Charlie (Viet Cong) had this habit of dropping mortars into our area of Phouc Vinh on a nightly basis. Sometimes they would fall on or near the airstrip. One time a mortar hit right in front of the Connex container ( a metal container) where the Squadron Sergeant Major kept his beer. There wasn’t to many cans that didn’t have holes in them. Once, a young trooper caught a piece of shrapnel in his buttox as he was diving into a bunker.

One night Charlie, as usual, delivered his wake up call around 3am. We could tell as the mortars starting hitting that they were coming our way. Everyone got up and started running to the bunker. Everyone that is except Sgt Bresnahan. He said (as usual) “I’ve been here 18 months and Charlie hasn’t got me yet and he ain’t going to”. One man “Sp/4 Clay stopped at the door and kept begging him to come to the bunker. He did that all the way until the mortar hit our building.  It hit above Sgt Bresnahan’s cot. Sp/4 Clay was hit in the hand with a piece of shrapnel. Sgt Bresnahan was severely wounded.

As soon as we knew it was all clear, several of the guys went back into the building to get Sgt Bresnahan out. They carried him into the bunker. Doc Hipple (our Troop medic) with the aid of a flashlight did everything he could. Sgt Bresnahan asked Doc if he was going to make it. Doc said it was bad and whatever you do don’t try to pee right now because you have a million holes in you and I’m not sure where it would come out. With that they got a stretcher and carried him to the Squadron Surgeon.

Sgt Bresnahan survived that mortar attack, however, he is confined to a wheel chair with no use of his legs. Doc Hipple saw Mike several years after this incident in Washington DC. He has since lost contact with him.

The lesson to learn from this is to never allow yourself to be so confident in your abilities that you take a chance one to many times.

They say that when you turn 65 life is good. Your kids have a life of their own. Your house is paid off. You have money in a nest egg so you can do the things that you want to do. Buy yourself a new car and tour the nation.

Okay. Let’s take a look at the “GOLDEN YEARS”.  When I was 21, I was in Vietnam. I could run, jump and kick ass. Now I can walk once I get the joints to move with as little pain as possible (thanks to modern medicine). I can still jump even though most of the time it is only in my mind. I can still kick ass as long as the person will wait long enough for me to get a ladder and climb up high enough (then I have to hope my vertigo doesn’t kick in).

In my Earlier Years I could drive fast, party hard and chase my wife around the house until I caught her. Now I still drive but because of the pain in my knees I can not push very hard on the accelerator. I still party even though it is 2 glasses of wine and a beer once in a while. My wife has learned to walk very slowly so I can catch her or else nothing else will happen.

Now let’s go back to the beginning. I said in your Golden Years your child/ren had moved out and have a good life of their own. At one time that was true but in today’s economy forget it. They have either moved back in with you or they need your financial help. That nest egg you had saved up. Well, some went to pay for your hip replacement, your medication and the rest went to help out your children. It is true, you do not have any interest to claim on your taxes.

Medicine. Yea, let’s talk about that. You take a pill to keep your blood flowing. A pill to keep your arteries from clogging. A pill to lower your blood pressure. A pill to help keep you regular. A pill to help dull the pain in your knees, shoulders and other joints. A pill to help calm down your stomach. A pill to help you sleep at night. You remember that chasing the wife thing? Yea, you take a pill to help with that also.

You do have more time to do what you’ve always wanted to do you just don’t have any money to do it. Wait. How about that Reverse Mortgage? Yea, that’s a good idea. You get to keep living in your house but someone else actually owns it and is paying you to live in it. Good idea right? Well, you are still responsible for all repairs. A hot water heater will cost you over a $1,000. to put in. A furnace will cost you over $12,000 to replace. But heck they are paying you to live there. If you have to replace the furnace, you get cheated out of money if you die to soon.

Yea, the GOLDEN YEARS is what we all look forward to. Aren’t we lucky??????

The soldier stood and faced God, Which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shining, Just as brightly as his brass.

Step forward now, soldier, How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?’

The soldier squared his shoulders and said, ‘No, Lord, I guess I have not. Because those of us who carry guns, Can’t always be a saint. I’ve had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was tough. And sometimes I’ve been violent, Because the world is awfully rough. But, I never took a penny, That wasn’t mine to keep… Though I worked a lot of overtime, When the bills just got too steep. And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear.. And sometimes, God, forgive me, I’ve wept unmanly tears. I know I don’t deserve a place, Among the people here. They never wanted me around, Except to calm their fears If you’ve a place for me here, Lord, It needn’t be so grand. I never expected or had too much, But if you don’t, I’ll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne, Where the saints had often trod. As the soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God.

Step forward now, you soldier, You’ve borne your burdens well. Walk peacefully on Heaven’s streets, You’ve done your time in Hell.

