The Stovebolt Site Forums The Side Lot Legion Hall 50 Years Back

53 years ago this month I was researching my options for military service. By the 29th of March 1968, I had voluntarily enlisted in the US Army. In exchange for this commitment, the Army gave me a guarantee of Rotary Wing Flight School, as a Warrant Officer Candidate. I finished basic at Ft Polk, LA, completed Primary Flight Training at Ft Wolters, TX and then graduated from the US Army Aviation Center, FT Rucker, AL in June 1969. I arrived in Vietnam the first week of August 1969, and was assigned to Company A. 158 AVN (Ghost Riders), 101st Airborne Division, Camp Evans, Northern I Corp. It was a hell of a year, acquired a lot of new brothers, tragically lost a few, risked my life nearly every day, and grew into a mature adult in the process. Reported to Germany in September 1970 and was assigned to the flight detachment of a Pershing Missile Battalion in Southern West Germany. A VERY educational assignment, that included great responsibilities. REFRAD in June 1971, and entered the US Army reserves, where I remained until retirement in 2008, with 40 years and 2 months of total service.

Much respect to ALL who have served. YOU are America.

Thank you Ghost Rider for your service!

Ghost Rider -- UH-1?

I got to the 82nd Airborne at the same time. All the way!

I got to the 82nd Airborne at the same time you got to the 101st. All the way!

I have great deal of respect for anyone who willingly flies in something with wings that travel faster than the fuselage! Can't really determine if they're brave, or just certifiably nuts, but I'm glad that somebody does it!
Jerry

Jerry (et al) ... Andy Rooney of 60 Minutes fame once wrote, “ . . . airplane pilots are open, clear-eyed, buoyant extroverts, and helicopter pilots are brooders, introspective anticipators of trouble. They know if something bad has not happened, it is about to.”

The very best friends I have are Brother Rotor Heads.

Phrogs Phorever!

S/F
John

Ghostrider -- BTW, my cousin (my closest blood relation) was a two-tour Little Bird pilot in SEA. Shot down three times. Came home in '69. Retired as a CWO-5 from the Alabama Guard/Ft Rucker Instructor. His heart attack a few years ago took his ticket so he's a bass fisherman/golfer now. All helo pilots have good stories. His are just ... insane. LB guys are just not wired right

Another bunch of guys who probably need a wheelbarrow to haul their reproductive organs around are the FAC's (Forward Air Controllers)- - - -the guys who flew the little "Pushme-Pullyu" Cessna Skymasters low and slow over hot zones and gave us B-52 guys targeting information. One of those guys has written a couple of "fiction" books about his experiences that are available as online downloads. The author's name is Rocky Raab, and his books are called "Baggy 0-4" and Mike 5-8". "Baggy" is the first in the series, and "Mike" is the sequel. They're both good reading!
Jerry

Ghost Rider, I was on I&I duty with an old timer USMC Reserve CWO4. He wasn't a flyer though, (Motor Tragedy). He was one of the senior CWO4's in the USMC when he was forced to retire around 2000-2001. He had at least as many "good years" as you did.