself, his unit, and theUnited StatesArmy.I didn’t know how lucky I was to have a father who returned from war, to

meet his future wife and start a family, so I could one day hold his hand andwalk down that sidewalk all those years later. My father had returned, but somany others hadn’t. I didn’t realize what somany others had lost – a chance atlife, a family, happiness, opportunity, and a chance towalk around smiling, witha small scar etched upon their hearts, living life.I didn’t realize when I used to play with all of the zippers which intricately

linedmy father’s green flight suit, that one day my own little boy would be theone tugging at those same zippers that lined his arms. For starters, I never real-ized I would have a son, much less a father who would still proudly be pullinghimself into that same beautiful, olive green flight suit at the ripe age of sixty-something (all these years later) to help bring light and life to others by becom-

ing involvedwith a very spe-cial veteran’s group calledAmericanHuey 369.I never realized Iwould

have the opportunity towatch him fly a Hueyhelicopter for the firsttime in more than twentyyears. Neither did he.Smiling proudly as helanded at the “movingwall”in our own hometown ofIndianapolis as a grown man,still wearing that same olivegreen flight suit. I didn’t realize thattears would flood my eyes and streamdownmy face, tears of pride, reliving a smallpiece of my childhood, as I watched him and the crew step off of that chop-per, striding toward us, holding their helmets beside them and beaming withpride, asmy husband, son, and I looked on. It seems I had forgotten…Iwas apilot’s daughter. I had forgotten what that flight suit looked like. I had forgot-ten howwellmy fatherwore it, with pride.I didn’t realize that one day, I would sit in the same stands of LambeauField,

where daddy once sat through “The Ice Bowl” in his hometown of GreenBay, Wisconsin, all those years ago with his brothers, just attempting to staywarm and avoid frostbite while watching the Packers play a game that wouldmake history. I never knew Iwouldwatch himgallantly live a dream, as he flewthe whirling blades of that Huey up and over the top of a packed stadium dur-ing a flyover of LZ Lambeau as a tribute to all of his brothers in arms – thoseliving, and gone, but never forgotten. There I sat – a pilot’s daughter.I didn’t realize that I would one day have an opportunity to sit inside that

same Huey, as my dad flew it. Like something out of a movie, we buzzedalong cornfields, as the air whipped back wildly back against our faces, flap-ping our clothing, and tugging at our hearts, because for a brief moment, wefelt what it would be like to be on thatHuey inVietnam. I never realizedwhatit must have felt like for him and others to strap themselves into gunships andHueys, not knowing if they’d ever land it again. I didn’t realize “fly boys” are aproud and rare breed who would tempt fate any day of the week when calledto fly; any time, any place, to help anyone.I didn’t realize that I would get to watch my dad deeply impact the lives of

veterans and their family members just by being there, supporting them, talk-ing with them, telling stories, laughing and crying with them, and often flyingover the graves of fallen military brothers to pay them tribute, in many wayshelping to heal the small, invisible scars left upon the hearts of those remain-ing, which lay dormant and undetected, hiding behind their smiles. I didn’trealize how proud I would be to look into my dad’s face, as I walked downthe sidewalk a grown woman, to realize that so easily, fate could have turnedout a different way. Yet, here I sit, typing thesewords…apilot’s daughter.

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Proudly,A Pilot’s Daughter

Jamie Collins is a Litigation Paralegal and Professional Writer who resides inIndianapolis, Indiana with her husband, Chris, and their young son, Gavin. Sheposted this article as atribute to her father on Veteran’s Day in 2012 on herpopular paralegal blog: The Paralegal Society™. It was the ultimate honor forher to have the opportunity to share this personal and heartfelt tributewith otherveterans. You can reach Jamie at: [email protected].

By: Jamie Paye Collins

“A Pilot’s Daughter”

The VHPA Aviator

The VHPA Aviator

If you are like me, you have a treasure trove of memories related to youraviation experience, especially flying in Vietnam. You recall the excitementof flight school, the thrill of learning to hover, your first solo flight and, even-tually, graduation. After that, you were sent to Vietnam where you refinedyour flying skills while proudly serving your country in an aviation unit. Youmastered your flyingmachine inways you never imagined and supported ourtroops on the ground, sea and in the air.Your Vietnam experience is most likely a varied recollection of emotions:

pride, excitement, exhilaration and, sometimes, fear, sorrow and disappoint-ment. All thosememories are rattling around in your brain and, at times, youwish you could share those events and happenings. Quite likely, you alreadymeet with aviator buddies for coffee or you attendVeteran functions like theVHPA reunions and enjoy swapping stories with your lifelong friends. Youinstantly reconnect with your buddies and it is like all those years are com-pressed and you are back in the cockpit, flying low level over the jungles ofVietnam. This is rewarding and somewhat cathartic, but somewhere insideyou, there is a wish to convey what you personally experienced with yourfamily and friends, because many of them have no idea what you encoun-tered inVietnam.I found myself in this situation in 2005. I had shared some of my stories

with close friends and found that those who had nomilitary service had diffi-culty relating to what I had experienced. One day, I met with my goodfriend and pastor, George Kirsten, a Navy helicopter pilot and VietnamVet-eran, who, like me, had survived a horrific crash and lost a close friend. Wewere talking through our stories and shedding a few tears when we realizedhow our lives had been redefined by our military service. What we experi-enced while flying helicopters had made a profound difference in our lives.We agreed that we should record our thoughts and feelings into a writtenhistory to sharewith family, friends and, perhaps, even future generations.There was amoment of apprehension before I beganwriting when I won-

dered if I could keep my story from turning into a gory tragedy, a compila-tion of death, injuries and disasters. As I pondered this project, my concernsfaded away when I realizedmy primarymotivation: I wanted to leave a lega-cy for my granddaughters. I wanted them to understand what “Pa Rex” didin the military. My new focus zeroed in on my pride in serving my country,and, especially, the thrill and excitement of flying helicopters. This, com-bined withmy desire to share my stories with friends and other family mem-bers, provided the incentive I needed.I took out my laptop computer and started to write. My fingers began fly-

ing over the keyboard. My mind led me down the pathways of happeningsand occurrences that had become foggy and distant over the years. To mydelight, this instinctive script unfolding in my thoughts was more remem-

brance of the good events that had takenplace and little emphasis on the unfortu-nate ones. Soon, my mind filled with somany stories that it was necessary to sortand organize my thoughts, disregardingthose I believed were not worthy ofrecording and noting those that were.And, I discovered that, for me, it wasthe funny or rewarding stories thatwere making their way into the fore-front ofmywriting.

Initially, I imagined this projectwould result in 15 to 20 typewrittenpages and take a couple of monthsto prepare. I wrote in my sparetime and, as I got more involved

in the project, I found it expanding

and somewhat taking ona life of its own. Severaltimes, my wife, Karen,would review the textand make suggestedchanges, mostly of agrammatical nature. Itwas great to have a “sec-ond set of eyes” read mydocument andmake sug-gestions that enhancedthe overall readability.Once I had the first

draft prepared, I askedmygood friend,GeorgeHart,to review and offer sug-gestions. George encour-aged me to share myemotions and feelingswhere possible. This was a veryworthwhile suggestion andwhile it took somesoul searching to honestly document my feelings, there is no question thismade the document far more interesting to the reader. After many revisionsand almost two years of effort, I completedmy first editionwith 67 typewrittenpages, including several pages of color photographs. Thismay sounddaunting,but it should not discourage you from embarking on your own project. Youwill find your history takes less or more time because the length of the docu-ment depends on how much you desire to include. Most importantly, onceyou are finished, it should tell your story in your words and hold your reader’sinterest.Next came the big question. Now that I had completed my document,

what would I do with it? There were several options, ranging from simplyprinting the typewritten pages to having a hardcover book published. Idecided to do the latter and self-publish a book I could give to family andfriends. After some research, I found an Internet publishing company thatmet my needs, LULU.com. It is one of many self-publishing sites availableso should you decide to self-publish, simply compare features and prices todeterminewhich one is appropriate for your project.Aftermaking several pre-publishing decisions regarding book size, color vs.

black and white photos, hardcover or soft cover, I was able to upload mydocument to Lulu. After reviewing and modifying the “print ready” docu-ment, I ordered and received a prototype book, which contained no errorsor flaws. Now I could order asmany books as I needed.I self-published my book in 2007 and issued a revised edition in 2010. I

gave my book to 35 family members and friends. Most often, their com-ments expressed appreciation for the book and how they enjoyed readingabout my experiences. My wife and stepsons, who did not knowme duringmymilitary service years in Vietnam, say they have a better understanding ofwhat I experienced and how my military service defined who I am today.Themost unexpected feedback came frommy father, who called me imme-diately after he read my book and said, “I never realized what you wentthrough in Vietnam, I am really proud of what you did.” This was the firstand only time my father told me he was proud of me. I realize that it wasonly after reading my book that he fully understood what had happened tome in that far-away time and place. I am so grateful for that. Without ques-tion, the entire effort has beenmore rewarding than I ever expected.Oh yes, my granddaughters are seven and nine years old and it will be sev-

eral years before they will be ready to read my book. Whenever that timecomes, their books have been set aside for them and I trust they will enjoyreadingmy stories and come to understandwhat I experienced inVietnam.

Sharing your Vietnam Aviation Experience...by VHPA Member Rex Gooch

The VHPA Aviator

If you decide to document your experiences,here is a checklist to get you started:

1. START WRITINGa. As you think of events you want to include in your book, makenotes that can serve as thought provokers when you get to thattopic in your document.

b. Start with a lead-in. I started my story describing how I joinedthe Army, progressing through flight school and, ultimatelygoing to Vietnam. You may want to provide some history to“tell the story” of how you became an aviator and how you gotto Vietnam.

c. Try to tell your story while minimizing the use of “I.” Youdon’t want it to sound like, “I did this and I did that.”

d. Like my friend George suggested, try to write about youremotions and how you felt at the time you experienced the event.

2. CHECK YOUR FACTS (OUR MEMORIESARE NOT WHAT THEY USED TO BE)a. Aircraft statistics are readily available online.b. Vietnam maps are available online.c. If your story includes other pilots, ask them to review thatportion of your write-up. On several occasions, I found myfriends had better recall of the events than I did.

d. If your writing identifies others by name or quotes others, sendthat portion of your text to them for approval. You do notwant your buddies upset with you when they read your work.

3. ASK SOMEONETOREVIEWYOURWORKa. Your spouse can be a great source of input on your document.It always helps to have a second set of eyes review your work.

b. Ask a friend you can trust to behonest with you to read andreview your work.

4. Do you want toinclude photos?a. Most Vietnam Veteranshave a stash of manyphotos. They make greatadditions to your writtendocument andcomplement your story.You will need to convertyour photos to a JPEG dig-ital image. The best format

for printing is 300 ppi (pixels per inch)and sized to fit on your page. For example: 3 inches x 4

inches, 300 ppii. Color slides or negatives can be scanned and converted to

JPEG digital images. There are individuals and online servicesthat will convert your images for you if you do not have ascanner. Typically, you mail your images to be scannedand they will return your original images with a CD of the digital files.

ii. Prints can be scanned and converted to JPEG images as well.iii. You may find your color images have faded or the colors have

shifted with age. This can be corrected in Photoshop or othersoftware programs after the digital image is prepared. Mostonline scanning services can do this as well.

b. You can insert photos into the body of your text or your candevote several pages exclusively to photos. I did both.

5. DO YOU NEED A COPYRIGHT?a. Your work is under copyright protection the moment it iscreated. It is a good idea to add a copyright notice to the front of

your document. Here is anexample of what I used:2007, Rex Gooch

b. Should you register withthe copyright office tobe protected?i. No. In general,registration is voluntary.You will have to register,however, if you wish tobring a lawsuit forinfringement of yourwork in the US.ii. Registration is easyand relatively inexpensive.For more information goto this web site:www.copyright.gov/

6 . DETERMINEYOUR FORMATa. Typewritten pagesi. Office service stores like FedExKinkos can printmultiple copiesof your document. They can also punch and bind your pages.

b. Book Options – Various online services will compile and printyour book. Pricing will depend on several pre-publishing decisions.i. Generally color photos aremore expensive than black andwhiteii. Hardcover books are more expensive than paperbacks.iii. Binding options range from coil bound to casewrap.

7. PUBLISH YOUR WORKSelect a publishing service. Some, like Lulu, have tutorials guid-

ing you through the steps to create your book. The following stepsare based on my experience with Lulu.com.a. Select format size, binding options, color vs. B&W, etc. Youwill see a cost estimate after making your selections.b. Get an ISBN if you plan to sell your book. Lulu offers thisservice for free. Without an ISBN your book will only have yourpublisher as a point of sale. Remember Amazon has about 50%of the US retail book market.c. Upload your finished document to the publisher. This can bea Word or PDF file.d. Compile a Print Ready file. The publisher’s software will convertyour document into the format you selected. You can see howthe text will appear on the pages of your book and allow you toedit if necessary.e. Build your cover. Publishing services may provide templates.Photos can be uploaded for inclusion on your cover.f. Describe your project. Provide a brief narrative about yourbook. This narrative will be published on the Lulu web sitealongside your book and provides prospective buyers with ashort summary.g. Review your project details, a summary of all the decisions youhave made regarding your book.h. Save and Finishi. Purchase a copy for your proof.j. Order your personal copies of the book. Generally bookprices are lower when you order multiple copies.

Finally, I found that writing and sharing my Vietnam stories withfamily and friends to be enriching and personally rewarding. Mybook continues to be a bridge between the generations in my familyand with old and new friends. Should you decide to share your sto-ries, I wish you a similar experience.

Rex GoochE-Mail: LK23@ mac.com

C

In 1964 itwas a given, that if I did not go to college, I would be drafted. Re-serveOfficerTrainingCorp (ROTC) looked like a good option and after thefirst two years of ROTC, Iwent to summer camp at Fort Lewis,Washington.One of the questions they asked us was "Is anybody interested in becoming apilot?" It sounded like a hoot tome so I threwupmyhand.Innormalmilitary fashion, Iwent throughawhole seriesof tests that tooktwo

days and included a very comprehensive eyes examination, amazingly, I passedeverything. In June of 1968, I graduated from college, married my college

sweetheart,Leslie,wascommission in theArmy, and bought a1965 ford mustangconvertible for$1300.Wethendrove toFortSillOklahoma,maxedout a credit card, andborroweda$100fromLeslie’s dad andheaded for field ar-tillery school.Once branch quali-

fied, Iwentontobasicflight school. Thegood news, my paywent from $440 amonth up to $1120 amonth, the bad news,flight school was atemporary duty sta-tion in route to mypermanent assign-ment in the Republicof South Vietnam.Flight schoolwasverycompetitive, typicallya third of the class

washedout but even atthat rate, 500 studentsgraduated each rota-tion. I wondered whythe military need somany pilots, I wouldsoon find out!Thefirstweekofclass,

the assignment was tolearn to hover. Wetrained in a TH-55,originally designed byHughes aircraft as thehelicopter to be inevery American’sgarage, costing around$20,000. Itwas a smalltwoplace aircraftpow-ered by a 360 cubicinch flat six, similar toaVolkswagen engine. Ireally liked flying but I

had one limitation. When your left hand is on the collective, which is thepitch in the blades and throttle, your right hand is on the cyclic, which con-trolspitchpathplane, landing lights, radios, communication, andtrim. Yourfeet control the pitch in the tail rotor. Your head controls the direction theweapons are pointed on more advanced helicopters. Whenever I flew, mynosewould itchandIhadnothing left to scratch itwith. Evenwith this lim-itation, I made it through flight school and finished in the top third of myclass. I was headed forVietnam.When I signed intomyunit, the 182ndThunderbirds, theXO(executive

officer) askme if Iwanted to fly or if Iwant anadministrative type job, sinceI was a captain instead of a warrant officer, I had this choice. After prepar-ing to be a combat pilot for the past twelvemonths, I was given the oppor-tunity togreatly reduce the likelihoodof injuryordeath. Iwas surprisedbutI had planned to be a combat pilot and I wasn't going to changemy plan. Ifilled out a bunch of forms and headed out to supply to get my side arm, asnubnose38,myhelmet, andmychickenplate. The chickenplate,madeofametal composite, protected your chest fromsmall arms fire. They came infour sizes: small,medium, large, andextra large. Everybodywantedthesmall-est chicken plate because they didn't want to carry any extra weight. By thetimemy turn came, the only size leftwas extra large. It turns out Iwould begrateful for that extra large chicken plate.I loved flying in Vietnam. A normal day consisted of flying four, eight,

or twelve helicopters in formation, usually supported by two gunships.We would pick up a unit of infantry and transport them to an area or aLanding Zone. The infantry, in theory, would sweep the Vietcongahead of them. Thenwewould pick up the infantry again and leap frogthe enemy, catching them going the other way. When we went into aLanding Zone, the theory was, to bring so much firepower on the areathat the enemy was destroyed or demoralized. Then deploy all of ourtroops on the ground at the same time eliminating any opposition. Ifheavy opposition was expected, we could get support from the AirForce, but they could only stay on target for fifteen minutes. The gun-ships were the next support, followed by our own crew chief and doorgunner firing machine guns out of each side of our aircraft. The onething you did not want was to take on unfriendly fire during final ap-proach. Before a helicopter lands it must flair to kill off its forwardspeed and then come to a hover about three feet off the ground, thengradually settle on to the ground. The troops needed to off load thehelicopter and secure the Landing Zone fast, because this is when thehelicopter is the most vulnerable.One time when we were transporting Army of the Republic of Viet-

nam troops (ARVN), they were slow getting out of the helicopter. TheARVN troops were small, usually about 120 pounds each. On this mis-sion, we had a door gunner that weighed about 220 pounds and whenwe hovered, the flight leader said he was taking ground fire and theARVNswere in no hurry to get out. Our door gunner grabbed the clos-est ARVN and threw him out the door from a five-foot hover, this ac-tion sped the unloading process up considerably. All the pilots wouldtry to get that door gunner assigned to their bird.Leslie, my wife, an Army nurse declined an assignment in Presidio, Cali-

fornia to volunteer to be with me in Vietnam. She arrived in country aftercompleting the Army training program in San Antonio, Texas. Dressed injungle fatigues and looking sowholesome, shewas beautiful, and she still is.As an officer, she served as a nurse and a supervisor, she also volunteered toconducted medical clinics at an orphanage. Leslie gave vaccinations to ba-bies so under nourished that she couldn't find enough body fat to insert theneedle. Wecouldnothelpbeingembarrassed tobeAmericanswhose fellowcountrymen fathered and then abandon all these babies.

