USMC Vietnam Helicopter Pilots and Aircrew History, 2nd Ed.

Description

Capture the esprit de corps of the Marines in action during the Vietnam War. A documentation of the men, the crews, and the machines that flew the wartorn skies of Southeast Asia. Hundreds of dynamic photographs, maps, roster of Association members, and nearly 400 biographies with before-and-after photos of Marines make USMC-Vietnam Helicopter Association: Pop a Smoke a treasure chest of memories and history.

Sujets

• Military Science
• Sciences et techniques
• Cuerpo de Marines de los Estados Unidos
• Vietnam
• Federal government of the United States
• Vietnam War
• Technology
• Southeast Asia
• Engineering
• Viêt Nam
• Marines
• United States Marine Corps

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 1995
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781618585608
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

TURNER PUBLISHING COMPANY Publishers of Military History 412 Broadway, P.O. Box 3101 Paducah, KY 42002-3101 Phone: [phone]
 
USMC/Vietnam Helicopter Pilots & Aircrew History Book Staff: Publisher: R. A. Herman Editor: A.M. Leahy Chief Historical Writer: J.Van Nortwick Editorial Assistant: M.E. Salter Historical Aircraft: J.L. Shanahan
 
Turner Publishing Company Staff:
Chief Editor: Robert J. Martin
Designer: Ina F. Morse
Copyright © 1996, Turner Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Additional copies may be purchased directly from Turner Publishing Company.
 
Second Edition ©2001
 
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 95-60324
9781618585608
Limited Edition. Printed in the U.S.A.
 
This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced without the written consent of Turner Publishing Company.
 
Photo: HMM-364 “Purple Foxes” aircraft maintenance area at Phu Bai, 13 Sept 1968 (Photo credit: HB Staff)

Table of Contents
Title Page Copyright Page PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dedication FOUNDER’S MESSAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE HISTORY
A CHRONOLOGY OF MARINE HELICOPTERS IN VIETNAM 1962–1975 VIETNAM HELOS
SPECIAL STORIES
COMBAT EXTRACT YANKEE PAPA EXTRACT—A GRUNT’S PERSPECTIVE THE GUNNER’S LOT ANTENNA VALLEY BEANS “CHATTERBOX ONE ONE GOING DOWN OFF THE ROCKPILE” WHAT GOES AROUND. . . COMES AROUND FROM A DOG DRIVER FIRST BLOOD KOOL-AID MY MOST UNUSUAL MISSION CATTLECALL AND CHATTERBOX SURF’S UP OPERATION BARROOM THE PHU BAI “O” CLUB FOX HUNT A MOMENT TO REMEMBER REMEMBERING T.D. REUNION ROCKET ATTACK SNAKE IN THE COCKPIT! SOMETIMES THE NAVY IS ALL RIGHT! SPECIAL MEMORY QUE SON MOUNTAINS “METRIC SNEAK” EXTRACT THE SMOOTHEST NIGHT MEDEVAC WAR STORY WAR STORIES/REMEMBRANCES A LONG, LONG YEAR WELCOME TO VIETNAM MONSOON “LOOK, UP IN THE SKY. IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S.......... TARBUSH NIGHT MEDEVAC ANGRY EYES AT A SHAU UNIFORMS OF MARINE HELICOPTER PILOTS AND CREWMEN IN VIETNAM BRING THEM IN A LIVE BAD TRAINING MY LUCK IS IMPROVING FLEXIBILITY IS THE ORDER OF THE DAY AN INCIDENT DURING “OPERATION FREQUENT WIND” YT-14–THE LAST HELICOPTER AND CREW LOST IN THE REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM THE THEFT OF CHINESE WEAPONS MY FRIEND J.D. GLOSSARY OF TERMS IN MEMORIAM MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION ORDER OF BATTLE - Marine Helicopter Units In Vietnam 1962-1975
USMC/VIETNAM HELICOPTER ASSOCIATION BIOGRAPHIES SECOND EDITION BIOGRAPHIES Roster Index
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

