Volume 10, Issue 10 CHPA • The Swash Plate www.chpa-us.org

March 2015

From The President Milan Tesanovich

“From The President” Milan Tesanovich

“Above The Best” Jay Brown

“Reunions and Gatherings”

“2015 Convention Update” Milan Tesanovich

• “Michael Novosel Foundation” George Metz

“Medevac at Mutter Ridge” Bill Collier

“Latest From The VA” CHPA Veterans Committee

“Welcome New Members”

“CHPA Store Sale” Jay Brown

“Call For Recipes” Sue Prescott

And much, much more!

Presenting!

Are you leaving active service – retiring or otherwise transitioning back to civilian life – or looking to take a new career path? Then consider finding a job in the cybersecurity arena. There is a huge shortage of candidates for openings in the civil service side of the federal government as well as in the non-government private community. In 2013, a study found that the average (median) salary for those identified as cybersecurity professionals was $101,198. That has risen about 8% per year over the past two years.

When those of you who transitioned from Active to Reserve or Guard service were given classes on transitioning, you probably were informed about a Federal program that gives hiring priority to veterans. On November 9, 2009, President Barack Obama signed Executive Order 13518, Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government, which established the Veterans Employment Initiative. The Initiative is a strategic approach to helping the men and women who have served our country in the military find employment in the Federal Government. It established an interagency Council on Veterans Employment, which is co-chaired by the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs. In support of this initiative, the Federal Government established various websites to assist Veterans with employment and training opportunities. The main website is the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Government-wide Veterans Employment Website, http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx.

One of those specific initiatives is the Wounded Warrior Cyber Combat Academy. The mission of the Wounded Warrior Cyber Combat Academy (W2CCA) is to "Build the Next Generation of Cyber Defenders by Cross-Training the League of Wounded Warriors to help Protect and Defend the Nation's Information Systems." You can learn more about this program here: http://www.w2cca.org/.

There are other programs, such as the FBI’s Cybersecurity Team, https://www.fbijobs.gov/CyberCareers/index.html.

If you prefer working outside the government, there are plenty of cybersecurity related job opportunities in the private sector. You can find out more about how to get training or a more formal education in

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Please feel free to forward

this issue of “The Swash Plate” to

your colleagues, potential

members and other interested

parties!

Share the “Swash”

cybersecurity by visiting this website: http://www.military.com/education/getting-your-

degree/education-in-cybersecurity-a-bright-future.html. I strongly urge you to consider pursuing a career path in

cybersecurity. I did -- ten years ago – I am grateful that I did.

Please consider sponsoring

CHPA’s programs. You may make tax

deductible donations to support the

Goldie Fund, CHPA’s Scholarship

program, the Holiday Boxes for the

Troops, T-shirts for Heroes or the

Association. For further information

please look at Sponsorship at the

website, http://www.chpa-us.org.

Sponsorship

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Reunions and Gatherings

Above The Best Jay Brown

CHPA has partnered with Artist Bryan Snuffer to offer an

18x24" Commemorative Edition Print “Above the Best,” honoring

combat helicopter pilots and crews from Vietnam to present. This

Limited Edition Print is signed by the Artist and numbered. This is

a special limited edition run of 300 pieces and would make an

excellent gift to yourself or a fellow Combat Aircrew member.

Each print lists for $125.00 plus shipping. Click here for complete

ordering information:

http://www.bryansnuffer.com/prints/prints.html#!/ARMY-Above-the-Best-

18x24/p/44898323/category=12403394

The artist will donate 30% of the sales of this print to CHPA. CHPA will apply that donation to the

annual Christmas Boxes for the Troops program and the sponsorship of new Active Duty members.

The alumni association of A Troop of the 2nd Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry (A-2/17), 101st

Airborne Division, US Army is having their reunion in Nashville, TN from May 28 thru May 31,

2015. The reunion will include a trip to Ft. Campbell to spend time with the active troops, visit

the museum and a possible stop at the Cav Shop. For further information contact Mike Mabe

336-782-6258 (mikemabe@mac.com) or visit the website at www.alphatroopalumni.com.

