Vietnam Helicopter Crew Member Stories: Volume 1

By H. D. Graham

This book is a collection of fascinating short stories, photos, and documents furnished by the heroic and courageous men that served as air or ground crew members in Vietnam. The chopper units were located throughout Vietnam. During the course of the war, we lost at least 5,139 helicopter air crew members and at least 588 ground support crew members. In fact, the true number of helicopter air and ground crew members killed or missing in action will probably never be known. Those crew members accounted for a large percentage of all the enemy killed during the war. Those courageous men were American heroes then and will always be American heroes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469139890

H. D. Graham

HD Graham is a retired USAF E9 and a retired educator. He enjoyed a distinguished and exciting military career prior to turning his attention to education. During his career as an educator, he taught nearly twenty years, mostly at Harrisonville-Scipio Elementary School. He graduated from Scipio High School when he was sixteen years old. He is from a his, mine, and our family that totaled twelve boys and five girls. He traveled extensively while in the military and especially enjoyed the island nations and the people throughout the Pacific area and Southeast Asia. He has two bachelors degrees and a dual masters degree. He had six brothers retired from the various branches of the armed forces. Between his brothers and himself, they accumulated more than 170 years of military service to the United States of America.

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Copyright © 2012 by H. D. Graham.

Library of Congress Control Number:                   2011962933

ISBN:                   Hardcover                            978-1-4691-3988-3

                            Softcover                              978-1-4691-3987-6

                            eBook                                    978-1-4691-3989-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Print information available on the last page.

DISCLAIMER

This book is a collection of fascinating short stories provided by the Chopper Air and Ground Crew Members that served in Vietnam from mid-1959 through 30 April 1975. I am not personally responsible for the content in each of the stories printed in this book other than my own. The personal experiences I had and the various incidents I witnessed while serving in Vietnam have convinced me that every story was certainly possible and no doubt took place as stated. I have included all the stories in this book that were available to me at the time the book went to press. Future stories will be printed in subsequent volumes when enough have been received to justify another publication. If I have slighted any of the men that sent me stories, please forgive me because it was not intentional. I gave every person that has stories in this book an opportunity to read and approve his before they were published. I did my best to correct all the errors I found or were pointed out to me before sending the book to the publisher.

Rev. date: 01/29/2018

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Why I Wrote This Book

A Salute To Our Vietnam Chopper Crews

George Abernathy, 1/9th Cav

John Tony W. Anthony, 162nd AHC

Perry D. Apking, 52nd AB, 117 AHC

Edward Ed I. Arthur, B Troop, 1/9th Cav

Robert Bob E. Baden, 117th AHC

Leslie Les G. Baker, 52nd CAB

James Jim D. Balog, 48th AHC

Fletcher Fletch H. Beard, B Troop, 1/9th Cav

Paul E. Beck, 33rd Trans Co

Dennis Beckler, 227th AHB

Douglas Doug S. Berg, 57th AB

Jerry N. Cason, 190th AHC

Wesley Wes A. Dunn, 114th AC, 502nd AB, 45th Med Co

John Esliner, 604th Trans Co

Allen Al L. Forbes, 117th AHC

Lewis Fulkerson, 243 ASHC, 179th ASHC

Harold Hd D. Graham, Det 1, 6222nd ABS; Det 1, 23rd ABG; Det 1 MAAG

David Holden, 117th AHC

Irvin Tiny C. Hubler, HHT, 1/9th Cav

Gary L. Jostandt, 498th Med Co

Donald Don R. Joyce, 1st AC, 81st AC, 179th ASHC

David Dave L. Medlin, 1st Troop, 1/9 Cav

Steve W. Nagle, 3/17th Cav

Stanley Stan G. Nash, 1st Troop, 1/9th Cav

Harry R. Nevling, 159th ASHC

George A. Nutter, D Troop, 1/10th Cav

Robert Bob N. Reigel, 160th AV Gp

William Bill R. Reinhart, 1st Log AD, 11th Cav

Larry L. Taylor, D Troop, 1/4th Cav

James Jim T. Triplett, 119Th AHC

William Bill R. Woods, 229th AHB

Thomas Tom L. Wright, 116th AHC

Glossary Of Terms And Military Jargon

About The Author

DEDICATION

It is my honor and pleasure to dedicate this book to our Chopper Air and Ground Crew Members that served in Vietnam and to my first cousin, Ed Young, WO-4, USA (Retired), who also served two tours there as a chopper pilot.

At least 5,127 out of approximately 12,000 helicopters were destroyed in the Vietnam War. Tens of thousands of volunteer soldiers flew as chopper crew members and at least 5,139 were killed. Many served two or more tours of duty. Their dedication, outstanding performance, and superb accomplishments while serving there will be very hard, if not impossible, to top or even match by future generations.

