swash plate november 2012

November2012

• “President’sMessage” RobertFrost• “VotingResults” JayBrown• ”SilverDagger” BillPeterson• “ReunionsandGatherings” • “TheFellowintheMirror” ByronEdgington• andmuch,muchmore!

Presenting!President’sMessageRobertFrost

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IampleasedtoreportthattheCHPAConvention/Annual Meeting earlier thismonth in Washington, DC met ourexpectations for success. Those inattendance with family and friends had agreat time, I believe. This year we hadnumerous activities planned so we couldtake advantage of the wonderful museumsandmonumentsthathavebeenerectedoverthe last twocenturies tohonorourveterans,our fallenwarriors,and themanygreatstatesmenwhohavehonorablyservedournation.Thereweremanyhighlightsformepersonally. Themostemotionalandgratifyingfor

mewas the trip to BethesdaWalter Reed to visit with some of our heroeswho have sacrificed somuch.AttendingwithmewereRheaRippeyandAlexHorony. Wewerewell receivedbyayoungCorpsmanwhogaveusabriefbioonthetwowoundedwarriorswevisited. Becauseof thestrict scheduleswewereonlyallowedtwohours.Ourhopewastoseeasmanyaswecouldinthattimeframe.However,whenwemetthefirstyoungMarinewespentcloseto45minuteswithhim.Hewantedtotalkingreatdetailabouthiswoundsandhowithappened.Wewerefightingbackthetearsashegreeteduswithhispositive,“cando”attitude.Heseemedhappythatwewerethere.Perhapshethoughtweunderstoodwhathehadexperienced–maybebetterthanhisownfamilyandfriends.Hehadalreadyundergonedozensofoperationsandisstilllookingatalongrecovery.Buthewillmakeitandbesuccessfulinlife.Ihavenodoubt!Thesecondyoungsoldierhadthesameattitudeasthefirst.Hetoowantedtotalkingraphicdetailaboutwhathadhappenedtohimandhisbuddies.Likewisethistookconsiderabletimeandwedecidedtostayuntilwehadthefeelingitwastimetosaygood‐bye.Thisyoungmanlostonelegandtheotherwasseverelyinjured.Hisfuturegoalistoreturnto active duty and go through Special Forces training. Alex, Rhea, and Iwere in tearswhenwe left thosehospital rooms. Wecouldn’t let themseeuscry. Incaseanyofyouwonderabout thecarewearegivingthese wounded warriors, please be comforted that they are receiving the best of care. The staff was soprofessional.Theroomswerespacious,clean,and“homey”–asmuchasahospitalcanbe.Itwasanhonortobeinthepresenceofsuchgreatmen,albeitbrief.Thiswillstaywithmeforever!

LaterintheweekCHPAwasgiventhehonorofplacingawreathattheTomboftheUnknowns.Thisceremonywaswellattendedanditwascombinedwithatour of Arlington National Cemetery. It was a distincthonor and privilege for Rhea Rippey, Rich Miller, Jay

MERRYCHRISTMASFROMCHPA

Volume 8, Issue 11 CHPA • The Swash Plate www.chpa-us.org

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Brown,andmetoplacethewreath.Asifthatwerenotenough,aftertheceremonyourentireCHPAgroupwasinvitedintotheTombGuardQuartersbelow.OneoftheguardstookthetimetoexplainthehistoryoftheTomboftheUnknownsandanswereveryquestionweasked.Thosefineyoungmenweresuchgracioushostsandwhataspecialdayitwasforallofus.

TheotherbigeventwehadplannedwasanighttimetouroftheUSCapitolbyUSCongressmanLouieGohmertofTexas.LouiewasaformerjudgeineastTexasbeforegoingtoCongresseightyearsago.HeisanexperthistorianonthehistoryoftheUSCapitol.OurgroupspentaboutthreehourswithLouieandhisstaffthatevening.Hewasentertaining,humorousandinformative.Hetookusplacesthatmostcitizenswillneversee;suchastheSpeaker’sofficesandbalconyinthecenteroftheCapitol. TheviewoverlooksConstitutionandPennsylvaniaAvenues.Ithinkthebestviewthereisofournation’scapitalisonthatbalcony.Onecanseeformilesandeverythinginbetween.Atnightitisreallyspectacular.

At our AnnualMeeting we voted on several proposed by‐law changes. All the proposed changes,whichhavebeenmentionedinmyearliermessagesandonthewebsiteandSwashPlate,werepassed.Ifyouarenotfamiliarwiththosechanges,pleasetakeamomenttogotothewebsite,www.chpa‐us.org,andreviewthem.Theyareimportantchangesthatwilldetermineourstrategicplanninganddirectionoverthenextfewyears.

Our lastmajoreventat thisyear’sconvention/annualmeetingwasourbanquet. Itwasalsoahugesuccess.Infact,Iwasimpressedwithhowwellsomeofourmembers“cleanup”forsuchanevent.Foranoldergroupofwarriors, they lookedprettydamned impressive! Equally impressivewasourguestspeaker,CW5(Ret)DaveCooper.Davewasahighlydecoratedmemberoftheelite160thSOAR“NightStalkers”.Hisstory from Iraq on one of his many combat missions was compelling, interesting, and delivered with ahumorousdrywit.Heisamongthe“bestofthebest”,anditwasanhonortohavehimasourguestspeaker.