Are you planning a reunion or event that may be of interest to our members? Let us help you get the

word out and support veterans groups of all sizes and locations. Just send a message with the information to HQ@chpa-us.org. If you have a logo, send that along as well.

Be sure to include accurate contact and registration information and we’ll take care of the rest.

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CHPA 2015 Annual Convention Update September 24 - 27

Milan Tesanovich

Concluded on Page 5

CONVENTION HOTEL: The Hilton Indianapolis

Hotel and Suites, located at 120 W. Market Street, Indianapolis Indiana is our reunion hotel. Reservations: The Events Committee negotiated a rate of $129.00 plus tax per night for the following room types: Traditional Queen, 2 Queen Bed Deluxe, Traditional King and 1 King Bed Deluxe. The hotel reservation website link is: http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/I/INDDNHF-COMHPA-20150922/index.jhtml.

If you prefer to call and make your reservation, the number is 1-800-315-1906. If you are planning on attending the reunion, please make your hotel reservation as soon as possible. Deadline for taking advantage of this special room rate is July 15, 2015 or when the group block is “sold-out,” whichever comes first. If you have special needs regarding your room, please make your reservation first so you have a confirmation number. Then contact Ashlee Anderson, our Convention Service Manager, by either email Ashlee.Anderson@Hilton.com (preferred method) or calling 317-822-5875 and she will be happy to assist you. The Hilton is one of the few hotels in downtown Indy who own their own garage so we were able to negotiate a parking rate of $10/daily for self-park and $18/daily for valet with in-out privileges. Attendees will enjoy free internet access in their rooms. The hotel restaurant, 120 West Market, is offering a complete buffet breakfast each morning during your stay for $10 (tax and tip included). The Hilton will provide you with the discount breakfast vouchers upon check-in.

TOURS: The Events Committee is excited to offer a couple of guided tours during the reunion for those who wish to partake. The first tour offered is the Indiana War Memorial, 431 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN. The tours (one Thursday afternoon and one Friday morning) will be conducted by Brigadier General J. Stewart Goodwin, USAF (Retired) who also happens to be the Executive Director. The mausoleum-style limestone and marble memorial was originally built to honor World War I veterans but now pays homage to Hoosiers who served during all wars. The memorial features a military museum with weapons, uniforms, flags, other collections, jeeps and even a Huey Cobra helicopter. The memorial has a working replica of the radio room of the USS Indianapolis that is staffed by Navy veterans. The Shrine Room, which has 24 stained glass windows, is not to be missed. The Indiana War Memorial is approximately ½ mile from the hotel. The tour lasts approximately 1½ - 2 hours. General Goodwin has requested his tours be limited to 20 - 25 individuals each, so if you are interested in this tour, please sign up early.

The second tour (Friday afternoon) is Lucas Oil Stadium where the Indianapolis Colts play their home games. This is a behind-the-scenes tour of this state-of-the-art sports Mecca. Lucas Oil Stadium tours give participants an up-close and personal look at all the stadium has to offer. The tour includes a visit to the playing field, an NFL locker room, Lucas Oil Plaza, the press box, and numerous other areas (depending on availability) that are generally inaccessible to the public. Lucas Oil Stadium is located approximately ½ mile from the hotel. The tour lasts approximately 1 – 1½ hours.

Reunion Registration will be ready soon. Please watch for it in your email, on the CHPA website and in the next Swash Plate.

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**Other sites you might like to visit while in Indianapolis** Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W. Washington - museum visitors are immersed in the many cultures of the

American West and Native America; it’s the only museum in the Midwest to offer this combination of cultures. The museum is located in White River State Park which is approximately ½ mile from the hotel.

Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington – the museum is a dynamic gathering place, inviting

exploration and discovery of art, science and culture. The museum is located in White River State Park which is approximately ½ mile from the hotel.

NCAA Hall of Champions, 700 W. Washington – this completely renovated college-sports museum

entertains and inspires when you explore the galleries filled with interactive exhibits that capture the passion of the NCAA student-athletes. The Hall of Champions is located in White River State Park and is approximately ¾ mile from the hotel.