If you care to offer the smallest token of recognition and appreciation for our military, pray for our men and women who have served, and are currently serving our country. And pray for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom….

A second soldier came to stand before God, his boots, spurs and Stetson were all in place.  The soldier saluted God and then stood at attention with a smile on his face.

God said, Soldier, I see that you are one of the best. Your Division never faltered and passed every test.  Now soldier, I am going to  send you to the prettiest place ever seen. It’s a place I have set aside for Cavalry Troopers, a place called “Fiddlers Green”.

The soldier once again saluted God and then did an about-face. He smiled as he knew all of his brothers were waiting for him in that special place.  He came to the stream and dipped his canteen to fill and then he gently rode his horse to the top of the hill.  On the other side of the hill, there at the opening to the Valley a sign God did have. It said “Welcome Home Charlie Troop 1/9th Cav.

Dear Mom and Dad,

The war is done, my task is through and Mom there’s something I must ask of you. I have a friend Oh such a friend, he has no home you see and so Mom I’d really like to bring him home with me.

Dear Son,

We don’t mind if someone comes home with you. I’m sure he could stay a week or two.

Dear Mom and Dad,

There’s something you must know. Now please don’t be alarmed. My friend in combat was recently shot and now he has no arm.

Dear Son,

Don’t be afraid to bring him home with you. Perhaps he could stay a day or two.

Dear Mom and Dad,

But Mom he’s not just a friend, he’s like a brother too, and  that’s why I want him home with us, and like a son to you. Before you answer, Mom, I really don’t want to beg, but my friend in battle was recently wounded and also lost his leg.

Dear Son,

It hurts me so much to say, the answer must be No; for Dad and I have no time for a boy who is crippled so.

So months went by and a letter came, it said their son had died; when they read the cause of death, the shock was suicide.

Days later the casket came, draped in the Army’s flag, they saw their son lying there, – without an arm……….without a leg.

PVT William C. Kent Picture sent to me by cousin, Charles T. Kent

This is a story of an Uncle that no one got to know. He was the son of Clifford and Lydia Kent. A brother to; Francis, Patricia, Charles T. (Tom) and Joan.

When World War II (WWII) started, my young Uncle Billy (18 y/o) volunteered like so many other young people. William C. Kent became Private William C. Kent 16 175 025. Upon completion of his training he was assigned to Company A, 30^th Infantry, 3^rd Infantry Division from July 26, 1943 to August 27, 1944.

In July 1943 the Division made an assault landing at Sicily. It fought it’s way to Palermo and capture Messina. In September they landed at  Salerno. After a brief rest in January 1944 the Division was part of an Amphibious Landing ay Anzio.

The Division was removed from the front lines and went into training for the Invasion of the Southern part of France.  The landing was called “Operation Dragoon”‘. The Task Force that the 3^rd Division was assigned to had American, British, Canadian and French troops. The landing would be at Alpha Beach and would be part of the 2^nd D-Day Landing. This would be done at Cape Cavalaire, France. The landing was the second part of the Allied Forces push into France. Because the landing was in the Southern part of France it was affectionately dubbed the “Riviera Landing. It was to take place on or around June 6^th but because of the problems on Normandy, Omaha and Juno beaches it was delayed. Churchill wanted to invasion much farther north. Eisenhower said no. This landing site was not as fortified as the others and the superior forces took it quickly making it possible to move large quantities’ of food, medical supplies and much needed ammunition and fuel that all of Allied forces needed.

The landing took place on the 16^th of August. PFC William C. Kent was Killed in Action on August 27, 1944. On his person they found:

Misc insignia US and Infantry Brass and marksmanship Medal

Religious Articles Rosary and New Testament

Broken Watch

Pocket Books

Souvenir Ring

US 50 cent piece

Identification Tags (Dog Tags)

Private William C. Kent was killed in the vicinity of Poet Laval, France from a Gun Shot Wound to his Right Side. He was buried in a temporary grave and later moved to the US Military cemetery in Luynes, France.

My Grand Father (Clifford) and Grand Mother (Lydia) started writing letters to the Army in June of 1945 requesting their sons’ remains. A letter dated September 20, 1948 from the Chicago Quarter Master Depot stated that William C. Kent’s’ remain would be delivered by Government Hearst on the 23^rd of September 1948.

William C Kent is now interned in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois. Buried with him are his father, Clifford C. and his brother, Charles T. (he went by Tom) Kent. His father served in WWI and his brother served in WWII. All three are buried in the Military section of the cemetery.

I knew my Grand Father even though he died when I was 8 or 9. He was a good man. I knew my Uncle Tom and loved him much. I never got to know my Uncle Billy but one day I will.

