swash plate october 2012

October2012

• “President’sMessage” RobertFrost• “2012GuestSpeaker” JayBrown• ”NavySEALSupport” AlBillings• “2012ConventionInformation” • “ReunionsandGatherings”• “SnakesintheLake” MichaelLazares• andmuch,muchmore!

Presenting!President’sMessageRobertFrost

ConcludedonPage2

By the time you receive theOctobereditionoftheSwashPlate,theCHPAannualmeetingandconventionwillbelessthantwoweeksaway(November13‐16).Asstatedinmypreviousmessagesthepastfewmonths,this annual meeting will be the mostimportant inourbriefhistory. Therewillbeseveral by‐law changes presented to themembershipforvote.Iwon’tusethespacein this month’s message to re‐state them. They will be included in thismonth’sissueoftheSwashPlate.

Also,asstatedbefore, theactivities thisyear includea tourof theUS Capitol complex by Congressman Louie Gohmert, a wreath layingceremonyattheTomboftheUnknowns,aswellasotheractivitiesonyourownschedule.IfyouregisterforthewreathlayingceremonyattheTomb

of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery for Thursdaymorning, please note the dress code. TheThursdaynightbanquet isaspecialand importantevent,andassuchwearerequestingthatthemenwearcoatandtie.Thosewhowishtoweartheiruniformareencouragedtodoso.Youcangotowww.chpa‐us.orgtoregisterforboththeconventionevents/annualmeetingandthehotel.

OnamoresombernoteIwanttoacknowledgethepassingofoneofthefinestNCOsevertoweartheuniformofthiscountry,CommandSergeantMajorBasilPlumley.Attheageof92,hewaslaidtorestamongthousandsofotherwarriorsattheFortBenningcemetery.Hefoughtasaninfantrymaninthreewarsforthisnation;WWII,Korea,andVietnam. CSMPlumleywasoneofonly324 toearn the rarehonorofaCombatInfantryman’sBadgewithtwostars,signifyinghisinfantrycombatinthreewars.Thiscomparestothe3,476recipientsoftheMedalofHonor. ManymayrememberhisportrayalbyactorSamElliott inthemovie“WeWere Soldiers”. A deep friendship with CSM Plumley developed that Elliot describes as a father‐sonrelationship. Elliot attended themilitary burial as did our CHPA honorarymember, Joe Galloway, the co‐authorof“WeWereSoldiers”,basedonthe1965battleoftheIaDrangvalleyinNovember,1965.Ifyouarenotfamiliarwiththisheroicbattle,IwouldencourageyoutoreadJoe’sbookandseethemovie.

OnNovember11th,VeteransDay,wewill honor thosewhohave served this greatnation sinceourcreation. Aswereflectonthis importantday,weallthinkaboutourserviceandtheimpactonourfamiliesbecauseofourcommitmenttoserve.Inmanywaysourfamilies and friends are very affected by our

JoinusinDCinNovember

Volume 8, Issue 10 CHPA • The Swash Plate www.chpa-us.org

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commitment to duty, honor and country. I hope you don’tmindmy sharing a personalmessage thatmysister,YvonnepostedrecentlyaboutwhatourfamilywentthroughwhenIwasdeployedtoVietnamin1970.WhenIreadherFacebookpostIbrokedownandcried.ItisoneofthemostheartfeltandsincereexpressionsofloveIhaveeverexperienced.

Hereitis:“Iwas13in1970…………IrememberwellwhenRobertleftforVietnam…….Iwasalittleyoungerthan

Jewel(Yvonne’sdaughter)…..wewenttotheDallasairportandhewasalldressedinhisuniformandhadhispilotshelmetwithhim….itwasabigolething…..heletmeholdit….IcanrememberhowproudIfeltbeingseentherewithhimalldressedupinhisuniform,butatthesametimeIwasverysadandveryscared.EventhoughIwasyoungandthe latestepisodeoftheMonkeysshowwastoponmy listofpriorities, I’dseenenougheveningnewshowsandlistenedtoenoughdeathcountstoknow.Althoughitwasn’tuntilIwasanadultdidIfullyunderstandthehorrorshowhewasgoingto…..we’dhadfriendswhohadreceivedthatvisitfromthelongblackcarthatbroughtthenewsthattheywouldneverseetheirdearoneagain………Iguessmymomwasexperiencingtheworstofit,somethingIcouldn’tfullyunderstanduntilIhadmyownson….IlookbackandIthinkhowdidshestandit???Shestooditthesamewaythousandsofmothershavesincethebeginningofwars….onherknees…jumpingevery timethephone rangor someone rang thedoorbell,andcountingeverydayoffonthecalendar,untilthatjoyousdaywhenhewalkedthroughthatdooragain,safe,weprayed….somanydidn’thavethatjoyousdayandforthatIcry….anywayIrememberwaitingthatdayatDallasLoveFieldwithmybrother…therewerehugsandtearsandabigrockinthebottomofallofourstomachsandthedreadaseveryminutepassedbythattimewasaboutup,noonespeakingitoutloudbutallofusaskingourselves“isthisthe lasthug, is thisthe lastsmile, is thisthe lasttimeIwillhearhislaugh,lookinhisblueeyes,touchhishand,hearhisvoice?”Ican’timaginewhatRobertfelt…anyway,notmuchwassaidinthecaronthewayhomeandIcanremembergoingintomybedroomwhenwegothome,climbingontomybedandcryinguntilIcouldcrynomore. Itwasalongyear…butthanktheLord,hedidcomehome…hewaschanged…whocouldnotgothroughwhathewentthrough,andseewhathesawandnotbechanged….innocencelost…however,mybrotherwasoneoftheoneswhodidnotlethimselfslideintopoverty,despairandself‐pityassomedid…theyhadeveryreasontoifyouwanttolookatitthatway…no,Robertbecameaverysuccessfulbusinessman;hehasalwayscontributedinaverypositiveway,evenafterhisservicetoourcountry,hisfamilyandourmilitary,andcontinuestodoso…hewasahero….andisstillahero…he’sMYbigbrother,andhiseyesarestillblueand I’veseenthemmany,manytimessince…Atanyrate,boysarestillgoingofftowar,andIsupposewillaslongastimegoeson…sotodayI’mprayingforourmilitaryfamilies,thewives,parents,siblings,children,ofourbravemenandwomenwhoareclimbingontoairplanesthisveryday,willingtomaketheultimatesacrificeforourwayoflife,ourfreedom….ourpreciousUSA…..wecanpray…wecansupport….wecanVOTEforpresidentsandrepresentativeswhowillletthemputbullets in theirweapons…anddo allwe can to ensure that they havewhat they need to stay as safe aspossible!!!Weowethemnoless…theyhavegiventheirall…….”