I would like to thank the CHPA Board of Directors for their hard work to make this year’sconvention/annualmeetingasuccess.Inaddition,IwanttothankJayBrown,ourExecutiveDirector,whoisreallythebackboneofthiseventeachyear. Also,thanksshouldgoouttoCHPAmemberCraigBond–our“bootsontheground”guyinWashington,DC.CraigdidmuchofthelegworkandwassuccessfulinliningupDaveCooperasourspeaker.OurExecutiveDirector,JayBrownhasjustpostedonourwebsitemanyphotosof our events. Please check them out. A special thank you also goes out to one of our directors, BuzzCovingtonwhoisnowaprofessionalphotographer,andtookthephotosyouwillseeposted.

The board is pleased to announce that next year’s convention/annual meeting will be held in SanAntonio,Texas.Wehavealreadybeguntheprocessofplanningtheevent.Oncewehavelookedatthehoteloptionsandothervenueconsiderations,wewillsetadateandannounceittoourmembership.

My bestwishes for a glorious holiday season go out to all of you. God bless the United States ofAmerica.


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2012ConventionVoteResultsJayBrown

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

Sharethe“Swash”

At the Annual Convention this year there were four items thatrequiredavotebythemembership:

• A policy to allow proxy voting during Board of DirectorMeetings

• An amendment to the CHPA By‐laws to reduce themembership requirement from three years to one year toqualifyforserviceontheBoardofDirectors

• An amendment to the By‐laws to make aircrew memberseligibletoserveontheBoardofDirectorsandeligibletovote.As a side note, approval of this amendment would alsoincrease dues for aircrew members to $30/annually or$650/lifetime

• AnamendmenttotheCHPABy‐lawstoprovideforinternationalmembershipAllfourmeasurespassedwithdecisivemajorities.Theindividualvotecountis:

• TheProxyPolicy,Yea–24,Nay‐0• Theamendmenttoreducemembershiprequirementtooneyear,Yea–22,Nay‐2• Theamendmenttomakeaircrewmembersfullvotingmembersandeligibleforboardservice,

Yea–22,nay2• Theamendmenttoexpandmembershipinternationally,Yea–23,Nay‐1

Over the course of the next week I’ll be finishing up the amendments to the By‐laws and onceapproved by the board the amended document will be posted on the CHPAwebsite and available to themembership.ThankstoAndyBurleighandAlexHoronyfortallyingthevotecount.

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

Sponsorship


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TheSwash!Where are all the story tellers out there? I know there are more stories out there

yet to be told in this forum. Helicopter crewmembers lead a most interesting life and stories abound from qualification courses, non-flying assignments, combat missions, commercial flying or just goofing off. Our most entertaining and informative stories come from you, our membership.

So, if you have an idea for an article, or if you have an article you’d like to submit it’s as easy as submitting it to the guy who puts the newsletter together. The story can be about anything from flight school to real life, TINS, or there-I-was stories. We’ve published several stories over the years ranging from tales of flight school a long, long time ago to real life “war stories” that we’re sure most of you can identify with.

Take a moment to lay fingers on keyboard or just put pen to paper and send in those stories. You can email them to [email protected] or through the US Post Office to: CHPA • PO Box 42 • Divide, CO 80814-0042

[CallForArticles]

ChristmasBoxesfortheTroopsJayBrown

Merry Christmas, everyone!! CHPA‘s 2012ChristmasBoxesfortheTroopsprojectisnearingthefinishline.We’vereceivedsponsorshipsfor49boxesforourdeployedtroops inAfghanistanandwehaveacontactfornamesandmailingaddresses.ThelistisinthehandsofthefolkswhohandlethepackingandshippingsoweshouldmakeanyandalldeadlinesforholidaymailtoAfghanistanwithtimetospare.

Thankyoutoallofyouwhosponsoredboxesandprovidedmailingaddresses.Youaretheenginethatmakesthisannualprojecthappenandmakeitatotal success every year since its inception. Everyyear we receive notes, Christmas cards, and postcardsthankingyou,ourgeneroussupporters,forthattouchofhomeduringtheholidayseason.Theyknowtheycanalwayscountonus.


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SilverDaggerBillPeterson

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Anexcerptfromthebook“MissionsofFireandMercybyWilliamPeterson.

CHAPTER212November,1967Gilligan’sIsland

WhenweidentifythedriverofthejeepfromFlightOps,mywatchshows1945hours.CaptainNelsonasksustogoonanemergencyammore‐supplymissionintoanareawherewehaveneverbeen. Theunitrequestingtheammohasbeenengagedinafirefightallafternoon,usingupthemajorityoftheirammunition.