When you fly every day, all day long, you get pretty damn good. Some ofthe pilots got so good at hovering that it felt like theywere on the ground. Itwas a sourceofpride tohave a good-looking formation. Ourunithad twelvebirds thatmade up three diamond formations. Holding a nice tight forma-tionwasdifficult, especially in turbulentair. Inadiamondformation, the leadbird is number one, the bird on the left number two, the bird on the rightnumber three, and the last bird is number four. I flew the number four posi-tion. At school, they taughtus to flyno closer than three rotor lengths at anytime. In rough air, the closer you flew the easier it was to hold a good look-ing formation because all of the helicopters would be in the same air at thesametime. Helicopteroneandthree sometimes flewwithover lappingbladesbut Iwantednopart of that game. Iwas thenewguy andnobodywas flyingoff ofmy position so I heldmy three rotor lengths.One clear daywe headed up toHighway 1; we navigated IFR (I fly roads).

Just beforeHighway 1, bird number three got too close to bird number one.The helicopters made contact, caught on fire, and came apart. Eight peopledied.Now I understoodwhy somany pilotswere needed.Themaximumnumber of hours you could fly by regulation in a thirty-day

periodwas one hundred and forty, I was always up against themax. I lovedflying,but Iwasafraid tomake friends for fear that theywouldbekilled. TheJapanesekamikazepilots inworldwar twohadabetter chanceof survivalbe-cause they ran out of planes. We were told that most accidents were causedby pilot error, wewere also told that themost likely time for an accident oc-curred during the first three months of a tour or the last month, just beforegoing home. I was starting to feel pretty competent in my ability to fly themissions. Themissionswere usually interesting, I had figuredouthow to flywith theprofessional solders. I alreadyhadmyfavorite220pounddoorgun-ner,my second choice was a Black Panther who slept with hismachine gun.Youwouldn'twant todrinkbeerwithhimbuthewasadamngooddoorgun-ner. EachHuey had two pilots, a door gunner, and a crew chief, the aircraftcommanderwas selected according to time in country, not rank.After only twomonths in country serving as a co-pilot on a nightmission

to take a radar technician to a unit that had a company of Vietcong solderspassing throughtheir area. Myaircraft commanderwasawarrantofficerwithless than thirtydays left onhis tourofduty;hewas aboutmy size, hehadoneof those highly coveted small chicken plates. The ground troops had calledforahunterkiller team,whichconsistedofaCobraGunshipandaLightOb-servationhelicopter;however, theywerenotavailablebecause theyneededtorefuel. During the day, we owned the land, but at night, it all changed. Ouraircraft commanderdecidedhewoulddeviate fromourprimarymissionandsupport this platoon of infantrymen on the ground. He told them to shoota forty-millimetergrenade launcherwhere they thought theVietcongwere lo-cated and thenwewould investigate. The shots were fired; wemoved in toinvestigate,whenweturnedonthe landing lightswe sawwoundedVietcong,and they saw us. All at once over thirty solders, shooting AK 47s, hosed usdown. First, they killed the engine and then theyhit the squashplate,whichcontrols themainrotor. Themainrotorwent to fullpitchbleedingoffRPMs(revolutionsperminute) andthenthebirddropped likea rock. Beforewehitthe ground, I was able to turn off the electrical switches preventing the birdfromcatchingon fire. Whenthehelicopterhit theground, thedoorgunner,the crewchief, and the technicianwere all standing, theywere able to absorbthe impact in their legs. The aircraft commander and Iwere seated. We hitso hard that both of our backs were broken. Thrown forward, we were re-strained by our seat belts and our chicken plates, the commander with hissmall chickenplate andmewithmyextra largeone. After crushing threever-tebrate inmyback, the large chickenplate acted like a stretcher, not allowingthe damaged vertebrate to sever the spinal cord. The aircraft commander’ssmall chicken plate did not prevent spinal cord damage, he was paralyzed

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Continued on page 38

The VHPA Aviator

Dear David,Just where do I begin? I served in Vietnam from March 1968 thru

March 1970 as a crew chief with the TOMAHAWKSof the 128thAHC.After I returned home, I went to work as a full time employee for theWashington Army National Guard working on helicopters for the nextten years. During that time I also attended school nights and started myfamily. In 1980 I was injured on the job and was provided with vocation-al rehabilitation so that I could be retrained for a new career. I was sointerested in the vocational rehabilitation program that I took a job in thefield and continued my education to achieve my Master's degree as aVocational Rehabilitation Counselor. In 1985 I went to work for theState ofWashington's Department of Labor & Industries as a Voc Reha-bilitation counselor and continued working for the State in various capaci-ties within theDepartment of Labor& Industries.In the mid 90's I bought a computer and connected with a group of

Vietnam Vets and started revisiting my experiences in Vietnam. In 2004after about a year of steady decline I found myself in a deep depression, Iwas diagnosed with PTSD and was forced to retire from my job. Thiswas especially hard for me because I didn't believe that there was such athing as PTSD and how could it possibly happen to me? With the helpof my family and the VA, I survived those years and have come to acceptand understandwhy I suffered from such an illness. In 2005mywife andImoved to Portland, Oregon and bought a floating home on the Colum-bia River. Living on the river has been the best decision imaginable andhas helped me deal with my demons. In about 2009 I got a call frommybest friend from Vietnam, Phil Cypret, we had lost touch for all those

years and he foundmyname on a website forthe 128th. We havesince visited back andforth a few times andhave stayed in touch, wewill both be attendingthe VHCMA reunion inJune. Phil was the crewchief for the smoke shipthat is currently on display inthe SmithsonianMuseum.My life today consists of a

lot of reading and playinggames on my computer. Inthe summer, I spend manysunny afternoons on myboat just relaxing or sittingon my deck watching mygrandkids swimming andplaying in the river. My wife and I tookourmotor home on a couple of extensive trips and traveled thru 34 states,just seeing the country and visiting family and friends. I especially enjoyvisitingmilitary and airmuseums.Life has dealt me a couple of body blows, but I am still in the ring

swinging.Regards, BobbyMcBride

FFrroomm tthhee EEddiittoorr ooff tthhee VVHHPPAA AAvviiaattoorrFrankly it’s every Editor’s nightmare, you publish a story or a photo in your

magazine that is credited to the wrong author, or the wrong photographer,and sure enough you later hear from the person who should be credited forthe work. All of us in the publishing business know that creating anythingwell-written or well-photographed only comes after a lot of hard work, andthe true originator of any product needs to be fairly credited for their creation.Beside, it’s just good manners that we run our publications that way…Unfortunately I have received two such e-mails this month and they both ini-tially had me sweating bullets – Were they mad at me? Did I violate theircopyrights? And even, were they thinking of taking me to court because I rantheir story without their permission (it happens all the time in the business)? In the middle of April, I heard from Doug Donnell, he’s the webmaster for

the D troop, 1st of the 10th Cav (www.theoriginaldtroop.com). Rememberthat story we carried in Issue 31-01, the one titled 93 OH-23’s were lost inVietnam? Because of e-mail confusion I credited the story to one of the menwho sent it to me instead of the real author, Doug Donnell. He told me hefirst saw the story while he was attending a Reunion of his Vietnam Unit inWashington D.C. when someone showed him a copy of the Aviator. Andwhile being pleased to see the story running in our newsletter, “it would havebeen even nicer to see it properly credited”. He went on to say “You havemy permission to use whatever copy you like from the website, please just tellyour audience that I am the correct author of this piece of “dazzling” prose. Imade my apologies to Doug for the mistake but even better than hearingfrom me, perhaps some of you out there could tell him how much you alsoenjoyed his story, Doug’s e-mail address is: [email protected] Also remember the article we ran in this last issue (31-02) titled

“Everything I Need to Know in Life, I Learned as a Helicopter Pilotin Vietnam”? Well it was sent to me without any credit for its origination, soI added: Author Unknown to the header. Well sure enough, about a week

after the issue “hit the stands” so to speak, I hear from Bobby McBride lettingme know that he was the Author of the piece. Well it turns out that Bobby was also delighted to see his story printed in the

Aviator. It also turns out that this was Bobby’s first issue of the Aviator as heis one of our newest Aviator subscribers. But most of all, he only wanted onething in return for us running his story (and indeed violating his copyright),and that was for me to run the last two lines of the “official version” of thearticle, and here they are:

Many thanks to my fellow Vietnam Helicopter FlightCrewmember brothers who helped compile this list: J.C. Penning-ton; Lee Westbrook; Bob Blum; Ron Timberlake; Darryl James.You see, Bobby was a crew chief with the TOMAHAWKS of the 128th

AHC and was stationed in Phu Loi, Vietnam from 1968-1970, and the cor-rect name for the article really is “Everything I Need to Know in Life,I Learned as a Helicopter Crewman in Vietnam”? Those aren’t the only two differences in both versions but they are the main

ones as I suspect that since the original version reads so well that many peoplehave tailored it to fit their own requirements. They say that copying is themost sincere form of flattery, I feel this story just once again shows howmuch gratitude we all owe to our aircrew members, and fellow soldiers fromthose days in Vietnam. Turns out that Bobby has lived a great life after Vietnam, with a little coax-

ing I have gotten him to send us a couple of photos and the brief Bio whichappear below. If you get a chance, perhaps you could drop Bobby a note let-ting him know how much you enjoyed his story and then welcome him intothe VHPA family. He may be reached at: [email protected] everyone out there please be careful about what you send me, and also

please understand when I can’t run everything you send me, especially if the“ownership” of the story can’t be verified or permission to run the story can’tbe obtained.

David Adams, Editor of the VHPA Aviator

Bobby visits Fort Rucker, 2012

EEVVEERRYYTTHHIINNGG II NNEEEEDDEEDD TTOO KKNNOOWW IINN LLIIFFEE I LEARNED AS A HELICOPTER PILOT CREWMAN IN VIETNAM.

Bobby McBride, Tomahawk crew

chief

with the 128th AHC, 1968

The VHPA Aviator

From thepages of theArmyTimes,By JoeGould - Staff writerPosted : Friday Jan 11, 2013 12:14:48EST

Womenhave been cleared forArmy special operations.

The Army is recruiting women to become pilots and crew chiefsfor the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment for the firsttime as part of its ongoing effort to expand roles for women in theservice. The move by the 160th is the result of an appeal by ArmyChief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno to expand combat roles forwomen.

“We are looking for women to serve in the cockpit, we’ll startwith a pilot [trial] program, and assuming there’s no significantissues, we’ll integrate women,” said Brig. Gen. Clayton Hutmacher,the commander of Army Special Operations Aviation Command.“We plan on going out and actively recruiting women. We’re fullysupportive of this initiative.”

Women would serve as pilots of 160th aircraft and non-ratedwomen would serve as crew chiefs in the backs of those aircraft,said Col. John Evans, the regimental commander. Conventionalaviation units are typically employed downrange frequently overlonger periods, while special operations aviation units are oftendeployed heavily over shorter periods and in more austere condi-tions, with less support. Much of what the 160th does are danger-ous and highly classified missions in support of special operationsforces.

Women already serve as aviators and on air crews within con-ventional units in the aviation branch. Since the early 1990s,women have served in cavalry and attack missions that were closedto them up until that point, Evans said. Though Evans would notdiscuss specifics, he said women are already “doing lots of opera-tional things in SOF.” “This will certainly be one of the first for-ays for Army Special Operations Command, putting them in thistype of role,” Evans said.

Hutmacher emphasized that there will be one standard for bothmen and women as the assessment and selection process becomesgender-agnostic. Evans said he has informed his troops. “As webring these very talented female candidates into the 160th, they willunderstand up front that there is but one standard, and they’regoing to have to meet that to be a part of the organization,” Evanssaid. “As I’ve talked to senior female officers in the Army, they saythey would expect no less. They don’t want special consideration.”

Candidates must complete an application packet, kicking off aprocess that takes several months. The expectation is that by sum-mer the 160th will assess its first female candidates. Both Evansand Hutmacher said women will be recruited first in limited num-bers and that they expect them to be fully integrated into the for-mation after the pilot program.Odierno had issued broad guidance for leaders to examine which

roles could be opened to women, and the question of female spe-cial operations aviators filtered down from Army Special Opera-tions Command to Army Special Operations Aviation Commandand the 160th itself. “We’ve had them in Apaches and OH-58Dsfor twenty years now. What is it about the 160th mission set youbelieve is unsuitable for them, and our answer is ‘Well, there’snothing,’ “ Evans said.

Hutmacher described Army senior leaders as “very supportive”of the move. He said it was inevitable and that he was “very excit-ed” by it. The move is expected to aid pilot shortages, increasingthe pool of available candidates, Hutmacher said.

Both Hutmacher and Evans said they have not heard any signsof displeasure from the ranks in reaction. Hutmacher said heassembled warrant officers and commanders to prepare them forthe move.“I haven’t gotten any push-back,” Hutmacher said. “If you thinkabout it, we have already integrated gays into the military, and that,I don’t see it as a problem. We represent the values of the Ameri-can people.”“Militaries go through evolutions,” Evans said. “We have homo-

sexuals serving in the military and there was a lot of consternationabout that, it’s come to pass, and lo and behold we’ve seen littleimpact.”