September23,2011Iamsureallofyoucanrelate………….seeyousooninWashington,DC.


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2012ConventionGuestSpeakerJayBrown

CW5DaveCooperenteredserviceinMarch1985andattended Basic Training at Ft Jackson, South Carolina. HeattendedtheWarrantOfficerBasicCourseandFlightSchoolatFtRucker,AlabamawherehegraduatedinAprilof1986.After completing the AH‐64 Apache Aircraft QualificationCourseCW5CooperwasassignedtoATroop,2ndSquadron,6th Cavalry, Ft Hood, Texas. The unit participated inREFORGER 1987 and moved to Illeshiem, Germany whereCW5CooperservedasaPilotInCommandandUnitTrainer.In1991,hedeployedtoandflewcombatmissionsinsupportof Desert Storm. Upon returning to the US and followingattendanceoftheAH‐64AApacheInstructorPilotCourseandthe Warrant Officer Advanced Course, CW5 Cooper wasassignedtoBTroop,4thSquadron,6thUSCavalry,FtHood,Texaswherehe servedasaTroop InstructorPilot and laterBattalionStandardizationInstructorPilot.HeearnedaBachelorofSciencedegreeinProfessionalAeronauticsfrom Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. In 1994, CW5 Cooper applied to and successfully assessed forservice with the 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Ft Campbell, Kentucky. He wasassignedtoBCompany,1stBattalionandservedasFullyMissionQualifiedPilot,InstructorPilot,OperationsOfficer,andBattalionFlightLead.HehascompletedtheWarrantOfficerStaffCourseandtheWarrantOfficerSeniorStaffCourse.InSeptember2007,CW5Cooperwasselectedtoserveasthe160th’sRegimentWarrantOfficer. In June2010,hewasselectedtoserveastheCommandChiefWarrantOfficerof theArmySpecialOperationsAviationCommandatFtBragg,NC.

His awards and decorations include theDistinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished FlyingCross,2BronzeStars,4MeritoriousServiceMedals,4AirMedals,3AirMedalswithVdevice(Valor),2ArmyCommendationMedals,ArmyCommendationMedalwithVdevice(Valor),3ArmyAchievementMedals,ArmyGoodConductMedal, 2NationalDefenseServiceMedals, 3 SouthwestAsia ServiceMedals, IraqCampaignMedal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Award, Global War on Terrorism Service Award, MilitaryOutstandingVolunteerServiceMedal,ArmyServiceRibbon,OverseasServiceRibbon,SaudiArabiaLiberationMedal,KuwaitLiberationMedal,theCombatActionBadge,andtheMasterArmyAviatorBadge.In2009hewasinductedintotheArmyAviationHallofFame.

CW5 Cooper ismarried to the formerMary Hanrahan fromWaukesha,Wisconsin.Mary owns andmanagesaUPSStore.Theyhavetwodaughters.ChristinalivesinLosAngeles,California.CatherinelivesinClarksville,Tennessee.


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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]

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

Sharethe“Swash”

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

Sponsorship


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ChristmasBoxesfortheTroopsJayBrown

MerryChristmas,everyone!!CHPA‘s2012ChristmasBoxesfortheTroopsproject ismovingrightalong. We’vealreadyreceivedsponsorships for24boxesfor our deployed troops in Afghanistan but we can use more. If you know adeployedsoldierletusknowbyprovidingamailingaddress.Orbetteryet,provideseveral!! And don’t forget to go to the CHPAwebsite atwww.chpa‐us.org andclickonthelinkstosupportasmanyboxesasyoucan.

Everyyearwereceivenotes,Christmascards,andpostcardsthankingyou,ourgeneroussupporters,forthattouchofhomeduringtheholidayseason.Theyknowtheycanalwayscountonus.

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, like the ones shown here, 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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On the night of October 10, 1968, a group of US Navy SEALS walked into a hooch at Nha Be Naval

Support Activity Base, a tropical compound crammed onto a tiny point of cleared land along eh main shipping channel in the Mekong River Delta. They were in the rich delta farmland of South Vietnam, less than fifteen miles south of Saigon and twenty-five miles from the South China Sea. It was hot; nothing like the frigid cold of North Korea. Even thought the sun had gone down, the SEALs still sweated in the thick tropical air. They sat down with one of the naval aviators who shared the base with them: Lieutenant Al Billings of Detachment Two, Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron (HAL-3) – The Seawolves. Noting about the deadly “Huey” gunships of HAL-3 resembled the rickety and under-powered Sikorsky HO3S Charlie Ward had flown during the previous decade, but they had a similar mission: to save fellow warriors in danger.

Navy SEALs, Patrol Boat River crews (PBRs were armed thirty-one foot speed boats that were key parts of the “brown water navy” that patrolled the Mekong), and Seawolves shared the small beachhead of a base, and they had become a family; to the SEALS and the PBR crews, Al was just “Hollywood.” He had maverick style, but always had their back. Their units would venture into the Vietcong-infested islands, jungles, bogs, channels and peninsulas to find Charlie, as everyone called the communist insurgents attempting to take over South Vietnam. (“Charlie” was singular or plural; short of the phonetic Victor Charlie.) Charlie operated among the villages, trees, and fields of the delta and when PBRs and SEAL teams found him, the Seawolves would cover their brethren, rolling in riding Bell UH-1 Iroquois gunships like the cavalry rode horses.

