swash plate may 2013

Volume 9, Issue 2 CHPA • The Swash Plate www.chpa-us.org

May2013

• “President’sMessage” RobertFrost

• “USNavyCrewRepatriated” DPMO

• ”LongReturnofWOMeade” JosephP.Blank

• “OH‐58FFirstFlight” DefenseDaily

• “ReunionsandGatherings”

• ConventionNotes

• JobOpenings

andmuch,muchmore!

Presenting!President’sMessageRobertFrost

ThisMemorialDay,asyouenjoyyourtime off from work and your three‐dayweekendwithfamilyandfriends,pleasetakeamomenttothinkof thosewhohavegiveneverything that they hadwhile wearing theuniformofthisnation.Sincethefoundingofour nation, some 50 million of our citizenshave served in the United States Military.Roughlyhalfof themarealive today. Everyveteran has contributed to this nation andhasearnedourpermanentgratitude.Thoseofuswhoservedandsurvivedarecalledveterans.WehonortheserviceofourveteranseveryNovember

11th,VeteransDay.ThisMay27thisMemorialDayandthatisthedaywehonorthosewhoservedandneverlived tobecalledveterans. 1.2millionmenandwomenhavemade theultimatesacrifice in service toournationsincetheAmericanRevolution.

FreedomIsNotFree‐KellyStrong

Iwatchedtheflagpassbyoneday.Itflutteredinthebreeze.AyoungMarinesalutedit,andthenhestoodatease.IlookedathiminuniformSoyoung,sotall,soproud,He'dstandoutinanycrowd.Ithoughthowmanymenlikehimhadfallenthroughtheyears.Howmanydiedonforeignsoil?Howmanymothers'tears?Howmanypilots'planesshotdown?Howmanydiedatsea?Howmanyfoxholesweresoldiers'graves?No,freedomisn'tfree.

HAVEATHOUGHTFULMEMORIALDAY


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IheardthesoundofTAPSonenight,WheneverythingwasstillIlistenedtothebuglerplayAndfeltasuddenchill.IwonderedjusthowmanytimesThatTAPShadmeant"Amen,"WhenaflaghaddrapedacoffinOfabrotherorafriend.Ithoughtofallthechildren,Ofthemothersandthewives,Offathers,sonsandhusbandsWithinterruptedlives.IthoughtaboutagraveyardAtthebottomofthesea,OfunmarkedgravesinArlington.No,freedomisn'tfree.

WeatCHPAareaspecialgroupofwarriors:WHY?

BECAUSEWEFLEWAuthorUnknown

Once thewings go on, they never come offwhether they can be seen or not. It fuses to the soulthroughadversity,fearandadrenaline,andnoonewhohaseverwornthemwithpride,integrityandgutscaneversleepthroughthe“callofthewild”thatwaftsthroughbedroomwindowsinthedeepofthenight.Whenagoodflyerleavesthe“job”andretires,manyarejealous,somearepleasedandyetothers,whomayhavealreadyretired,wonder.Wewonder ifheknowswhathe is leavingbehind,becausewealreadyknow. Weknow, forexample, thataftera lifetimeof camaraderie that fewexperience, itwill remainasa longing forthosepasttimes.Weknowintheworldofflying,thereisafellowshipwhichlastslongaftertheflightsuitsarehungupinthebackofthecloset.Weknowevenifhethrowsthemaway,theywillbeonhimwitheverystepandbreaththatremainsinhislife.Wealsoknowhowtheverybearingofthemanspeaksofwhathewasandinhisheartstillis.Becauseweflew,weenvynomanonearth.


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USNavyHeloCrewAccountedForDPMO

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced that a Navy pilot,

missingfromtheVietnamWar,hasbeenaccountedforandwillbeburiedwithfullmilitaryhonorsalongwithhiscrew.

NavyLtDennisW.PetersonofHuntingtonPark,CA,wasthepilotofaSH‐3AhelicopterthatcrashedinHaNamProvince,NorthVietnam.PetersonwasaccountedforonMar30th,2012.AlsoaboardtheaircraftwereENSDonaldP.FryeofLosAngeles,CA;AviationAntisubmarineWarfareTechniciansWilliamB.JacksonofStockdale, TX; and Donald P.McGrane ofWaverly, IA. The crewwas buried, as a group, onMay 2nd atArlingtonNationalCemetery.