ARMY OKS WOMEN AS SPEC OPS AVIATORS

Bell Helicopter recently delivered the 100th of a planned total of 349, H-1 helicoptersduring a ceremony at its Amarillo Assembly Center. The Marine H-1 helicopter programis comprised of both the UH-1Y utility helicopter and the AH-1Z attack helicopter. TheUH-1A story began back in 1959 with the U.S. Army and it progressed through variousversions ending with the M model. The “Huey”, as it was affectionately known, alsoserved as the foundation for the Cobra attack gun ship. These helicopters also have along Marine Corps lineage going back to the original basic Huey helicopter, firstdeployed during the VietnamWar in 1963 as the UH-1E.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2013/01/army-oks-women-specops-aviators-011113w/

The VHPA Aviator

In 1967 I was assigned to the USAF’s 20th Heli-copter Squadron later (and still today, the 20thSOS) at Nha Trang, RVN. We were looking for ajob, being the only USAF Huey unit in Vietnam.There were odd jobs such as one I flew for USN

called Operation Market Time where we flew thecentral RVN coastline looking for North Vietnamcoastal traffic infiltrators. Also, there was trainingconducted by we few instructor pilots for theyounger troops (Lts.) who had a fair amount oftotal time but not much operational experience, orat least varied experience, having obtained most oftheir logbook entries in the SAC missile supportbusiness.One of the things

we practiced was the" K i n g b e e "approach. It wasn'tcalled that then butI'm now calling itthat after the origi-nators, the Viet-namese H-34 pilots.It's a diving spiralapproach from3,000' or so. Theidea being: that youraltitude, heading andposition over theground are all con-stantly changing. It'ssupposed to make itharder for enemygunners to get agood bead on you.The tough part was timing it so you were on exactly the right head-ing at the bottom, i.e., in the LZ. First a demonstration then thestudent worked on it 'till he got it right. In practice the Kingbeespiral approach was not often used although it was a lot of fun topractice. A lot of our combat approaches were the Air Force "stan-dard" version, not much different from landing at a Minutemanmissile silo in Montana, except they were darn near diving auto-rotations as we were in a big hurry to get down into the LZ. Longafter Vietnam I was still doing the Kingbee Spiral as a form ofrecreation in the Davis-Monthan AZ helicopter practice area.Joe Brown and I came up with something called the "high/low"

Special Forces insertion procedure. No doubt other units used itbut we dreamed it up without outside help, just another example oflack of communication between units. Unfortunately we didn'thave the opportunity to talk to the Army very much though wecould have learned a lot from them.The high/low approach works this way: Low bird is right down

on the deck and doesn't really have any idea as to where he is rela-tive to the LZ. The High bird [3,000 feet or so above y-the LowBird] is giving him directions that might sound like this: “Fivedegrees left... Hold your heading... Three degrees right... Lookinggood... Coming up over your last little hill... Start your flare... Pull itback--pull it back!--There you are, at the LZ."I recall that I was always the low bird and Joe was always high,

but this is 45 years later. Probably I just rememberthe fun things and being high bird would not havebeen that interesting or memorable.Joe Brown was an excellent pilot. He had a previ-ous tour in Vietnam as an Air Force SA-16 pilot. Itwas possible to volunteer for an additional RVNtour in the AF and also pick your aircraft. Joe vol-unteered and selected helicopters. So the AF senthim to helicopter school prior to the 20th HSassignment.I highly recommend a book titled SILENT

BIRDMEN by Al Rampone, it is to the [Army]helicopter war what Jack Boughton's THUD

RIDGE andGOING DOWN-TOWN were to theThud [F-105] Dri-ver's war. I learned alot from Ramp'sbook.Never knew the

hoist control on thepilots cyclic wascalled the Chinesehat, on Air Force jetsit's the trim switchutilized in all fourdirections from cen-ter and always calledsimply the "trimswitch." AF Hueypilots (former jetpilots) would say,"You use the trimswitch to run the

hoist up and down?"Below is an example of Ramp’s story of a training mission to HonTre Island shortly after his arrival in-country."We're starting our approach," said the instructor. Lock your

inertia reel, and call out my power." "OK," I said. Then after think-ing about what [he] had said was "Why do you want me to lock myinertia reel?" The answer was, "I don't want you falling on thecyclic if you get shot." So, I learned something else new.” I alsovaguely recall having the copilot call out power at various times butthe inertia reel thing was new to me. The information comes a littlebit late, 25 years after I needed it.It seems that every outfit had to learn many things from scratch

in Vietnam, reinventing the wheel over and over again. There wasno organized way to exchange information between units. I hopethings have improved by now....…

Final note: I did use the inertial lock thing during a preflight briefing for my copilotduring an H-21 night flight in Alaska in 1970. “In case of an engine failuredump the external fuel tank and also reach over and lock my shoulder harnesslock.” As it happened we did have a failure of sorts (blade failure) and we didcrash in the tall timber. Me with my harness locked per the plan.

TomGarciaE-Mail: [email protected]

RRAANNDDOOMM ((AANNDD NNOOTT SSOO RRAANNDDOOMM)) TTHHOOUUGGHHTTSS......By Tom Garcia – USAF Pilot and VHPA Life Member

The VHPA Aviator

SOUTHMISSOURI CHAPTERRuss Emory, President1590 S. Georgia Dr.Bolivar, MO 65613(417) [email protected]

ROCKYMOUNTAINCHAPTERHal Bergdahl10251W. Ida Av 156,Littleton , CO 80127303-948-6246E-Mail: [email protected]

THEALAMOCHAPTERSan Antonio, TexasJimMartinson, President13810 Bluff CircleSan Antonio, TX 78216,(210) [email protected]

SOUTHCAROLINACHAPTER(Celebrate Freedom) ChapterLarry Russell, President254 Bear Creek Rd.Little Mountain, SC 29075(803) [email protected]

SOUTHERNCALIFORNIACHAPTERSven Akesson, President26601 BrandonMission Viejo, CA [email protected](948) 348-9509 (home)(949) 689-7061 (cell)

VHPAOF FLORIDATomRountree, President4692 N. Lake Vista Trl.Hernando, FL 34442.(352) 560-7361e-mail <[email protected]

WASHINGTON STATECHAPTERDon LeMaster, President1608 7th Ave SeOlympia,WA [email protected](360) 801-5143

CURRENT VHPA CHAPTERS

The VHPA and Chapters share information and guidance with one another for the mutual benefitof each other. All of our Chapters are separate and independently managed organizations notunder control of the VHPA. The VHPA is not authorized to act as an agent or a representative forany of the Chapters nor are any of the Chapters authorized to act as agent or representative forany of the other Chapters or the VHPA as a whole.

MINNESOTACHAPTERRayWilson, President895 Lakeview Ave.St. Paul, MN [email protected](651) 592-2598

MONTANACHAPTERTodd Brandoff, PresidentBox 790, LoloMT 59847(406) [email protected]

NORTHALABAMACHAPTERLes Haas, President1844 Signal Point RoadGuntersville, AL 35976(256) [email protected]

NEW JERSEYCHAPTERPete Purnell, President4 Peacock LaneMendham, NJ [email protected](972) 740-5582

NORTHCAROLINACHAPTERBrock Nicholson, President1 Roosevelt DriveClayton, NC 27520-6522(919) [email protected]

OHIORIVER LZCHAPTERJackMecham4303 LoneWolf RoadSpringfield, OH 45501(937) 323-2704 homeE-Mail: [email protected]

OLDDOMINIONCHAPTERPresident: Don Agren13712 Sandy Oak Rd.Chester, VA 23831(804) [email protected]

SOUTHDAKOTACHAPTERJimMiles610 N. Summit Ave.Sioux Falls, SD 57104E-Mail: [email protected]

ALASKACHAPTERVictorMicol, President2430 Brittany Cir.Anchorage, AK 99504-3310(907) [email protected]

ARIZONACHAPTERBill Sorenson, President7903 E. Plata Ave.Mesa, Ariz. 85212(480) [email protected]

CALIFORNIACHAPTERNORTHKen Fritz, President9357Honeywood CourtOrangevale, Calif. 95662(916) [email protected]

CENTRALNEWYORKCHAPTERTomMcMillen, President17 Broad St.Morris, NY 13808(607) [email protected]

FORTWOLTERSCHAPTERMike Sheuerman, President2712Meadow Lake Dr.Grand Prairie, TX 75050(972) [email protected]

GEORGIACHAPTERBill Mc Rae, President351Willow Glen Ct.Marietta, GA 30068-3940(770) 843-3973E-Mail: [email protected]

LOUISIANAGULFCOASTCHAPTERVictor Lent, PresidentP.O. Box 111Arabi, LA 70032(504) [email protected]

MICHIGANCHAPTERCharleyMartin, President12197W. Greenfield Rd.Lansing, MI [email protected](517) 627-4580

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The VHPA Aviator

VHPA CHAPTER ACTIVITIESAARRIIZZOONNAA CCHHAAPPTTEERRI want to thank everyone that could make it to the meeting we had on Jan 19th.We had a pretty good turn out and it was good seeing some old and new faces.There were a few people that didn’t know if they could make it that showed upand a few last minute bow-outs. I want to thank Damon Cecil for making thearrangements for the use of the Post 35 facilities and for Chef John to open hiskitchen early.I would like to have another function sometime in April in the Scottsdale areaat an American Legion or VFW. If anyone has a location they know of, please letme know so I can make some arrangements. For the members in the Tucsonarea, I’d like to have something there in May so if anyone down there knows of agood location, please let me know. The reason I want to use a military organiza-tion is they allow smoking which most commercial locations don’t, plus any areaswe select also must have a “smoke free” area as some members have respiratoryissues. Also, if anyone has any ides for a meeting, please let me know. The best toeveryone and I hope to see you at the next meeting!!

BBiillll SSoorreennssoonn,, PPrreessiiddeenntt

CCEENNTTRRAALL NNEEWW YYOORRKK CCHHAAPPTTEERRThe Central New York Chapter of the VHPA met at the Steak and SundaeRestaurant in Syracuse, NY on Saturday, March 23rd. As always, we all enjoyedan hour and a half discussing a variety of subjects from Huey engine failures tocurrent gun control legislation. We also welcomed two new members from thelocal Syracuse area, Jim Woodworth and Rick DeVine into the Chapter.Our next meeting will be at Roger Baker's home on September 7, 2013 inJamesville, NY. Directions and meeting time will be announced later.

TToomm MMccMMiilllleenn,, PPrreessiiddeenntt

FFTT WWOOLLTTEERRSS CCHHAAPPTTEERRThe June meeting will be June 1st at the National Vietnam War Museum sitejust east of Mineral Wells on Hwy 180. It is being held in conjunction with theadding of 10 names to the permanent Vietnam Wall replica on the museumgrounds. The program will commence at 10AM. Active duty personnel fromthe three branches represented by the additions will address those in attendance.Our Chapter meeting will begin after the ceremony and will include a barbequelunch. Guys, bring $25 and help cover the lunches of the active duty Aviatorsfrom Ft Hood and Horse Cavalrymen from Ft Sill. Also, a group picture will betaken at the newly refurbished Ft Wolters Main Gate for publication in theAVIATOR. This is a really special event and I encourage every VHPA memberin the area to attend even if you are not a Chapter member. The Museumgrounds and Gift Shop will be open before and after the ceremony.After two years the Ft Wolters Chapter is finally getting a competent President.Adam Steczko is replacing me after this meeting. I'd like to thank the members ofthe Chapter for putting up with me for so long. I know it wasn't easy. I intend tostay active especially in recruiting.

MMiikkee SShheeuueerrmmaann,, CChhaapptteerr PPrreessiiddeenntt

GGEEOORRGGIIAA CCHHAAPPTTEERRThe Georgia Chapter holds a Saturday morning breakfast meeting every othermonth. We also furnish speakers to high schools and colleges, Boy Scout Troops,other youth organizations, and civic groups who want to learn more about theVietnam War, from those who participated in it. Our local Newnan High School teaches a course on the Vietnam War, and theGeorgia Chapter provides our assistance to them whenever possible, like theirStudent-Vet Connect activities planned for 17 May. We’ll do it again in Octo-ber. The GA Chapter also donated the funding needed to take the NHS stu-dents on a field trip last fall to the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation facilitiesat Tara Field in Jonesboro. There the students get to see up close and climb insome of the helicopters they have heard about in class. It’s a good learning experi-ence for the students, and as expected, the crew at the AAHF are always greatHosts.Our March meeting featured Dave Sherrard as our Guest Speaker. Dave is one

of the founding members of the GA Chapter. Dave served two tours in Viet-nam. The first was with C/2/327 Infantry in 1967, and the second as an aviatorand CO of the 92nd AHC in 69/70. He is currently Deputy Chief of Staff, Avi-ation Directorate, ARFORGEN Branch, at FORSCOM at Ft. Bragg. Davepresented a detailed and interesting briefing on the future of Army Aviation,including some expected aircraft modifications, unit force structure require-ments, and the advancements in drone aircraft and their usage.To those former Vietnam Helicopter Pilots in the Atlanta area, who would liketo check us out and/or join our group, please see our web site at www.ga-vhpa.org, for the next meeting date or contact me at [email protected] via telephone at (770) 843-3973.

BBiillll MMccRRaaee,, PPrreessiiddeenntt

LLOOUUIISSIIAANNAA GGUULLFF CCOOAASSTT CCHHAAPPTTEERRThings have changed little since the 2012 Reunion here in New Orleans. Weare still having a good time enjoying life in the Big Easy but will admit to missingour visitors from 2012. When are you coming back? We have consolidated ourVHPA Chapter Meetings with the quarterly meetings of the Louisiana ArmyNational Guard Aviation retired community. The meetings are held in the NewOrleans area. VHPA members and other interested parties should contact me atthe email address below. Our chapter welcomes both pilots and crew members.Meeting and Chapter info may be obtained at: [email protected]

VViiccttoorr LLeenntt,, PPrreessiiddeenntt

OOLLDD DDOOMMIINNIIOONN CCHHAAPPTTEERROur Next Meeting will be held on Saturday, April 6, @ 1300 hours at LegendBrewery, call or e-mail me for full details. .We are holding our Spring Fling 2013 at the Flying Circus in Bealeton, Virginiaon Sunday, May 19th. We invite all our brothers in Northern, Western & East-ern Virginia to pack a picnic basket and join us to watch the antique “flyingMachines” perform feats of daring and skill from this 200 Acre Air Park.Entrance fee is $10.00 for Old Dominion Chapter VHPA and friends ofAdult age, 3 to 12 years $7.00, under 3 is free. Airplane rides for a fee begin @11:00AM, Airshow begins at 2:30 PM and is over around 4:00PM. The eventweb site is www.flyingcircusairshow.com, their address is 5114 Ritchie Rd (rte644) Bealeton, VA 22712 Tel: 540-439-8661. Please e-mail me ([email protected]) your best estimate of how many willattend by 19 April 2013or call me at home @ 804-796-5880. Credit Cards are accepted at front gate butit’s cash only at Fifi’s Café Snack Bar.

DDoonn AAggrreenn,, PPrreessiiddeenntt

RROOCCKKYY MMOOUUNNTTAAIINN CCHHAAPPTTEERRThe Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Associationbuilt our Vietnam War Museum by retrofitting a forty-eight foot freight trailerinto a mobile museum to tell the story of the role of helicopters and aircrews inthe Vietnam War. It is built in a trailer because the Chapter members believedthat being mobile it can be easily exhibited in different locations. Since the verysuccessful first showing at the 2005 Veteran’s Day Celebration in Greeley Col-orado, the Museum has been to venues such as schools, air shows, veteran’smemorials and patriotic holidays. This Memorial day it will be displayed withthe Traveling Wall along with Bill McPherson’s UHI-“Mike” Model in Memo-rial Park in Ft. Collins, Colorado for a Memorial Day Celebration. We estimatethat over 10,000 people have visited the Helicopter War Museum, shared theexperiences of the helicopter aircrews, and learned of the Vietnam War from vet-eran pilot Chapter members who serve as docents. The museum is currently under renovation. The Museum DevelopmentCommittee has been inventorying, cataloging, and reorganizing the artifacts. Yes,these relics are aging, most of which are almost 50 years old. Our latest prizedacquisition is a glare shield to complete our right-half Huey Cockpit model dis-play inside the trailer. To that end we are updating some of the memorabilia and artifacts. We are

The VHPA Aviator

looking for among other things, a web belt with .45 cal. Or .38 holster, a chicken plate with the clothholderandVelcro, anAK-47(inmostanyconditionbecause itwillbe rendered inoperative), andaViet-nam tacticalmap used in a pilotmission briefing. In addition, just about anymemorabilia and picturesdepictingWOClifeatFortWolters,FortRuckerandHunterStewartwouldbeappreciated.Pleasecon-tact our Chapter President Hal Bergdahl [email protected] or Dale House [email protected] any thing you’d like to donate or loan to themuseum.We are also looking for anOH-6 orHueythatwecandisplayoutsidethemuseum.Anyandallcontributionsorideasarewelcome.Other chapter activities are:ChapterMembers are participating inHonorFlight forWWII vets and

othersonMay6.ChapterMembersaresupportingtheGoldStarConventionbeingheldhereColoradolater this year.TheChapter is going forwardwithgatheringOralHistory’sofChapterMembers.Chap-terOfficer electionswill be held at the June 15, 2013,meeting being held at theAmericanLegion Post#1,DenverCO.