As fighting men, they were unequaled, and the large amount of blood and sweat they lost while doing their jobs will never be fully known. As brave, dedicated, and daring men, only our Special Forces or SEALS could match them. As loving husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and buddies, their match will never be found.

The physical and mental pain they suffered was tremendous. The large number of brother crew members lost was extremely painful and will remain so. In fact, the loss of American helicopter crew members was nearly 10 percent of the total losses the American forces suffered during the sixteen years chopper crew members served in Vietnam.

The chopper crew members were credited with saving the lives of tens of thousands of wounded and injured American soldiers. Even the large number of lives saved by chopper crews during the Korean War pales when compared to the accomplishments of our chopper crew members in Vietnam.

To all the Helicopter Air and Ground Crew Members that served in Vietnam, I salute you. Our debt to you can never be paid. Thank you, brothers, for a job well done, and thank you for your service to our great nation.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to acknowledge and thank each individual that contributed to the writing of this book. First, I want to recognize the Chopper Air and Ground Crew Members that submitted many fantastic stories so that their amazing, heroic, and courageous contributions to our efforts in Vietnam will never be lost. Also, the experiences these men had while serving in Vietnam are almost beyond belief and should be looked upon as a national treasure. To the men that served and fought there, they look upon their accomplishments with a great deal of pride and rightly so. They were resourceful, heroic, and courageous beyond belief. For the rest of us, we should look upon them as national heroes because that is what they were then and always will be.