On July 19th, 1967, the four servicemen took off from the USS Hornet aboard an SH‐3A Sea Kinghelicopteron a searchand rescuemission looking for adownedpilot inHaNamProvince,NorthVietnam.During the mission, an enemy concealed 37mm gun position targeted the helicopter as it flew in. Thehelicopterwashitbyanti‐aircraftgunfire,causingtheaircraftto losecontrol,catchfireandcrash,killingallfourservicemen.

In October 1982, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) repatriated five boxes of remains to USofficials.In2009,theremainswithintheboxeswereidentifiedasFrye,Jackson,andMcGrane.

In 1993, a joint US/SRV team investigated a loss in Ha Nam Province. The team interviewed localvillagerswho identifiedpossibleburialsites linkedtothe loss. One localclaimedtohaveburiedtwoofthecrewmennearthewreckage,butindicatedthatbothgraveshadsubsequentlybeenexhumed.

Between1994and2000,threejointUS/SRVteamsexcavatedtheprevioussiteandrecoveredhumanremainsandaircraftwreckagethatcorrelatedtothecrew’sSH‐3Ahelicopter.In2000,USpersonnelexcavatedthe crash site recovering additional remains. Analysis from the Joint POW/MIA Command CentralIdentificationLaboratorysubsequentlydesignatedtheseadditional remainsastheco‐mingledremainsofallfourcrewmen,includingPeterson.

DoDscientistsusedforensictoolsandcircumstantialevidenceintheidentificationoftheremains.For additional information on the Defense Department’smission to account formissing Americans,

visittheDPMOwebsiteatwww.dtic.mil/dpmoorcall703‐699‐1420.


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Please feel free to forward this issue of “The Swash Plate” to your colleagues, potential members and other interested parties!

Sharethe“Swash”

ContinuedonPage4

TheSwash!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 mostentertaining and informative stories come from you, our membership. We oftenreceived responses from our members when an article is published that opens amemoryortouchesanerve,inagoodway.

Thestorieswehearareaboutanythingfromflightschooltoreal lifethere‐I‐was

stories. We’ve published several stories over the years ranging from tales of flightschoolalong,longtimeagoto“warstories”thatwe’resuremostofyoucanidentifywith.Butweneedmorestories.StoriesfromVietnamandmoreimportantlyIraqandAfghanistan.Thoseconflictsandthosestoriesarefartoountold.

So, all youveteransof the skiesofOEFandOIFwithan idea foranarticle,ora

storytotellit’saseasyassendingitin.Takeamomenttolayfingersonkeyboardorjustputpen topaperand send them in. You canemail them tohq@chpa‐us.orgorthroughtheUSPostOfficeto:CHPA•POBox42•Divide,CO80814‐0042

Helpushelpyoutellthetalesofyourexperiencesandcontinuetopreserveoursharedlegacyofcombatunderarotordisc.

[CallForArticles]

PleaseconsidersponsoringCHPA’sprograms.YoumaymaketaxdeductibledonationstosupporttheGoldieFund,CHPA’sScholarshipprogram,theHolidayBoxesfortheTroops,T‐shirtsforHeroesortheAssociation.ForfurtherinformationpleaselookatSponsorshipatthewebsite,http://www.chpa‐us.org.

Sponsorship


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The Long Return of WO Meade byJosephP.Blank(ReprintedwithpermissionfromtheDecember1970Reader'sDigest)

ContinuedonPage6

“Hewas hurt so cruelly,” his doctor recalls, “that life became unbearable.” Then, slowly, amiraclebegantounfold.

“You ought to go home,” the Army neurosurgeon told Kathy Meade. “There’s no point in your

continuingtolivehereatthehospital.Ifyourhusbandeverwakesfromhiscoma—Idoubtthathe’lleverbeabletofunctionasahumanbeing.”

Thedoctor’sfrankappraisalstunnedyoungKathy,whowasfourmonthspregnant.Shereturnedinadazetotheintensive‐careroomatMadiganGeneralHospital,Tacoma,WA,whereherhusband,CWOJamesP.Meade,Jr.,20,laydying.Acastcoveredhisentiretrunkandbadlyfractured,deeplyinfectedleftleg.Hisfracturedrightanklewasinacast.Onesideofhisheadwasindentedfromlossofboneandshowedtwoburrholeswhere Army surgeons in South Vietnamhad drilled exploratively. Hisweight had plunged from 145poundstoanemaciated80.