Thesituationisbleak.Thecompanyunderattackrequestedanemergencyre‐supplyovertwohoursago saying that their situation is critical. The VC have them surrounded on three sides. Until now, thesituationhasbeentoohottorisksendinginachoppereventhoughoveronehundredmen’slivesareatstake.If ammo isn’t received soon, the American position will surely be overrun. Though not likely, the enemypressuremayslackoffwhentheskydarkens. This isnothingmore thanadream!Darkness is theenemy’sfriend. After severalhoursofbattle,weallbelieve theattackwillonlybecomemore ferociousasnightfallcontinues.Alot,ifnotall,ofourmenwillbelostifwedon’tatleastattemptanammodrop.

Whilesittingonthecargodeckofthechopperreceivingourpreflightbriefing,wespreadouttheflightcharts.Withthetwoflashlightsthatwe’vehungontheceilingandacoupleofpenlights,weplotourcoursetothebattle‐tornLZ.

Warrant Officer Callahan marks the coordinates on the map. Warrant Officer Jewitt, the aircraftcommander, asks eachof us ifwe’rewilling to risk our lives to save these guys. Weall give hima heartythumbs up! We’re then advised that when we hover over to the ammo dump to pick up our load ofmunitions,therewillbetwomenwhohavevolunteeredtogoalong.Theirjobistooff‐loadthepreciouscargoasquicklyaspossibleenablingEddieHoklotubbe,mygunner,andItostayonourgunstoengagetheenemy…notif,butwhenit’sneeded.Thisisbeginningtosoundabitdicey.

Buthey,we’llbeunderthecoverofdarkness…inthemountains…verydark,overcastnight…lookingandfeelinglikerain…blackoutconditions…anangry,unknownenemyconcentrationbelowus.IsthisreallywhatIcamefor?

I’mgladtohaveEddiewithmetonight.He’sbeenmygunnersincethefirstpartofOctober,andweworkwelltogether.Ifthingsgettough,IknowIcancountonthisChoctawIndiantodowhateverittakestohelpgetusoutofacorner.“Chief”isaveryaggressivegunneranddeadlyaccurate.He’salwaysloadedforbearwithhisarsenalconsistingofanM16,M60,M79,severalcanistersofsmoke,acoupleWillyPeters,andenoughfragstomakehimsomeonethatCharliereallydoesn’twanttomesswith.He’sbuiltlikehecouldtakeonfiveorsixGooksatonceandcomeoutontop,andwouldwillinglydoso,ifitwouldn’tmessuphishairdo.Hecarriesacombinhisammobox.

Afterwe’rebriefedonthefrequencyandcallsigntousewhilecontactingtheengagedunit,theFlightOpscaptainwishesusluckandassuresusthatwewillreturntoahotmeal;heknowsit’sbeenalongday.

Whilehover‐taxiingovertotheloadingareanextto the ammo dump, themission pre‐brief runs rapidly


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ContinuedonPage7

throughmymind. Howcould Ipossiblyhavebeen inmyrightmindwhen Ivolunteeredfor this? Flying inVietnamonadailybasisishazardousenough.Alltheoddsareagainstmeonthisone.DoIhaveadeathwishthatIdidn’tknowwasthere?Idon’tneedtobeahero!Ihaveafamilyandgirlfriendtogohometo.WhatwouldtheythinkiftheyknewwhatI'mabouttodo?Well,I’mcommittednow.WillGodseemethroughthis,eventhoughIfeellikeI'vemadearecklessmistake?But...Ihadtohelpsavethosemenoutthere!

GodhassustainedmeforoverthreemonthsinVietnam.TherearetimesthatIhonestlydidn’tthinkIwouldcomeoutoftheruckusalive.WhiteRobeSixisthereverentcallsignthattheflightcrewshavecreatedforGod.ThisisjustonemoreassignmentforWR6.SurelyHewillprotectusonemoretimeonthismissionofmercy.

At the re‐arming area, six guys quickly load our ship with ammo forM16,M60, andM79 grenadelaunchers. Thereare casesofmortar roundsandboxesof frag grenades in themix too, alongwith flares,claymoresand.12gaugebuckshotforcloserangework.Twooftheloaderswhoarebuiltlikegorillasclimbaboard,strappingthemselves in to the jumpseats.They’rethecrazyoneswhovolunteeredtohelp. Thesemen are both armed with M16s. Bandoleers of ammo drape their flak vests. They look like they meanbusiness.Neitherhaveshavenforseveraldaysandtheirjunglefatiguesarerattyandtorn.TheylookliketheyhaveabeeftosettlewithCharlie...justthekindofguyswewantwithusifwegetinatightspot!

Priortodeparture,weallcinchupourseatharnesses.Forsomereason,thisseemstogiveusawarmfuzzyfeeling.Ourshipisgivenclearancebythetowerforadeparturetothewest.Unfortunately,thismissiondoesnotincludegunshipsupport.They’reallcommittedtoanothermission.DidIsaythislookeddicey?