HHaall BBeerrggddaahhll.. PPrreessiiddeenntt

VHPA CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

AALLAAMMOO CCHHAAPPTTEERRTexas is the only state in our great country

which existed as a republic before it joined ourunion. Everyone knows that one battle of theTexas revolution was fought at the Alamo inwhat is now downtown San Antonio. That onedid not end well, but a couple of months later,on April 21st, 1836, Sam Houston and his Tex-ian Army defeated General Santa Anna at thebattle of San Jacinto and won independencefrom Mexico. Even today, March 2nd, the dayTexas declared independence at Washington-on-the-Brazos (River), is a big deal in this state.

So, our chapter filled up a bus on that date this year, a Saturday, and headed toLuckenbach, Texas, to help them celebrate Texas Independence Day. Willie wasnot there, but the Texas Rangers, dressed in 1836 garb, conducted a ceremony toretire and burn one Texas flag, and to raise a new one. The ceremony was fol-

lowed by folk and country-western singers, outdoors inbeautiful weather. If braveenough, you could even ride ahuge Longhorn steer whosported a saddle.

Yes, they sell beer at Lucken-bach. We partied with scoresof bikers, ranchers, city folk,and a few jealous visitors fromnorthern states. Our chapterbanner was proudly displayedand we were wel l - rece ived .

Thank goodness we had the bus. Do not worry; another revolution is not brew-ing, just an appreciation for history and good times.

Another dinner meeting at the Barn Door Restaurant will be held in June, andon September 13-14 we plan atrip to Fredericksburg, Texas,to enjoy the Hangar Hoteland a play at the Rock BoxTheater. In December, wewill have a Christmas party,with details still pending.

JJiimm MMaarrttiinnssoonn,, PPrreessiiddeenntt

VVHHPPAA OOFF FFLLOORRIIDDAA CCHHAAPPTTEERR

February was a free month for the VHPAF;however, March and April will be two of ourbusiest months. On March 23rd we were at theHillsborough County Veterans Park, Tampa, FLto support the “Welcome Home Vietnam Veter-ans and Medal of Honor” program where MGKarl R. Horst, Chief of Staff, USCENTCOM,was the Guest Speaker. Then on March 24th wesupported the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 787’sGiant Car Show. At both events we had the OH-6, LOACH opened up and staffed with VHPAFmembers to explain its main Vietnam mission as ascout.

On March 30th we met at the Lakeland LinderRegional Airport the site of Sun-N-Fun where weerected our GP Medium tent which housed ourmemorabilia, we also set up our sales trailer andcanopy, got the OH-6 in place, and set up our coinoperated OH-6 for the kids. Just to watch a bunchof 60 and 70 year olds putting the tent up is a realtreat and normally a lot of fun – for those watch-ing! Once the tent was up we had a short meetingfollowed by a cookout for all that attended.

Then April 9th – 14th is Sun-N-Fun fly-in, anevent the VHPAF has supported for years. Thetheme for this year’s Sun-N-Fun will be the 40thAnniversary of Operation Homecoming – thereturn of the Vietnam POW’s. If you happen to bein central Florida during this period please stop byand say Hi.

On April 21st – 28th we will be in Melbourne,FL with the OH-6, Sales, and the coin operatedOH-6 for the Moving Wall and the “Vietnam andAll Veterans Reunion”. This is one of the longestrunning and largest Vietnam Veterans Reunion’sheld in Florida.

In May we have already scheduled two events:“The Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Parade”on May 18th, Armed Forces Day, in Tavares, FLand The American Legion Post 152, Tampa, FLon May 25th to support their Annual Car Show.

If you are a member of VHPA and wish to joinour chapter or just stop by at one of the events wesupport, you can contact us at our web siteVHPAF.org

TToomm RRoouunnttrreeee,, PPrreessiiddeenntt

TThhee mmeemmbbeerrss lliisstteedd iinn tthhee pphhoottoo aarree ffrroomm lleefftt ttoo rriigghhtt::DDaann LLaaFFlleeuurr,, BBrryyaann OO''RReeiillllyy,, aanndd HHaarrrryy BBrryyaanntt..

The VHPA Aviator

VHPA CHAPTER ACTIVITIESCCAALLIIFFOORRNNIIAA CCHHAAPPTTEERR NNOORRTTHHThe chapter is anticipating a large turnout for the reunion in San Francis-

co (please do not say “Frisco”), and we are prepping the MOC for theReunion with some new interior changes and fresh exterior logo paint. We have finally obtained some rotor blades for our Charlie model and

they should be cleaned up, painted and installed by the time the reunionrolls around, but parking and security for the aircraft in SF looks to beimpossible. We will keep working on that and hope to have an update onthat status soon. I’ve included a photo of the new 175th AHC nose art for our Charlie

model, our aircraft flew with the 175th and so did our member Mike Nord,so it’s appropriate for our aircraft. We will also be among the vendors at thereunion, so drop in there and visit with us, renew your dues and swap lies.Everything you purchase from vendors at the reunion helps support VHPA(10% of sales goes to VHPA) as well as the vendors, and God knows our

chapter needs the help! Recentactivity has been slow, but we havecleaned out the storage area andsold a lot of scrap parts to providemore room at Western TruckSchool (free indoor storage of theHuey, tow truck, and MOC -courtesy of Mike Nord andWTS). We plan to be at the next ‘Vettes

for Vets show in Sacramento on May 26th. Email Ken for times and loca-tion. Our ammo cans at the Bryte VFW and at Action Military Surplus inCitrus Heights continue to collect donations for the Huey restoration pro-ject and we all thank them for their generous assistance.

KKeenn FFrriittzz,, PPrreessiiddeenntt

OOHHIIOO RRIIVVEERR LLZZ CCHHAAPPTTEERR My wife Maggie and I were invit-

ed to attend the annual reunion ofthe Ohio River LZ Chapter inCincinnati, Ohio. The Reunionwas attended by over 130 mem-bers and guests and it was a terrificweekend family event. Bob Hamilton was the reunion

chairman and everything heplanned was fun and first class. At

first we only knew a few people there,but we quickly find out, that no mat-ter your rank, no matter the years youserved, no matter the A/C you flew,no matter the unit you served with,no matter your religion, skin color or

nationality......we are all brothers from the same oak tree. It didn’t take longbefore we felt a part of the chapter family.Major General Edward J. Mechenbier was the guest speaker. He was shot

down and spent over 6 years as a POW in the Hanoi Hilton. He displayeddrawings of the tortures he endured during his captivity and amazingly, hewas able to intertwine his presentation with humor. He also explained thecommunication system they developed in prison and the jokes they unknow-ingly played on the prison guards. Upon his release, Ed returned to the stateswhere he and his wife wanted to start a family. But it was not to be so theyadopted a Vietnamese daughter. A few years later they decided their daughtershould not grow up as a only child, so they adopted another daughter fromThailand. The girls so enriched their lives that they have now adopted aKorean baby girl. Their family was finally complete. Well not quite as Mrs.Mechenbier soon found out she was pregnant and a baby boy was born. Itwas a pleasure to meet all and share dinner with them.I am so proud to be one of us.....Welcome Home and God Bless You!

MMoooonn MMuulllleenn,, VViiccee--PPrreessiiddeenntt ooff tthhee VVHHPPAA

SSOOUUTTHH CCAARROOLLIINNAA ((CCEELLEEBBRRAATTEE FFRREEEEDDOOMM)) CCHHAAPPTTEERR

The local chapter made a visit to three schools in Florence, SC last month.We took Cobra 520 on its custom-built trailer and gave our pep talk speechabout staying in school and to be sure to get your diploma. To concentrate onlearning STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Weopen up the cockpit and all of the cowlings. We talk about all of the careersthat are represented by this aircraft. 99% of the kids we talked to had neverbeen that close to a helicopter. We talked to at least 1,000 students from ahigh school, a career center and a middle school. Our members get such athrill working with the kids. Our schools are in bad shape and we get a lot of“thank you’s ” from the students as well as the teachers. Included is a picture of Cobra 520, and its custom-built (by us) trailer plus

the 1989 Ford Army tractor truck I bought from Federal Surplus. We drovethis rig to Maine last year for a POW/MIA festival (1,000 miles one way) andthey want us back again this year! HOOAH! In April we're taking the big rigto Florida! E-mail us if you want to be a part of our Chapter!

LLaarrrryy RRuusssseellll,, PPrreessiiddeenntt

SSOOUUTTHHEERRNN CCAALLIIFFOORRNNIIAA CCHHAAPPTTEERRWe had a great meeting and BBQ at Wings and Rotors Museum at French

Valley Airport. Thank you Pat Rogers, Executive Director of the museum for agreat place the have our meeting. The UH1, OH58s, TH55 and H34 surebrought back a lot of memories for all of us.We now have almost $4,000.00 in our chapter fund. Last year we were able

to donate $1,000 to the Vietnam War Museum in Mineral Wells but this yearwe would like to donate at least $2,000.00 to the Wounded Warrior Project.Starting now we will take donations from our members and once we reach$1,000.00 in donations from them, the Chapter fund will match it for a total

donation of $2000.00 to theirproject. Donations can be sentto Dick McCaig, Treasurer SoCal VHPA, 10307 Lair WoodDr., Santee, CA 92071.

SSwweenn AAttkkiinnssoonn,, PPrreessiiddeenntt

SShhoowwnn hheerree aatt tthhee AAnnnnuuaall RReeuunniioonn oofftthhee OOhhiioo LLZZ CChhaapptteerr ooff tthhee VVHHPPAA aarree((LL ttoo RR)) BBiillll ""MMoooonn"" MMuulllleenn ooff tthheeVVHHPPAA,, MMaajjoorr GGeenneerraall EEddwwaarrdd JJ..MMeecchheenniieerr,, GGuueesstt SSppeeaakkeerr aanndd JJaacckkMMeecchhaamm,, PPrreessiiddeenntt ooff tthhee OOhhiioo RRiivveerrLLZZ CChhaapptteerr....

MMeemmbbeerrss ooff tthheeSSoouutthheerrnn CCaalliiffoorr--nniiaa CChhaapptteerr ooff tthheeVVHHPPAA ggaatthheerr aatttthhee WWiinnggss aannddRRoottoorrss MMuusseeuumm aattFFrreenncchh VVaalllleeyy AAiirr--ppoorrtt,, CCaalliiffoorrnniiaa..

SSOOUUTTHH MMIISSSSOOUURRII CCHHAAPPTTEERRThe South Missouri Chapter of VHPA

held its first quarterly meeting of 2013 atTan-Tar-A Resort, in Osage Beach, Mis-souri. Our sincere thanks go out to theTan-Tar-A staff and to chapter memberMike Dorf for their contributions to mak-ing this meeting one of our best ever.The program was a photo presentation,

by chapter Vice President Bill Thompson,of the Army Aviation Museum at FortRucker. It was quite interesting to see allthe changes that have taken place there.Bill, who had not been back to Rucker in40+ years was amazed at all the changesthroughout the post, and, if you have notbeen back recently, you owe it to yourself togo! Great job, Bill!Our chapter continues to grow. In atten-

dance at his meeting were four first-time attendees, including a member,his wife and two guests. One of the guests joined our chapter, bringingour membership to 92. As I’ve mentioned previously, we have membersliving in adjoining states and, if you don’t have a chapter in your area, the

South Missouri Chapter will welcome you.Come check us out.The second quarterly meeting is being

planned for early June, in the St. Louis area.Be sure to check our website, vhpasmo.org,as details of this meeting are finalized. Ourthird quarterly meeting will feature electionof new officers. If you are interested in achapter leadership position, email me,(Russ Emory) at [email protected] orcall me at (417) 326-6657.Chapter members are looking forward to

the 30th Annual VHPA Reunion in SanFrancisco, and all indications point toanother memorable gathering. Our thanksgo out to chapter member, and currentVHPA President, John Sorensen and to theVHPA staff for what will certainly be anoth-er great reunion.

The South Missouri Chapter also wishes to express our sincere thanks tothose serving our great country today, and to all veterans who have keptour country free.

RRuussss EEmmoorryy,, PPrreessiiddeenntt

TROLLING FOR NEW MEMBERSVHPA Member

Denny Javens sent usthis photo of hiscamper parked in ZionNational Park lastThanksgiving week-end. When I askedDenny for a betterdescription of thephoto – he send backthis information….

In Vietnam I flew slicks as a 1st LT, asst. platoonleader with the 192nd AHC’s Polecats and TigerSharks. We were located in Dong Ba Thin, my callsign was Polecat19 but my nickname was “Lunch-meat”. When the 192nd stood down I was trans-ferred to the 7/17th Cav located at Pleiku and wasassigned to D Troop 7/17th as a platoon leader forour grunts. I also did some flying in my spare timewith the other aviation companies while with the7/17th. I came into country May 71’ and left April 72” For the next 23 years I worked in the medical

device industry and for the last 10 years I have beenmanaging communities in California. Several yearsago I read that the Northern California chapter ofthe VHPA had made up some very large stickers(like the one in the picture). I put the one shown inthe photo onto a board and each time I go camping,I place this sign out in front of my RV. Every time Iput out the sign I have people stop and talk aboutthe VHPA, my Unit or their experiences in Vietnam. Besides other pilots, several of the guys who

stopped by where crew chiefs and interested in join-ing an organization for helicopter crews. I use thesign and my window stickers to remind people ofour existence and how proud I/we are of our effortsin that war. Try it, you’ll be pleasantly surprised atwho stops by to talk!

The VHPA Aviator

BBaacckk RRooww,, LLeefftt ttoo RRiigghhtt:: BBaacckk :: JJoohhnn SSoorreennsseenn,, PPaauull HHaarrvveeyy,,EEddSSmmiitthh,, JJoohhnn WWiillkkiinnssoonn,, RRooggeerr CCaaffffeerryy,, LLeeww PPhhiilllliippss,, MMiikkee DDoorrff,,MMiikkMMiikkuullaann,, MMiikkee WWaarrrreenn,, TTeerrrryy WWiilluunndd,, SSyydd MMoorrrrooww,, JJ..DD..TTwweenntteerr,, GGeennee PPeerrkkiinnss,, BBuudd MMooeennttmmaannnn,, HHoollllyy MMooeennttmmaannnn.. MMiiddddllee RRooww:: BBiillll TThhoommppssoonn,, GGlleennaa HHaarrvveeyy,, HHaarrrriiss FFllaannaaggiinn,, JJooeeFFiinnddeerr,,KKiimm PPhhiilllliippss,, RRoobbiinn MMiikkuullaann,, DDoonn MMeerrrriitttt,, JJoohhnn RReeeedd,,JJoohhnn KKeennnneebbeecc,, CCaarrooll MMccCClluurrgg,, RRaallpphh MMccCClluurrgg..FFrroonntt RRooww:: RRuussss EEmmoorryy,, JJaannee EEmmoorryy,, LLiinnddaa FFiinnddeerr,, LLiizz SSoorreennsseenn,,QQuuiinneettttaa RRuuttlleeddggee,, LLeeoonnaarrdd RRuuttlleeddggee,, RRoonn CClliiffttoonn nnoott ppiiccttuurreedd..