ToKathy,itseemedimpossiblethatthispatheticfigurewasherhusband.Only16weeksearlier,hehadbeeninperfecthealth—andeagertoreachVietnam.Thesonofacareersergeant‐majorintheArmy,hehadenlistedafterayearattheUniversityofOregon,wherehehadbeenabrilliantstudentandpresidentofthefreshmanhonorsociety.

“I can’tgoonwith schoolwhilemenaredyingout there,”hehad toldKathy in their frequent talksabout thewar. “I’vegot todosomethingtosave lives,andthebestway is formetobecomeahelicopterpilot.”

Jim and Kathyweremarried shortly before hewent to South Vietnam,where he immediately sawcombat.Heflewdayandnight,andinlessthanfourmonthswasshotdownthreetimes.Onthethirdcrashhe drifted his falling ship into trees at an angle that exposed himself to the greatest danger and his threecrewmentotheleast.Atimpact,thebrokenbutstill‐spinningrotorbladessmashedthroughthecockpit,torehishelmettobits,gougedoutpartofhisskullandbatteredhisbrain.Hewastheonlyoneinjured.

TrappedAnimal.FifteendaysafterthecrashJimwaswheeledintoMadiganGeneral,whereamedicalteamheadedbyaMAJGeorgePalmer(nothis realname)quicklywenttowork. Theymaderepairsonhisbattered body, fed him nutrients intravenously, got his blood chemistry into balance. But they could donothingaboutthebraindamagethatcausedhisstrangecoma. Aftera fewdayshiseyesopened,buttheyremained unfocused and expressionless. Frenetically active, he had to be tied to the bed with towels.Incomprehensibleanimalsoundscamefromhisthroat.

KathyandJim’smotherwereathisbedsidethroughouttheday,tryingtobreakthroughthecomabygivinghimeverypossibleexpressionoflove.Periodically,theyremovedhisarmrestraints.Andeachtimehetriedtothrowhimselfoutofbed,biting,snarling,growling.Unabletoexpresshimselflikeahumanbeing,hebehavedlikeatrappedanimal.

MAJ Palmer could offer no hope. “Wewere losing him,” he recalls, “and I had the feeling that hewantedtogo.Hehadbeensocruellyhurtthatlifewasunbearable.”

Jim’smother, a surgery‐room nurse in a civilian hospital, also recognized that her sonwas sinking.“YouandIknowthatheisdying,”shetoldMAJPalmer.“Can’tyoutrysomethingelse?”

The major had concluded that Jim remained aliveonlybecauseofthelovingattentionofhiswifeandmother.


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ContinuedonPage7

Whatmighthelptoliftthecoma,hethought,wouldbetheadditionalcareandconcernofothers. Perhapstheanswercouldbe found in thehospital’sorthopedicWard13,whichhousedsomeof theVietnamwar’smostseriouslydisabledamputees.

“Ward13hada finespirit,”MAJPalmer laterexplained. “Thementhere,having foughtdepressionandemotionalwithdrawal,weremorecapableofhelpingJimthanallthehospital’sdoctorsandnurses.Ward13washisonlychance,althougharemoteone.”

“HelpUs.” 1LTCaroleBurke,headnurseontheward,told itsoccupantsonlythatayoungchopperpilotwithaheadinjury,whocouldneithertalknorrespond,wasbeingadmitted.Sheaskednothingofthem.Sheknewtheyhadagreatrespectforthesepilots: each,infact,hadbeencarriedfromthebattlefieldtoahospitalbyArmyhelicopter.

The men glance up casually as Jim was wheeled into the ward. Two nurses removed the towelrestraintsfromhisrawwrists,thenpostedthemselvesoneithersideofhisbed.Inafewminutesapatientina cast hobbled over. “I’ll stay with him,” he said. Soon two other patients drifted by and began aconversation; although Jim seemed oblivious to it, he was included. During the next 24 hours the menloungedaroundJim’sbed,spoon‐fedhimmeals,playedtheradio,bantered,kiddedwiththenurses.AllthewhileJimwastreatedasifhewere“there”—aware,participating.

Afterafewdays,Jim’shyperactivity—thebitingandwrithing—subsided.Hetooklongnaps,curledlikeafetus.Itmayhavebeenthathewaspreparingtobe“born”again,MAJPalmersurmised,ashithertounusedcellsintherightsideofthebrainwerebeingactivatedtotakeoverthefunctionsofthedestroyedcellsintheleftside.

Whenhegrewrestlessinbed,nursesandpatientsmovedhimintoawheelchairandpushedhimintothe semicircle of amputees around the television set. “Want towatch a ball game, Jim?” one asked. Noresponse.“Wantsomeicecream,Jim?”Noresponse.