That particular October night, the SEALs brought Al a map and pointed out their next insertion point. They asked Al if he could cover them. One of Seawolf Detachment Two’s two helicopters was down for repairs, and Al explained that squadron policy dictated that aircraft couldn’t fly alone. And even if he launched single-ship, he’d only have half the firepower of a typical two-ship fire team. The SEALs in turn explained the tides and moon were just right for their operation; they had to go that night. Al promised he’d cover them, as he always did. He would be overhead within ten minutes of their call.

When he called the officer in charge (OINC) to explain the situation, the OINC responded that single-aircraft missions were forbidden without exception. When their discussion ended, however, both men held an unsaid and quite unfriendly understanding that Al would go if called. He was that kind of guy; he always did right by the troops, despite policies if necessary. The OINC despised him for that reason; his men loved him for it.

Before Taps sounded that night, Al gathered his seven-man crew. He explained the situation: “Here’s the way it is: squadron policy is not to go out single-aircraft, but if the SEALs get in trouble, I said I’d come get them. I need three other crewmen.”

All seven volunteered to go. The gunners were all enlisted personnel. They had started their careers like Al, and he always had a

special love for the young, hardworking petty officers and airmen who flew with him. Al had enlisted at age nineteen and entered the navy’s enlisted flight training program. He received his wings of gold and his officer’s commission on the same day: June 17, 1966, at age twenty-one.

“I always had a affinity for the enlisted guys because I felt they made me who I was,” he said. “As long as I took care of them and they believe in me, they busted their butts. They’d work twenty-four hours a day if they believed in you. They did the field maintenance on all the aircraft, all the maintenance on the guns, did all the logistics loading, ordnance loading. They’d work around the clock to fix an engine, then they strapped on their armor, hopped in the back seats, and flew with us.

NavySEALSupportAlBillings


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ContinuedonPage8

“I took on Cos, I took on CAGs, I took on admirals and we always won because of those enlisted guys,” he said, referring to the headstrong leadership style, which won him love from his men but earned flack from his superiors. “I challenged them, but my guys backed me up. Just like they did when the SEALs called.”

The SEAL team radioed for help around 2:30 AM. Three team members had sustained severe wounds and Charlie had cut off the return route to their boat. They were in deep trouble. Gunfire and scr4eams punctuated the SEALs’ call for help.

Seawolf alert crews slept in their uniforms and boots, and within seconds of the distress call they were rushing through the darkness and heat to their waiting gunship. They were more than awake by the time they leapt into the green Iroquois and started its rotor spinning.

“I loved this kind of shit,” said Al. “It was better than sex. Everything was multiplied tenfold. Your hearing, your sense of touch, your smell, everything was heightened … I never felt so alive as when I was scrambled in support of someone in trouble, on a moonless night where you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.”

Seawolf Two-Eight slowly lifted off the runway and nosed forward trying to generate enough lift to get its heavy cargo of weapons and ordnance airborne. The modified Huey carried two rocket pods with seven rockets each, twin 30 caliber mini-guns, a lethal 50 caliber cannon, boxes of grenades, and hordes of ammunition. Al packed a45 caliber pistol for good measure. The gunship cut through the thick, pitch-black night, coordinating with inbound Army DUSTOFF rescue helicopters as they went.

“It was like being in a dark closet with no lights,” Al described the night. “You couldn’t see anything.” Within the promised ten minutes, they were over the SEALs. Al saw the red lights the SEALs were

shining striaght int the sky so the Seawolves could see their position but Charlie could not. The men on the ground directed Al to a spot two undred yards away from their lights and he rolled in.

“It was a dark moonless night,” Al recalled latere. “With our running lights off, all Charlie had to shoot at were our muzzle flashes and the sound of the helicoptger. We were maneuvering at 85 – 95 knots at a thousand feet above the ground. All Charlie did when he fired at us was give away his positions to the door gunners.”

The SEALs crackled over the radio, warning Al of the fire the vietcong were directing at the helicopter. “It was typical of them,” he said. “Pinned down with three wounded and after everything they had just

gone trough, they were concerned about the Seawolves. It said a lot about the caliber of people they were.” After his passes, the tree line grew quiet nad Al turned his attention to a nearby jungle compound where

the SEALs suspected the guerillas were based. Again he rolled in, lights off and guns blazing. Tracers began streaking upward from the buildings, painting red lines that crisscrossed the sky; for each tracer the crew could see, there were four bullets they could not. Al doggedly flew through the flack as his gunners bravely stood on the helo’s open doors returning fire. Not that it mattered whether a crewman was standing in an open doorway or behind the aircraft’s aluminum skin. The skin was so thin, it might as well not have been there. Bullets could pass thrhough as if the metal was paper.

“Every time a bullet hit,” Al remembered, “it sounded like a BB puncturing a Coke can.” Imagine that happening every fe2w seconds. It wore on the nerves of the crew and pilots. Everyone in the helo had armor plates on their seat bottoms, otherwise they were completely vulnerable. Every time they heard the “pop,” they wondered if someone on board had been hit.

By the time Seawolf Two-Eight had exhausted its fuel and ammunition, the Army rescue helicoipters were still thirty minutes out. That gave Al’s bird time to return to Nha Be for the quickest refuel and rearm he ever had. His rotors never stopped spinning and he was sure he would have been in deepo trouble had the safety officer been awake at 3:30 A.M.


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ConcludedonPage9

WhenthehelicopterreturnedtotheSEALs’position,twoArmymedevacheloswerealwoarraiving.AllwasquietbelowuntilthetwoArmyslicksbegandescendingtowardthelandingzone(LZ).TheVietconghadbeenwaitingfortheextractionandsuddenlytracerspouredoutofthewoods.ThetworescueslickspulledupandAldovetowardthetreeline,withhisgunnershammeringaway.Thewoodsbecameconsiderablyquieter.Onthenextgo‐round,AlproposedleadingthelicksintotheLZ.

“Theyseemedtoliketheideaandrolledinbehindmeastheymadetheirapproach,”hesaid. “I ledtheslicksinandassoonasCharliefiredhisfirstround,Idumpedseveralmorerocketsintotheirposition…Ihadtimetocomearoundandlaydownafewmorerocketsastheslickspickedup(theSEALs)outoftheLZanddeparted.TheywereabletogetoutoftheLZwithouttakinganyhits.”