Clearingtheperimeterfence,theco‐pilotdousesallexterior lightsandturnstheredcockpit lightingdown to enable the crew to get accustomed to the blackness of the night. At this point, the pilots areessentiallyflyingbyreferencetothecockpitinstrumentswithnovisiblehorizononwhichtheycanrely.It'sanastynight!

Myskinisfeelingveryprickly!WeflynorthwesttowardthecoordinatesofdeathandareabletocontactCatClawatourtargetwhen

we’refourmilesout.“CatClaw,thisisSilverDagger,over.”Heardoverthestaccatoofgunfire,inavoicethatsoundslikehisundiesareinawad,“SilverDagger,

wereadyoufivebyfive,over.”“CatClaw,we’refourmilesoutwithyourboxesofcookies.Givemeatencount.”Keyinghismike,theradiooperatorcountsdownfromten,sowecanhomeinonhissignaltogiveusa

positivefixonwhichdirectiontoflytoarriveathisposition.Thelocationthatwehavemarkedonthemapisattwentyfivehundredfeet inthemountains. Lookingtowardourdestination,wehave itpinpointed. Redandgreentracersarewildlyexchangingplaces.

“CatClawweseetracerscomingfromyourpositionnow.”OurdropoffpointisnotanLZ,sowe’llhavetohoveroverthetreetopswhilethemunitionsarebooted

outthedoors.“CatClaw,whatisyourSITREP,over?”Againoverthesoundsofsporadicgunfire,“We’vebeentakingsmallarmsandautomaticweaponsfire

fromallquadrants,butthebulkof ithasbeenfromupthemountainsouthofourpresentlocation. Enemyfirehasdroppedoffsubstantially.We’renearlyoutofsuppliesandsuggestyouapproachfromthenorth.Firehasbeenlightestfromthatquadrantoverthepasthour.We have sevenWIA and five KIA. Will you be able totransport?Windislight.Over.”


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ConcludedonPage8

“We’reunabletopickupwoundedasweunderstandyouhavenoLZ.Isthataffirmative?Over.”In a louder voice to be heard above the intensifying gunfire, “Silver Dagger, there’s a bomb crater

downslopefromourposition,butwithinourperimeter.Ifyoucanmakeyourapproachtotheedgeofthatandhover,we’dliketoloadfourcriticals,over.”

“CatClaw,we’lldoourbest.Haveagroundguideonthesouthsideofthecraterwithaflashlighttoguideus.We’reblackedout.Putdownallthecoveringfireyoucanforusstartingnow.Over.”

Turning a half‐mile final,we see tracers sporadically going out aswell as coming in to our drop‐offpoint.Stillnoflashlight.Suddenly…

“CatClaw,wehaveyourlight!”We’re in the popcorn machine and the enemy tracers begin arcing toward the sky in our general

direction.TheGookscanhearus,butwiththeinkblackskyandnolightsonourship,theyhaven’tspottedusyet.

Approaching one hundred yards from our target, the altimeter shows we're a hundred feet aboveground.Makingasteepapproachwecannowmakeoutsometreesilhouettesbelow.

“Lookin’good,SilverDagger.”Tick, tick…tick…………tick…..tick. Roundsbeginpenetratingour chopper! Nowarning lights yet. We

continue.EddieandIcutloosewiththe60sanddousetheareajustoutsidetheperimeter.Wecanclearlysee

wheretheenemytracersarecomingfrom.“SilverDagger’stakin’hits…Youguysbetterbequick!”Unless things get a lotworse,wemust continue themission. We’re theonlyhope for thesebrave

youngmentosurvivethenight.Comingintoalowhoveroverthecrater,wetakeseveralmorerounds.Thepilotplacestheleftskidonthegroundwithathudwhiletheotherskidhangsoutoverthecrater.Therotorbladesarebarelyclearingthetreesontheleftandoffthenoseofthehelicopter.EddieandIstayonthegunswhileourvolunteergorillaskicktheammooutthedoorsandintothecraterasfastastheycan,whileseveralgrunts help from the left side. More grunts are now running toward us with four of the most criticallywounded.

Theexcitementintensifies.Oneofthewoundedmencanbeheardscreamingabovethenoiseoftheturbine engine mixed with that of incoming and outgoing fire. With the covering fire going out of theperimeter,youwouldn’tthinkthesemenwerealmostoutofammo.Butthen,theyknowourprimarymissionis to drop off enough ammo to last them until daybreakwhen another supply shipwill likely be ordered.Pickingupthewoundedisoursecondarymission. We’regladtodoit. Hopefully,they’llallavoidtheGrimReaper.

Theemergencycargoisoutandthewoundedareloaded.Fromthebombcrater,weclimbverticallytobe sureouraircraft clears the trees thatwe’reunable to seeclearlydue to thedarknessand the flickeringtracersthatplayhavocwithournightvision. We’restilldrawingfireandtakinghitsduringourclimbwhileEddieandIcontinuetohosedowntheareatoourflanksinanattempttokeeptheenemyatbay.Thepilotpullspitchandmovesthecyclicstickasfarforwardashecantoproduceanoselowattitude.Thiscausestheaircrafttogainlife‐savingairspeedasrapidlyaspossible.