VHPA CHAPTER ACTIVITIES

WWAASSHHIINNGGTTOONN SSTTAATTEECCHHAAPPTTEERR Our first general meeting for 2013 was

held at Famous Dave’s BBQ in Tacomaon February 23rd. President MarkHansen brought the membership up todate on the Huey restoration project weare working in conjunction with North-west Helicopters. Our chapter’s paint-ing fund will help with the “new”replacement helicopter once Northwestis ready to begin the painting process.Mark also challenged each of the members tobring in at least one new chapter member in thenext year and provided some innovative tech-niques to help convince our fellow VHPAmembers of the merits in joining our state chap-ter. Discussions continued regarding a chapter“challenge coin.” Final design proposals wereaccepted by the membership. The next order of business was the nominationand selection of new officers. Our immediatepast Vice President, Don LeMaster, was selectedas our new chapter President. Jim LePenske

assumes the position of Vice President and HalThornton is our new Senior Member at Large,serving as our Director for Programs and Plan-ning. Dave Eck is our Midterm Member atLarge, taking on the duties as Director of Mem-bership. Our Junior Member at Large is SteveLodwig, who will serve as our Director of Com-munications. Bill Lyons is now our Secretaryand J C Combs begins his service as Sergeant atArms. Outgoing president, Mark Hansen, waspresented a plaque in recognition for his out-standing service to our chapter. Thank youMark for all your hard work and the rest of youguys who agreed to step up and serve the chap-ter!Our next meeting will be held on July 13th

during the Olympic Airshow at the OlympiaAirport. Look for specific information for themeeting place and time on our website(vhpawa.org). After the good response we hadlast year, we will again hold a membership meet-ing in Eastern Washington later this year.Details will be posted on our website. Given theproximity of the VHPA National Reunion inSan Francisco, we are expecting a good chapterturnout for the event and look forward to join-ing our brother VHPA members in July!

DDoonn LLeeMMaasstteerr,, PPrreessiiddeenntt

TThhee MMeemmbbeerrss ooff tthhee WWaasshhiinnggttoonn SSttaattee CChhaapptteerr ooff tthhee VVHHPPAAggeett ttooggeetthheerr aatt FFaammoouuss DDaavvee’’ss BBBBQQ iinn TTaaccoommaa,, WWaasshhiinnggttoonnoonn FFeebbrruuaarryy 2233 ffoorr tthheeiirr ffiirrsstt mmeeeettiinngg ooff tthhee yyeeaarr..

PPaassssiinngg tthhee ttoorrcchh ttoo tthhee nneeww pprreessiiddeenntt oofftthhee CChhaapptteerr –– sshhoowwnn hheerree ((LL ttoo RR)),, DDaavveeHHaannsseenn,, oouuttggooiinngg CChhaapptteerr PPrreessiiddeenntt;; DDoonnLLeeMMaasstteerr,, iinnccoommiinngg CChhaapptteerr PPrreessiiddeennttaanndd JJoohhnn SShhaaffeerr,, CChhaapptteerr TTrreeaassuurreerr aannddJJuunniioorr MMeemmbbeerr AAtt--LLaarrggee ooff tthhee VVHHPPAAEExxeeccuuttiivvee CCoouunncciill..

The VHPA Aviator

BBLLYY,, KKeennnneetthh MM IIII.. GGrraadduuaatteedd fflliigghhtt ttrraaiinniinnggwwiitthh FFlliigghhtt CCllaassss 6666--44QQ,, fflleeww iinn VViieettnnaamm wwiitthhtthhee 221133sstt AASSHHCC iinn 11996677--6688 uunnddeerr tthhee BBllaacckkccaattccaallllssiiggnnKenneth M. Bly II, 73, died Aug. 24, 2012 at hishome. He was born in Fort Wayne and he was anArmy Career Veteran of the Viet Nam War. Surviving is his wife, Patricia Bly; one son, three

grandchildren, four siblings and a host of nieces andnephews. He was preceded in death by both abrother and a sister. To send online condolences,please visit www.covingtonmemorial.com.

DDRREEVVEESS,, AAllffrreedd FF.. GGrraadduuaatteedd fflliigghhtt ttrraaiinniinnggwwiitthh FFlliigghhtt CCllaassss 6688--66 aanndd fflleeww iinn VViieettnnaamm wwiitthhAA//110011 AAVVNN 110011 AABBNN ((11996688--6699)) aanndd HHHHCC,,11sstt AAVVNN BBDDEE ((11997711--7722)) uunnddeerr tthheeCCoommaanncchheerroo 33 ccaallll ssiiggnn.. Alfred F. 'Al' Dreves passed away on Wednesday,March 6, 2013 in Lawton, OK. Al was a 1959graduate of Schalmont High School and in 1960joined the Army. He served two tours of duty inVietnam. While in the service Al received manyawards and medals including Distinguished FlyingCross, Bronze Star, and numerous Army Com-mendations and air medals. He retired from theOklahoma National Guard with the rank of major.Al was a volunteer firefighter for Cox's Store Volun-teer Fire Dept. from 1989 until the present. Heserved as chief for 17 years. Al was the first person inOklahoma to receive the Volunteer Firefighter ofthe Year award in 2009. He was a member of theLawton Rangers, his local VFW Post, M.O.W.W.,and the Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Association. Survivors include his wife Jody, one son, one

brother, one sister, four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and a host ofloving friends. Interment with full military honorstook place at Fort Sill National Cemetery in Okla-homa. Contributions may be made to the Cox'sStore Volunteer Fire Dept., 14810 NortheastRogers Lane, Lawton, OK 73507.

FFLLEEIIGG,, JJoohhnn RR.. GGrraadduuaatteedd fflliigghhttttrraaiinniinngg wwiitthh FFlliigghhtt CCllaassss 6688--551177//6688--3311,, hhee fflleeww iinn VViieettnnaamm iinn11996688--6699 wwiitthh AA//112233 AAVVNN,, 2233IINNFF DDIIVV..John Robert Fleig, 65, of Ames,

Iowa died on August 21, 2012, oflung cancer. John was born inAmes, Iowa, he earned his Bachelors and Mastersdegree in Engineering from Iowa State University. John proudly served his country during Vietnamin the US Army as a helicopter pilot. In Vietnamhe flew with the 23rd Division, Americal, out ofChu Lai. John often shared his memory of flyingover the China Sea to the music of “Light My Fire”.He served in Vietnam from December of 1968 toDecember of 1969. His total time in the militarywas from November of 1968 to May of 1971. John is survived by his wife Connie, of Ames,

Iowa. John worked for the Iowa Department ofTransportation for 17 years prior to his death. Johnwas very proud to have served in the military andhad earned the rank of CW2. Please share yourcondolences or fond memories with his wife Con-nie at [email protected]

HHOOLLMMBBEERRGG,, BBrruuccee GGrraadduuaatteedd fflliigghhtt ttrraaiinniinnggwwiitthh FFlliigghhtt CCllaassss 6666--66,, fflleeww iinn VViieettnnaamm wwiitthh AACCoo,, 222299tthh AAHHBB,, 11sstt CCaavv DDiivv iinn PPhhuu LLooii ((11996666--6677)) uunnddeerr tthhee HHaacckkssaaww 33 ccaallllssiiggnn aanndd wwiitthh tthheeAA//44AAVVNN,, 44tthh IInnff DDiivv ((11996699--7700)) uunnddeerr tthheeLLiizzaarrdd 88 ccaallllssiiggnn.. Bruce Holmberg passed away on January 26, 2009at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda,MD, after a long and courageous battle with multi-ple myeloma. He is buried at the West PointCemetery. Bruce graduated from the United States MilitaryAcademy in June 1961 and was commissioned inthe Artillery. He earned his jump wings and RangerTab at Ft. Benning, GA, and, upon completion ofthe Artillery Officers Basic Course at Ft. Sill, OK,he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division atFt, Bragg, NC. After attending flight school in early1966, Bruce served in Vietnam in 1966-67 andthen attended the Artillery Advanced course at Ft.Sill in 1967. After a three year tour in the TacticalDepartment at West Point, Bruce received hisMBA at Farleigh Dickenson University in 1971. Inaddition to serving in several Field Artillery com-mand positions in Korea and Europe, he graduatedfrom the Armed Forces Staff College and ArmyWar College. In 1983 Bruce was assigned to theOffice of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operationsand retired in 1984. His military awards includethe following: Distinguished Service Medal, Legionof Merit, three awards of the Meritorious ServiceMedal, the Bronze Star with “V” for valor, BronzeStar with 2 oak leaf clusters, Air Medal, and ArmyCommendation Medal.Bruce is survived by his wife, Joan, their two

daughters and four grandchildren.

HHOOWWEE,, PPaauull BBrriiaann.. GGrraadduuaatteedd fflliigghhtt ttrraaiinn--iinngg wwiitthh FFlliigghhtt CCllaassss 6666--2200..Paul Brian Howe, age 57, died December 27,

2003 in Ash Fork, AZ. Big Paul was born in LosAngeles, CA, and he married his wife Jackie onDecember 27, 2002 in Flagstaff, AZ. He lived thepast 40 years in the Grand Canyon, Williams, andmost recently Ash Fork areas of Arizona. Paul served in the US Army during the VietnamWar from 1968 to 1976. He was very active in thecommunity involving fund raising, being the localSanta Claus, and the Grand Marshal at the GrandCanyon 2003 4th of July Parade. He was a pastVice Commander at the American Legion, as wellas other positions. He was a member of the Sons ofthe American Legion, 40 and 8 Society, Veterans ofForeign wars, and Scottish-American Military Soci-ety. Paul designed the web pages for most of the

societies he held membership in. He was very activein community events. He is survived by his wifeand one brother.

KKIILLLLMMEERR,, CChhaarrlleess EEddwwaarrdd..GGrraadduuaatteedd fflliigghhtt ttrraaiinniinngg wwiitthhFFlliigghhtt CCllaassss6677--44QQ aanndd 6666--55FFWW,, fflleeww iinn VViieettnnaamm wwiitthh DDTTrroooopp,, 33//55 CCaavv ((11996677--6688)),, 11ssttAAvvnn CCoo ((11996699--7700)) aanndd tthhee114444tthh AAvvnn ((11997700)) uunnddeerr tthheeCCrruussaaddeerr 22 ccaallllssiiggnn..CW4 Charles Killmer, Jr., age 77, of Dou-

glasville, GA passed away Sunday, March 24,2013. Charlie was a Veteran of the U.S. Army and was amember of Midway United Methodist Church.He was a loving husband, father, grandfather andgreat-grandfather. He loved working with modelrailroads and would always manage to set up a smalllayout in the family quarters. CW4 Killmer enlistedin the U.S. Army in 1953, where he trained to be amedic. After spending 10 years as a medic, he setout to pursue his dream and became a pilot. In Mayof 1966, he graduated from Flight School at Ft.Rucker, AL qualified to fly helicopters. A shortwhile later he was sent to Vietnam. After returning,he transitioned into flying airplanes. After complet-ing this training, he was sent back to Vietnam doingradio reconnaissance. During his career he attendednight school at Embry Riddle Aeronautical Univer-sity where he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Avia-tion Safety. Charlie retired after spending 30 yearsin the Army. He then went to work at Flight SafetyInternational where he spent many enjoyable yearsas a Flight Instructor.On October 11, 1958, he married Elaine Gardner,who he had met while he was stationed at FortDevens, MA. They moved several times duringCharlie's career and spent three years in Germanyand two years in Turkey. All other assignmentswere in the U.S. except for those times Charliespent in Vietnam. Charlie and Elaine both loved totravel. They have been to all 50 states and 12 differ-ent countries. Land/Sea cruises were their favoriteway to travel. He is survived by his beloved wife, Elaine M.

Killmer; two sons, one daughter, four grandchil-dren; and four great-grandchildren. Inurnment ofhis cremated remains took place at Georgia Nation-al Cemetery in Canton, GA. Those who wish toexpress condolences or share a special memory maydo so online at www.whitleygarner.com

KKRRIIEEGGEERR,, RRoobbeerrtt LLaanniieerr GGrraadduuaatteedd fflliigghhttttrraaiinniinngg wwiitthh FFlliigghhtt CCllaassss 7700--3344,, fflleeww iinnVViieettnnaamm wwiitthh tthhee 112200tthh AAHHCC ((11997700--7722))uunnddeerr tthhee RRaazzoorrbbaacckk 3377 ccaallllssiiggnnRobert "Rob" Lanier Krieger, a prominent WinterHaven businessman, philanthropist, and decoratedVietnam War helicopter pilot, died Thursday, Feb-ruary 14, 2013 in Indian River County of injuries

TAPS

The VHPA Aviator

receivedinanairplaneaccident.Hewas65.BorninSewickley,Pennsylvania, soonaftercollege

graduation, Rob was drafted into the Army andwas quickly singled out for Officer CandidateSchool, following which he entered helicoptertraining. His dual tours of Vietnam extended to1972 when he was honorably discharged with therank of captain. As a member of the "Razorbacks",he piloted gunships, reconnaissance missions, med-ical evacuations as well as occasionally transportingthe brass, including Gen. William Westmoreland.From his two combat tours, Rob was awarded,amongothermedals, theBronzeStarMedal fordis-tinguishedmeritorious service, theArmy commen-dationmedalandtheairmedal forheroism.Rob returned to Winter Haven with the savings

he had accumulated from Army service and pur-chased New Electric. Starting with two trucks andone employee, Rob grew his business to what it isnow,amajor residential, commercial, and industrialcontractor in Central Florida. Rob supportedmany causes and was a member of the VietnamHelicopter Pilots Association and Airplane Own-ers & Pilots Association and the Citrus CenterBoys&GirlsClubs. Healsoownedandoperatedafamily cattle ranch,was anavidhunter, reader andafisherman. His appreciation of family, work, com-munity and country stemmed fromhis experiencesat war. "I should have been killed a dozen times inVietnam," he once told a friend, "and when I gotoutof there safely I vowedIwouldn'twaste adayofmy life, that I would see every sight and do every-thingIpossiblycould inthisworld."Robwaspreceded indeathbyhiswifeNancy, but

he is survived by hismother, one son, one daughteronebrother, numerousnieces andnephews andhisbesthuntingbuddy,hischocolate lab"Brown."ThefamilyrequestsdonationsbemadetotheCit-

rus Center Boys & Girls Club, 2400 HavendaleBlvd.,WinterHavenFlorida33881.

LLAARRKKIINN,, CChhaarrlleess EEaarrllyy GGrraadduuaatteedd fflliigghhtt ttrraaiinn--iinngg wwiitthh FFlliigghhtt CCllaassss 5555--KK,, fflleeww iinn VViieettnnaamm wwiitthhtthhee 5577tthh TTCC CCoo.. ((11996611--6622)) aanndd tthhee 117733rrdd AAHHCC((11996677--6688)) uunnddeerr tthhee CCrroossssbbooww 4444 ccaallllssiiggnn..Charles "Charly" "Pops" Earle Larkin, 82, of Med-

ford, Oregon passed away February 8, 2013 at hishome. He was born February 20, 1930 in Elk Falls,Kansas, he graduated from St. Anthony's CatholicSchool in Gardena, California then served in theU.S. Army until 1978, attaining the rank of ChiefWarrant Officer 4 (CWO4). His military careerincluded Airborne Paratrooper, Army Medic, Heli-copter and Fixed-Wing Pilot, and Pilot Instructor.Charles served two tours in Vietnam as a pilot, oneyear in Korea, five years in Germany, and manystateside assignments. He was the recipient of manyawards and medals including three Purple Hearts.Charly married Alice Maxine Caviness in 1950 in

Bennettsville, South Carolina. They were happilymarried for 62 years until his death, he was a devot-ed husband and father. Charles enjoyed and lovedhis family, camping, street rodding, motorcycles,

fishing, hunting, and especially enjoyed the out-doors. Pops was the "Patriarch" of our family andleft us with this special message - Above All Else....BeCoolCharles is lovingly remembered by his wife, Alice

Maxine Larkin of Medford; one daughter, twograndsons, one granddaughter, one brother, two sis-ters and many nieces, nephews, and other relativesand friends.

MMccCCUULLLLAARR,, FFrraanncciiss MMaaxx.. NNoo fflliigghhtt sscchhoooolloorr VViieettnnaamm SSeerrvviiccee iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn iiss aavvaaiillaabblleetthhrroouugghh VVHHPPAA rreeccoorrddss..