“I—Love—You.” More than amonth went by while themen eagerly watched Jim for any sign ofchange.ThenonedayaveterantoldNurseBurke,“Ithinkhelookedatme.Forjustaflash.”

GraduallyJim’seyesbegantofocus,tolookatthings,atpeople.Andnow,ashebeganemergingfromhiscoma,puzzlementreplacedtheempty,unseeingexpression. Neitherhenor thedoctorsrealizedat thistime that the chopperbladeshaddestroyedaportionofhisbrain’smemory cells. Likean infant, Jimwaslookingataworldhecouldn’trecognize.

Actually,hewasmorehelplessthananinfant.Hecouldn’ttalk,laughorcry.Thepaininhisleftlegwasdeepandsearing,buthehadnowaytoexpressit.Asthedayspassed,andapartofhisintelligencereturned,hebecameconvincedthathisinabilitytocommunicatemeanthewasdying.Hesankintodeepdepression.

ButWard13wouldhavenoneofit.Prodding,cajoling,theyforcedhimintoaction.Helearnedtonodorshakehisheadinanswertoquestions.Helearnedtoeatonhisownpower—byreachingerraticallyforthefoodandthrowingittowardhismouth.Hewantedtotalk.Heworkedhismouth,grimaced,pushed,fought.Butthewordssimplywouldn’tcomeout.

Then,earlyoneMonday, ithappened. NurseBurkeenteredWard13withacheery“Goodmorning,gentlemen.” As she passed Jim’s wheelchair she thought she heard him answer, “Goo’ moorn’.” Was itwishfulhearing?Hiseyestoldherthathehadmadethesounds.

That sameday, he greetedKathywith threebarely understandable andobviously rehearsedwords.“I—love—you,”hesaid.

Her heart jumped. She repeated the words to him. Then she pointed to her expanding middle.“Baby,” she said. He tried furiously to say theword. Hecouldn’t.Hetriedotherwords.Theywouldn’tcome.Then


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ConcludedonPage8

hewentlimp,asiftosay,“Whytry?It’shopeless.”Kathyleanedoverhim.“Youcan’tgiveup,”shewhispered.“Weneedyou.You’regoingtomakeit.”

Thensheexcusedherself,wenttotheladies’roomandbawled,outofhopeandfear,andsympathyforherhusbandinhisterriblestruggle.

MakingIt. NothingcameeasytoJimashefoughtto“growup.”Toread,hefirsthadtorelearnhisABCs.Thenheprogressedtochildren’sbooksofthe“Look,Jane,there’sSpot”variety.Hisgreatestproblemwasmakinghislegs,handsandvoicerespondtohisbrain’scommands.Ittookhimnearlyayeartogofromscatteringfoodacrossthetabletocuttinghismeatandbringingitaccuratelytohismouth.

Writing,evensimplewordslike“cat,”wasanordeal.Hewouldforgethowtospellthewordorhowtoprint the letters. He couldn’t write in a straight line, make the letters the same size or keep one fromoverlappinganother.But,finally,thereitwas—alegibleCAT.

It took Jimnearly threeyearsof sweat, strainanddetermination towalkwithout supports. Fromawheelchair, and still wearing a leg cast, he moved to crutches. One afternoon he joined other disabledveteranswhowerebouncingaballoffahandballwall. Hedroppedhiscrutchestoseeifhecouldmaintainbalanceandmovejustalittle.Hereachedfortheball—andfell.Chockingbacktearsoffrustration,hepickeduphiscrutches,wentaroundtothebackofthegymandpoundedhisheadagainstthewall.

Hisfatherunderstoodhisfeelings. “Jim,”hetoldhim,“you’vedonealotofthingsthatmostpeoplethoughtyou’dneverbeable todo. Iknowyoucan learntowalk. Let’sget toworkon it.” Athis father’shome,whereJimnowspentperiodicleaves,theelderMeadebuilta30‐foot‐longwoodplatformwithhip‐highparallel railings. Usingtherailing forsupport, Jimtriedtowalk. Hefell,gotup, fell—andkept fallinguntil,exhausted,hecouldnolongerpullhimselfup.

Undaunted,hecrawledupanddowntheplatform,tryingtocoordinatethemovementsofhislegsandarms.Heperformedtheseexercisesforweeksuntilhecouldcrawlaswellasanormalyear‐oldinfant.Backtotherails,now,andhewasabletotakesomestepswithoutfalling. “I’vegottomakeit,”hetoldhimself.“I’vegotto.”Andhisfather,besidehimeveryminute,assuredhim,“Youwill,youwill.”