“SilverDagger,youguysareangels!Wecan’tthankyouenough.Weoweyoubig‐time,over.”“OurpleasureCatClaw.Weknowyouguyswoulddothesameforusifwewereinascrape.Gladto

beofhelp.Bestoflucktonight.”It’s a fifteen‐minute flight to thehospital padat

ChuLai. Weclimbtofifteenhundredfeettogetoutof


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the rangeof small arms fire, enabling Eddie and I to crawl forward to see ifwe canhelp the guyswe justpickedup.

Iturnthecabinlightsonlowtoseewhatwe’redealingwith.They’reallbadlywounded.Thoughallwoundsarebandaged,it’sobviousthattheseguyswerepatchedupduringtheheatofbattlewithverylittletimespentonthedressings.Oneseverelyinjuredhaslosthisleftlegjustbelowtheknee,andhisleftarmisinaslinginanattempttokeepitattachedtoabitofmuscleandboneshardsjustbelowhisarmpit.He'sstaringintospace...theeffectsofmorphineandshock.

Thesecondmanisrollingonthedeckofthechopperandscreaminginpain.Halfofhisbellyisblownawayandtherearenumerouscutsonhisface.Itlookslikehetangledwithagrenadeormortarround.

Abulletpassedthroughtherightwristofthethirdsoldier.Thewristbonesareshattered.The fourthsoldierhashiseyesbandagedandacoupleofbulletholes inhis leftarm. His leftear is

hangingonbyathinshredofskin.Whycan’tmansettlehisdisputesinamorehumanewaythantryingtokilleachother?Ihatethisjob!Whenwe’retenminutesout,Mr.Callahancallsintoalertthemedicalcrewthatwe’reinboundwith

fourWIA.Landing at the medevac pad, we’re met by several attendants with stretchers. Unloading the four

unluckymenonto stretchers,wewish themwell. They’ll need it! They’ll get immediate carebymenandwomenwhoseldomrest. Themedicalpersonneloverhereareverydedicatedandefficient. I’msuretheymusthavehorriblenightmaresovertheungodlyamountsofbloodandgutstheysee.Theyjustcontinueonwithwhatevertreatmentstheycanofferthemenwhohavesacrificedsomuch.

Flyingbacktoputourbirdtobedafteralongday,we’reverygratefultohavebeenapartofthislastmission. Thoughrisky, itwasveryrewardingtobeabletogivethefourwoundedachancetolive. Wecanonlyhopeandpraythattheammowedroppedoffonthatmountainsidegivestherestofthatunitthesameopportunity.

It appears that ourmissions are complete for the day. Retreating to our company revetment, thepilotsandgunnerhelpmepost‐flighttheship.Withourflashlights,we’reabletofindonlysevenbulletholes.

Noneofthemseemseriousenoughtowarrantgroundingtheshipforthemorningmissions.I’lldoamorethoroughinspectionatfirstlight.

WilliamPetersongrewupinaruralsmalltowninUpperMichigan,wherehiswifebegansavingallofhisbusinesscards.Hehaspreviouslybeenaflight

instructorinbothairplanesandhelicoptersandacorporatepilotfor18years.Hewasaloghomebuilder,ataxidermist,ownedandoperatedatruckingcompany,andthelistgoeson.ThisawardwinningauthorhaswontheSilverMedalAwardformemoirsinthe2011MilitaryWriter'sSocietyofAmericaAwardsProgram.


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SubmitYourPhotos!

CHPAhasagrowingcollectionofphotos,fromflightschoolclasspictureslikethese,toactionphotostohelicoptershotsfromaroundtheworld…IfyouwouldliketocontributetothecollectionpleaseuploadyourphotosbyfollowingthelinksontheCHPAwebsiteorclickhere!


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ReunionsandGatherings

Areyouplanningareunionoreventthatmaybeofinteresttoourmembers?Letushelpyougetthe

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

Besuretoincludeaccuratecontactandregistrationinformationandwe’lltakecareoftherest.

ATroop,1/9Cavalry,1AirCavDivisionApache Troop, 1st Squadron, 9thCavalry, 1stAir CavalryDivisionwill host itsannual reunion at the South Lake Tahoe Embassy Suites. Check in will beSunday, August 25, 2013 with a final Memorial Service and departure onThursday,August29,2013.Thisreunionisforallformermembers,familiesandhonoredguests. Specialemphasis is forenlistedpersonnelregardlessofflightstatusorposition.ContactJeffCromaratapachetroopreunion2013@gmial.comor817‐647‐5213formoreinformation.

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?


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TheFellowintheMirrorByronEdgington

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ExcerptfromTheSky

BehindMe,aMemoirofFlyingandLifeavailableatAmazonasatradepaperback&SmashwordsasanE‐Book.©2012ByronEdgington,[email protected],614‐634‐3774

August1970:I‐CorpsRepublicofVietnamHeadwinds, the storm, rain in buckets and the

restriction to visibilityonanAugust afternoon inVietnam in1970 made me a pilot, and showed me the balance I’d beseekingmyentirecareer,thoughIwasn’tawareofitthen.