Several years ago I decided to make a Military Room in my house to honor those who went to war in my family. I made a shadow box for myself, I sent off to St. Louis to obtain all the information I could on my Father-in-Law, Clyde E. Roller. I also sent of to Washington, D.C. to get the information on my Uncle Billy. Uncle Billy’s was in Washington, D.C. because he was Killed in Action. I received all of the paperwork that each section had on my Father-in-Law and my Uncle Billy.  Now I have four Shadow boxes in my Military room. Mine, Clyde’s, Uncle Billy’s and my wife’s. She may not have gone to war but she did serve 7 1/2 years and she is my wife.

As I was making my Uncle Billy’s shadow box, I mentioned to my sister, Betty, what I was doing. She sent me the Rosary the Uncle Billy was carrying when he was killed. I bought the remainder of the items needed to include a New Testament. I met my cousin, Barbara, this summer for the first time in a long time. She is my Uncle Tom’s daughter. On December 21, 2011 I received a package from her. In the package was the New Testament that my Uncle Billy was carrying when he was Killed. I have been so blessed and so honored by these two ladies by entrusting me with two of the precious things that Uncle Billy was carrying. I will for ever be thankful.

  Uncle Billy’s Shadow Box

Modern day Aviators VS Old School Aviators

This explains it all. Aviators come from a long line of a secret
society, formed around one thousand years ago.

Old School

Phu Khen (pronounced Foo Ken) 1169-? is considered by some to be the
most under-recognized military officer in history.  Many have never heard
of his contributions to modern military warfare. The mission of this
secret society is to bring honor to the name of Phu Khen.                           .

Operation Achieve Victory (AV) was born. All 10 divisions of Khens
submitted their plan. After reviewing AV plans 1 thru 7 and finding them
all unworkable or ridiculous, Genghis Khan was understandably upset.

It was with much perspiration that Phu Khen submitted his idea, which
came to be known as AV 8. Upon seeing AV 8, Genghis was convinced this
was the perfect plan and gave his immediate approval. The plan was
beautifully simple. Phu Khen would arm his hordes to the teeth, load
them into catapults, and hurl them over the wall. The losses were
expected to be high, but hey, hordes were cheap! Those that survived the
flight would engage the enemy in combat. Those that did not? Well,
surely their flailing bodies would cause some damage.

The plan worked and the enemy was defeated. From that day on,
whenever the Mongol Army encountered an insurmountable enemy, Genghis
Khan would give the order, “Send some of Phu Khen’s AV 8-ers.”

This is believed, though not by anyone outside our secret society, to be
the true origin o f the word Aviator (AV 8-er).

New School

Prior to the start of America’s involvement into the Vietnam war some genius decided to modify this plan and to put it into use in Vietnam.

The idea was to use the modern day catapults system. It was called Helicopeeter. Now they needed different types of helicopeeter because unlike to “old” catapults these needed to be faster and more maneuverable. They came up with a little bitty one they would call a “Scout, a larger one to transport the ground pounders or Infantry to battle and a modified version to provide the ground pounders fire support. It was quickly learned that carrying pots of boiling oil was not good. Therefore they place big guns on the sides.

The helicopeeters that carried troops back and forth had to be ones that could easily be put into tight spots and then get back out. They were named “Slicks” because they would just slide in and out.

The helicopeeters with the big guns were called “Slicks with big guns”.

Now men had to be trained to operate these things.  At first, many of them did not make it off the ground. As some started to go up they also went down. The ones that couldn’t be flown anymore were put into big heaps. Hence the term “Pile it” was coined. The men putting the helicopeeters on these heaps were called “PILOTs” for short because they would pile them here and there.

Once these men learned how to keep these contraptions up and bring them back down softly, a new term was coined. Yes it was levitators. The men hated the term. One read the article about Phu Khen and suggested the term Aviator be used in place of Levitator.

So from Bong Song to Phuc Vinh, we ground pounders are proud to say that we knew the best Pilots to ever levitate a helicopeeter.

As the great poet Norman Lear never once said:
“There once was a man named Phu Khen,
Whose breakfast was whiskey and gin.
When ever he’d fly, he’d give a mighty war cry:
Bend over, here it comes again.”

We never said:

The men who flew a C Troop bird

Were the bravest and most superb

They flew them high and they flew them low

The big ones went fast the little bitty ones went slow

When the day was over to the “O” club abscond

In hopes that the birds would not have to leave the ground

Consider it an honor to be a Phu Khen Aviator. Wear the mantle proudly,
but speak of it cautiously. It is not always popular to be one of us.

You hear mystical references, often hushed whispers, to ‘those Phu Khen
Aviators.’ Do not let these things bother you. As with any secret
society, we go largely misunderstood, prohibited by our apathy from
explaining ourselves.

You are expected to always live down to the reputation of the Phu Khen
Aviator… a reputation cultivated for centuries, undaunted by scorn or
ridicule, unhindered by progress. So drink up, be crude, sleep late,
urinate in public, and get the job done.

When others are offended, you can revel in the knowledge that YOU are a
PHU KHEN AVIATOR!