Sun King Brewing Co., 135 N. College – this is an Indianapolis-based, brewer-owned craft brewery with

a focus on continually creating traditional, seasonal and unique specialty beer. Indianapolis Zoo, 1200 W. Washington – (located in White River State Park) the Zoo’s highlights

include the groundbreaking new international Orangutan Center, which opened in May 2014, and features eight of the endangered great apes. Other highlights include the Ocean exhibit, dolphin experience, and the open exhibit area with 350 different animal species.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian – this museum has five levels and is the

world’s largest children’s museum. You can walk among the dinosaurs, ride a carousel, sit beneath renowned artist Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass, discover the stories of the three children who changed the world in The Power of Children: Making the Difference, and explore archaeology in National Geographic Treasures of the Earth. The museum has 11 permanent galleries, a theater, planetarium, and interactive library. It is a timeless destination for all ages.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum, 4790 W. 16th Street – Built in 1909, the famous

track is a global racing landmark. Over the years, its on-site museum has amassed the world’s largest, most varied collection of racing, classic and antique cars, including more than 30 cars that won the Indianapolis 500. The Tony Hulman Theater presents a 20-minute film depicting the history on the track and race highlights.

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Michael Novosel Foundation George Metz

Michael J. Novosel, Sr., native of Etna, PA, had a military career that spanned three wars. He flew the B-29 Superfortress during the Pacific campaign against the Japanese Empire in World War II. He left the US Air Force in 1953 to join the Air Force Reserves. In 1963 he decided to return to active duty to serve in Vietnam. When informed the US Air Force was over strength in its senior ranks, he vacated his position as US Air Force Reserves Lieutenant Colonel and accepted an appointment as a US Army Aviation Warrant Officer in 1964. He served in Vietnam with the 283rd Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance) from January 1966 to January 1967, and with the 82nd Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance) from March 1969 to March 1970. During his two tours in Vietnam he evacuated more than 5,000 wounded South Vietnamese and US soldiers.

CW4 Novosel was a fixed wing and rotary wing aviator and was in the military for 44 years. He was rated in single and multi-engine airplanes, single and multi-engine jets aircraft and helicopters. He accumulated 12,400 military flight hours including 2,038 combat hours. At the time of his retirement in Feb 1985, he was the last World War II military aviator on active flying duty in the United States. He became known as the “Last Eagle.” CW4 received the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross with “V” Device and “60” Device, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with two Battle Stars, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two hour Glass Devices, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Philippine Independence Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Air Force Command Pilot Badge, Army Master Aviator Badge and the Air Assault Badge.

CW4 Novosel was inducted into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame in June 1975, designated as the “Elder Statesman of Aviation” by the National Aeronautic Association of America in November 1988, member of the “Order of Military Medical Merit” and inducted into the Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Hall of Fame.

The Michael J. Novosel Foundation was established in 2007 by Michael J. Novosel, Jr. and CHPA member, George Metz. Sadly Michael Novosel, Jr. passed away December 10, 2009. George Metz proudly carries on the commitment of the foundation; “No soldier will be forgotten, no troop marginalized and no warrior left behind … in battle or at home.”

The Foundation exists to be the advocate, to assist National Guard and Reservists with the challenges of transitioning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan to Civilian lives. After the bright lights of the media have faded, our Warrior return home to find the very system designed to help them is, all too often, not working. Today the need is still great and the commitment of the Foundation is the same. Our National Guard and Reservists need assistance with rent, mortgage, and utility payments, carpentry, transportation and more.

Visit their website at NovoselFoundation.Org for information and to help. You can donate money, time and/or materials to help Guard and Reserve veterans and their families. 100% of all donations go directly to the needs of the veterans – there are no administrative costs. The website, video, participation in projects, fundraising events, and veteran assistance were all donated by current and past contributors. Everything is donated. You may also contact the Foundation by calling 412-266-8823 or 412-269-9266.