Fromtheparallelbarshewenttocanes,walking,weaving,staggering,falling.Slowly,overthemonths,helearnedtomaintainhisbalance,towalkinastraightline,tomaneuverstreetcurbs.InFebruary1970hewalkedinWard13withabiggrinonhisface—andnocanes.Thirtymonthsafteroneauthorityhadlabeledhima“hopelessvegetable,”JimMeadewasclearlymakingit.

FromDtoB.InSeptember1969hehadtakenanotherlongstep,enrollinginthetwo‐yearMt.HoodCommunityCollegeontheoutskirtsofPortland. Itwastough. Hewasself‐consciousabouthis limpinggaitandoccasionallyslurredspeech.Hecouldn’ttakenotesfastenough.Homeworktookhimthreetimeslongerthantheaveragestudent.

“Ifeltsodumb,soworthless,”Jimrecalls.“Why,Ievenhadtolearntoadd,subtractandmultiply.Itwasterriblenottobeabletokeepup.”

Hebecamedespondent. “Thenhe rememberedwhatpeoplehaddone forhim,” recalls his collegecounselor,psychologistPatrickLoughary.“Hedevelopedanambitiontohelpothers,ashehadbeenhelped.Hisdeterminationreturned,andhechangedremarkably.IneightmonthsherosefromaDtoaBstudent.”

JimreceivedhisdiplomafromMt.HoodinJune1970andisnowstudyingforadegreeinpsychologyatPortlandStateUniversity. “Iwant toget intoworkwhere I canusewhat I’ve learned tohelppeople,” Jimexplains.“Apersonwhoisdeeplyhurtfeelsverylonely.It’shardtosurvivethisfeeling.Butlovecanmakethedifference.EveninmycomaImusthavefelttheloveofmy familyandwardmates,and feltmy love for them. If Ihadn’t,therewouldhavebeennoreasontogoon.Surely,I


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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, CO80814‐0042

GOT PATCHES?

wouldhavedied.”___________________CHPAMemberRobert“Russell”Jones,whoobtainedpermissionfromReader’sDigestforthisreprint,

addsthefollowing:Fortherecord,CW2JamesMeadewasshotdownonMay8,1967.Inlessthanfourmonthsofdutyin

Vietnam,hewasawardedtheDistinguishedFlyingCross,BronzeStar,twoPurpleHearts,andtenAirMedals.Iwasahelicopterpilotwiththe196thLightInfantryBrigadein1968,andCSMJamesMeade,fatherof

CW2Meade,wasapassengerofmineonmanyoccasions. Weoftentalkedabouttheconditionofhisson,who,atthattime,wasstillverymuchhospitalizedinTacoma.Afterservingwiththe196th,CSMMeadewentontoserveasAmericalDivisionCSMatChuLai.AnothersonofCSMMeade,LTDavidMeade,waskilledinactioninVietnaminMay1970.

ThislastsummerIhadtheopportunitytostopandvisitwithJamesMeade,andhisyoungestbrotherTim,inPortland.IamhappytoreportthatJameswentontoearnhisPh.D.asaclinicalpsychologist.HehasworkedfortheVeteransAdministrationasanoutreachtherapist,andcurrentlyisinprivatepractice,providingcounselingtobothable‐bodiedanddisabledpeople,olderadultsandfamilies. It’s interesting,though,thatJamesstillhasnomemoriesofthefirst19yearsofhis life—histourofduty,Vietnam,ofbeingapilot. Forhim,anymemoriesoflifebeginwithhisrecoveryinthehospital.Today,heisstillrecovering.

RussellJones196thLIBAviationSection1968‐1969


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OH‐58FKiowaWarriorPhotoCourtesyofPEOAviation

OH-58F Completes First Flight DefenseDaily

ConcludedonPage10

TheArmy’sOH‐58FKiowaWarriorcompleteditsfirstflightatRedstoneArsenal,AL,February28th,withaCockpitandSensorUpgrade(CASUP)thatmarkstheadditionofthemostcurrenttechnologyavailable.

InHuntsville, Army officials commemorated the firstflightandthefirstnewdesignationchange‐‐F‐‐since1990.