COL (Ret.) Francis Max McCullar, formerly ofEnterprise, AL, passed away on Thursday, February14, 2013 at his daughter Maxine’s home inAcworth, GA. He was 93. We have lost a truly great and inspiring man, Max

McCullar. It was impossible to know him and notadore him, and he had a positive impact on every-one he met. So much so that when he moved fromAlabama to Georgia at 91, the entire town shutdown and threw him a parade, declaring it MaxMcCullar Day. Army Colonel, Aviation, and WWII Vet, his last

active duty assignment was as Commander of theSafety Center at Ft. Rucker, many years ago. Maxwas raised in Kingsville, Texas where his dadworked on the King Ranch; Texas Aggie and Presi-dent of the class of 1940; avid hunter (even withbows and arrows!); master carpenter; guitar player;quilter; volunteer at the local elementary school-reading to the kindergarteners into his 90s; built hisown ultra light airplane, “Awsome”, in his garagethat he flew solo well into his later years (paintedmaroon and white of course!); Atlanta Braves fan;lover of Blue Bell ice cream; loving husband; won-derful father; and an amazing grandfather andgreat-grandfather. He taught us all how to trulyenjoy life. He never took a moment for granted andlived every second to the fullest until his last. COL Max, you will be missed. “Love you lots, and

we’ll see you round.” Colonel McCullar was pre-ceded in death by his wife, Sarah Reed McCullar,and two brothers. Survivors include two daughters,four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

MMccDDAANNIIEELL,, RRoobbeerrtt LL.. GGrraadduu--aatteedd fflliigghhtt ttrraaiinniinngg wwiitthh FFlliigghhttCCllaassss 5555,, fflleeww iinn VViieettnnaamm wwiitthhHHHHCC,, 33rrdd CCAABB ((11996644--6666)),,HHHHCC 1133tthh CCAABB ((11996677--6688)) aannddHHHHCC 116644tthh CCAABB ((11996688)) uunnddeerrtthhee DDeellttaa 66 ccaallllssiiggnn.. Col. Robert Lee McDaniel, 88, a retired officer of

the U.S. Army, veteran of WWII, Korea, and Viet-nam, and pioneer in the growth of modern Armyaviation, passed away on February 9th at InovaAlexandria Hospital in Virginia.

He was born a military brat at Fort Bliss, a horsecavalry division post. He was named for his godfa-ther, General R. L. Howze the division comman-der, whose son, General Hamilton H. Howze, is

considered by many to be the father of modernArmy aviation — a connection that helped shapeyoung McDaniel's future career path and contribu-tions. He spent much of his childhood in Asia, anexperience that proved valuable throughout hismany deployments. He received his bachelor'sdegree from the United Stated Military Academy, amaster's degree in aeronautical engineering fromGeorgia Institute of Technology, where heimproved the rotor design for the UH-1 helicopter,and a master's degree in international affairs fromGeorge Washington University. His military career spanned 28 years. Upon gradu-

ating from West Point in the class of 1945, heserved with the 11th Airborne Division in the finaldays of World War II and in the occupation ofJapan. He returned to Japan during the KoreanWar with the 187th Regimental Combat Team. After Korea, he became an instructor at theInfantry School performing his critical role in Armyaviation by writing and teaching the Army's firstAir Mobility manual. From there, Col. McDanielwas selected by General Ham Howze to attendGeorgia Tech to gain expert aeronautical engineer-ing knowledge needed by Army decision makers.He earned a renowned reputation for his academicprowess studying for this graduate degree.Upon receiving his graduate degree in Aeronauti-

cal Engineering, he rushed to the Pentagon andbecame totally immersed in the Air Mobility divi-sion of the Army Office of the Chief Research andDevelopment. This vital 1961-64 period includedthe Howze Board, the transformation of the 11thAir Assault into the 1st Cavalry Division, the newLOH and UH1 helicopter programs, and type clas-sification of the CH-47. His forte was in a widerange vertical/short take off and landing advanceddevelopment programs including the Bell XV-3 tiltrotor, the Lockheed XV-4A Humming Bird andthe XV-6A Deflected Thrust predecessor of theHarrier. He became a leading advocate and propo-nent for the Sky Crane and the Heavy Lift Heli-copter. He earned a reputation among the Army,the Air Force and the Office of Secretary of Defenseas a bright and dynamic aeronautical engineer offi-cer who strove to place Army aviation on the bestpath for the future. He was recognized with his firstLegion Merit. In 1964 to 1966 as commander of the 3rd Avia-

tion Battalion, one of the largest aviation units inWest Germany and he earned his second Legion ofMerit. In 1967 he was placed in command of the13th Combat Aviation Battalion in Vietnamese IVCorp. While air assaulting the Vietnamese soldiersinto battle against the Viet Cong across the Delta,he merged his battalion with all of the separate avia-tion units in the Delta into the 164th Combat Avi-ation Group. Fortuitously, the group activation inJanuary 1968 occurred several weeks before theBattle of Tet, allowing unified Army aviation toapply overmatching force to crush the enemy at themajor battle locations. During his combat aviationcommand, he was awarded the Silver Star, a third

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Legions of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Cross-es, and42airmedals.

On his return to the Pentagon, Col. McDanieljoined the Office of Defense DevelopmentResearch and Engineering, supportingDr. JohnnieFoster, furthering thebest vertical lift approaches tosupport the country in the long term. His staffresponsibility included all DoD helicopter andtransport airplane developments, as well as manysurface transportation systems.His work led to theapproval, management, and funding for severalmajor helicopter and transport aircraft programs,including the UTTAS (Blackhawk), the AAH(Apache), the Joint Heavy Lift Helicopter (YCH-61), and theAMST(C17).He also led an interna-tional program for the interchange of technologyfor rotorcraft and VSTOL aircraft. AlthoughMcDaniel did not win all of the decisions, he didensure that the competing options were heard.Uponretirementhewasrecognizedwithhis fourthLegionofMerit.After leaving themilitary,Col.McDaniel contin-

ued to provide analytic and engineering services totheArmy,DARPA, andOSD, aswell as service ontheArmyScienceBoard.Those services includethedevelopment of the Javelin Missile Guidance Sys-tem. His assessment of the Comanche helicopterdevelopment contributed to the Army decision toterminate the $6B program and reallocate thoseresources to higher priority Army aviation needs.In May of 2012, he received the Order of St.Michael from the Army Aviation Association ofAmerica.

Col. McDaniel was a long-time Alexandria resi-dent.Hemarried his first wifewhile both served inJapan during its occupation. She was a decoratedUS Army Nurse, who served in WWII. She andRobert McDaniel had six children, and Rachelpassed in 1983. He married his second wife, JeanHughes McDaniel, at West Point in 1995. He issurvivedby Jean, aswell as six children fromhis firstmarriage, two step-children, nine grandchildrenand two great-grandchildren. The family requestthat donations to his memory be made to theWoundedWarriorProject.

MMccHHUUGGHH,, GGeeoorrggee WW.. ""BBuuttcchh"" JJrr.. GGrraadduuaatteeddfflliigghhtt ttrraaiinniinngg wwiitthh FFlliigghhtt ccllaassss 6688--2200,, fflleeww iinnVViieettnnaamm wwiitthh tthhee 111199tthh AAHHCC ((11997700--11997711))aanndd tthhee 5522nndd CCAABB ((11997700--11997711)) uunnddeerr tthheeGGaattoorr 33 ccaallllssiiggnn..George Wainright McHugh, Jr., 70, passed away

on Friday, February 15, 2013, at Iberia MedicalCenter in Louisiana, interment followed at St.Michael Cemetery in St. Martinville, LA.Mr. McHugh honorably served his country in the

United States Army during the Vietnam War,where he was a helicopter pilot and JAG Officer.Having attained the rank of Captain, he was award-ed two Purple Hearts, one Bronze Star, and threemedals for Valor, as well as numerous other honorsand medals.Butch was an attorney for 34 years and also served

as a consultant for the St. Martin Parish Sheriff'sOffice. A true advocate for the citizens of St. Mar-tin Parish, he was a member of the Governor'sCommission for Addictive Disorders and servedon the board for the Acadiana Human ServicesDistrict. Butch possessed a heartfelt compassionand desire to assist anyone with addictive disorders -his help to them was infinite. He enjoyed spendingtime with his family at his camp every weekend,hunting and caring for his animals, while accompa-nied by his faithful companion, his dog, Sammy.He is survived by his loving wife, Sylvia BienvenuMcHugh of St. Martinville; two sons, one brotherand his wife plus his sister and her husband.

PPAATTTTEERRSSOONN,, JJoohhnn FFrraanncciiss,,nnoo fflliigghhtt sscchhooooll oorr VViieettnnaamm SSeerr--vviiccee iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn iiss aavvaaiillaabblleetthhrroouugghh VVHHPPAA rreeccoorrddss..

Ret. Lieutenant Colonel JohnFrancis Patterson, 79, died onFebruary 22, 2013 in Richardson,Texas. John was born in Nanty Glo, Pennsylvaniaand attended Penn State University and graduat-ed from the University of Nebraska.

He was a career officer in the United StatesArmy and served as an aviator of both fixed wingand helicopters in Italy, North Africa, Vietnam,Germany and many stateside posts. He was also amember of the US Army Corp of Engineers. Johnreceived numerous awards and medals for servicebefore retiring in August 31, 1973. After his mili-tary career, John worked as an executive at theHartford Group for 18 years before starting hisown company, Omega Benefits Services. Uponretirement in 1998, his happiest times were spentwith family. John was a great source of strength,pride and joy for his family and all who knew him.He was an exceptional man, a steadfast friend anda loving and deeply loved husband, father, brotherand grandfather.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, SheilaMcDermott Patterson, their three children, ninegrandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces andnephews. There will be a military interment atArlington National Cemetery at a later date. Giftsin the memory of John F. Patterson may be sent toThe Congregation of the Sisters of St. Agnes whotaught at St. Mary's Parochial School, Nanty Glo,Pennsylvania. The Congregation of the Sisters ofSt. Agnes 320 County Road K Fond du Lac, Wis-consin 54937

RROODDRRIIGGUUEEZZ,, AAll.. GGrraadduuaatteeddfflliigghhtt ttrraaiinniinngg wwiitthh FFlliigghhtt CCllaassss5577--1155,, fflleeww iinn VViieettnnaamm wwiitthh tthhee112200tthh AAHHCC ((11996644--6655)),, tthhee11//99tthh CCaavv.. 11sstt CCaavv ((11996677)) aannddCC TTrroooopp,, 77//11sstt CCaavv ((11996677--6688))uunnddeerr tthhee CCoommaanncchhee 66 aannddSSaannddppiippeerr ccaallllssiiggnnss..Colonel Al Rodriguez, founder of the current Ari-

zona Chapter of the VHPA closed his flight plan

on 7 January 2013. Col. Rodriguez graduated fromFlight School Class 57-15. He served in Vietnamwith the following units and dates: 64-65, 120AHC; 67, 1/9 Cav, 1st Cav Div and 67-68C/7/1Cav. During his tours he was shot down 4times and earned 2 Purple Hearts.

Col. Rodriguez also served as the Army DefenseAttache’ to El Salvador. During his duty there herescued 200 Salvadoran and 25 Americans heldhostage by leftist groups. During his 35 years and sixmonths of service to our country he was awarded68 medals and eight foreign medals from El Sal-vador, Argentina and Japan. During his funeral, theAttache’ from El Salvador presented his wife withthe flag of El Salvador. He is considered a NationalHero in that country.

Col. Rodriguez remained very active after hisretirement. He was the Mayor of Douglas Arizonafrom 1978-1980. He was a staunch supporter ofmilitary organizations to include the founding ofthe Arizona Chapter of the VHPA in 2000. Healso formed the Police Boys Club in Douglas. Hisinvolvement in other organizations include: TheAmerican Red Cross, Saint Vincent de Paul, Amer-ican Legion, Military Officers Association, Distin-guished Flying Cross Society and the Purple HeartAssociation. If this all didn’t keep him busy, he alsomanaged Little League baseball, he was the Legisla-tive Liaison for League of United Latin AmericanCitizens and helped the Boy Scouts of America.

A loving husband and father, Col. Rodriguez issurvived by his loving wife of 65 years, Anita, histhree sons, seven grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren. Col. Rodriguez will be missed by all.He was active throughout his life and believedgreatly in our country and what it stood for.

Editors note – the above was sent to us byMember Bill Sorenson

SSUURRGGEENNEERR,, RRoonnaalldd LL.. GGrraadduuaatteedd fflliigghhttttrraaiinniinngg wwiitthh FFlliigghhtt CCllaassss 6688--33,, fflleeww iinn VViieettnnaammwwiitthh tthhee 113399tthh AAHHCC ((11996699)) tthhee 113344tthh AAHHCC((11996699)) aanndd tthhee 11sstt BBDDEE,, 55tthh MMeecchh ((11996688--11996699)) Ronald L. Surgener, was born in Bakersfield, CA

and passed away on February 25, 2013. He gradu-ated from North High School in 1967 and fromthe University of California in Fresno with a Bach-elor's Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1972. He served his country as an Army Chief Warrant

Officer. He was enormously proud of his duty inVietnam as a Combat Helicopter Pilot. He wasawarded two Air Medals for flying more than 50combat missions, as well as the Army Commenda-tion Medal for bravery, having survived being shotdown twice. He took over the family business,McKee Electric in 1990. He devoted his time andattention to the operation of the business payingspecial emphasis to his employees about for whomhe cared deeply. In 1999, he started RLS Industriesalso making that company a success. Ron was activein numerous civic activities and organizations andwas a philanthropist. He was a member of the

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Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Elk's Lodge, Sheriff'sPosse, and the Sheriff's Search and Rescue. He wasone of the original members of Cooks from theValley.Between2002andJune2004,hebarbequedon USS Stennis, Truman, Lincoln and BellauWood. He "skipped" the rest of '04, and all of '05and '06, as he had a couple of strokes. Most folkswould have stayed home after that, but in '07 hecame back and cooked for thousands more atCENTCOM, Southern Command, and Guan-tanamo Bay, Cuba. In '08 he cooked at the U.S.Naval Academy and on July 4, 2010, for theNavalCommand -CENTCOMinBahrain andonVet-erans Day 2010, for the men and women of theUnited States European Command. Of the twen-ty-three trips, Ron went to ten and helped servemore than 55,000 men and women throughoutthe world! In his spare time Ron enjoyed fishing,hunting, boating and golfing. Ron passed away onFebruary25,2013.He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his two sons,

and his four grandchildren. Donations may bemade to the charity of your choice in his remem-brance.

TTHHRRAALLLL,, DDeewweellll OO.. GGrraadduuaatteedd fflliigghhtt ttrraaiinniinnggwwiitthh FFlliigghhtt CCllaassss 6644,, fflleeww iinn VViieettnnaamm wwiitthh tthhee11sstt IINNFF ((11996655)) aanndd tthhee TTCC CCOO iinn 11996677.. The death of Major Dewell O. Thrall, who passedaway on December 30, 1980 at the age of 50, has

just been reported to the VHPA by his wife AnnThrall.Ms. Thrall went on to say that her husband gradu-ated from flight training in 1964, he then flew H-23 helicopters with 329th Geodetic survey ofLibyan Desert out of Tripoli, Libya. While on thatmission he found a lost, crashed World War IIbomber (The Lady Be Good), the story of whichwas later made into a movie. She also told us thather husband rose to the rank of Major and flew “allthe helicopters and airplanes the Army had at thetime”. She finished by letting us know he graduatedfrom The School of Mines in Rollo, Missouri andthat Major Thrall “went to flight school withChuck Yeager”. Major Thrall is survived by his wife Ann Thrall

and three children

TThhee ffoolllloowwiinngg ddeeaatthh nnoottiicceess wweerree rreecceeiivveedd bbyy tthheeVVHHPPAA dduurriinngg tthhee pprroodduuccttiioonn ppeerriioodd ffoorr tthhiiss iissssuuee..BBuutt nnoonnee ooff tthheessee mmeenn wweerree eevveerr mmeemmbbeerrss ooff tthheeaassssoocciiaattiioonn nnoorr wweerree nnoottiicceess ooff tthheeiirr ddeeaatthh rreeppoorrtteeddttoo tthhee AAssssoocciiaattiioonn bbyy aa mmeemmbbeerr ooff tthhee mmaann’’ss ffaammiillyy,,oorr bbyy aa mmeemmbbeerr ooff tthhee VVHHPPAA ((tthheeyy wweerree oobbttaaiinneeddtthhrroouugghh aann iinntteerrnneett sseeaarrcchh)).. WWee hhaavvee ppoosstteedd tthheeTTAAPPSS iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn wwee rreecceeiivveedd oonn tthheessee mmeenn oonntthheeiirr iinnddiivviidduuaall lliissttiinngg aatt VVHHPPAA..oorrgg iiff yyoouu wwoouullddlliikkee mmoorree iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn.. IIff yyoouu aarree nnoott aabbllee ttoorreettrriieevvee tthhee iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn oonn--lliinnee,, ccaallll HHQQ ffoorr hheellpp((11--880000--550055--VVHHPPAA))..