LTC John B. Stockton, September-December 1965

LTC Robert M. Shoemaker, December 1965-May 1966

LTC James C. Smith, May-November 1966

LTC A. T. Pumphrey, November 1966 April 1967

LTC. Robert H. Nevins, April-December 1967

LTC Richard W. Diller, December 1967-July 1968

LTC William C. Rousse, July 1968-January 1969;

LTC James M. Peterson, January-June 1969;

LTC James W. Booth, June-August 1969

LTC Edward B. Covington, August-September 1969

LTC James W. Booth, September-December 1969

LTC Clark A. Burnett, December 1969-August 1970

LTC Robert H. Nevins, August 1970 January 1971

LTC Carl M. Putnam, January-June 1971.

Speech given by LTC (RET) Loel Ewart* at the dedication of the Vietnam section of the Motts Military Museum.

Mr. Motts, Distinguished Guests, ladies and gentleman, troopers and ladies.

It gives me great pleasure to be with you today and to participate in the opening of the 1st/9th area in the Motts Museum**, and to share with you some of the history of the 1st/9th.

The granite foundation of military professionalism is built on 4 legs. Honesty, Integrity, Honor and a deep love of America. This is also the definition of the Cavalry Trooper.

Taking its cue from its parent Ninth Cavalry Regiment, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, the 1st/9th was formed in Louisiana, in the 1800′s, and was assigned to the west to protect those settlers heading west from the Indians, and helping to bring law and order to the Old West,. The 1st/9th was also with Teddy Roosevelt at the charge up San Juan Hill. The 1st/9th Squadron has distinguished itself throughout history.

The 1stSquadron 9th Cavalry has been a key element of almost all wars, the Indian Wars of the wild west, WW I, WW II, Korea, Vietnam, both Iraq wars and the war on terrorism. All units of the 1st/9th have consistently distinguished themselves both in combat and humanitarian aid missions.

The start of the Air Cavalry Squadron began with the formation of the 3rd Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry, a part of the 11th Air Assault Division, formed at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1963, to test the Army’s new air mobility concept using helicopters and light fixed wing aircraft. A mock battle was fought between the 11th Air Assault Division and the 18th Air Borne Core and the 11th Air Assault Division won. This test “locked in Cement “the air mobility concept for the Army.

Lt Col John B. Stockton

*** assumed command of the 3rd/17th shortly before this test, and called the Squadron, the Bullwhip Squadron. Lieutenant Colonel Stockton led the unit in training at Fort Benning, Georgia and He was known for his no-nonsense, highly professional and innovative approach to flying and fighting. These were traits that endeared him to his troops, because when the time for battle came the troops knew their leader had fully prepared them.

LTC Stockton also is the soul person responsible for all Cavalry units now wearing the black cavalry Stetson. This was his trademark during the 11th Air Assault Division test. And several times he was threatened with Courts Marshall if he did not stop wearing it. He not only continued wearing his Stetson, but also had all of his officers wearing the black Stetson. Now you know the story of the modern day Cav trooper and the black Stetson.

In July 1965, the 1st Cavalry Division was stood down in Korea and the colors were returned to the states. The colors were reformed into the 1st Cavalry Division (Air Mobile) at Ft. Benning, GA, in July 1965 and the 11th Air Assault Division was changed to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). The 3rd/17th squadron was re-designated as the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry (1/9 Cavalry) With LTC Stockton commanding.

On July 18, 1965, President Johnson announced his decision to send the 1st Cavalry Division to Vietnam. Most of the Cavalrymen stayed with the squadron and were joined by new arrivals as they prepared to ship to Vietnam.

The 1st Cavalry Division departed the states mid August 65, by boat, in route to the Republic of Vietnam and one month later on 13 September, 1965, LTC Stockton and SGM Kennedy lead the 1st/9th ashore at Qhi Nhon, Vietnam. Those troopers who came over by boat, were commonly referred to as “the Boat People”. Now depending on who said this, it was either an insult or praise, and sometimes the results became rough and tumble.

From the time Lt Col Stockton assumed command of the squadron in 1963 until leaving command in late 1965, Colonel Stockton’s radio call sign was Bullwhip. As Commander of the Bullwhip Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Stockton designed and perfected those air cavalry tactics necessary to support the division with the “eyes and ears” intelligence required to find and fix the enemy and at the same time providing the greatest safety to our own troopers. Lieutenant Colonel Stockton has respectfully been called the Father of modern Air Cavalry operations.

Lt Colonel Stockton was the prototype squadron commander of the movie “Apocalypse Now.” He was shown smoking a cigar, which he did at times, daring, certainly characteristic, and an aggressive fighter for which there was no equal. Although the battles fought in the movie were not typical of a cavalry squadron, there were great similarities to how the squadron fought its battles – undeterred by obstacles and always moving forward.