“The OH‐58 KiowaWarrior is a phenomenal aircraftandcontinuestoproveitselfasanindispensablearmedscoutasset for our ground commanders,” saidMGWilliam “Tim”Crosby, program executive officer for Army Aviation. “I’m extremely proud of the Army aviationenterpriseteamwhohasworkedveryhardtogiveoursoldiersthecurrentcapabilitiestheyneedtowinonthebattlefield.”

Meanwhile, in Washington on February 28th, Army Secretary John McHugh noted to the DefenseWritersGroupthat,“TheKiowahasbeenanamazingplatform,but it’salmostasoldas Iam,over40yearsold.”

ThepreviousD‐modelKiowawasdevelopedandfieldedinthelate1980s,andhasflownover820,000combathours,theArmysaidinastatement.InMay2009,theArmyauthorizedtheArmedScoutHelicopterProjectOfficetobeginexaminingmethodstoupgradetheaircraft.

BellHelicopterwastheoriginalequipmentmanufacturer.In a first for Army aviation, the service took the role of system integrator for the Kiowa Warrior

upgradeeffort.This approach to development, integration, and production keeps the government and contracted

engineer developers working directly with military and government program management, and it bringssignificantcostsavings,theservicesaid.

Bytakingontheroleassystemintegrator,theArmysavesmorethan$37millionduringtheresearch,development,andtestandevaluationphase,andmorethan$551millionduringtheprocurement/productionphase,theservicestatementsaid.

Additionally,thegovernmentalsowillownmanyofthedatarightsnecessarytofosterfullandopencompetitionforproduction.

ArmedScoutHelicopterProjectManagerCOLRobertGrigsbysaid,“WiththeArmyas integrator,wecanmaximize capabilitywhileminimizing taxpayer impact. Controlling thedesignallowsus to rapidly fieldmaturetechnologiestosupportthesoldierswhodependontheKiowaWarrior.”

The F‐model Kiowa Warrior capitalizes on non‐developmental items and systems fielded on otheraviationplatformstorapidly install,modify,orprovidethefollowing: advanced nose mounted sensor, improved


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SubmitYourPhotos!

CHPAhasagrowingcollectionofphotos,fromflightschoolclasspictureslikethese,toactionphotostohelicoptershotsfromaroundtheworld…IfyouwouldliketocontributetothecollectionpleaseuploadyourphotosbyfollowingthelinksontheCHPAwebsiteorclickhere!

cockpit control hardware and software for enhanced situational awareness, three full color multi‐functiondisplays, a dual‐redundant digital engine controller for enhanced engine safety, digital inter‐cockpitcommunications, digital Hellfire future upgrades, Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) upgrades, and aredesignedaircraftwiringharness.

It didn’t take the new system integrator‐‐the Army‐‐long to get the F model and CASUP going, asCASUPProductManagerLTCMathewHannahsaid:“Inearly2012,thisaircraftwasmerely500+PowerPointchartsinengineeringbriefs.Watchingthedesignevolvethroughtheproductionbuild‐upandtofirstflighthasbeenincredible.”

TheArmyofficiallyreceivedandsenttotestthefirstOH‐58FinNovember(DefenseDaily,Nov.1).TheArmysaidtheOH‐58Falsoweighs160poundslessthantheOH‐58D,whichwillallowcommanders

moreflexibilityinaddingcapabilitiesinotherareassuchasfirepower,endurance,andload.“Ultimately, [KiowaWarrior] pilots and crewmembers will be able to perform their mission more

effectively,moreefficientlyandmoresafely,”COLJohnLynch,TrainingandDoctrineCapabilityManagerfortheReconnaissanceAttackfleet,saidinastatement.“Theimprovementsinsensorperformanceprovidetheabilitytodetect,markandengagetargetsfromgreaterstandoffranges,protectingthecrewandaircraftwhileperformingthemissionofsupportinggroundtroops.”


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ReunionsandGatherings

Areyouplanningareunionoreventthatmaybeofinteresttoourmembers?Letushelpyougetthe

wordoutandsupportveteransgroupsofallsizesandlocations.JustsendamessagewiththeinformationtoHQ@chpa‐us.org.Ifyouhavealogo,sendthatalongaswell.

Besuretoincludeaccuratecontactandregistrationinformationandwe’lltakecareoftherest.

ATroop,1/9Cavalry,1AirCavDivisionApache Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division will host itsannualreunionattheSouthLakeTahoeEmbassySuites.CheckinwillbeSunday,August25,2013withafinalMemorialServiceanddepartureonThursday,August29, 2013. This reunion is for all formermembers, families andhonored guests.Special emphasis is for enlisted personnel regardless of flight status or position.ContactJeffCromaratapachetroopreunion2013@gmail.comor817‐647‐5213formoreinformation.