BBRROOWWNN,, RRoobbeerrtt DDeeaann.. There is no informationon this man’s flight class or Vietnam service avail-able on the VHPA website.

CCAADDDDEELLLL,, HHeerrbbeerrtt AAnntthhoonnyy Graduated flighttraining with Flight Class 65-16, he flew in Viet-nam with the 174th AHC (1965-66) and D/3/4Cav (1966).

CCAATTZZOOEELLAA,, MMaannuuaall.. Graduated flight trainingwith Flight Class 70-07, flew in Vietnam with BCo., 158th AHB, 101 ABN.

CCHHAAPPMMOONN,, CCllyyddee LL.. Graduated flight trainingwith Flight Class 70-17.

CCHHOOAATT,, BBuuddddyy JJaacckk.. No flight school or Viet-nam service information is available through theVHPA records.

CCOOLLLLIINNSS,, LLaarrrryy MM. No flight school or Vietnamservice information is available through the VHPArecords.

VVAASSSS,, LLTTCC MMaarrsshhaallll BB.. No flight school or Viet-nam service information is available through theVHPA records.

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[email protected]

WWW.MYVERNON.BIZ/RICKYOOD

LLooookkiinngg FFoorr GGuunnsslliinnggeerr 3333……I’m looking for Gunslinger 33 as he was known on June 6, 1966. I havemet an HH-43 Huskey pilot named Harold Salem who is looking for agunship crew that rescued him that day. Harold described the aircraft(clearly a gunship) and the takeoff (a lot of bouncing around) that day;he thinks the crew’s callsign might have been Firebird but mission datashows Gunslinger 33 as being the gunship on station that day. Harold has pictures of another Huskey picking up their wounded beforethe gunship landed that would like to share with you. Contact me and Iwill put you in touch. He really wants to thank you for the thrilling ride!

Chuck CarlockE-mail: [email protected]

LLooookkiinngg FFoorr aannyyoonnee wwhhoo mmiigghhtt hhaavvee kknnoowwnn RRooggeerr SScchhnneeiiddeerrMy brother was Roger L Schneider he was a warrant office and a Heli-

copter pilot with the 1st Air Cav. He was killed in Hue in Feb 2, 1968,Does any one out there remember him? Any information would be

appreciated. Thank you,

Ralph SchneiderE-Mail: [email protected]

LLooookkiinngg FFoorr ssoommeeoonnee wwhhoo kknneeww mmyy ffaatthheerr,, 11LLTT PPaauull SSiillvveeyy CCoollvviinnI am the only child for 1st Lt Paul Silvey Colvin who was reported KIA

on 08/01/1967. I believe he graduated flight school with Flight Class 66-12 and that he was flying with the 114th AHC at the time of his death.I have five children, four boys and one girl and I am compiling infor-

mation about my Dad for a book I am writing for my children. I haveresearched information on Dad’s childhood and am now trying to puttogether something about his military career.

Thanks for any assistance your members might be able to provide,Cheryl Colvin-Chambers

R-Mail: [email protected]

LLooookkiinngg ffoorr ffoorrmmeerr ppiilloottss BBllaacckkjjaacckk 2299 aanndd GGaammbblleerr 2266I am a LRRP from K Co 75th Rangers. It seems like every mission I

went on from July to November 1970 was flown by Blackjack 29 andcovered by Gambler 26. I was also on the team that went light to providesecurity when Gambler 26 auto rotated in.I have never have had the chance to thank those guys and I think it is

about time. Darryl BealsRomeo 9


LLooookkiinngg FFoorr mmeemmbbeerrss ooff tthhee 22nndd SSiiggnnaall GGrroouupp,, 11sstt SSiiggnnaall BBrriiggaaddee iinn VViieettnnaammDuring the first weekend of February of this year, former members of the2nd Signal Group, 1st Signal Brigade Aviation Unit (South) got togetherfor a reunion at Fort Rucker. It was non-stop laughter for three days.I would now like to make contact with other former members of the

unit (either the northern or southern detachments) with the intentionof having another such get together in a few years. If you are a formermember, please contact me

L.C. Gram IIIE-mail: [email protected]

LLooookkiinngg FFoorr ddeettaaiillss oonn tthhee hhiissttoorryy ooff HHuueeyy ttaaiill rroottoorr cchhaaiinn bbrraacceelleettss I am emailing at the suggestion of Larry Ford, from whom we have

purchased some Huey rotor chain. My family business is Hartley Jewel-ers in Olympia, Washington. Since 1967, we have served the community

in many ways, most notably, as the trusted source for skilled goldsmithsand jewelers who perform repair, restoration and custom manufacturingof all kinds of jewelry. We recently learned about the Huey tail rotorchain bracelets when a client brought us a chain and asked us to makeone. Since then, we have been fulfilled several orders and are now tryingto acquiring more material.Also, I have found very little information about the bracelets online. I

have had several pilots and crewmen contact me about getting a braceletmade and while they have interesting stories to tell, I wonder if you canhelp me track down some information about the bracelets itself? Itwould be best to have first-hand accounts from veterans who have/hadthem, but, any information at this point would be helpful. I know manyvets risked their lives to take these chains off of downed Hueys and if Icould get any of those stories, it would help me compile a history of thebracelets.Also, please note I am interested in acquiring more chain. Thank you forany help you can provide.

Respectfully,Travis Thornton

[email protected]

LLooookkiinngg FFoorr LLaattiinnoo VVeetteerraannss oonn tthhee VViieettnnaamm WWaarrI am currently producing a documentary for public television about

the Latino experience during the Vietnam War. I've been readingthrough books and journals but I haven't had much luck finding data onLatino Vietnam Veterans. I have checked with the Dept. of Veteran Affairs and while they have

some information, I'm searching for studies a bit more specific. I'm look-ing for information regards to where Latino Vietnam Veterans wentafter the war as well as what role the American GI Forum played in help-ing returning veterans. Would you happen to know where I could find this information? I amalso interested in opinion surveys, participation rates, etc. Any informa-tion or leads would be much appreciated. Thank you for your time.

Susy GarciasalasAssociate Producer, Souvenir PicturesE-Mail: [email protected]

www.souvenirpictures.com

LLooookkiinngg FFoorr –– MMyy RReeccrruuiitteerrThe year was 1967, having graduated from high school a year before, I

was already coming to terms with a daunting reality. I was quickly failingout of Wright State University.During this time my brother David brought home a (at the time) pop-ular magazine called Boy's Life. While casually flipping through it, I cameacross a recruiting advertisement for Warrant Officer Candidates(WOC). The specific line that captured my attention said "become ahelicopterpilot."In December of 1967, and with questions about WOC, I made my

way to the Army Recruiting Office in Springfield, Ohio. I met with aRecruiting Sergeant, and quickly informed him of my aspiration to flyhelicopter's. He told me that in order to do so, I would have to pass threeexams; a physical, an eye examination (with a minimum vision of 20/20),and a basic intelligence test. Feeling overly confident, I signed up. On myway out, the Recruiter stopped me and said, "When you get out of flightschool, come back and see me. I would like to know if you made it."Upon arriving home, I informed my father (a Master Sergeant in the

Air Force) of my intentions, and was surprised when a look of concerncrossed his face. "Derry," he said "you didn't sign anything, did you?"

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The VHPA Aviator

Upon telling him that I had, in fact, signed everything, he responded"Derry, all you have is a high school diploma. They're never going to letyou fly a helicopter."

In February of 1968, I left for basic training. The eye test (whichclaimed a number of hopeful candidates) went smoothly. The physicalwas a walk in the park. But when it came time to take the intelligencetest, we were informed that basic recruits would need to score at least 90to pass. Those in the WOC, however, needed a score of at least 110(which my recruiter had failed to mention). It turns out my father wasalmost right.My score: 110.After flight school, I returned to Springfield to see my recruiter. I was

dressed inmyOfficer's uniformwith flight wings and a 1st Cav patch onmy left shoulder. I informed him that I was on my way to Vietnam.Once again, as I was leaving, my recruiter said, "When you get back fromVietnam, come and seeme. I would like to know if youmade it."In February of 1969, I went to Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry. Upon

arriving in the country, I was assigned to the 189th Assault HelicopterCo. (AHC) in Pleiku; call sign "Ghostrider 27". The 189th AHC, alongwith the 57th AHC, 119th AHC, and 170th AHC all flew Commandand Control Center (C.C.C.) missions for the 5th Special Forces - with

the 57th doing the majority of the flying. These flights were always, tosay the least, interesting.

In late January of 1970, I was involved in my most unusual flight.WarrantOfficer Del Cornell and I parachuted a 5th Special Forces teaminto Cambodia. It was a single ship night mission - no lights and noguns on the aircraft. We lifted off at 2am from The Parrots Beak, andwhile flying to the drop zone, we could see the lights of Phnom Penh.(As a side note; did anyone else parachute troops out of a helicopter intoCambodia?)That was my last mission in Vietnam. When I returned to the United

States in 1970, I again went to see my recruiter. When I could not findhim, I inquired into his whereabouts. I was then informed that he wasactually in advanced helicopter training at Fort Rucker, AL. I do notremember the name of my recruiter, however, if the man I am talkingabout is you. "I would like to know if you alsomade it home."

James "Derry" RayClass 68-23189thAHC

E-Mail [email protected]

LLooookkiinngg FFoorr tthhee ppiilloott iinn tthhiiss pphhoottoo……I took this photo in 1968 at Rach Gia in the Mekong Delta, while assigned to MACV Advi-

sory Team 55. It is being forwarded in case the man featured in the photo is a member of yourorganization thinking that he might enjoy this peek into the past…

I have several other high-quality photos of Hueys, Cobras andChinooks taken during my tour that I will be sharing with theVHPA. My duties as Team S-4 often took me to the airfieldsaround Rach Gia, and I usually had a camera available.

Thank you for your service,COL Michael D. Treinen, AUS (Ret.)


LLooookkiinngg FFoorr hheellpp wwiitthh IIDD’’iinngg tthheessee ttwwoo CCoobbrraassWhile I was walking around a little town named Rock Creek, Ohio, I

found this “Snake on a Stick”. I thought maybe someone in the VHPAmight know the history ofthis aircraft. About 5 milesfrom there, in Jefferson,Ohio, I found anotherCobra on display. There’sa plaque attached to it thatreads: Property of theUnited States Army andthe Jefferson VFW, Post3334I was hoping someone in

the VHPA might be ableto help me learn a littlemore about these two fineaircraft.

Sam MakiE-Mail:

[email protected]

Babb, JeffreyS. 'Jeff'HuntingtonBeach,California,USArmyFlightClass(s): 70-48VNcombat unit(s): 1AVN1 INF

Bartholomew,Kenneth J 'Ken' **Timonium,Maryland,USArmyFlightClass(s): 66-21VNcombat unit(s):B/1/9CAV1CAV in 67-68;INFANTNETT in 70-71

Billings,Alan J. 'Patricia'Chapin, SouthCarolina, USNavyFlightClass(s): 04-65VNcombat unit(s): HC-1 in 66-67;HA(L)-3 in 68-69; TACRON in71-72;TACRON in73-74

Blackburn, LloydH.Salt LakeCity, Utah,USArmyFlightClass(s): 69-29 69-27VNcombat unit(s): 57AHC in 70

Bunting, StephenD **Carpinteria, California, USArmyFlightClass(s): 70-28VNcombat unit(s):C/16CAV in 70-71

Chamberlain,William 'Sukosh' **HarkerHeights, Texas,USArmyFlightClass infonot providedVNcombat unit(s):120AHC in 65-66; 52CAB in 68-69;HHC1AVNBDE in 69

Chapman,MichaelB. 'Mike'Baker, Louisiana,USArmyFlightClass(s): 70-27VNcombat unit(s): 92AHC in 70-71

Clark, StevenH.Sequim,Washington,USArmyFlightClass(s): 69-29VNcombat unit(s):176AHC in 70-71

Clements, JohnK 'Jack' **Madison,Alabama,USArmyFlightClass(s): 54-LVNcombat unit(s):20TCCO in67-68; 520TCBN in 68

Crook, PeterSydney,NSWAustralia,FlightClass infonot providedVNcombat unit(s): 161 IRF in 68-69

Czajak, ThomasW 'Tom'Port Saint Lucie, Florida,USArmyFlightClass(s): 70-9 70-7VNcombat unit(s):173AHC in 70-71

Devine,Richard J.SandyCreek,NewYork,USArmyFlightClass(s): 66-21 66-19VNcombat unit(s):B/227AHB1CAV in 67-68

Dreiman,Richard JColumbus,Ohio,USArmyFlightClass infonot providedVNcombat unit(s):D/3/4CAV in 69-70

Duke, JamesE 'Jim' **Corenlius,NorthCarolina,USArmyFlightClass(s): 66-5W66-1VNcombat unit(s): A/227AHB1CAV in 66-67; 71AHC in 69-70

Ervi, JamesR. **Salado, Texas,USArmyFlightClass(s): 58-2VNcombat unit(s):D/229AHB1CAV in 65-66;E/725MNT25 INF in 69

Faucher, Dennis L.Bradford, Pennsylvania, USArmyFlightClass(s): 71-25 71-21VNcombat unit(s):129AHC in 71-72

Felisberto, JohnEdward 'Flatbush'Somerset,Massachusetts, USArmyFlightClass(s): 69-21VNcombat unit(s):B/158AHB101ABN in69-70

Fisk,RandolphDMesa,Arizona,USArmyFlightClass(s): 68-4VNcombat unit(s):A/158AHB101ABN in69-70

Gillingham,Dick **WoodlandPark,Colorado,USArmyFlightClass(s): 57-1VNcombat unit(s): 8 TCCO in 62-63;HHC/268AVNBN in 67-68

Gillis, TravisO. 'T.O.'Center, Texas,USArmyFlightClass(s): 68-505 68-3VNcombatunit(s): 189AHC in68-69

Goodwin,ArthurR. 'Art' **SanClemente,California,USAir ForceFlightClass(s): 55-KVNcombat unit(s):21SOS14ACW in61

Hazelbaker, VincilW. **Kailua,Hawaii, USMarineCorpsFlightClass infonot providedVNcombat unit(s): VMO-2 in 66

Heaberlin, JamesC 'Jim' **FortCollins,Colorado,USArmyFlightClass(s): 61-6VNcombat unit(s):52CAV in 64-65; 155AHC in 65

Heermann, LaurenJHaxtun,Colorado,USArmyFlightClass(s): 70-42VNcombat unit(s):C/158AVN101ABN in 71

Hill, GaryM.FairportHarbor,Ohio,USArmyFlightClass(s): 66-6VNcombat unit(s):155AHC in 66-67

Irwin,RoyJ.Saint Louis,Missouri, USArmyFlightClass(s): 68-4VNcombat unit(s):71AHC in 68-69; 17CAG in 71-72

Kempton, Larry L.Arlington, Texas,USArmyFlightClass(s): 68-4VNcombat unit(s):B/158AVN101ABN in 69-70

Kramp,DennisD. 'Denny' **FountainHills, Arizona,USArmyFlightClass(s): 69-16VNcombat unit(s):B/4/77ARA101ABN in 69-70

LakinGaryParker, Colorado,USArmyFlightClass(s): 67-1 66-23VNcombat unit(s):3/17CAV in 67-68

Lane,DouglasKnoxville, Tennessee,USArmyFlightClass(s): 70-39VNcombat unit(s):71AHC in 71; 116AHC in 71

Leischner, Brandt LBloomingdale, Illinois, USArmyFlightClass(s): 69-45VNcombatunit(s): 192AHC in70-71

Lewey,AllenB. **BattleGround,Washington,USArmyFlightClass(s): 68-513 68-23VNcombat unit(s):D/1/4CAV1 INF in 69

Lind,KennethR.Rohnert Park,California, USArmyFlightClass(s): 67-501 67-21VNcombat unit(s): 335AHC in 68;229AHB1CAV in 68-69

Lowe, TonyR. **Lawrenceville,Georgia, USArmyFlightClass(s): 69-45 69-43VNcombat unit(s):A/101AVN101ABN in 70-71

Lowman,RaymondP. 'Ray' **Huntsville, Alabama,USArmyFlightClass(s): 67-13VNcombat unit(s): 61AHC in 67;A/4AVN4 INF in 68; 120AHC in 71

Meader, JeromeC. 'Jerry' **Brant Lake,NewYork,USArmyFlightClass(s): 55-DVNcombat unit(s):A/501AVN in 66; 71AHC in 66;HHC1AVNBDE in 66-67

Melvin, JamesB **Milan,Georgia, USArmyFlightClass(s): 63-3WTVNcombat unit(s):610TCCO in66-67;E/725MNT25 INF in 69-70

Nielsen,RobertD.Sterling,Nebraska,USArmyFlightClass(s): 68-25VNcombat unit infonot provided

Osenga,George **Vesper,Wisconsin,USArmyFlightClass(s): 64-6W65-8WVNcombat unit(s): 18AVN in 63

Pepe,Michael J 'Mike'Beaufort, SouthCarolina,USArmyFlightClass(s): 64-7WVNcombat unit(s): 220AVN in 65;11ACR in 67-68

Plumb, LawranceA. **MountHolly, Vermont, USArmyFlightClass(s): 69-7 69-3VNcombat unit(s): 71AHC in 69-70

Putnam,RonaldA. **FairfaxStation, Virginia, USArmyFlightClass(s): 70-1VNcombat unit(s): 48AHC in 70-71

The VHPA Aviator

WELCOME TO THE VHPA!Look the list over and if you recognize anyone, give them a call, drop them a line or send them an e-mail welcoming them into our Associa-tion. Full contact information is available either on-line in the Member Services section of our website, or through our staff at HQ by calling1-800-505-VHPA.

