And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Those Hueys are that 1st platoon Yellow Jackets troop carriers. The 2nd Platoon were the Wasps and had white markings. The Gun Platoon were known as the Stingers and had red markings. I was a door gunner on a Stinger gunship a little over 2-1/2 years over two tours flying with the 116th Assault Helicopter Company. We were based at the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi. This picture would have to have been taken in early 1967 till sometime around 1972. Great days to be a young kid with a M-60 machine-gun and all the ammo you wanted to shoot. Thank You for posting this! My company friends will like this. George
These Hueys were the best aircraft flown by the best crews ever (sorry George Cathey and Tom Callahan, but it is the truth). The sight and sound of these helicopters were beautiful beyond compare and probably the toughest ever produced. Rolla Breed
You should Know Rolla... You had a lot of hours flying those aircraft. started with the Yellow Jackets but Callahan drafted me into the Stingers to crew on Big Daddy not long after I joined the 116th. Best job I have ever had to this date with no regrets!
Went to Viet Nam "Easter Sunday!" 67 with the 188th Black Widows out of Ft Campbell - "infused" to the 116 Hornets after the massive Rocket/mortar attack late May that almost decimated our unit. Was a "BeeKeeper" most of my tour but flew on occasion to recover/repair downed aircraft - and volunteered with the Stingers/Wasps/Yellow Jackets as CE/Gunner when needed. Got an Air Medal from the Widows & 4 from the Hornets. Got a lot of "stick time" with LT BUSH doing Test Flights @ night. Remember when our mess hall was destroyed in a mortar attack & we had to eat with the "Little Bears" of B Co, 25th Avn - added an all new meaning to "Little Bears Eat Shit!" DEROS Easter Sunday 68 to Ft Eustis for the 67W Tech Insp course. Proud to have been a HORNET!
You're on of the few who remember LT Bush - I met him diving into a bunker where he was perched at the entrance; bowled him over. Knew and worked with him at Fort Lewis in different areas. I believe he passed in the 90's, it's been a while ago. He'd recently retired from being a Contract Officer, still had his gruff personality. We were friends for years - associates of sorts. Not many remember Bush and he never expressed a desire to attend any of our reunions. WASP, Stinger Jan 67 - Mar 69.
Jackie, Not sure if you know this but on the day I took a couple of rounds through my jaw the AC on the downed Stinger gunship was Was then Captain Terry Henry. He later was sent to Fort Campbell to help form the famed 160th Night Stalkers. He is mentioned three times in the book Night Stalkers. I saw him at our big Vegas reunion but he never mentioned it He got his 1st star and later retired. I heard from him several times until he passed away.
I live for comments like these! Men who were their and experienced what we're looking at. Thanks for the photo and thanks for these comments. And thanks to all of you for your service!
Thank you Sir! Hopefully more of our crews will respond as I notified a number of them. You can google the 116th Assault Helicopter Company and you will find history and several youtube interviews. I will check this conversation daily and we will see how it goes. There are 4-5 books that were written about individuals in the company. Rolla Breed has a great book that covers his time and later careers in aviation. He is definitely one of the good guys!
Also started with the Yellow Jackets as a gunner and Tom Callahan recruited me as a gunner with the Stingers. Got shot down 3 times with the hornets and 4 times with the Stingers. Twice in one day with Billy Horton. Got shot through the neck 10 days prior to the end of my deployment. Saw Tom several times through the years, he was a firefighter for the palo verde power plant and I was a hazardous materials specialist for AZ DPS.. we actually took some classes together at the Tempe Fire Department. God Bless all the Hornets, Ernie Freyer
Ernie, You and I are the only two Stinger door gunners that I know of to have taken rounds to the head or throat to live and and tell the tale. I took two rounds through the lower left jaw losing nine teeth which I am still dealing with as we speak. That happened on August 29, 1967. One month later on September 30, 1967 I took a single round across my chest that lodged in my billfold that I carried in that pocket. I still have the rounds from both days. Great adventures for the both of us. No damn regrets!
I arrived in Vietnam April/'70 and was assigned to the 116th AHC in Cu Chi. I worked in maintenance as a general mechanic, but soon got moved to engine shop. After we moved to Chu Lai I was put on the night crew. best job I ever had. I flew on test flights on a nightly basis. I still get tears in my eyes when I hear a Huey crank up, and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. The Hornets were the best!!
The day we did our farewell flight over Cu Chi and moved to Chu Lai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdFTZuUqJ-s ps... the Wasps would have had straighter formation.
"Let There Be Drums", Sandy Nelson... by amazing timing we had AFVN on the intercom when we went into an LZ. Just seemed so perfect with all the M60's going and the gunships firing.
Those Hueys are that 1st platoon Yellow Jackets troop carriers. The 2nd Platoon were the Wasps and had white markings. The Gun Platoon were known as the Stingers and had red markings. I was a door gunner on a Stinger gunship a little over 2-1/2 years over two tours flying with the 116th Assault Helicopter Company. We were based at the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi. This picture would have to have been taken in early 1967 till sometime around 1972. Great days to be a young kid with a M-60 machine-gun and all the ammo you wanted to shoot. Thank You for posting this!