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Medevac at Mutter Ridge Bill Collier

Continued on Page 8

An excerpt from the book, "The Adventures of a Helicopter Pilot, Flying the H-34 Helicopter in Vietnam for the USMC."

by Bill Collier. http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Helicopter-Pilot-helicopter-Vietnam/dp/1500936138/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427739883&sr=1-

1&keywords=the+adventures+of+a+helicopter+pilot

About 2000 hours, well after dark in the tropics, we were called out on an emergency medical evacuation (medevac) at Mutter Ridge. There had been a hell of a battle going on this hillside for weeks, as the 4th Marines were slogging their way up a hill, trying to take the high ground away from the enemy. In this ferocious battle there were many marine casualties. Our squadron helicopters had been out there numerous times over the previous few days re-supplying the unit and rescuing dozens of wounded marines. After going through the usual trio of telephone calls, we launched out on a perilous mission.

We co-pilots clambered up the sides of our Sikorsky H-34’s, slid into our co-pilot’s seats and fired up the powerful Wright 1525 horsepower, nine cylinder radial engines. The two pilots or Helicopter Aircraft Commanders (HACs) arrived from the detailed briefing, climbed in and took command. We blasted off into the black night sky. I was flying co-pilot for a senior first lieutenant. He had flown out to Mutter Ridge many times in the few days prior. He knew where we were going, he knew what to do and he knew well how to do it. I felt confident being with him and that he would take care of me.

He did; much better than I ever could have imagined. As we departed Dong Ha, we radioed “Landshark Charlie,” the disembodied voice in the ethers in charge of artillery in our area. At our request Landshark took the precaution of shutting down the outgoing artillery from near our base to the contested area. We would notify him upon our return to base so outgoing artillery could resume firing.

On the way out to the landing zone (LZ), there were no city lights to brighten our way, no villages with fires burning to help us discern terrain. No street or highway lights, no car lights. The moon was just past full but had not yet risen. Once airborne, we navigated our way by using our TACAN navigation radio. (This radio displayed on a flight instrument gauges how far away we were from our home base and what compass radial we were on relative to home base.)

We flew the twelve miles, west by northwest, out to the Mutter Ridge area and made radio contact with the grunts on the ground. Once we got near the LZ it was obvious where we were to land, as hundreds of tracers lighted up the area of the battle, and the occasional flash of a grenade or mortar explosion added to the fireworks. This LZ was hot, very hot.

I was a nugget, a brand new gold-bar second lieutenant. I was a newbie, a combat virgin, along for the ride. I had not yet been into a hot landing zone. I had not yet been out to Mutter Ridge. I had not yet done a high-hover hoist pick-up, and this was my very first night combat flight in Vietnam. My main job was to watch the instruments when the lieutenant was busy hovering, to prevent his over-boosting (too much power) or over-speeding (too many revs) the engine.

We verified that they had a very seriously wounded marine who needed to be rescued right away, or he might die. This was truly an emergency medevac. At times, talking to the radio operator grunt on the ground, gunfire in the background and his heavy, labored breathing told us things were less than cozy on the ground around him. This situation was most challenging. The problem presented to us was: fly down to the battle, establish a stable hover over ninety-foot tall trees, hold that hover for around 5 minutes while lowering the rescue basket down through the trees to the marines so

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Concluded on Page 9

they could load their wounded man. Then we had to retrieve the basket with the marine in it. We must do all of this in near-total darkness.

It was going to be a very long 5 minutes. We spiraled carefully down to establish a hover above the landing zone. On the way down I extinguished all external lights to make us invisible to the enemy on the ground. Once we were in a stable but precarious hover, the crew chief began operating the hydraulic hoist, unreeling the cable to lower the litter basket down to the marines.

With our engine at nearly full power, I hoped the horrific roar of our engine was causing the enemy to hunker down in fear. I hoped they thought we would shoot back if they shot at us, as we truly could have. The crew chief and gunner each had an M-60 machine gun and were ready and able to return fire. Of course if the crew did return fire, our tracers would light us up as a bright target for the enemy. Also, the crew chief was really too busy at the moment running the hoist to be shooting his M-60.