Line 1, Last, first, MI and/or nickname of new member; double asterisks (**) ID new life membersLine 2, his current city and state, branch of serviceLine 3 -5 , his (Flight) Class and Vietnam (VN) Unit(s) served with, if that info is available

We also welcome these 65 new Members to ourAssociation! All have joined the VHPA during the period

from 4 February through 2 April, 2013

Reed, JohnD.WestPlains,Missouri, USArmyFlightClass(s): 67-15VNcombat unit(s):C/228ASHB1CAV in 68-69

Robillard, JohnA. 'Jack'PuntaGorda, Florida,USMarineCorpsFlightClass infonot providedVNcombat unit(s):HML-367 in 70-71;AIRAMERICATHAILAND in 73-75

Ross,DavidR.Pacific Palisades,California,USMarineCorpsFlightClass(s): 70-18VNcombat unit(s):HMM-164 in 71-72

Scofield, ThomasC.Woodbridge, Virginia, USArmyFlightClass(s): 66-2VNcombat unit(s): 498MEDCO in66-67; 68MEDDET in 68-69;HHC15MED1CAV in 68-69

Scott, Eugene **Cleveland, Tennessee,USArmyFlightClass(s): 59-7VNcombat unit(s): 1CAVDIVin 65-66; 1CAVDIV in 68-69

Sexton,HarryE. **LagunaBeach,California, USMarineCorpsFlightClass(s): 36-52VNcombat unit(s): HML-367 in 70

Sharp, Leonard J **Enterprise,Alabama,USArmyFlightClass(s): 57-11VNcombat unit(s): 147ASHC in 66-67;HHC269CAB in 66-67; 330TCCO in66-67;CAC in 71-72

Siemon,AparicioArthur j 'Arrturo'Adjuntas,USA,USArmyFlightClass(s): 70-47 70-43VNcombat unit(s): 2/1CAV in 71-72

Skavdahl,WilliamT 'Chief' **Harrison,Nebraska,USArmyFlightClass(s): 67-3VNcombat unit(s): 235AWC in67-68; 175AHC in 68

Steine, JoelRoger 'Joe'Killeen, Texas,USArmyFlightClass(s): 56-13VNcombat unit(s): UTT in 62-63; 1/9CAV in 65-66

Stevens, JosephH.West, Texas,USArmyFlightClass(s): 67-13VNcombat unit(s): 162AHC in 67-68;A/377ARTY101ABN in 70-71

Sutton, StephenL. 'Steve'Fairfax, Virginia, USAir ForceFlightClass(s): 56-UVNcombat unit(s): 37ARRS in 72

Temple,RogerA. **Merrifield,Minnesota,USArmyFlightClass(s): 67-26VNcombat unit(s): A/1/9CAV1CAV in 68-69

Tetu,RobertG.Alexandria, Virginia, USArmyFlightClass infonot providedVNcombat unit(s):IIFFVARTY in 66-67

Trujillo, DavidC.WestSacramento,California,USArmyFlightClass(s): 69-9VNcombat unit(s):163AVN101;ABN in 69-70

Walzer,WilliamG 'Bill'Westlake,Ohio,USArmyFlightClass(s): 67-501 67-23VNcombat unit(s):174AHC in 68-69

Wice, LeonardPaul 'Paul' **WhitePlains,Kentucky,USArmyFlightClass(s): 63-7TVNcombat unit(s):121AHCin64-65;56TCCOin67-68

Witt,MiltonP. 'Witt'Houston, Texas,USArmyFlightClass infonot providedVNcombatunit(s): 114AVN in64-65

Wood,HurleyL. 'Lee' **Chandler, Arizona,USArmyFlightClass(s): 68-523 68-43VNcombat unit(s):C/227AHB1CAV in 69

Wood, JohnLeonard 'Len' **Lutherville Timonium,Maryland,USArmyFlightClass(s): 63-3QVNcombat unit(s):335AHC in 66-67;HHCUSARV in70; 271ASHC in 70-71

Woods,GlennonD **Plano, Texas,AirAmericaFlightClass(s): 15-56VNcombat unit(s):AIRAMERICA in 72-75

Worz,DonaldR.Cincinnati, Ohio,USArmyFlightClass(s): 67-501 67-23VNcombat unit infonot provided

Zimmer,BolkoG. 'Bo'Humboldt, Tennessee,USArmyFlightClass(s): 71-6VNcombat unit(s): 54MEDDET in71; 236MEDDET in 71-72

Interested in Advertis ing in The VHPA Aviator?The Official Newsletter of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association

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The Wayward GPS…….By Andy Anderson

The VHPA Aviator

To say the day had not gone as planned would be an understatement.Betty and I set out for a trip to New Hampshire with a stop in Lexing-ton, Kentucky to see our daughter Pam, and her family. We set theGPS with Pam's address and an enroute address for a hotel in Knoxvillewhere we planned to spend the night. The trip was uneventful untilthe GPS passed up the first turn toward Knoxville where we thoughtthe GPS lady should have taken us. Oh well we said, it will catch thenext one. But it didn't and all at once we found ourselves in Nashville.“We'll just take I-40 to Knoxville and everything will be fine” we saidto each other, but again the GPS malfunctioned and I missed the I-40cutoff. All of a sudden we were now on our way to Louisville, and notLexington, Kentucky.

Since we wished to spend the night in Tennessee, we decided to stopat the next town which happened to be White House. We pulled up toa Quality Inn and checked in. Upon asking about somewhere to eat wewere told there was a Cracker Barrel right next door. Not wishing toeat at the Cracker Barrel, I inquired as to other places close by. Noth-ing but fast food places, I was told. The Cracker Barrel it is then.

I had on one of my Mohawk Reunion tee shirts and an Associationcap. We had not been seated very long when suddenly a gentlemanappeared at the front of our table. He said, "Pardon me, sir, did you flyMohawks." I allowed as I had and then he asked if I had flown them in

Vietnam. I replied I had. He then said, "Ihad an incident happen in which my crewand I rescued a downed Mohawk pilot. Ihave always wondered what happened to thatpilot. I can still see him running across a ricepaddy, dragging his broken leg." At thispoint I replied, "His leg wasn't broken, hehad a badly sprained ankle and you have justfound him."

At this point, his wife and Betty joined us and there were hand-shakes, smiles and hugs all around. The gentleman was the crew chiefon the helicopter that rescued me that very stormy night in Vietnam.Razorback was the call sign of the helicopter unit to which he wasassigned and he and one of the other crew members were the ones thathauled me into that Razorback helicopter that night. That crew chief'sname is Kirby Spain and he lives in Commerce, Georgia. He was on hisway to a Razorback reunion very similar to our Mohawk reunions.

It is my fervent feeling that in this case God had a good laugh atwhat he had fostered. The circumstances leading up to this meetingwere anything but normal occurrences and were indeed were such as tomake us realize it really is a small world, influenced ever so often by alittle celestial push.

from the shoulders down for the rest of his life. Immediatelyafter the crash, with a punctured lung, I was the only onemoving around. We had crashed in a rice paddy and it wasnow covered with JP 4. I tried to get my flight companionsout of the aircraft for fear of fire, but my body was not up tothe task, I laid down breathing heavy. I looked out over therice paddy with the light provided by our superior firepowerand I saw someone running. There was a rifle about ten feetaway, as I crawled toward it a new burst of artillery went offbacklighting my visitor. He was over six feet tall, he had to bean American soldier. The Vietcong were not looking for afight that night of December 23 1969, but the next morningtherewere thirty-two of them thatwould never fight again.

My body was bruised and broken but I was happy to be alive.I had exploratory surgery and was taken to the local fieldhospital where Leslie wheeled me and she didn't even recog-nizeme, I wasn't good company by then anyway. They trans-portedme to Japan in a Stryker framewhere I stayed for eightweeks, being flipped over ever two hours. Then I was shippedoff toMadiganGeneral Hospital in Fort Lewis,Washington.In total, I spent thirteen months in or assigned to Army hos-pitals. The Army gaveme a certificate of appreciation for theoutstanding job I did as a reenlistment officer but they nevergave me any recognition for my efforts in Vietnam. Due tothe efforts of many people (including my father who workedat Sears with (by then) Senator Hatfield) Leslie's tour of dutywas cut short and shewas sent home to bewithme.Recently after almost being ashamed of serving in Vietnam for forty-twoyears, I went intoHomeDepot. I walked past amiddle age cashier (I don'tlike the self checkout), I showedmy veteran’s card for the ten percent dis-count. The cashier hesitated, looked me in the eye, and said, “Thank youfor serving.” That was a small gesture but it was sincere and it means a lottome. I always blushwhen that happens.Over forty years have passed since flying helicopters in Vietnam,so whyremember it now? This summer, at our usual family gathering at LakeShasta, California, my sister-in-law purchased a helicopter ride for mybrother. I had not flown a helicopter sincemy time in Vietnam. Would Iremember how to fly? This helicopter had only four seats and there wasthe pilot, my brother, and his wife, Val, what would be the chances of mefilling the fourth seat? As I was scheming to get myself invited, the phone

rang, and who is itbut my brotherDel, calling me toinvite me along.God I love thatguy! I was so excit-ed I started chasingDewey our dog,who I never playwith, around thehouse.When you spendfour years learningand practicing atrade, the skillsdon't go away.Theymay be a littledusty but all theyneed is to bearoused. Wescheduled the flightfor July 6, 2012 atnine a.m., thedeparture locationwas Weed, Cali-

fornia. We spentthe night at a motelin Weed, I was soexcited I woke up atthree then wentback to sleep. Gotup at six, exercisedwent to a bakery andbought a breakfastcookie. Startedwalking back to themotel and realizedhow good the cookiewas, so I went back and bought one for Del. We headed out to the air-port, Mount Shasta International Air Park, less than five miles away, itseemed like five hundred miles. We exited I-5 onto a gravel road, whichwas getting worse the further we drove. Found the airport, there was not asoul around. The airport looked like it hadn't been used in ten years, wewondered if wewere at the right place and time. Only a fewminutes later,we heard our ride came over the trees. The birdwas a Robinson 44, a smallfour-place helicopter used for recreation but similar to the TH55 that Iused in flight school.OhNo, there were already two people in the helicopter. One was a 25-year-old girl and if the pilot had a choice, I didn't stand a chance. Did thismean I was stuck on the ground? I was so nervous, I was afraid to ask.When themain rotor coasted to a stop, I couldn't wait any longer, I need-ed to talk to the pilot. He was a wonderful young man, whose fatherserved in Vietnam about the same time I did. The youngman said he washonored to fly with me. Del and Val let me have the front seat. It proba-bly wasn't legal but our pilot brought out the extension for all of the con-trols, we installed them and prepared for takeoff. I showed him myLicense that the ROTC had paid for 46 years before. After taking off helet me fly the helicopter and I flew for about an hour. The skills were nottoo bad, he letme dowhatever Iwanted.By the way, my nose still itched when I flew the helicopter, some thingsnever change! If you have an itch, scratch it!

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The VHPA Aviator

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From Near Death, continued from page 21

BOOK REVIEWS

SS UUGG AARR CCRREE EE KK bb yy VV HH PPAAMMeemmbbee rr RRaa ll aa nndd PP aa tt tt ee rr ss oonn whoserved with B/229 AHB, 1CAV in70-71 is a stor y of family, honor,faith, and roots set near his home-town o f B lue R id g e in th eAppalachian Mountains of north-ern Georgia . Patterson’s charac-ters are based on his relatives andfriends that farmed the area forgenerations. It chronicles chal-l eng es to the ir way o f l i f e a sWWII takes their young meninto mil itar y ser vice, leavingthe families to make do.

Their lives were defined by therising and setting of the sun, the weather, the

seasons, planting and harvesting their crops. Infused with afierce independence, all the while they also work to supportone another. These are hardworking , self-reliant peoplewho put aside something in the good times and “make do”in the hard times. They know the land and use their handsto provide what they need. Patterson weaves the stories ofthe men at war with those of the women left behind and the

multitude of hardships both faced. Surprisingly, some findhorizons and possibilities they had not imagined.

The characters in Sugar Creek are particularly well devel-oped and Patterson takes you deep into their lives, loves,hopes , dreams and tragedies ; making this a wonderful ,enriching read. They are good people, living simple lives ina time during which America is changing profoundly. Eachgeneration has its own struggles and challenges and SugarCreek reminds us about an amazing generation and way oflife that many of us from all across this nation sprang from.You will enjoy this book.

In addition to Sugar Creek, Patterson has written BearCat , a f ictiona l account of h is tour in RVN and is theauthor of other novels about the area around his hometownof Blue Ridge, Georgia. He plans to bring his books to thevendor’s room at the reunion.

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Sugar Creek ($15.00 paperback, 300 pages, $12.99 - Kindle)by Raland J. Patterson, ISBN: 978-1463695347 is available

from your local book store, Amazon, or other book suppliers.

VVHHPPAA LLii ff ee MMeemmbbeerr GGaarryy LL ..LLuuccaass who f lew with the 334thAHC in 68-69 has written CodeName : Total Eclipse , a f ictionalstory featuring Lee Dunaway, aSpecial Forces Lieutenant turnedCIA undercover a g ent on amany l ayered j ourne y o fintrigue, sabotage, betrayal, andtreason. The nature of Lee’s“work” has pulled his marriageapart when his ex-wife calls toinform him their daughter

has been kidnapped. His quest to bring his daughter home safely

leads him through a maze of deception, top-secret bases,evil doers, and questions about the integrity of his own

mentor. But that is not the half of it. For good measure,Lucas has thrown in a top secret space shuttle program,cold fusion energy, a plan to suborn the NORAD controlcenter, the body of an ET, and Apache spiritualism.

Lucas has the background of top-secret aviation researchalong with the development and design of electronic securi-ty gadgets to make this a compelling story. All of this istied together with excellent character development and aplot that makes his book a real page turner. Hopefully thefuturistic events in the book will remain securely in therealm of fiction.

Code Name: Total Eclipse ($13.77 sc, $21.42 hc, 390 pages,$3.99 – Kindle, also available in Nook) by Gary L. Lucas,ISBN: 978-1466954298 is available from your local bookstore, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or other book suppliers.

By VHPA Life member:JOHN PENNY

E-MAIL: [email protected]

The VHPA Aviator

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Issue 31-03

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