BTroop,7/17thCavalry,1AirCavDivisionBTroop7/17thCAVTroopers&AllRuthlessRidersareinvitedtoaGathering,atBally's,onthestrip,inLasVegas,NVJune3rd‐7th2013.POC(s)‐BuddyHarp:[email protected]‐324‐3924RichHefferman:[email protected]‐771‐8214JohnnieGriffits:[email protected]‐535‐8523WEB:http://www.b717.homestead.com/

TheWarriorsofAnLocTheWarriorsofAnLocwillhosttheirannualreunioninSumter,SCfrom25‐27Oct2013.ThehosthotelwillbetheHamptonInn–Sumter,803‐469‐2222.Thespecialrateforthereunionis$77pernightbutyoumustreserveyourroombySeptember27thtoreceivethisrate. Whenmakingyourhotelreservationstellthemyou’rewith“TheWarriorsofAnLoc.”ThereunionwilltakeplaceatPepMcPhillips house, 2515 Maidenfair Lane, Sumter, telephone 803‐720‐4902.ContactPep(Sundog07)withanyquestionsorformoreinformation.


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2013ConventionNotesJayBrown

The2013AnnualConventionandBusinessmeetingcontinuestocometogethernicely,primarilyduetotheeffortsandattentionofRichMiller.Thescheduleofeventsnowincludesawelcomegettogethertokicktheweekoff,aboattouroftheRiverWalk,asilentauctionandthebanquet.Allofthisisinadditiontotheveryimportantbusinessmeetingandelection.TherewillalsobefreetimeforyoutovisitSanAntonioandtheattractionsshehastoofferforthosewhopreferto“gotheirownway”whenitcomestoexperiencingnewplacesandseeingthoseoutofthewayspots.Asareminder,thedateswillbeOctober15–17andthehosthotel istheSaintAnthony,300EastTravisStreet. Theirwebsiteishttp://www.thestanthonyhotel.com/andweinviteyoutovisittheirsiteforapreviewoftheaccommodations.ThehotelisalsoashortblockfromthehistoricAlamo,whichiswellworththevisit.

AsRoberthasmentionedwe’vealso secureda guest speaker that is sure tobe thehighlightof theconvention. We’llkeepeveryoneabreastofdevelopmentshere in theSwashPlateaswellasonlineat theCHPAwebsite.Asdetailsoftheconventionandbusinessmeetingarefinalizedwe’llprovidealinktoregisterfor theAnnual Convention and Businessmeeting online. The online registrationwill be announced to themembershipinplentyoftimetoallowyoualltomakeyourplanstoattend.

Acoupleof importantthingstokeepinmindforthisyeararetheelectionoftheBoardofDirectorsandsubmissionofnomineesfortheRobertN.TredwayAward.

TheBoardofDirectorselectiontakesplaceattheAnnualBusinessMeetinginoddnumberedyearsandthisisyouropportunitytotakepartinselectingthemembersthatwillguideCHPAforthenexttwoyears.Itisalsoyouropportunitytoplayanactiverole inthefutureofyourorganization. TherearetwochairsontheBoardofDirectorsthatwillneedtobefilledinthiselection.ServiceontheBoardofDirectorstakesverylittletimeandrequiresparticipationinamonthlytollfreeteleconferencethatusuallytakesaboutanhour.Theremaybe,fromtimetotime,sometaskoractivitytotakecareofthatmaytakesomeattentiononyourpartbutthe time investment is stillminimalwith great reward in helping build CHPA into the future. So considernominating yourself or another member who you think deserving and would serve well on the Board ofDirectors.NominationscanbesubmittedtoHQ@chpa‐us.org.

The other detail for your consideration is the submission of nominees for the Robert N. TredwayAward.Wehavealreadyreceivednominationsforthisaward.ThedetailsoftheawardcanbefoundontheCHPAwebsite atwww.chpa‐us.org. TheRobertN. Tredwayaward is named in honorof a gentlemanwhopersonified theword“leader”duringhisdistinguishedmilitary careerandwell afterward. Nominations forthisprestigiousawardcanalsobesubmittedtoHQ@chpa‐us.org.

Sonowisthetimetoplantoattendtheconvention,meetnewfriendsandrenewoldfriendships.SanAntonioinOctoberisanexcellentplaceandtimeforthatwelldeservedvacationandwhobettertospenditwiththanfellowcombataviatorsandcrewmembers.