It was extremely difficult for the lieutenant to maintain a hover in the dark over these ninety-foot tall trees. The only ground reference he had to relate to was the geometric plane created by sparkling tracers, red for the marines, green for the enemy, whizzing across the battlefield, back and forth underneath us. But the terrain, our only plane of reference, was tilted at a 30 to 45 degree from level.

Normally, hovering a helicopter is a simple matter for any helicopter pilot with just a wee bit of experience. I remember well my first few attempts at hovering in the final stages of Navy flight school. I had recently finished the final portion of airplane training and earned my Navy gold wings by landing my T-28C “Trojan” fighter-bomber on the aircraft carrier USS LEXINGTON. Then I advanced to helicopter training at Ellyson Field, north of Pensacola.

My first few attempts at hovering were absolute frustration. I was all over the four sides of a mile square field, bobbing up and down like a yo-yo. My instructor, Naval Lieutenant Bickum, let me go wild for a few moments until I was nearly out of control, then he calmly took over control of the machine, effortlessly put it back in the middle of the large field, and let me start again. After three or four attempts, I was able to keep the small Bell H-13 (Whirlybird) inside the limits of the mile square field. By then, I was completely exhausted and drenched with sweat. I learned quickly after that with lots of practice.

The lieutenant was having great difficulty holding a stable hover. Trying to hover over the sloping ground caused him to repeatedly tilt the helicopter away from the vertical, causing us to drift away from the marines. If we drifted too far in a northerly direction, we might drift into trees on the upslope, infested with the enemy. We also might drag the basket through the trees, endangering the wounded marine now in it, and even perhaps entangling our cable in the tree tops. The mission was in jeopardy, as were we. To make things even more interesting, occasionally an errant burst of tracers would rise vertically, some of them passing uncomfortably close to us. We knew each visible tracer bullet represented 4-5 bullets.

There was only one solution. The lieutenant asked me, “Bill, do you know where the hover/flood light switch is?” My first thought was that there was no way he was going to ask me to turn on those lights. To do so meant certain, instant death for the whole crew! So I answered him with a simple: “Yes, sir.” A millisecond later I realized, Omygod! He is going to have me flip that switch! When those lights come on, we will be the biggest and brightest target in all of Vietnam. We are hovering over who-knows-how-many hundreds or thousands of NVA (North Vietnamese Army troops). We are going to be so shot full of holes that we will explode into a ball of fire!

Then the Lieutenant said to me, (…and this is no shit!) “When I tell you, turn on those lights.” I placed my fingers on the toggle switch on the overhead panel. I knew I was done for, but what could I

do? Refuse an order? I was a marine, “Death before dishonor” was our creed. I was duty bound to do what my

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pilot in command told me to do, even if it meant my immediate, fiery death. This is it! I am going to die in this war, right here, right now! I only hoped that I would get shot and die quickly, and not bounce down through the tall trees in the thrashing and crashing, flopping and chopping, slicing and dicing, whirling ball of exploding, flame-spewing helicopter as it tumbled down through the trees, to be burned to death, most painfully and slowly!

He told me to turn on the lights. Without argument or discussion, I dutifully toggled that switch. Now I die! The results were amazing. Absolute silence! Every single man on the ground, marine and enemy

combatant alike, must have thought he was the most exposed fellow on the planet. Each one, feeling that he was going to be the next soldier to be shot, threw himself into the nearest foxhole or into the shadow of the nearest tree. The battle completely ceased for at least 90 seconds while we hovered there, fully lighted up like a light standard at a Friday night high school football game. It seemed like forever.

Nothing happened. Nothing! We never once got shot at! Why the enemy soldiers on the ground did not roll over on their backs and give us full salvos of hundreds of 7.62 mm AK-47 bullets, I will never know. I would not have been surprised to have a marine shoot at us, to protect himself and his fellow marines from our floodlights. (But then, the marines knew one of their own was being rescued.)