The 1st/9th Air Cavalry Squadron was the eyes and ears of the 1st Cavalry Division and as such, was called upon to find the enemy for the division. With its 88 aircraft, many flying day in and day out in good and bad weather, the Squadron participated in 13 campaigns and it accounted for more than 50 percent of the enemy killed by the division. It flew more combat hours than any other unit of its size. At the end of the Vietnam conflict there were four Cavalrymen from the squadron who were awarded the Medal of Honor in Vietnam.

Many other Vietnam Squadron Commanders followed LTC Stockton and each set his mark on the squadron, continuing the traditions and espirit de corp. that was instilled in the first troops of the 1st/9th. Each following Commander built on, and contributed more to the “no nonsense, can do”, reputation of the 1st/9th. It must also be noted that several Squadron Officers went on to General officer status. General Robert Shoemaker, Major General Michael Nardotti, Major General Jim Smith, Brigadier General David Allen, to name a few.

During the Vietnam era, the 1st/9th units included Headquarters, the three air cavalry troops, A. B. C., the ground troop, D, and the two follow on, air cavalry troops, E and F. The Air Cav Troops had 27 aircraft each. 11 gun ships, 6 lift ships and 10 scouts. The ground troop was a full up infantry unit. This was the Squadrons strength.

It was the 1st/9th Cavalry which first found the North Vietnamese troops in the Ia Drang Valley, leading to the Ia Drang battle, depicted in the movie “We Were Soldiers Once, and Young”, taken from a book by the same name; authored by Lieutenant General (Retired) Hal Moore and Joe Galloway. Days before the battle depicted in the movie took place, the 1/9 Squadron set up a night ambush in the valley. After the ambush was triggered against a large enemy force, the ambushing party of the 1/9 Squadron was trailed back to its base camp. Subsequently, the camp was attacked by overwhelming forces necessitating relief by a company of infantry that helped to stave off the attacks until all forces could be extracted. A few days later, on the site where the Cavalrymen had found the enemy, a battalion of infantry moved in and the Ia Drang Valley battle followed

Previously, there had been 18 Medals of Honor awarded to the Squadron throughout its history. And there were four Medals of Honor awarded to the 1st/9th troopers during Vietnam and one Medal of Honor was awarded to a 1/9 Cavalryman in Desert Storm, Iraq. A total of 23 Medal of Honor’s were awarded from the start of the 1st/9th, through Desert Storm, Iraq. At the end of the Vietnam war, the 1/9 Cavalry was the most decorated unit during Vietnam conflict.

There were only two combat infantry badges ever awarded to an Army Chaplain. One in World War II and one in Vietnam, and the one in Vietnam was awarded to a Chaplain of the 1/9 Cavalry.

Additionally, the fame of the 1/9 Cavalry was recognized by the U. S. Postal service which issued two special stamps in honor of the Squadron.

During the Vietnam War from 1965 through 1973, thousands of Cavalrymen — aviators, scouts, infantrymen, door gunners, wrench turning maintenance men, cooks, administrative and staff personnel – served in the 1/9 Cavalry. It is those Cavalrymen of that era who are meeting here today.

Many of the Cavalrymen today are wearing black cavalry Stetson hats, some special cavalry caps, all signs of the cavalry tradition. However, most are sporting less than dark hair, and less of it. Some are showing signs of the battles in which they fought. Some will be very emotional at meeting old friends and reliving the times spent in the Cavalry. Others will be telling their wives, or children, or grandchildren about things they never told before. And friends will tell the wives, children, or grandchildren things that they were never told. This day will be an endless time of reliving yesterdays – the good and the good.

It must be noted that this, Motts Museum, 1st/9th area and monument, was the brain child of Edward Arthur, and was made possible by the almost single handed dedication and hard work of Edward Arthur, assisted by Robert Griffin. Without these two, this would not have happened. Everything you see today is by donations from the rank and file, 1st/9th troopers.

I look out at you and I see my brothers, steeled in combat, dedicated, loyal men, and I am proud to call all of you, my brother. You are the hero’s of the Vietnam era. We have stood fast, and lived by the Squadron motto of “We Can, We Will” and we can proudly say, “We Did”!

May God keep you in the palm of his hand and watch over each and every one of you, and you families.

Thank you

Loel Ewart
LTC (Ret) Army
Speech given on 6 October 2007

* LTC Loel Ewart served in the 1^st Squadron 9^th Cavalry Regiment 1965-1966 in Vietnam.

** The Motts Museum is Located in Groveport, Ohio. The Museum covers all wars. To leaarn more go to

www.mottsmilitarymuseum.org .

***John B. Stockton was born on November 7, 1922 and died August 7, 1997.

Photograph of John B. Stockton on his horse was extracted from

www.bullwhipsquadron.org .

