Active Military Duty: US Army June 1966 to April 1971, Vietnam June 1969 to May 1970

I entering the service June 1966, Basic Training Fort Bliss, Texas after basic to Fort Rucker, Alabama Crew chief school UH-1, after Crew chief school assigned to Fort MacArthur, California, 47^th Artillery Brigade, aviation support to Nike missile sites in Southern California.

Subsequently, I entered Warrant Officer Candidate Flight School Class 69-9 August 1968-May 1969. Fort Rucker, Ala.

My assignment in Vietnam was from June 1969 to May 1970. I was assigned to “A” Company 25^th Avn. Bn. 25^th Infantry Division. (Little Bears) “A” Company provided support to the 25^th Infantry Division Vietnam. In 1970 after having seen combat in the Saigon area during the Tet offensive 1968, the Division continued its primary operations around Cu Chi, South Vietnam and in Spring of 1970 sent elements into Cambodia seeking North Vietnamese Army sanctuaries.

As a pilot A Company flying a UH-1 aircraft, I flew support operation in the 25^th Division area of operation (Cu Chi, Tay Ninh). Missions included, resupply, night hawk, flame bath, defoliation, insertions, extractions and command and control. Flying “slicks” until December 1969, I began flying Command and Control for Assistant Division Commander, 25^th Infantry Division Brigadier General Thomas Camp. General Camp was aviation qualified and flew left seat. I was qualified as instructor pilot to fly General Camp. I found flying Command and Control missions rewarding because I was able to see a different view of the war. General Camp was reassigned to Saigon April 1970 and Colonel Thurmon became Assistant Division Commander. I continued to fly these type of missions with Colonel Thurmon.  In May, 1970 we began flying into Cambodia in search of North Vietnamese Army sanctuaries.

In June, 1970, I  left Vietnam for United States, with a duty assignment to 1^st Brigade 1^st  Fort Hood, Texas where I became the Maintenance Officer for aviation unit (OH-23’s) until April, 1971. Armor Division,

I left military April, 1971 returned to civilian life in Ventura, California, where I worked for Ventura County Fire Department. I worked in various assignments; aviation, fire suppression, fire prevention, and hazardous materials, retiring in 1997 and was twice awarded Firefighter of the Year.

In November, 1997 I became part of the faculty at Oxnard College, Ventura County Community College District, teaching Fire Technology and instructing in the Fire Academy, again retiring in December, 2007.

In June, 2008 we moved from Ventura, California to Bolivar, Missouri. My wife, Jane and I have 3 sons, Robert, Steven and James. I have been blessed in so many ways. At present involved with development of South Missouri Chapter Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association web site www.vhpasmo.org. What a great experience it has been.