IwasassignedthatdaytoflyforadetachmentcalledUSArmyVietnam,USARV,(You‐Sar‐Vee)aliaisonbetweentheUSandSouthVietnamesemilitary.Imadeseveralroutineairtransfersthatday,ofequipment,mail,documents,beansandbullets.Theflyingwaseasy,untilitwasn’t.IloggedfiveflighthoursinmyHuey,refuelingtwice.Duringapreviousleg,SergeantMcKayincompanyoperationshadradioedwithordersfromthe101stAirborne’scommandingGeneral. McKaytoldmetobeonthegroundbyfivepm.AmajorstormwasformingintheSouthChinaSea,movinginfromtheeast,andtheGeneraldidn’twanthisaviationassetsdamaged.IcalledSargeMcKayback.“Roger...onthegroundbyseventeen‐hundred.Noproblem.”

Icarriedmoremateriel,ammo,hotchow,thestuffanarmyneedstodo its job. Thedayslippedbywithmoreof the same,aneasymission. But, as I’doften jokedwith colleagues, aneasymission can turnnastyinaheartbeat.Atfouro’clockIfinishedmylastsortie,Ithought.Atfour‐fifteenUSARVreleasedme,andIheadedtohomebaseatCampEagle.Lookingforwardtoashower,dinner,andacoldbeerattheclub,Iaimedthehelicopterthatdirectionwithplentyoftimetogasupandlashthingsdownbyfiveo’clock.

Sometimesinsightsaresobrief,soobscure,thatwe’reunabletounderstandeventheiroutlinemuchless their meaning in our lives. Like the shards of lightning that zippered the Asian sky that August day,illuminatingmycockpit likeflashbulbsinadarkroom,theinsightsweresobriefthatIwasunawareoftheirdefiningpurposeinmylife.Shortandsubtleastheywere,theyshowedmewhoIwas,andthebalanceIwasyettosee.TheyalsoshowedmethepilotIwouldbecome.Sometimesittakesyearstoteaseoutthetruthofthose insights. Thatdoesn’tmake themany less true,or real,or valuable. Indeed, theirbrevity canmakethemsacred. AsAnneMorrowLindberghwroteinNorthtoTheOrient,“...atthetimeoftheincident,onewasnotconsciousofsuchafeeling,andonlybecamesointheretelling.”

ThatAugustdayIwasa21‐year‐oldArmyhelicopterpilot.Thewarwasgoingbadlyforme.I’dbeenunder fire numerous times. I’d lost good friends. I was tired, hassled by military bullshit, fearful of theunknown, the random violence that came in an instant. I feltweary beyondmy age,wary frombeing offbalance. Myambivalenceabout thewar, and the reason I foundmyself there,had turnedme cynical andangry.

Then,on thatAugustday in1970,basedondecisions Imade,andmyactions following them, Iwasgivenaninsight,aglimpseoftheterrainahead,theriseandfallofit.Itwouldtakeyearstocross.ButafterthatdayIknewIwasheadedtherightdirection,backtomyself. Thecuriousthingis,thatunlikemydaytoday flyingwhere I studiedthesky in frontofmefor itsclues, its traps, itsbenevolentbreezesthatusheredmealong,unlikethatnecessaryvigilanceforwhatlayahead


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I couldonly know the truthaboutmyself by studying the skybehindme.And that clue, the first generoussparkofwisdomwasgiventheAugustafternoonwhenfateshowedmethepilotIwouldbecome.

Theunit releasedme frommymission, so I turned theHuey towardCampEagle. Then theaircraftradiosputtered.ItwastheUSARVfellowcalling.Hehadanothermission,aMedevacflightdownthecoasttoavillagecalledVinhMŶ.AyoungVietnamesewomanwasinlabor,heexplained.Thebabywasbreech.“Ifshedoesn’tgettoahospitalsoon...”

Icheckedthetime:four‐twenty.Thefuelgaugeshowedenoughforaboutfortyminutesofflying.Ididthemath.Aflightdownthecoast,backtothehospitalinHuế,’off‐loadtime,backtobase,thentimetogasup... I’dnevermaketheGeneral’sfiveo’clockcurfew.Fuelwasiffyaswell. Iscannedtheblackness,likeashroudacrosstheocean,andachillcrawledupmyback:thestormwasclose,andmarchingcloser.Ihadtodecline the mission. My finger hovered near the transmit button to send my regrets. Then somethingstoppedme.“...theheartofaman...”

I simmered in irritation. Whydidn’t thosepeople inVinhMŶ call sooner? They’d known the girl’sconditionallday.AmIresponsiblefortheirpoorplanning?Shit,she’sbeenpregnantforninemonths!Thecynical me pressed forward, unattractive and unbidden. I touched the transmit button again, almostsqueezed,releasedit,waited.“...nomorethanthis.”