Backatthebase,theOINCwasnowheretobefound,whichwasfinewithSeawolfTwo‐Eight.Alknwhe’d take heat from the ornery OINC for breaking the squadron’s rules and launching single‐aircraft.Fortunately, thenextday, theSEALcommanderpaidavisit to theSeawolves’ skipperand thankedhim forsavinghis team;thishappenedbefore theOINCwasable to reprimandAl fordisobeyingpolicyandorders.The skipper of HAL‐3 instead ordered the OINC to nominate “Hollywood Al” Billings for the DistinguishedFlyingCross.

TheDistinguishedFlyingCross,slightlytarnishedwiththepassingofyears,hangsinsideaglasscaseinAlBillings’study.GlintsofsunlightfromLakeMurraydancedacrossitscasingaswesatonhisporchwatchingtheautumnsunsettle toward theSouthCarolinapinesacross the sparklingblue lake. Al’swife,Trish,hadjoinedusashefinishedsmokinghisdailycigar–atrademarkhabithe’dhadsincehefirstsetfootinVietnammorethanfortyyearsago.

About those first days in‐country, he recalled, “I remember reporting for duty and a maintenanceofficersaidHAL‐3hadmorePurpleHearts(medalsforwoundssufferedincombat)thananyothersquadronintheNavy!” Al laughed. “Iwasn’t sure if thatwassomething tobragabout! And Iwasn’t surewhat Iwasgettinginto.”

HewasjoiningwhatwouldbecomeoneofthemoststoriedunitsoftheVietnamera.The HAL‐3 Seawolves were formed in South Vietnam during 1967 to support operations in the

MekongRiverDelta. TheywouldbetheNavy’sonlyattackhelicoptersquadrontofly inSoutheastAsiaandtheydideveryjobimaginableinthedelta–insertingSEALteams,rescuingwoundedorpatrolsunderattack,providingaircoverforPBRs–allwiththecommongoalofleavingnomanbehind.Theunit’sfirstleadershadno realmodels and few resources as they created the squadron. Their first helicopterswere secondhandArmyaircraftwiththousandsofhourswearandtear.InthegreatNavytradition,theSeawolveswingeditandduringtheunit'sfiveyearsofservice,HAL‐3becameoneofthemostdecoratedNavysquadronsoftheentirewar.Sadly,italsosustainedthemostcasualties:forty‐fourmendiedonSeawolfmissionsintotheviperpitthatwas theMekongDelta. More than twohundredHAL‐3pilotsandaircrewwerewoundedduring their120,000combatsorties.

“Ourjob–theSeawolves’job–wastoprotectandsavelives,”AlsaidaswesatonhisporchinSouthCaolina.“Itwasmorethanajob;that’swhattheSeawolveslivedfor–tohelpprotectthelivesofpeoplewhowereintrouble.WewereaquickreactionforceandourmainmissionwastoprotectthePBRsoranyoneelseon the delta if they got in trouble. Usually when a gunship came in the guns blazing, Charlie hauled assbecauseheknew itwasa losingbattle. Wewere theguyswhorode inon thewhitehorse. Wewere thecavalry.”

“Now the PBR guys,“ he segued. “Talk about abunch of heroes and guyswith guts. They’d go out infiberglass PBRs and they would go up these narrow


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SubmitYourPhotos!

CHPAhasagrowingcollectionofphotos,fromflightschoolclasspictureslikethese,toactionphotostohelicoptershotsfromaroundtheworld…IfyouwouldliketocontributetothecollectionpleaseuploadyourphotosbyfollowingthelinksontheCHPAwebsiteorclickhere!

riversandtributaries.TheriverswouldbesonarrowthatCharliecouldjusttossagrenadeintotheboat.”AlknewaboutthebraveryofthePBRcrews,andnexttotheDistinguishedFlyingCross inAl’sstudy

hungtheSilverStar,thethird‐highestdecorationgivenbytheNavy.OnlytheNavyCrossandMedalofHonorrankhigher. He tookapuffonhis cigar andbegan to tellme the storybehind theaward. He lookedoutacross LakeMurray, andpointed to a spot in themiddleof the channel: “That’s about seventy‐five yards.That’showwidetheriverwasinthespotwhereittookplace.”

“It”wasoneofthemostimpressivecombatrescuemissionsflownduringtheentirewar.


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COMBATHELICOPTERPILOTSASSOCIATION

2012CONVENTIONWashington,DC‐November13th–16th,2012

WelcometoWashington,DC

Washington,DCistheheartoftheAmericanexperience. Fromitscelebratedsymbolsofpatriotism,

monumentstothepast,andaspirationsforthefuture,ourNation’sCapital istrulyaweinspiring.TheCHPA2012ConventionisyouropportunitytoshareandrememberyourownAmericanexperience.Don’tmissthespecialprivatetouroftheCapitolBuilding.TherewillbemanyopportunitiestoreflectonhistoryasyoutourArlington Cemetery, the WWII, Korean War Veterans, and Vietnam Veterans Memorials. Digest history,experience the present and ponder the future of this most American of cities, during your outstandingconventionprogram.Don’tmissit!

HotelInformation

TheconventionofficiallyrunsfromTuesday,November13thuntilFriday,November16th.YouwillbestayingatthefullserviceCrownePlazaHotellocatedat901NorthFairfaxStreet,Alexandria,VA22314.TheCrownePlazaHotelislocatedclosetomanyofWashington’smostpopularattractions.Theroomrateisjust$109.00plustaxpernightbasedonsingleordoubleoccupancy.Theroomrateincludesbreakfastserveddailyin the hotel restaurant. For those of youwho choose to arrive early or stay late, the same room rate isavailable threedays prior and threedays after, basedon availability. Pleasemake your hotel reservationsNOWbycalling703‐683‐6000. Youmaycancelupuntil72hoursbeforearrivalatnopenalty.Mentionthatyouarewith theCHPAConvention toassureyouareassociatedwithour group. Youmay request specificroomtypeswhenyoucalltomakeyourreservations(handicapaccessibleroom,etc.).Thehotelcheck‐intimeis3:00pm.Please,donotexpecttogetintoyourroombeforethen.Theywillaskyouforadepositorcreditcardnumbertoguaranteeyourroomreservation. Thehotel isholdingroomsuntiltheyselloutorOctober5th,2012whichevercomesfirst.