George Abernathy has some fantastic stories along with some photos. He was a torque (door gunner/crew chief) on a Loach, and his experiences in that position were not only exciting but very dangerous. John Tony Anthony sent in some photos and a humorous story about a movie being shown about Vietnam that was so far-off the mark of reality that it started a riot among the troops watching it. Then I received a couple of very nice stories and photos from Perry Apking. He was a door gunner / crew chief on a Huey slick. Next, I got a couple of great stories from Ed Arthur. He was an observer on an OH-13S and survived two crashes within three weeks. On the second crash, he was injured to the point that he was in Valley Forge Army Hospital for nearly a year. Then on his second tour, he was in a jeep following an Army vehicle that was mined and was in the hospital again, this time for more than six months. Robert Bob Baden, a pilot with the 117th Aviation Company at Qui Nhon, sent in some nice stories about working with the 101st Airborne, the 1st Cavalry Division, and about his ship going down in the South China Sea. Leslie Les G. Baker, a Huey UH-1B crew chief, sent in a couple of stories that you will find very interesting. He served in Vietnam during the Advisory Phase and witnessed our Marine landing at Da Nang in Mar 65. James Balog sent in some great stories and photos. In the first story, he talked about the hard time he and his family had when saying good-bye as he was leaving for Vietnam. The next story took place at Long Binh during a rocket attack. He had two or three other stories that were also very good. Fletch Beard, a Recon Scout, sent in several short stories and some great photos. The one about getting a DR while in the BX at Qui Nhon AB for being out of uniform has a lot of humor in it. Another one about being ambushed in the Mangyang Pass, along Route 19 between Qui Nhon and Pleiku, is so realistic that you feel as though you were there with him. I also received three great stories from Paul Beck, a crew chief on an H-21C Shawnee. The story about the monkeys in the compound will make you laugh until you cry. Next, I received four stories from Dennis Beckler, a crew chief on a Huey. The story about bartering with the US Navy sure brings back a lot of memories. Doug Berg, a ground support troop, sent in a couple of grand stories as well. The one about The Steak Cookout That Wasn’t is so real. Then the one about flying the Missouri State flag on the flagpole overnight is full of humor. Jerry Cason has a couple of interesting stories. He was a door gunner and gave us a summary of his tour in Vietnam. Then his second story is about his life after serving in the US Army for nine years. He eventually became the Chief of the Oklahoma State Highway Patrol. Wesley Dunn, a crew chief on a Huey slick, sent in some great stories, a certificate, and copies of a couple of orders. I got a couple of great stories from John Eslinger. He was a chopper mechanic and a Crew Chief on several different models of the Huey. He was a civilian contractor and was classified as a field grade officer. Allen Forbes, a door gunner, didn’t send in any stories, but he did explain the duties of his unit and the anxious days when their choppers were parked on the dikes of large rice paddies waiting for the call to pick up their troops. Lewis Fulkerson sent in some great stories and several photos. It took him nearly fifteen years to fulfill his dream of flying, but he never gave up on that wish. His next story was about attending Flight Engineer’s school and then he had an unusual story about placing some CONEX units on a hillside for the Marines. H. D. Graham has a couple of stories the early American Advisors can relate to about advising the Montagnards in the Plei Do Lim area. During that period, many of the advisors were not armed, and that proved to be very dangerous and nearly suicidal at times. His other story is about being wounded while throwing leaflets from an OH-13. Then David Holden sent in a couple of wonderful stories. The first one happened when he was a door gunner, and the second one was when he was assigned to an air rescue and recovery crew. The one about the first time he came under enemy fire will bring back a lot of memories to most of the chopper crews. The second one related to recovery efforts of a downed Huey crew that will never be forgotten, partly because he knew all the crew members on the Huey. Irvin Tiny Hubler had some great stories. First, he gave us a little history of the 1/9 Cavalry and then a humorous story about an army mule named Maggie. Then he told a story of being covered with baby powder instead of beer when he was promoted to E6. Then I received several great stories and photos from Gary Jostandt. He was a medic on an air evac crew, and his stories are about trying to save lives. I don’t believe many of you will be able to read about his true life experiences as a medic without getting some tears in your eyes. Don Joyce, a CH-47 pilot, sent in some great stories that covered most of his career. He was initially in Southeast Asia and Vietnam clear back in 1962 at Vung Tau. Then he was at Pleiku in ’67-’68 as a Chinook pilot. While out in Branson, Missouri, 13-16 Oct 2011, I picked up a couple of real nice stories from David Medlin. The first story was about patrolling the DMZ, and the second story was about the rescue of his pilot from their burning chopper. David really isn’t the type of person to talk a lot or seek attention, but I finally learned that he received the Soldier’s Medal for saving the life of his pilot. Steve Nagle sent in some stories and some photos that everyone will enjoy. He was a crew chief and door gunner with the 3rd/17 Cavalry at the Plantations. His story about the three-legged aviator will be enjoyed by everyone. Stan Nash provided some great stories and then-and-now photos. He was a pilot and then an aircraft commander on a Huey UH-1B gunship. Harry Nevling, a CH-47 Chinook Pilot and Aircraft Commander, sent in some photos, a nice story of how he got his nickname, and then one about venturing into Laos that everyone will enjoy. George Nutter sent in some wonderful stories and a photo that I am sure you will enjoy. He was a crew chief on an old Huey C model and later a newer H model. His story about his first chopper flight as a crew chief seems so real that it almost puts you in his shoes as the story unfolds. Then the one about the empty coffee cup is very humorous. No one could have handled that situation better than he did. Robert (Bob) Reigel, a pilot with the 160th Aviation Company and the 377th Arty, sent in a couple of nice stories about taking hits in his LOH-6A, and even though they had to set the chopper down in different locations, this same US Army soldier was at both locations. William Bill R. Reinhart, a pilot, had a very nice story about the problems we had in ’Nam with the flat soda pop that we can all relate to. Larry L. Taylor, a Cobra pilot, sent in a great story about the first and probably only extraction of the war with a Cobra gunship. James Jim T. Triplett sent in a diary that I pulled his stories from and some great photos. He was assigned to the 119th AHC. William (Bill) R. Woods, operations / door gunner, sent in a story about luck, bad luck that is. I am sure you will enjoy it and find it full of humor, unless it happened to you. While home on a thirty-day leave prior to going to Vietnam, his last two weeks were spent in a hospital visiting his wife. When Bill went on R&R to Hawaii, the same thing happened. Tom Wright, a crew chief, had some great stories and photos. His story about the stench at certain places in Vietnam is so true. The one about the shower facilities also brings back a lot of memories. Christmas in a Combat Zone will also stir memories held by many of us.

A special thank you goes to George Abernathy and his wife Lisa, David Holden and his wife Anne, and George Nutter and his wife Pam for serving as the editors for this book and for trying to keep me straight on the technical jargon associated with several of the stories. Being a USAF trooper is somewhat like being on a different planet when trying to understand and use US Army lingo. I feel fortunate to have spent many months with the Special Forces Advisors and picked up a lot of things from them that have helped me put this book together. However, that was a long time ago. I am sort of getting along in years now and have forgotten many of the things they taught me and a lot of other things as well.

Again, thanks to all the Chopper Air and Ground Crew Members for the fantastic and exciting stories and the many great photos. Without your inputs, this book wouldn’t have been possible. With additional stories and photos from other chopper air and ground crew members, perhaps volume 2 of this book can be published before long.

INTRODUCTION

It seems to most of us that our involvement in Vietnam was just yesterday. For many of us, our nightly dreams even confirm that belief. However, if we stop and think about it, we realize that time has somehow passed us by.