ReplyDeleteMy company friends will like this. George
Thank you for your service. Get some!!!
DeleteThese Hueys were the best aircraft flown by the best crews ever (sorry George Cathey and Tom Callahan, but it is the truth). The sight and sound of these helicopters were beautiful beyond compare and probably the toughest ever produced.
ReplyDeleteRolla Breed
You should Know Rolla... You had a lot of hours flying those aircraft. started with the Yellow Jackets but Callahan drafted me into the Stingers to crew on Big Daddy not long after I joined the 116th. Best job I have ever had to this date with no regrets!
DeleteMe too. Peter Pilot and Hornet 32, 68/69, Yellow Jacket. And Hornet3.
ReplyDeleteBut is not that a British Roundel on the Tail Boom?
ReplyDeleteNo way that's a British roundel. For decades they've been blue, then white, and then a red center.
DeleteWent to Viet Nam "Easter Sunday!" 67 with the 188th Black Widows out of Ft Campbell - "infused" to the 116 Hornets after the massive Rocket/mortar attack late May that almost decimated our unit. Was a "BeeKeeper" most of my tour but flew on occasion to recover/repair downed aircraft - and volunteered with the Stingers/Wasps/Yellow Jackets as CE/Gunner when needed. Got an Air Medal from the Widows & 4 from the Hornets. Got a lot of "stick time" with LT BUSH doing Test Flights @ night. Remember when our mess hall was destroyed in a mortar attack & we had to eat with the "Little Bears" of B Co, 25th Avn - added an all new meaning to "Little Bears Eat Shit!" DEROS Easter Sunday 68 to Ft Eustis for the 67W Tech Insp course. Proud to have been a HORNET!
ReplyDeleteYou're on of the few who remember LT Bush - I met him diving into a bunker where he was perched at the entrance; bowled him over. Knew and worked with him at Fort Lewis in different areas. I believe he passed in the 90's, it's been a while ago. He'd recently retired from being a Contract Officer, still had his gruff personality. We were friends for years - associates of sorts. Not many remember Bush and he never expressed a desire to attend any of our reunions. WASP, Stinger Jan 67 - Mar 69.
DeleteJackie, Not sure if you know this but on the day I took a couple of rounds through my jaw the AC on the downed Stinger gunship was Was then Captain Terry Henry. He later was sent to Fort Campbell to help form the famed 160th Night Stalkers. He is mentioned three times in the book Night Stalkers. I saw him at our big Vegas reunion but he never mentioned it He got his 1st star and later retired. I heard from him several times until he passed away.
DeleteI live for comments like these! Men who were their and experienced what we're looking at. Thanks for the photo and thanks for these comments. And thanks to all of you for your service!
ReplyDeleteThank you Sir! Hopefully more of our crews will respond as I notified a number of them. You can google the 116th Assault Helicopter Company and you will find history and several youtube interviews. I will check this conversation daily and we will see how it goes. There are 4-5 books that were written about individuals in the company. Rolla Breed has a great book that covers his time and later careers in aviation. He is definitely one of the good guys!
DeleteAlso started with the Yellow Jackets as a gunner and Tom Callahan recruited me as a gunner with the Stingers. Got shot down 3 times with the hornets and 4 times with the Stingers. Twice in one day with Billy Horton. Got shot through the neck 10 days prior to the end of my deployment. Saw Tom several times through the years, he was a firefighter for the palo verde power plant and I was a hazardous materials specialist for AZ DPS.. we actually took some classes together at the Tempe Fire Department. God Bless all the Hornets, Ernie Freyer
ReplyDeleteErnie, You and I are the only two Stinger door gunners that I know of to have taken rounds to the head or throat to live and and tell the tale. I took two rounds through the lower left jaw losing nine teeth which I am still dealing with as we speak. That happened on August 29, 1967. One month later on September 30, 1967 I took a single round across my chest that lodged in my billfold that I carried in that pocket. I still have the rounds from both days. Great adventures for the both of us. No damn regrets!
DeleteI arrived in Vietnam April/'70 and was assigned to the 116th AHC in Cu Chi. I worked in maintenance as a general mechanic, but soon got moved to engine shop. After we moved to Chu Lai I was put on the night crew. best job I ever had. I flew on test flights on a nightly basis. I still get tears in my eyes when I hear a Huey crank up, and would do it all over again in a heartbeat. The Hornets were the best!!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Home Brothers. regards, Alemaster, 129th AHC/guns
ReplyDeleteLate commenting but I'll second that. H Troop, 17th Cav, Blue Platoon
DeleteYou guys had quite a good reputation yourselves. As I never went north during my tours I'm sure others in the 116th knew of you. Carry On Sir!
Delete"On the Road Again" Canned Heat
ReplyDeleteThe day we did our farewell flight over Cu Chi and moved to Chu Lai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdFTZuUqJ-s ps... the Wasps would have had straighter formation.
ReplyDeleteThere are some Yellow Jackets that might argue that point! Carry one Sir!
Delete"Let There Be Drums", Sandy Nelson... by amazing timing we had AFVN on the intercom when we went into an LZ. Just seemed so perfect with all the M60's going and the gunships firing.
ReplyDelete