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JobOpenings

AW139PilotOpening.

Minimum requirements are 5,000 total helicopter time, 500 hours time in type, FAAATPwith type

ratingAW139.ApplicantforthisrareopportunityshouldhaveastrongworkethicandbededicatedtothesmallPart91operation.

Job location is outside US. Relocation required. The company will provide relocation assistance,furnishedhousing,vehicle,Medical/Dentalinsurance

Sendresume/[email protected],NOTELEPHONECALLS.

ChiefTestPilotandProductionControlManager.Myclient,agrowingaerospaceanddefensecompanyisinneedofaChiefTestPilotandProduction

ControlManagertoaddtotheirnewteamfortheirArmyAviationDivisioninAlabama.ThisFortune200Companyislookingforstrongcandidateswithskillsthatexceedexpectations.Doesthissoundlikeyou?

Pleasecontactmeformoredetailsregardingthisdynamicopportunityandsendyourresumetomeat:[email protected]

UH‐60BlackHawkPilots,S‐70Family.USanybranchaviation,UKPilotstyperatedtoS‐70Family,ortwinenginerate.MiddleEast,not

locatedincombatzone,expatpackage,1yearrenewablecontract.Mustbecurrentorabletobecertified,passflightphysical.Instructorratedpilotsalsoneeded.ContactmewithCV/Resume,License/MedCert.Inquiriesareconfidential.JonHarrell,email:[email protected]

CHPAhasaCareerConnectortaponitswebsiteatwww.chpa‐us.org.UsingthistoolCHPAprovides

informationon jobopenings in therotorcraftaviation industrytoourpilotandflightcrewmembers. Wewillalsolistthoseopeningsinthissectionofthenewslettertoreachourmembership.Ifyouhave,orknowof,ajobopeningletusknowandwe’llgetthewordouttomemberswhomaybesearchingforanopening.Thiswillassistourmembershipandyourorganizationbyprovidingwelltrainedpersonnelwithexperienceinawiderangeofrotorcraftoperationsinworldwideenvironments.


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Call on Us! Contact Quick Reference ChairmanoftheBoard–RheaRippey BuzzCovingtonChairman@chpa‐us.org BCovington@chpa‐us.orgPresident–RobertFrost AlMajor Callus!president@chpa‐us.org AMajor@chpa‐us.org 800•832•5144VPAdministration–RichMiller RandyJones Faxus!admin@chpa‐us.org RJones@chpa‐us.org 719•687•4167VPMembership–RustyBourgoyne RandyZahn Writeus!membership@chpa‐us.org RZahn@chpa‐us.org CHPA

POBox42Secretary–MickTesanovich JimFerguson Divide,CO80814‐0042secretary@chpa‐us.org JFerguson@chpa‐us.orgTreasurer–LorenMcAnally JohnFore Remember!Treasurer@chpa‐us.org JFore@chpa‐us.org Feelfreetocontact usanytime.ExecutiveDirector–JayBrown HQ@chpa‐us.org

“Whatapleasuretoreadthisbookandgettoknowthismanwhosodearlylovedeveryminuteofhisexcitingcareer.IfhehandledchoppersaswellashehandlestheEnglishlanguage,itmusthavebeenprettyexcitingtobeintheskywithhim.”—ThomasE.Barden,ProfessorofEnglishandDeanoftheHonorsCollegeU.ofToledo&AuthorofSteinbeckinVietnam,DispatchesfromtheWar.UniversityofVirginiaPress.www.upress.virginia.edu

“Chock‐fullofheart‐stoppingdrama,gut‐wrenchinglows,euphorichighs,tragicpersonalloss,lacedliberallywithhumorandgarnishedwithdeepintrospection,Edgington’sstorygrippedmefromtheveryfirstpagekeepingmespellbounduntilIfinishedtheverylastsentence.Youdon’thavetobeapilottoenjoythisstoryforthisisataleanyonecanrelatetoifyouhaveeveryearnedtopursueadreamofyourown.”—RandolphP.Mains,authorofDearMom,I’mAlive,andJourneytotheGoldenHour.Amazon.com/Randolph‐P.‐Mains

“TheSkyBehindMeisoneman’sforty‐yearloveaffairwithhelicoptersandhisalmostpoeticrenderingofalifelivedinthesky.”

swash plate may 2013

Documents

swash plate

sincethefoundingofour

navy pilot

united states military

roughlyhalfof themarealive