Transportation&Directions

The closest airport isWashingtonNational –RonaldReagan (DCA). Thehoteloffers complimentaryshuttleservicefromWashingtonNationalAirport.Pleaseusethecourtesyphoneinthebaggageclaimarea.For thoseofyoudriving to thereunion,wehavenegotiatedcomplimentaryparking for thedurationof thereunion.Travelsafelyandwewill….

SeeyouinOurNation’sCapital!


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COMBAT HELICOPTER PILOTS ASSOCIATION

CONVENTION EVENTS

WELCOMEDINNERATTHEHOTELTuesday,November13th(7:00pmattheHotel)

Welcometotheconvention!Gatherwithyourfriendsforacasualall‐you‐can‐eatBBQdinneratthehotel.Thisisagreatchancetoseewhoisherethisyear,andkickofftheconvention!

EVENTA:MEMORIALS,MONUMENTS&SPECIALCAPITOLHILLTOURWednesday,November14th(2:00pm‐11:00pm)

BeginwithavisittosomeofthemostfamousmonumentsandmemorialsinWashington,DC.BeginattheVietnamVeteransMemorial,wheretherewillbeplentyof timetoreflectandremember,thenvisit thenearbyKoreanWarVeteransMemorialandtheLincolnMemorial.TimepermittingyouwillstopattheWWIIMemorial,JeffersonandUSMarineCorpsWarMemorial(IwoJima).EnjoysometimeonyourowninUnionStation fordinnerandshopping. UnionStationoffersmanyuniquechoices foryourdinner. ThecoachwilldepartUnionStationat7:00pmfor thespecialCapitolTour. Averyspecial tourhasbeenarrangedat theCapitolBuilding.YouwillhaveaprivatetouroftheCapitolincludingareasnotoftenopentothepublic.TheCapitolTouristentativelyscheduledtobeginat7:30pmandconcludeat10:30pm.

EVENTB:ARLINGTONCEMETERY,WREATHLAYING&SMITHSONIANSONYOUROWNThursday,November15th(9:00am‐3:00pm)

ThedaybeginswithatourofArlingtonCemetery.Hereyouwillridethetramuptothe“TomboftheUnknowns”foraspecialWreathLayingCeremony,followedbythefamous“changingoftheguard”ceremony.ThenproceedtoviewtheKennedygravesiteandtheEternalFlame.ThetramwillpassArlingtonHouseasyoureturntotheVisitor’sCenter.Thisisawonderfulandmovingexperienceforeveryone.Yourmotorcoachwilltake you to theMallwheremost of the SmithsonianMuseums are located. Youmay choose theNaturalHistoryMuseum, theAir&SpaceMuseumortheAmericanHistoryMuseum. ThereareseveralartgallerieswhicharealsopartoftheSmithsonianMuseumGroup.AlloftheSmithsonianMuseumsarefree.Yourcoachwill dropyouat theAmericanHistoryMuseum; you canwalk to theothermuseums fromhere. All of theMuseumsofferrestaurants for lunchonyourown. Themotorcoachwilldepart fromthedropoff locationpromptlyat3:00pmtoreturntothehotel.Forthosewhowanttostaylonger,youareonyourownforreturntransportationtothehotel.

PleaseNote:AstrictdresscodeisrequiredtoattendtheWreathLayingCeremonyatArlingtonCemetery.Ifyouarenotdressedperthecode,youwillnotbeabletoparticipateinthetour.Pleasenotedresscoderequirementsareoutlinedbelowinimportantconventionnotes.


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BANQUETDINNERThursday,November15th(7:00pmatHotel)

JoinyourfriendsfortheBanquetDinnerattheHotel.Cocktailswillbeavailablefromthecashbarat6:00pm;dinnerwillbeservedat7:00pm. EntréechoicesareRoastedBeefwithmushroomdemisauceorGrilledChickenwithfreshherbsauce.Pleasemakeyourentréeselectiononthereservationform.

TOURCANCELLATIONINSURANCE

Protectyourselffromunforeseenexpensescausedbysickness,injuryoranyothercausesthatimpactyour travel plans. This insurance enables a refund of Tour&Banquet expenses. Please note CancellationInsuranceexpiresat11:59pmthedaybeforetheconventionstarts.NorefundsaregivenaftermidnightevenifCancellationInsurancewaspurchased.Ifyouneedtocancel–pleasecontactourofficeimmediately(817‐251‐3551)oremail:cancel@MilitaryReunionPlanners.comforconfirmationofyourcancellation. Ifyouhavenot purchased cancellation insurance, all tour and meal money is non‐refundable 6 weeks prior to theconvention.

ImportantConventionNotes:Arlington Cemetery Dress Code Requirements: Men: Collared shirt, casual slacks, and appropriate shoes.Women:blouse,casual slacks, skirtordress,andappropriateshoes. The followingarenotpermitted:Bluejeans,patchedjeans,shortsofanykind,tanktops,haltertops,teeshirts,showertypeshoes,tubetops,shirtsthatexposethemidriff.

• Toursmaybecancelledifaminimumof30peopleperbusisnotmet.Inthiscase,fullrefundswillbegiven.

• Pleaseunderstand thata certainamountofwalking isnecessary fromthebus toattractionsand, insomeinstances,toalsoseetheattractions.Pleaseconsideryourabilitiesbeforepurchasingtours.

• Besuretobringphotoidentification(likeadriver’slicense)onallevents.• Alltourtimesaresubjecttochange.Afinalitineraryisavailableatregistration.

ReservationsareduebyOctober5th,2012.

Latereservationsacceptedonaspaceavailablebasiswithanonrefundable$10perpersonlatefee.Youshouldmakeacopyofthisformforyourrecords.Forinformationcallweekdays:817‐251‐3551orEmail:[email protected]. Requests for refundsmustbemade inwritingandpostmarkedbeforedue date above. No refunds will be made after this date, unless you have purchased Tour CancellationInsurance.Sorry,norefundswillbegivenforanyreasonstartingatmidnightthedaybeforetheconventionstarts. There isa$10perperson refundprocessing fee. Yourcancelledcheck is your receiptandproofofpurchase. There is a $25 return check fee for NSF. For a written confirmation, please enclose a self‐addressed, stamped envelope. MRP will not be held liable for failure of vendors to provide contractedservices or any injuries/accidents that may occur during the convention. Tours require a minimum of 30peopleinordertooperate.FullrefundswillbegivenforanyeventcancelledbyMRP.