1. Once you are in the fight, it is way too late to wonder if this is a good idea.

2. Helicopters are cool!

3. It is a fact that helicopter tail rotors are instinctively drawn toward trees, stumps, rocks, etc. While it may be possible to ward off this natural event some of the time, it cannot, despite the best efforts of the crew, always be prevented. It’s just what they do.

4. NEVER get into a fight without more ammunition than the other guy.

5. The engine RPM, and the rotor RPM, must BOTH be kept in the GREEN. Failure to heed this commandment can affect the morale of the crew.

6. A billfold in your hip pocket can numb your leg and be a real pain in the ass.

7. Cover your Buddy, so he can be around to cover you.

8. Letters from home are not always great.

9. The madness of war can extract a heavy toll. Please have exact change.

10. Share everything. Even the Pound Cake.

11. Decisions made by someone over your head will seldom be in your best interest.

12. The terms “Protective Armor” and “Helicopter” are mutually exclusive.

13. The further away you are from your friends, the less likely it is that they can help you when you really need them the most.

14. Sometimes, being good and lucky still was not enough. There is always payback.

15. “Chicken Plates” are not something you order in a restaurant.

16. If everything is as clear as a bell, and everything is going exactly as planned, you’re about to be surprised.

17. The BSR (Bang Stare Read) Theory states that the louder the sudden bang in the helicopter, the quicker your eyes will be drawn to the gauges.

18. The longer you stare at the gauges, the less time it takes them to move from green to red.

19. It does to get cold in Vietnam.

20. No matter what you do, the bullet with your name on it will get you. So too can the ones addressed “To Whom It May Concern”.

21. Gravity: It may not be fair, but it is the law.

22. If the rear echelon troops are really happy, the front line troops probably do not have what they need

23. If you are wearing body armor, the incoming will probably miss that part.

24. It hurts less to die with a uniform on than to die in a hospital bed.

25. Happiness is a belt-fed weapon.

26. If something hasn’t broken on your helicopter, it’s about to.

27. Eat when you can. Sleep when you can. Visit the head when you can. The next opportunity may not come around for a long time. If ever.

28. Combat pay is a flawed concept.

29. Having all your body parts intact and functioning at the end of the day beats the alternative.

30. Air superiority is NOT a luxury.

31. If you are allergic to lead it is best to avoid a war zone.

32. It is a bad thing to run out of airspeed, altitude, and ideas all at the same time.

33. Nothing is as useless as altitude above you and runway behind you.

34. While the rest of the crew may be in the same predicament, it’s almost always the pilot’s job to arrive at the crash site first.

35. When you shoot your gun, clean it the first chance you get.

36. Loud sudden noises in a helicopter WILL get your undivided attention.

37. Hot garrison chow is better than hot C-rations, which, in turn is better than cold C-rations, which is better than no food at all. All of these, however, are preferable to cold rice balls (given to you by guards) even if they do have the little pieces of fish in them.

38. WHAT is often more important than WHY.

39. Boxes of cookies from home must be shared.

40. Girlfriends are fair game. Wives are not.

41. Everybody’s a hero on the ground in the club after the fourth drink.

42. There is no such thing as a small firefight.

43. A free-fire zone has nothing to do with economics.

44. The farther you fly into the mountains, the louder the strange engine noises become.

45. Medals are OK, but having your body and all your friends in one piece at the end of the day is better.

46. The only medal you really want to be awarded is the Longevity Medal.

47. Being shot hurts.

48. Thousands of Vietnam Veterans earned medals for bravery every day. A few were even awarded.

49. Running out of pedal, fore or aft cyclic, or collective are all bad ideas. Any combination of these can be deadly.

50.Nomex is NOT fire proof.

51. There is only one rule in war: When you win, you get to make up the Rules.

52. Living and dying can both hurt a lot.

53. While a Super Bomb could be considered one of the four essential building blocks of life, powdered eggs cannot.

54. C-4 can make a dull day fun.

55. Cocoa Powder is neither.

56. There is no such thing as a fair fight, only ones where you win or lose.

57. If you win the battle you are entitled to the spoils. If you lose you don’t care.

558. Nobody cares what you did yesterday or what you are going to do tomorrow. What is important is what you are doing NOW to solve our problem.

59. If you have extra, share it quickly.

60. Always make sure someone has a P-38.

61. A sucking chest wound may be God’s way of telling you it’s time to go home.

62. Prayer may not help . . . but it can’t hurt.

63. Flying is better than walking. Walking is better than running. Running is better than crawling. All of these however, are better than extraction by a medevac, even if this is technically a form of flying.

64. If everyone does not come home none of the rest of us can ever fully come home either.

65. Do not fear the enemy, for your enemy can only take your life. It is far better that you fear the media, for they will steal your HONOR.