TheUSARVfellowcalledagain.Inthatmoment,afterlisteningtohiscalm,evenvoiceontheradioallday,andthenhearingadifferenttone,Isensedtheurgencyinhisrequest. Thaturgencyraisedthetensionbetween thenewcynicalmeandmyold compassionate self. Imagining the girl in trouble I sawmyearlierdream,aforeignland,peopleincrisis,asmallplanelanding.IsawFatherColombomovingthroughthedarktoprovidecomfort.

Withmyfingeronthebutton, I triedtostrikeabalance. Ihaveorders tobeontheground,ordersfromtheGeneralhimself.Thegirlneedshelp.I’vedonethedamnmissionallday,anddoneitwell.Herbabyisbreech,andmaydie. I’mtired;mycrewneedsfoodandrest; fuel is low;thewar iswrong. Thestorm’sclosingin.Butayoungwomanandherunbornchildneedmyhelp...

Ilookedatmycrewforsupport.Mycrewchiefnodded.Thegunner’sthumbwentup.Myrightseaterlookedoutsideatthegloweringskyandhehesitated.Slowly,henoddedyes.

Imashedthetransmitbutton.“Comanchero2‐3,offtoVinhMŶ.”The war in Vietnam lasted four years after I left, ending in April 1975 as North Vietnamese tanks

clankedintoSaigon.WatchingthateventonTVathomeinOhioIcouldn’thelpthinkingofallthetroops,onbothsides,lostfornoreason.Thesilverliningwasthattheexperiencegavemeacareerthatwouldtakemetoretirement.Ispentthenext35yearsinastateofsuspendedaviation.Mywarwashistory.Itwastimetomakesomekindofaliving.

BecauseImissedflying,IjoinedtheOhioNationalGuardaviationsectioninSeptember1971andputmyzoomsuitbackon. An incident in theSpringof1972closedagapforme,expandedthe insight fromastormydayalmostayearbeforewhen I’dquestionedmyownhumanityandcompassion. Theclosurealsorestoredmycorrodedself‐esteeminawayIneverimagined.

Inthemid‐seventies,beforecommercialoperatorsfilledtherole,TheOhioNationalGuardfieldedanemergency rescue Huey called the Medicopter. The aircraft was a flying emergency room, and the firsthelicopter so equipped in Ohio. Every Friday night, into Saturday morning, peak time for trauma, theMedicopterwasavailableforimmediateliftofffromtheGuardhangarinNorthwestColumbus.

IwasonMedicopterdutyoneFridaynightinthespringof1972.Thestaffconsistedoftwopilots,twocrewmembers,andtwocivilianmedicalpersonnel.Thedoctor thatnightwasa fellownamedStuartRoberts, a


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memberof theER staff at TheOhio StateUniversity (now theWexner)MedicalCenter inColumbus. Thatnight,theMedicoptercrewwasinthereadyroom,eatingpizza,tellingwarstories,waitingforanemergencycall.IsatacrossfromDocRobertswhowaschompingpizza,listeningtoonetalltaleafteranother.“ThereIwas,”and“Listentothis”and“Thisisnoshit...”Warstoriespassedfromoneveterantothenext.

When it wasmy turn, I began describing a rescuemission for a pregnant girl in Vietnam. The taleincludedawarningfrommycommandingGeneraltobeonthegroundbyfiveo’clock,aflightdownthecoast,then back toHuế’ in buffetingwinds and punishing rain. Holding forth, I toldmy story. When I finished,somethingcamefullcircle.Somethingbalancedout.

“The little villagewas fifteen‐minutes by air fromHuế,” I toldmy colleagues. I battled a headwindflyingdown,butthatwasacomfort.I’dhaveatailwindflyingback.Ifoundthevillage,landedandwatchedthefrightenedgirlboardmyHuey.Mycrewbuckledastrapacrossherasshelayonthefoldedcanvasseat,andweliftedoffwithherattenminutestillfive.Thestormwasontopofme.Windgustedtofortyknots.Dollopsofrainlikehalfdollarssmackedthewindscreen. Theskylookedlikeadayoldbruise,andthewindwasonitshindlegs.Thunderrumbledlikeakettledrum,andwhipsoflightningchasedmeupthecoast.Inaheartbeat,dangeranddifficultyhadcancelledmyeasy,carefreeday.Thenitgotworse.

Medics at the hospital inHuế’wouldn’t accept the girl. Theorderlywavedhis hands, frantic. “Noroom,”heyelled.“Noroom!”Withoneeyeonthepregnantgirl,oneonthefuelgaugeIpleadedwiththeman,buthewouldn’tbudge.WhenIranthethrottleopenayellowlightblinkedon:LowFuel.

Whilemy crewmembersdownedpizza in theGuardhangar, I continued tellingmywar story: Thestormstrongerbytheminute—insidethecockpitandout—ItookoffandflewtotheARVNmilitaryhospital,wherethegatekeeperdemandedthat Igetoffhishelipad. Theydidn’tacceptwomen,much lesspregnantones. Heshoutedformeto leave. Angryanddesperate, I liftedtowardPhuBaiandtheAmericanmilitaryhospital,the85thEvac.Iradioedahead,thenwaited.Theradiobuzzedwithstatic.Afullminutedraggedby.Thenthefellowresponded.“Bringherin,”hesaid.Ilanded,andidledtheengine.AnorderlyhelpedthegirloffmyHueyandwheeledherinside,whereshevanishedinthedrowningrain.