The crew chief finished hoisting up the wounded marine and pulled him into the helicopter. When the lieutenant could see that the victim was clear of the trees, he told me to switch off the lights. With great relief I did so, amazed to be still alive and not a crispy critter in a heap of steaming, smoking rubble on the hillside.

We delivered the wounded marine to Delta Med, the field hospital. We never got any feedback on these missions. We never knew if the marines we rescued lived or died, unless one died on board. This did happen on board my aircraft at least once.

I, the new guy on the block, a brand new gold bar “nugget” second lieutenant, combat virgin, had no idea what a courageous and heroic thing the Lieutenant just accomplished. I thought that this was an every-day routine kind of thing, something that these more experienced guys did all the time. I knew I would soon be expected to do similar work. I wondered if I was up to it. In my own time, in my own way, I was.

It was only decades later that I realized what a tremendously brave and wondrous thing the Lieutenant did that night over Mutter Ridge, how courageous he had been. He put his life (and mine, and the crew’s) on the line to rescue a fellow marine. If I’d had any idea at the time, I would have written him up for a medal. This mission was worthy of at least a Silver Star, if not the big one, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

I feel his heroism was equal to Admiral Spruance turning on the lights of his aircraft carrier to recover his planes at the end of the battle of Midway in World War II. He risked torpedo attack by Japanese submarines, but in doing so Spruance recovered his experienced pilots and their aircraft. The pilots were vital to the outcome of World War II.

This rescue was such a traumatic event for me that I blanked it out of my memory until recently. The lieutenant’s name isn’t listed in my aviator’s logbook. I must access some unit records somewhere, to find out who he was. If I learn who he was, I may yet write him up for that medal. But at the same time, our attitude was: “We were not here to get medals; we‘re here to rescue wounded marines.” As Master Gunnery Sergeant Massey (one of my drill sergeants in the earliest stage of flight school) would have growled, “Don’t thank me. I’m just doing my job.”

From archives I have been able to find, here is the Command Chronology entry for this exciting event: “29 August, 1966. One medevac was particularly noteworthy, as it necessitated a 90 foot hover at

1,000 feet of altitude and a basket pick up of a US wounded. This was completed without incident.” This is somewhat of an understatement!

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Online Tools, Standardized Forms, and More Effective March 24th, 2015, VA is implementing improvements to make it easier for you to apply for

benefits. Online application tools, standardized forms, and a new intent to file process will create faster and

more accurate decisions on your claims and appeals. What does it all mean? As part of the VA’s full-scale transformation in 2015, these new changes will:

Streamline the benefits process, making it faster and easier Use standardized forms to file disability claims and compensation appeals Establish a new intent to file a claim process

Learn more about these important changes and see how they affect you:

Sign Up to receive updates from Veterans Affairs. Having questions or

problems? Please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com for assistance.

If you are in crisis and need immediate help, please call 1-800-273-8255 and (PRESS 1) or

visit http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/.

Please remember the only secure way to ask personal questions is at https://iris.custhelp.com.

Explore VA benefits at explore.va.gov

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Welcome New Members

CHPA continues to receive quite an assortment of patches from our members. These patches are displayed at our booth at HAI, Quad A, and VHPA. Several of you have donated patches, but we’re always looking for more. They are very eye catching and help us garner attention. So please dig through your old patches and if you have some you’d like to share, send them to us at:

CHPA • PO Box 42 • Divide, CO 80814-0042

GOT PATCHES?

CHPA extends a hearty “Welcome Aboard” to these new members, who have joined so far in March,

2015.

Ed Clark Elmer Davis Frederick DeLoach Bill Flowers Gerard Gout Allan Grissom Mike Hardy Steven Hickman Monte Johnson Joshua McCann Bradley Nelson Ronald Paye Jay Sepanek Newman Shufflebarger Ian Turner

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Gift Hunt 2015 Ed Turner

CHPA MERCHANDISE NOW ON SALE

+

+

+

VISIT THE CHPA STORE AT http://www.chpa-us.org/chpa-store TO SHOP FOR HIGH

QUALITY T-SHIRTS, POLO SHIRTS, BUTTON DOWNS, JACKETS, PATCHES, DECALS, CHALLENGE

COINS AND MANY OTHER ITEMS FOR YOURSELF OR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE. TAKE

ADVANTAGE OF OUR LIMITED TIME SPECIALS.