66. A grunt is the true reason for the existence of the helicopter. Every helicopter flying in Vietnam had one real purpose: To help the grunt. It is unfortunate that many helicopters never had the opportunity to fulfill their one true mission in life simply because someone forgot this fact.

67. “You have the right to remain silent” is ALWAYS excellent advice.

68. Any “floating object” moving up-stream against the current is not a naturally occurring event.

69. Unfathomable Truism: Vietnamese Water buffalo do not like Americans.

70. FNG, “How can you tell the difference between out-going and in-coming? Short-timer, “Don’t worry, you’ll KNOW!

71. Question from FNG: : “OK, so I hit floor, wait a few seconds and then jump up and haul ass to the nearest bunker, right?” Short Timer, “Not unless you want to see how accurate Charlie’s Big Bend Alarm Clocks are for firing the second round in 10 to 15 seconds.”

72. Let’s see I’m having to RON in Saigon and Air Force Base Regs. say I can’t wear my sidearm, but Cav Regs. say I’ll get an Article 15 if I’m caught without my sidearm – hmmm, what should I do?

73. For two nights in a row at 7:30 a red light blinked on and off three times from an ARVN guard tower over-looking your compound. A minute or two later your Hooch area takes incoming. The third night it blinks only once – damn those LRRP Night Scopes were good! No incoming for over a week.

74. That hooch maid pacing off the distance between your hooch and the next isn’t measuring for a flower garden!

75. Question: When was an Air Force “Arc Light” really exciting to watch? Answer: When they actually hit the designated grid area that they were given in their pre-mission briefing.

76. Ahhh!! Nothing like a bag of LRRP’s in a canteen cup of water being heated over a block of burning C4 – now that’s some eatin’ of the finest kind, GI!

77. You know you’ve P.O.’d someone when the latrine your sitting in has all of the support legs removed simultaneously with det cord.

78. Oh, for those “Hop, Skip and Jump take-offs at max gross when you’re doing a re-supply missions on a hot summer’s day.

79. When the last LRRP of the team being extracted hollers, “Didi mau,” as he dives into the bay of the Slick, it makes one take on a whole new “sense of urgency” when shoving the cyclic forward and bringing the collective to approximately the arm pit position!

80. What does it tell the Slick Driver when on short final into the Extraction LZ, he radio’s the LRRP Team in the LZ, “OK, pop a smoke for location,” and five different colors of smoke come from five different spots in the LZ?

81. Question: What two things defy all the laws of aerodynamics, yet still can fly? Answer: a bumblebee and a helicopter – one is made by God and the other by man! Conclusion: If God had wanted men to be able to fly forward, backward, side to side, and stop all movement by hovering in mid-air, He would have made the bumblebees a whole lot bigger and put saddles on their backs.

82. A seasoned OH-6A Crew Chief and Observer waiting for their new pilot do not find it humorous when the “right from the world” Wobbly One walks up to the front of their LOH and asks, “Hey, isn’t the motor supposed to be in the front.

Kurt Schatz says. Love it… lot memories.

Hey Jack,

Yes, I believe “double deuce” could have been Ray Mohr. I always called him double deuce or double D. Plus I suffer from CRS (Can’t Remember S_ _ t), I’m told there’s a lot of it going around, especially when you reach our age and have had a few head traumas along the way.

If memory serves me at all, I believe it was he and I that discovered what was referred to as “Bunker City” a few days before Christmas ‘ 69. The Air Force was supposed to Arc-lite it, I believe, on first light of Dec. 24 (stand-down was to begin later that day). Our “6,” Major Tredway, let us do the BDA since we found it — one problem, the “real high altitude pilots” of the AF dropped their “bags” about 12 clicks to the North of our assigned target. They requested that we come to that location and give a BDA (that’s another story for another day). Let it suffice to say the entire body count was of approximately 20 to 30 individuals that had long hair all over their bodies, their eyes weren’t slanted and they lived in trees and caves. We were allowed to work it again (since the AF couldn’t waste another 2 1/2 Million on another Arc-lite) on Christmas Day (of course, we could only fire if fired upon). It apparently was an engineering platoon of NVA and (possibly) some ChiCom, building the complex. They were very lightly armed and offered little resistance.

I probably did one of the most stupid moves of my short tour over there that day. The triple canopy was so thick; it was very difficult to visualize the situation at ground level. So at the urging (and ultimately it was always my decision) of my crew, we hovered down through an opening next to a cliff area. As my crew chief was directing me down through the trees a few inches at a time, I saw something very black out of the corner of my right eye. A cave entrance had been carved into the cliff wall and a tripod was set up on the floor at the entrance to the cave with a wooden chair directly behind it. They had placed their firing position at a point that would allow them to fire up and out through the same hole I was hovering down through…talk about a pucker factor going to an instant and solid ten. I still thank God that Charlie took a break that day!