EXCELLENCEINCONVENTIONPLANNING


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COMBAT HELICOPTER PILOTS ASSOCIATION 2012 CONVENTION RESERVATION FORM

DATE EVENT COST QTY TOTAL CONVENTION REGISTRATION FEE – Per Person

Everyone Please Pay ~ Non-refundable $15 pp

Tues11/13 Welcome Dinner (7:00pm at the Hotel) $39 pp Wed 11/14 EVENT A: Memorials, Monuments & Special Capitol

Building Tour (2:00pm-11:00pm) $49 pp

Thu 11/15 EVENT B: Arlington Cemetery, Wreath Laying & Smithsonians on your own (9:00am-3:00pm)

$49 pp

Thu 11/15 Banquet Dinner (7:00pm at the Hotel) Roasted Beef $50 pp Grilled Chicken $50 pp Non Refundable Late Reservation Fee (If mailed after Oct 5th ) pp $10 Tour Cancellation Insurance (non-refundable) $10 pp TOTAL: Make On-line Reservations with a Credit Card at:

www.militaryreunionplanners.com/chpa Or, send this entire completed form with a check payable to:

Military Reunion Planners, P.O. Box 1588, Colleyville, TX 76034 PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:

Name (As you want it to appear on badge): __________________________________________________

Spouse: _________________________________________________________________________

Guest(s):________________________________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________City: ____________________St: ______Zip: ______

Phone: (Home)________________________Phone:(Other):__________________________________

Email Adresss:___________________________________________________________________________

Emergency contact during the convention: _______________________________Ph:______________

Reservations are due by October 5th, 2012. Late reservations accepted on a space available basis with a non refundable $10 per person late fee. You should make a copy of this form for your records. For information call weekdays: 817-251-3551 or Email: [email protected] FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date Rec’d: __________ Check #: ______ Amount $: _______ XCL #: __________


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ReunionsandGatherings

Areyouplanningareunionoreventthatmaybeofinteresttoourmembers?Letushelpyougetthe

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

Besuretoincludeaccuratecontactandregistrationinformationandwe’lltakecareoftherest.

30thANNIVERSARYOFTHEWALL‐READINGOFTHENAMES

The Vietnam VeteransMemorial Fund is hosting theReadingof the Names of 58,272 servicemembers inscribed on the VietnamVeteransMemorialinWashington,DC,aspartofthespecialactivitiesplannedthis November to commemorate TheWall’s30thAnniversary.

TheReadingof theNameswill takeplaceatTheWall for65hoursovera four‐dayperiodbeginningwith anopening ceremonyonWednesday,November 7, 2012 at 3:00pm. Volunteerswill readnames forapproximatelyeighthoursfrom4pmonNovember7to12amonNovember8.Participantswillthenreadthenamesfor19hoursdailyfrom5amuntil12amonNovember8,9,and10.

TheReadingoftheNamestookplaceinWashington,DCjustfourothertimesinTheWall’shistory.InNovember 1982, the names were read aloud at Washington National Cathedral as part of a week‐longNational Salute to Vietnam Veterans. The names were read at The Wall during the 10th Anniversarycelebration in November 1992, during the 20th Anniversary celebration in 2002 and during the 25thAnniversary celebration in 2007. For more information and to sign up to participate visithttp://www.vvmf.org/ROTN.

AnLocReunionTeam70andothers

MACVTeam70willgatherFridayandSaturday,5‐6October2012attheHolidayInn,230North

CollegeStreet,Charlotte,NC.Forhotelreservationscall(704)335‐5400andaskfortheReunionofTeam70AnLocrate.Theroomrateis$99+tax,about$116/night.Hotelparkingfeesare$15/day.Baseballcapswillbeavailableforsalefor$10.Forfurtherinformationand/ortoorderacapcontactWaltat(336)285‐9422,ore‐mail:[email protected].


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5thArmySalutetoVietnamVeteransandWelcomeHome

TheUSArmyNorth(5thArmy)willhostaSalutetoVietnamVeteranstohonorourVietnamVeteransandproperlywelcomethemhome,November72012,startingat4:00pm.TheeventwillbeheldatFortSamHouston (FSH‐ JointBaseSanAntonio),SanAntonio,TX 78234. USARNORTH is located in theQuadrangle(secondmosthistoricspot inSanAntonio)onFTSamHoustonandthesalutewill takeplaceontheParadeField.ATroop,1/9Cavalry,1AirCavDivisionApache Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division will 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 isforenlistedpersonnelregardlessofflightstatusorposition.ContactJeffCromaratapachetroopreunion2013@gmial.comor817‐647‐5213formoreinformation.

AsRobertmentionedinhis“President’sMessage”therewillbesomeproposalspresentedtothemembership at this year’sAnnualBusinessMeeting for their consideration. Theseproposals are veryimportant fortheOrganizationanddeserveyourseriousattentionandwillrequiretheapprovalof themembershippriortoimplementation.

OneproposalisactuallyapolicythatwillallowtheuseofproxyvotingatmonthlymeetingsoftheBoardofDirectors.

A second proposed By‐Law change would expand membership in CHPA to include qualifiedaircrewmembersfromselectedinternationalmilitaryaviationcommunities.

AthirdproposedchangewouldallowvotingandBoardserviceforCHPAcrewmembermembersandwouldincreasecrewmemberduesto$30/year,$640/lifetime.

TheexacttextofallchangeproposalsandProxypolicywillbeavailableduringthemeetingandIurge you to carefully consider those proposals and provide your input via your vote at the AnnualBusinessMeeting.

IlookforwardtoseeingyouinDC.