John “J.D.” Barber
The USMC/Vietnam Helicopter Association has now entered it’s 16 th year and has continued to grow beyond anyone’s expectations. What started off as a few pilots getting together for a one time event has grown into an organization with over 2,000 paid annual and 300 life members. Over the years we have also located thousands of others who flew together in Vietnam and put them in touch with each other. Our last reunion, held in San Diego, was our 8 th biennial get together, and another rousing success with more than 2,000 members, their families and friends in attendance. We have also become a means of closure for the families of our fellow Marines who did not return from that war. Many families have contacted us looking for information on their loved ones, loved ones that in many cases they never new, some because they were so young at the time. In most cases we have been able to put them in contact with our members who knew their loved ones and helped them gain an understanding of who these people were. Quite a few of these family members have attended our reunions to meet these people and hear the stories about their Marines.
Our continued growth as an organization and the number of people who attend our reunions is the envy of other veteran’s groups. Many former Marine helicopter personnel have found us through our website, which is by far the best of it’s kind on the Internet, and something we are all very proud of. If you type “Marine Helicopters” into any search engine, “Popasmoke” is sure to show up! The popularity of Popasmoke.com is a direct result of our Webmaster, Wally “Bytes” Beddoe, who is by far one of the most talented people on the Internet. After many years of hard work and dedication, Roger “Duke” Herman, stepped down as Association president and newsletter editor in 1998 for some much deserved R&R. Roger left with the gratitude and appreciation of the entire membership for getting this gaggle off the ground and keeping it flying. The newsletter duties have been taken over by Charlie “Mad Dog” Maddocks who continues to produce a quality, one-of-a-kind newsletter for our members. When you consider that only one third of our membership has a computer, the newsletter is the main means of disseminating Association news and information. Producing a quarterly newsletter takes a lot of work and creativity.
For president, Roger chose his replacement well, Alan “Big Al” Barbour took over shortly after the 1998 Pensacola reunion and immediately began work on several major projects. Our KIA page on the website is one of Al’s projects. This has become a major research tool for people looking for information regarding their friends, loved ones and squadron mates. Al also immediately began planning ReUnion 2000, which turned out to be one of the best ones yet. After serving as our president for two years, and with retirement from his real job in the very near future, Al has passed the baton to me. We wish him only the best.
Although we are continually evolving and growing, our philosophy will remain the same. We are in this for the fun of it, we will never become another #* ∧ $!@% Kiwanis Club, and most importantly, we will never forget our friends who died in Vietnam or have passed away since the war. As stated so profoundly by Michael Norman in. These Good Men,
 
“...They would have carried my reputation, the memory of me. It was part of the bargain we all made, the reason we were so willing to die for one another.”
 
So, we will carry theirs.

Semper Fidelis,

John “J.D.” Barber President
D EDICATION

Gen. Keith Barr McCurcheon, USMC (Ref.)
GENERAL KEITH BARR McCUTCHEON, USMC(RET)
The Father of USMC Helicopter Aviation 1915–1971
 
 
General Keith B. McCutcheon was a distinguished aviation pioneer who by his bold vision, resourcefulness and selfless toil charted the future for close air support, helicopter operations and vertical take–off combat aircraft. In the tradition of duty, sacrifice and dauntless courage he served with distinction and valor in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
During World War II, General McCutcheon served in the Solomons, New Guinea and the Philippines. earning the Army Silver Star Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross and six Air Medals. He served as Commanding Officer of HMX 1 in 1950, and afterwards, in Korea as Commanding Officer of HMR–161 where he received a second Legion of Merit and his seventh through tenth Air Medals. After Korea he was skipper of MAG–26 at New River, NC. He served twice in Vietnam as Commanding General of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (May 1965–May 1966), and later as Commanding General, III Marine Amphibious Force (Mar1970–Dec1970), earning a Distinguished Service Medal on each tour. Between Vietnam assignments, the General completed a second tour as the Deputy Chief of Staff (AIR) at Headquarters Marine Corps and was awarded another Distinguished Service Medal.
During his thirty four years of dedicated service, General McCutcheon also contributed his talents to a wide range of community and international projects, and was President of the American Helicopter Society. In the fall of 1970, he was the first Marine aviator nominated for four stars for duty as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps but was unable to serve because of failing health. On July 1, 1971 he was retired with the rank of General.
General McCutcheon is considered the “father” of Marine Corps helicopter aviation. In 1972, the airfield at MCAS New River, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, was dedicated as McCutcheon Field in his honor.
FOUNDER’S MESSAGE

Roger A. Herman, President
The idea for a USMC/Vietnam Helicopter Pilots & Aircrew Reunion was first conceived in 1985. At that time we didn’t have an official name or any idea that we would eventually form into a veteran’s non-profit organization. What began with a few former Vietnam-era Marine helicopter pilots getting together for a one time event soon turned into many former Marines wanting to get together again on a regular basis. Word spread and it wasn’t long before the organization was to include former crewchiefs, gunners, corpsmen, flight surgeons, chaplains and other support personnel as well. Qualification to join was simple ... to be one of us today, you had to have been one of us back then.
Having a sense of humor is a must to belong to our group, just as it was necessary in our ranks during the Vietnam War. It’s what got a lot of us through combat during a very controversial and difficult time. As we get together again at our biannual reunions it is a time to re-tell war stories and revive the camaraderie that was born amongst us so long ago. We were Marines, and always will be. There is a special bond among our members, and it extends to our families as well. Most of us bring our wives and other family members to participate in these get togethers. We have a lot of fun with the closest friends that we will ever have in life. In addition to the good times and laughter, we also take time out to remember those friends of ours who didn’t return from Vietnam. They paid the ultimate price. I think they would be glad to know that today their buddies are staying in touch and remembering them fondly during these reunions. They were just like us, and but for a lucky break here and there any of us could have been the ones not to return home. And it is to those who didn’t come back that we proudly dedicate this book. They were the bravest of the brave, and t