To end this story (I haven’t really let myself think about this for many years, so forgive my “venting a little”), we hovered on down until we were beneath the triple canopy and proceeded to chase these guys back into their holes. I can’t recall the crew chief’s name (I do recall pulling him out of the bay of my LOH a day or two later for being already high on dope and trying to light a joint during my preflight. I was going hit him when my observer grabbed my arm and said, ” No Chief, they’ll Court Marshall you if you hit him — then he stepped between us and he punched the guys lights out!} Anyway, what I didn’t know was that this Crew Chief had brought an explosive device one of the LRRPs had helped him make. It contained Willy Petes, frags, nails, concussion grenades and CS. He told me right before he lit the second fuse to hover over the largest bunker of the twelve or so they had already built. He said he had a Christmas present for Charlie. Our skids were about ten feet from the top of the bunker. He tried to toss it through the door of what appeared to be a command bunker.

Needless to say, he hit the edge of the opening and his package fell right in front of the bunker. He screams that we have about 5 seconds to get out of the way. Fortunately, it took about 8 to 10 seconds for his package to actually explode. The CS just about did us in. My rotor wash, trapped under that triple canopy, was whipping it all around us and especially into the cockpit. I grabbed for my gas mask from under the seat, which was a total waste. Not only wasn’t it keeping the gas out, the lens were a nice dark amber color that did not permit me to see out of the mask. I finally found the markers I used to get to that point and found my way back to the “hole” I came down through and just prayed Charlie wasn’t going to be sitting in that cave when we started hovering back up a few inches at a time. That was Christmas Day of 1969. We were just thankful to get back to Phouc Vinh that night and with ourselves, and our “Pink Team” still intact.

May God Bless you and yours,

edd hogeboom, Cav 16

Poetry

Word Count: 671

edd hogeboom

edd@BlessedBooks.com

To Honor Those of “The Crossed Sabers”

It was a time when his Country called

The Army trained him in the finest and latest combat skills of the time

Yet his enemy would live in the ground and fight with weapons that time forgot

He was about to enter a life of experiences he could never have begun to imagine

His Mom, through her tears, told him to be careful and keep his head down.

His Dad told him to do his best and come back to them when he’s done

He put his old Navy Wings into his son’s pocket and said, “You bring ‘em back, OK?”

The son nodded and turned away and took the first step into the rest of his life.

When he stepped off the Air Force Starlifter at Tan Son Nhut, he became an FNG

At CAV Charm School he’s told what he can to do, not do, and who not to do it with

Then he gets his orders — Charlie Troop, 1^st of the 9^th Air Cav

The others look at him as if he has drawn the Ace of Spades from the deck of life

To Honor Those of “The Crossed Sabers”

The legend of the Ia Drang and “lifers” shaking their heads at the mention of 1^st of the 9^th

He had heard of incredibly high mortality rates of these men called crazy, but courageous

For a moment, he wondered, “Should I raise my hand and ask for a second choice?”

He knew from all he heard, he was essentially a replacement for a body bag going home

In the coming days and months, he would grow in areas most men would never know

He quickly acquired a “taste for Charlie’s blood” – a hooch mate took a .51 in the face

Finally his 50 hours were over and he became Cavalier 16, Scout Platoon, “C” Trp, 1/9

The days were endless and the nights were longer

When sleep came it might be in a hooch, his LOH, or a clay pit at an LZ taking incoming

He ate out of a bag, peed in a can and tried to stay up-wind of the “honey buckets”

In no time, he learned that happiness is a fully automatic weapon, preferably belt fed.

Since his “Snake Pilot” had the “funny papers,” he never really knew where he was

He saw men, women and children die every imaginable death and went back for more

He lost friends and non-friends alike, but it didn’t matter…a little piece of him died too

When his day came, the Big Six let him and his crew “pass go and collect their $200”

Banged up, but the crew would fight again and the Army’s inventory was less one LOH

To Honor Those of “The Crossed Sabers”

Page 3

Elephant grass and morning dew would tell him when and how many had moved through

Flying sideways into the wind would lead him to pack animals and Charlie’s cookouts

He’d drop Willy Petes in three potential LZs, but the insertion would be in a fourth

His helmet carried the crease of an AK round and he kept his Ithaca grease gun close by

His days were filled with adrenalin and his nights with scotch and insomnia

He saw friends hanging in their straps — dead

He saw open flesh after incoming

But nothing prepared him for the day he flew into a .51 cal trap and lost his crew

Today he has memories and he has nightmares

Several times a month he sits in a VA Clinic waiting for substandard care

He watches other old men reliving their memories and getting their drugs for the pain

Freedom’s cost is high, but if called, he would grab his Cav hat and mount up once again

To honor and remember our fallen brothers and to acknowledge with love and respect, my brothers and sisters who still wear the “Crossed Sabers” proudly.

Cavalier 16 (Hogie)

“C” Trp. 1/9 Air Cav

RVN ‘69