By‐LawChangeProposals


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ContinuedonPage17

Excerptfromthebook;GOODBYE,MYDARLING;HELLO,VIETNAMAvailable@AmazonandBarnesandNoble.ALLPROFITSFROMTHISBOOKAREGOINGTOTHE‘WOUNDEDWARRIORPROJECT’

Oneofouron‐goingmissionswastoflywhatwascalledaFirstLightRecon.Iwouldtakeoffatthefirst

sign of day breakwhile itwas still half dark and fly the jungle trails leading back into themountains. I’mcurrentlyflyingforE/82ndArtillery,1stCavalryDivisionandhaveanOH‐13strappedtomyass.E/82nd,theWoodpeckers, is the support unit for the Division Artillery. I normally fly reconnaissance for the Infantrysoldiers,providingeyesforthemfromabove.IftheygetintotroubleIcanbringthebiggunsfromnearbyfirebases into the fight by calling in the grid coordinates of the enemy and then adjusting the impact of therounds.OthertimesIwillscoutanareaofpotentialenemyhideoutsandcampsandthencallintheartillerytodestroyit.

I’mstationedatLZTwoBitswhichisrightrearHighway1.Hwy1runsfromthesouthofVietnamuptoNorthVietnamand isthecountry’smajorroadway. TheLZhasanairstripandwasaGreenBeretcampforquiteawhile. ItsitsonahillsideabovethevillageofBonSonandtothesouthistheSongLaiGiangRiver.ThisrivergetsitsstarttothewestfromrunoffinthesteepmountainssurroundingtheAnLoaValley.ThelandaroundTwoBits is ricepaddiesand jungle. Therearea fewhills scatteredaboutand theUSArmyusuallystakesclaimtothese.TothewestarethemountainsandtheVCandNVAlayclaimtothese.

Theenemysoldierswouldcomedownoutofthemountainsduringthenightandeitherstayinavillageor setupambushesonUS troops. TheywouldholdpoliticalmeetingsorperhapsassassinationsofvillagesloyaltotheSouthVietnameseGovernment.TheNVAandVCwouldcollectriceandotherfoodandgatherupnewrecruitsorconscriptsandthenheadbacktothemountainsandtheircampsinthejungle.

Ipulledthisdutyjustabouteverydayandhadmyroutinesdownprettygood. Iusuallyhadthisbig2ndLt.“Griff”whowouldflywithme.NormallyGriffwouldcarryanM‐60machinegunandhisjobwouldbetoputdownsuppressivefireifweranintotroubleandthengetontheradioandeithercallinartilleryfireorgetushelp. Thelengthofthemissionwasusuallytwohoursasthat’showmuchfuelthe‐13carried,andIhadageneralareaofassignment.Iwouldtakeoffwhileeveryoneelsewasstillsleepingexceptformaybeacrewchiefoftwo,andheadouttowardthejungleandmountains.Oneofmyfavoritehuntingareaswasthetrails leading from theBon Sonplains back toward theAn Loa valley. TheAn Loawas the sceneofmanybattlesandalotofenemywaslivingupthere.

Wetookoffatabout5:30asthesunwasjuststartingtomakeanappearanceandheadedsouthwesttowardthehills.Iflewthesemissionsattreetoplevelorlower.AnyhigherandIriskedgettingshotdown.Iwasslowandnoisysomyonlydefensivecapabilitywastobeinthetreesorgrasswheretheenemycouldn’tseemeuntilIwasrightontopofthem.Thefunnythingabouthelicoptersflyinginthejungleandmountainsis that you can hear them, but you cannot really tell justwhere they are. The noise bounces around andseemstobecomingfromeverywhere.

IstartedworkingtrailsandstreamsbutwasnotfindinganythingsoIturnednorthwesttowardtheAnLoaandcrossedoversomesmallhillsleadingtothemountains.Idroppeddownintothevalleyandheadedfor theriver that runsdowntowardthesea. Iwasn’t in thevalleymorethanamilewhen Icameacrossasmall lakenexttotheriver. AsIgotoverthetopofthewater I looked down and floating on the surface was

SnakesintheLakeCW5(USA,RET)MichaelLazares


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ConcludedonPage18

maybeahalf‐dozenverylargesnakeswhichIguesswereboaconstrictorsorsomethingrelated.Thesesnakeswereprobablyanywherefromfourtotenfeetlongbutlookedawholelotbigger.

Theywerealluponthesurfaceofthelakecatchingtheearlymorningsunandmaybebreakfast.Ihavehad more than my share of run‐ins with snakes and I don’t like them. For all I know they have a hugeintelligence network and know all about me and have been tracking me ever since flight school. Well IdecidednowwastimeforpaybackandItoldGriff,“Shootthesnakes.“GriffrackedtheboltoftheM‐60tomake sure he had a round seated and pointed themachine gun down at the snakes. Well blessmy soul,Karma reared its ugly head. The engine onmy helicopter took this opportunity to quitworking and fromabout five feet in theairwewent ‘splash.‘ I’mwearing fatigues, ahelmet, a .38 revolver, a .22automaticpistolandalargeknifeplusmyflakjacketandchickenplate.

Thechickenplateisa20lb.vestwithabulletproofplateinthefront.IalsohaveabandoleerofM‐16magazinesstrappedacrossmyshoulderandvariousheavyitemsinmypockets.Whatthisalladdsuptoistoturnmeintoarockwhenwestartsinkinginthelake.IhavetheM‐16tiedtothedoorwhichisblockingmyexit,andthosesnakesareallgatheringtoattack.

IlookatGriffandhelooksatmeasIsinkintothewater.I’m5Ft.10”andGriffis6’3”sothelastthingIseeasIgounderisGriff’sshouldersandheadupinthefreshair.The‐13sankcompletelyandthenmiracleofmiraclesfloatedbackup.Therewasairtrappedinthetopofthebubblegivingusabouttwofeetofclearairandofcoursethetwogastanksarehalffullandalsoprovidingflotation.

IlookedatGriffandthoughtthesnakesshouldlikehimbetterbecausehe’sbiggerplushewastheonethatwasgoingtoshootthem.BeforeIcouldfinishthisthoughtGriffwasoutandgoneandamomentlaterIsawhimcrawlingupthebankandintothetallgrass.