CHPA Polo Shirt CHPA Logo Patch Flight Crewmember Tab CHPA Baseball Cap

Closeout Special: We’ve extended the current sale where you can buy a high quality poplin button down shirt (Khaki or black) or a CHPA wind breaker at regular price and get a 16 oz CHPA travel mug half off regular price. Sizes limited to stock on hand. And, we’ve sweetened the pot. For a limited time we’ve reduced the price of the Jimmie Moore print, “Goin’ Home” 20%, and with your purchase of a print we’ll throw in a poplin button down shirt, either khaki or black, and a CHPA travel mug free.

FREE

½ off

½ off

20% off

Visit the store to shop these other quality items available.

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The Swash!

One of the things we all know, nobody tells a better story than a combat helicopter crewmember, whether it’s the truth or “enhanced truth.” Our most entertaining and informative stories come from you, our membership. We often receive responses from our members when an article is published that opens a memory or touches a nerve, in a good way.

So where are all the story tellers out there? All you veterans of the skies of OEF and OIF with an idea for an article, or a story to tell it’s as easy as sending it in. Take a moment to lay fingers on keyboard or just put pen to paper and send them in. You can email them to hq@chpa-us.org or through the US Post Office to: CHPA • PO Box 42 • Divide, CO 80814-0042

Help us help you tell the tales of your experiences and continue to preserve our shared legacy of combat under a rotor disc.

[Call for Articles]

How Are We Doing? Jay Brown

Call For Recipes Jay Brown

Every month we try to bring you articles and notices that interest all of our members. Of course that

entails gathering news items and articles from various sources and varying topics, from the humorous to serious news of world events. We hope we’re meeting your needs and providing entertainment and we’d love to hear from you on whether we’re meeting those goals. If you have a comment or suggestion on what we’ve done well, where we could improve or want to submit a story drop us an email at HQ@chpa-us.org or give us a call at 800-832-5144 and let us know. Always of particular interest are stories from our members and supporters. Anything from tales of woe in Flight School to genuine TINS TIW stories can be submitted. So drop us a line and tell your story.

Calling all aviators, past and present; aviators' partners and anyone else. CHPA will be assembling a

cookbook for sale to members and non-members (OK, Everyone) and we invite you to participate. If you will, send in your favorite recipes for inclusion. We'd like recipes for beverages, snacks/apps, sides, entrees and sweets. Hey, if you can come up with a helicopter related name for them, that's even better.

Please submit the recipes to recipesCHPA@yahoo.com in Word or RTF format, if you can, but we can accommodate almost any format (with a little more work). Also, please remember, if you want to submit a recipe you copied from a website or book, change up the directions (they're the copyrightable content). Or let us know that they need to be changed; and please give attribution to the author. (This just keeps us safe.)

Depending on the response, this cookbook may be available at the Annual Convention in Indianapolis in September.

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Call on Us! Contact Quick Reference Chairman of the Board – Robert Frost Buzz Covington Chairman@chpa-us.org BCovington@chpa-us.org President – Mick Tesanovich Mark Hilton Call us! president@chpa-us.org MHilton@chpa-us.org 800•832•5144 VP Administration – Rich Miller Alex Horony Fax us! admin@chpa-us.org AHorony@chpa-us.org 719•687•4167 VP Membership – Al Major Randy Jones Write us! membership@chpa-us.org RJones@chpa-us.org CHPA

PO Box 42 Secretary – Rhea Rippey Dan McClinton Divide, CO 80814-0042 secretary@chpa-us.org DMcClinton@chpa-us.org Treasurer – VACANT Randy Zahn Remember! RZahn@chpa-us.org Feel free to contact

us any time. Executive Director – Jay Brown HQ@chpa-us.org