Most of us that served there during the advisory period, from 1959 through early 1965, didn’t anticipate the huge military involvement that eventually took place. Some of our Special Forces units had been there since 1954. We also had several small USAF units scattered in different locations from Saigon to Da Nang that had been there since 1955. Then, in 1959, President Eisenhower sent a couple of US Army aviation units to Vietnam, and that was the start of the chopper/scout involvement that eventually saw more combat than the rest of the US Army units combined.

Initially, those units had a small number of fixed-wing aircraft used for aerial observation and even fewer helicopters. By late 1962, the US Army also had aviation units located at Saigon, Soc Trang, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Bien Hoa, and Pleiku with detachments scattered at several other locations. Some of those aviation units had also armed their choppers with machine guns, which did a fine job in discouraging the Viet Cong. This deterrent was especially effective when inserting, withdrawing, or moving South Vietnamese troops and our advisors from one area to another.

The US military role in Vietnam continued to expand when President Kennedy deployed ten USAF Advisory Detachments in Aug 1963. Then President Johnson reassigned the 5th Special Forces Group from Fort Bragg to Nha Trang in late 1964. Up to that point, the Special Forces responsibilities had mostly been handled by the 1st Special Forces Group in Okinawa with some assistance from other groups. Most of our Special Forces and their mobile training teams (MTTs) were there on four to six months TDY until the 5th arrived on PCS orders. The USAF units and some of the Aviation units were also TDYs at first. Then permanent change of station (PCS) orders started to be issued for those USAF units clear back in early 1962 and the US Army flying units in mid-1963.

The role assigned to the aviation units and their various detachments was continually being expanded. Before long, nearly every aviation unit had armed choppers, known as gunships, as well as slicks from one end of the country to the other. As the role of the choppers increased, chopper crew member losses also increased. In fact, the demand for the various air crew positions increased so rapidly that many US Army troops in Vietnam became air crew members overnight, especially gunners. The crew chiefs and door gunners primarily used M60 machine guns for protection and air assaults. However, different configurations were used from free-held and floor mounted M60s as well as some suspended from bungee cords. Some crew members sported dual mounted mini guns as well as floor mounted M60s. Then other munitions and rocket pods were added to existing or newer Hueys that tended to make them first-class airborne fighting machines. In the early years of the war, the OH-13 observer simply carried an M-2 with three or four banana clips taped together and pistols. These weapons were mostly replaced by the new M-16 that was far more efficient at zapping the enemy wherever they found them. In 1966-1967, the OH-13s began to be phased out and replaced by the LOH-6.

As the war progressed, the underpowered Hueys were constantly being upgraded. B and C models had rocket pods and miniguns mounted to the outside hard points, making them first-class attack helicopters. However, the additional weight caused considerable problems for the underpowered Hueys. Some C models had a large radio console mounted inside and became the command and control ships. This allowed the field commanders to be on scene and direct the movement of ground forces from the air.

About the time the OH-13s were phased out, the newest and first attack helicopter arrived. The Cobra was the first attack helicopter and soon became the mainstay for the Vietnam War effort.

Soon Cobras and Loaches were paired together as hunter/killer teams or Pink Teams and a deadly combination was formed. In search of the enemy, the Loaches would fly right-hand circles at treetop level trying to draw enemy fire while the Cobras would fly left-hand circles at 1,500 feet waiting to deliver massive firepower into the enemy.

As the Hueys became the workhorse in Vietnam, they were modified into D and H models. Larger engines and rotors were installed, and the cabins were modified to handle more men and equipment. With these modifications, the efficiency of the medevacs was increased greatly.

From the time our choppers were initially involved in Vietnam until drawdown, thousands upon thousands of pilots, crew chiefs, torques, door gunners, spotters, observers, medics, and direct support personnel served in Vietnam. In fact, research has shown that many chopper crew members and support personnel served more than two tours there.

During the course of the war, we had nearly every type of chopper in the US military inventory deployed to Vietnam at one time or another. Our cargo supply helicopters played a big role as well as the cranes that were busy all the time. Our search and rescue choppers were essential and rescued thousands of fixed wing crew members, chopper crew members, Special Forces troops, Army Rangers, Recon/Intel squads, and other American and Allied service members during the war. Also, our medevac choppers were credited with saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of wounded or injured American, Vietnamese, and Allied troops. Our observation choppers were used extensively and most flew at very low altitudes and many were shot down. During the course of the war, we lost at least 5,127 choppers and at least 5,139 air crew members. Many attempts to establish the actual number of ground or direct support crew members lost has also been made. At least 588 ground crew members were KIA from 1959 through 30 Apr 1975. The true number will probably never be known. But we know that at least 5,727 chopper air and ground crew members were KIA or MIA in the Vietnam War.

The loss of a crew member, or often an entire crew, was extremely emotional. Also, many chopper crew members have said that when they realized they were being fired at or bullets started flying around the cabin of their ship that