I amnowall alonewith the snakes. I shedmy gear and thenmake like anOlympic free style goldmedalistandwithinsecondsI’mlyingnexttoGriffintheweeds.

WetakestockandbetweenthetwoofuswehaveapistoleachandsomeammoandIhaveacoupleofgrenadesinmypocket.TheM‐16andM‐60sankalongwithbullets,beans,smokegrenadesandasurvivalkit.EverythinghappenedsofastthatIdidn’thavetimetomakearadiocall,sonooneknowswhereweareandwearenotexpectedbackforatleastanhour.

NowthatIknowthesnakescan’tgetmeItakeinventoryofoursituationandfigurewehavetoEandE(escapeandevade)backtoourbase.LZTwoBitsisdownriverabout10milesfromwherewecrashedandit’sgoingtobealongandscarywalkbackhome.

Griff went to Officers Basic where they taught him how to be an infantryman before he went toartillery school. Hehad tohave learnedmap reading,andhowtopatrolalongwithclasses in survival. Ofcourseallthatwonderfulinformationisnowheretobefoundinsidehisheadatthisparticulartime.

AswelaythereIcan’thelpbutthinkthateveryenemysoldierwithintwentymilessawthehelicoptergodownandtheyareallontheirwaytoeithershootmeortakemetoNorthVietnamasaPOW.

AwholebunchofartilleryfirestartsgoingoverourheadsandlandingwestofusintheAnLoa.ARA(ArielRocketArtillery)fliesoverandstartsshootingrocketsintothejungle.It’samajorairassaultandwewillnotbefaraway.ThencomeabouttwentyfourHueysloadedwithgruntswhowillbedroppedintothejungle.Preparingthewayarethegunshipswhichareescortingthetroopships.Twoorthreethingscanhappenoncethe troops are on the ground. They can set up patrols and eventuallywalk ourway. They can chase theenemyeastboundinwhichcaseweareatwomanblockingunit,ortheycanfindnothinggoingonandloadup and go back home. I just don’t knowwhich of thethreeIamgoingtoget.

The troopHueys head back toward LZ Two Bits


18

andasIlookIseeoneofthegunshipsflyinglowleveldowntheriver.GriffandIarelayinginthetallgrassbetweenthelakeandriver.Ihavea21yearoldinspiration.Istandupandthrowagrenadeintotheriverinfrontofthegunship.Thisgunshiphasagrenadelauncherinthefrontandrocketpodsandmachinegunsonthesides. Italsohasacrewoffour,twoofwhichareinthebackwithM‐60machineguns,andforalltheyknowtheyhavejustbeenattackedbyacrazyVC.Thegunshipdidn’tdeviatefromitspathandnooneseemstolooktoseewhyageyserofwatershouldbeblowingupintheirpath.Iwavedandjumpedupanddownbutnothing. Howall fourofthecrewfailedtoseemeisamystery. They justcontinuedflyingdowntheriver.Only laterdid Istartthinkinghowdumban ideathatwas,andthatthegunshipcrewcouldhaveblownmeaway.

Mynexttacticalplancalledformetostripnaked,exceptformyboots,andgetouttothehelicoptertoseewhatIcouldsalvagebeforewestartedourEandEtrek. Thehelicopterwasbobbingpeacefullynotfarfromshoreandthebladeswereangledtowardthebank. I figuredthatIcouldjumpdownonthemudflatsandthenswimashortdistancetothehelicopterblade,crawloutandgetinside.PartofmyplanalsoinvolvedopeningthefueltankssomehowandthenwhenalldoneIwouldthrowmylastgrenadeinsidethehelicoptertoblowuptheradiosandmakethehelicoptersink.

I lookaroundandcouldnotseethesnakesanywheresoIlaunchedmyselfoffthebankanddowntotheweed coveredmud flats. Now I knowwhere some of the snakes had gonewhen their little lakewasinvadedbytheH‐13!TheyagaintookoffwhileIscreamedlikeaten‐year‐oldgirlandtriednottodieofheartfailure.Ijumpedintothewaterandswamlikecrazytotheblade.Icrawledonandshimmiedmywayouttothehelicopterandgotupontopoftheenginebetweenthefueltanks.

IheardthedistinctivewhopwhopwhopofaHueyandlookedup.AhelicopterwasflyingbacktoTwoBitsandpassedovermeatabout1500Ft.Ilaterlearnedthatonepilotsaidtotheotherpilot,“Turnaroundandgoback.IthinkIseeahelicopterfloatinginalake.”Ofcoursehewasmetwith,“Bullshit.Whathaveyoubeensmoking?” Buttheydidturnandthenmadea lowlevelpassovermeatwhichtimenumberonepilotsaid;“See.Iwasn’timaginingthings,andIthinkthereisanakedguysittingontop.”

IwalkedonwatertogetbacktoGriffandthehelicoptercrewcalledforhelpthenstartedtosetdownnearus.IthoughttheHueywasoutofcontrolbecauseitwasmovingallovertheplaceandIwasworrieditwasgoingtocrash.Thosetwopilotswerelaughingsohardtheycouldn’tflythedamnthing.

ACH‐47Chinookwasrequestedtopullmyhelicopteroutofthelake.Thisbigtwinrotorbeastcanliftanything.AChinooklandedshortlyandariggingcrewgotmyH‐13readytobeliftedbacktobase.Whentheyweregoing to start the lift they loadedusonboard thenhoveredover the ‐13andhookedup. They thenpulleditoutofthelakeandheadedbacktoTwoBits.Whenwearriveditmadequiteashowbecausemy‐13hadpickedupthislonggrassfromthelakeanditwashangingdownlookinglikesomekindofhulaskirt.TheChinookdroppedthebirdontherunwayandmovedoffa little tosetdownandunloadmeandGriff. Theramploweredandwewalkedoffwithallthesepeoplestandingaroundwatching.Ihadgottenre‐dressed,butasIwalkedacrosstherunwayIamoozingwaterandmybootsaregoingsqueak,squeak,squeak.


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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

swash plate october 2012

Documents

chpa honorarymember

congressman louie gohmert

personalmessage thatmysister

joe galloway

arlington national cemetery

swash plate

csm plumley

greatnation sinceourcreation