GasgaugeonemptyItookoff,headedbacktobase,andlanded.WhenIwalkedintooperationsthephone from HQ buzzed. Sergeant McKay grabbed the receiver, grunted, handed it to me. “Walsh atbattalion.”

Isuckedinananxiousbreath.Hereitcomes,Ithought.Itwasfivethirty.IwashalfanhourlatefortheGeneral’sdowntime.“Goahead.”

“MisterEdgington,welcomehome.Ihaveonequestion.Wasitalife‐or‐deathmission?”“Yes,Bill,itwas.”“That’sallIneedtoknow.”Myvoicebreakingwithemotion, I toldmyGuardcompanionsabout the flight,and itseffectonmy

feelingsaboutthewarandmyplaceinit.DocRobertshadbeenpostedtoVietnamonamedicalleave.AllIknewabouthisdutytherewasthat

he’dbeen in countryabout the same time Iwas,but I didn’t knowwhenorwhere. He sat forward,browfurrowed,listeningtomystoryaboutthepregnantgirl.Leaningmydirection,Robertsputhispizzadownandinterruptedme.“WasthatAugustof‘70?”heasked.

“Yeah,Doc.Why?”“GirlfromVinhMŶ,downthecoastaways?”“Yes...”“Bigstormthatnight?”“Bigstorm,”Isaid.“...infact,Iwaslategetting...”


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“Ideliveredthatkid,”hesaid.“Youdelivered..?”“Irememberyoulandingonourpadwithher. Ithoughtyouwerenutstobeflyinginthatweather,

but...”Chillspepperedmyarms.“Youdeliveredthatbaby?”“Yep.Babyboy.Momandkiddidfine.Wemadejunioracriboutofanemptyrocketbox,andthey

wenthomethenextday.”Tearspooledinmyeyes.Icouldn’tspeak.Theroomfellsilent.Aguyclearedhisthroat.Thebighand

ontheclockjerkedahead.IthoughtbacktothatAugustafternoon,thegirl,theweather,themissionandmyowninnerconflictthatalmostturnedmearound.Ripplesspreadinalldirections.I’dacceptedthemission,rescuedthegirl,thenadoctornamedStuRobertstookoverfromthereandsavedtwolives.Maybethree.Isaw that angry pilotwho’dmade those choices, sawhimbattle his harsh, judgmental self. Iwatchedhimmakeadecisionthatmighthavebeenhisreasonfordecidingtoflyinthefirstplace.AtthatmomentIbegantolikethefellowinthemirroragain.

RetiredArmyWarrantOfficer Byron Edgington servedwith the 101stAirborneDivision at CampEagle fromMarch 1970 toMarch ‘71.After thewar,

EdgingtonjoinedtheOhioNationalGuardandstartedacommercialcareerwhichtookhimtoPeru,Alaska,Guiana,andallovertheU.S.HewasamemberoftheKentuckyandIowaGuardaswell,andretiredfrommilitaryaviationin2000asaW‐4.Hisflightexperienceincludes12,500hoursloggedintwentydifferenttypesofhelicopters.EdgingtonflewfortwentyyearsatTheUniversityofIowaHospitals&ClinicsinIowaCityasanAirMedpilotwith3,200patientmissions.Hefinishedhiscareerin2005ontheislandofKauaiwhereheflew2,500tourswithAirKauaiHelicopters.

AfterretirementEdgingtonreturnedtoOhioStatetofinishhiscollegecareerthatwasinterruptedbythedraftin1969.HegraduatedinJune2012atage63withadegreeinEnglish.

Edgingtonismarriedtohisbestfriend,Mariah.HehasthreedaughtersandagrandsonandhelivesandwritesinColumbusOhio.www.byronedgington.comedgington.29@osu.edu


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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

CHPAHasANewDisplay

Thanks

to the efforts of Buzz Covington and our President,RobertFrostCHPAhasanewlyrefurbisheddisplaywallforuseatconventionssuchasHAI’sHeli‐Expo,QuadA,VHPA and the Combat Helicopter Association Pop‐A‐Smoke. This displaywall replaces the onewe’ve usedfor years that, unfortunately, succumbed to “fairwearandtear”andwasnolongerusableandnotrepairable.

This new wall was donated to us by FreemanCompany of Grand Prairie, TX for only the cost torefurbishandship toourHQ. Thenext stepwillbe to

setitupandmakesurethereareinstructionsintheboxsothosewho“manthebooth”atourregulartradeshowswillbeabletoeasilyputthisinplace.ThisisagreatimprovementinqualityandappearanceforCHPAandwillgoalongwaytowardimprovingourprofessionalappearanceattheseevents.

swash plate november 2012

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