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Col. James W. Booth
Col (Ret) James W. “Pete” Booth is one of a handful of officers whose vision and energy prod a cautious Army to initiate and over time embrace the concepts of Armed Helicopters and Air Cavalry. As ...view moreCol (Ret) James W. “Pete” Booth is one of a handful of officers whose vision and energy prod a cautious Army to initiate and over time embrace the concepts of Armed Helicopters and Air Cavalry. As a Captain assigned as an aviation instructor at the US Army Armor School (USAARMS) in 1958 he developed doctrine for and introduced Armed Helicopters and Air Cavalry into School instruction. To support the instruction program, he bonded with a group of Warrant officers to arm four H-34helicopters assigned to a Fort Knox unit with .50 caliber machine guns and 4.5 inch rockets scrounged from surplus USAF/Navy stocks. School officials approved the use of armed helicopters in instruction and major fire power demonstrations.
In 1959, with others he persuaded USAARMS officials to bring the experimental 8305th Aerial Combat Recon Company (armed) from Fort Rucker to participate in a major Armor School demonstration attended by the CJCS, General Nathan Twinning and CSA General Maxwell Taylor. Gen Taylor approved Air Cavalry as an Armor Force program that day.
Following academic and staff development with Armed Helicopter and Air Cavalry, in 1965 he entered the real world of combat as Commander of the legendary UTT-197th-334th Armed Helicopter Company. On his second tour in Vietnam he commanded the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division. He flew over 650 hrs combat time.
Retired in April 1981 his awards include the Silver Star w/OLC, LOM w/3OLC, DFC, PH w OLC, BS, AMw22 OLC, MSM, JSCM, ARCOM w OLC, PUC, VUC, MUC, VN Cross of Gallantry w Palm (2) and w SS, BS.
He is a graduate of the University of Georgia and earned a MS from George Washington University. His military schools include the Company and Advanced officer course at USAARMS, flight and helicopter School, C&GSC, AFSC, and National War College.
Pete and his wife Sue reside in Tennille Ga. They have three children, Cheryl, Michael and Cynthia, and three grand children.view less