225th Observer

The Adventure: Post-Op

2012-02-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

First of all I want to THANK EVERYONE for the wonderful of support and love you have shown Karin and me during this amazing adventure with my prostate cancer. This has truly been a life changing experience for me in many ways some of which I have described in earlier blogs.

We arrived at Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Bellevue, WA, at zero-dark-thirty (actually about 5:30am), checked in and went to the surgery prep area. Karin and I prayed together, we kissed and then I was taken to the OR on a gurney just before 7:30am…the only thing I remember is going through the double doors. The next thing I remember is waking up to an absolutely brilliant day in my room with Karin and my oldest son Pete at my bedside. I was a little sore around the middle, but certainly not in excruciating pain. This was due in part to the meds I had been given, but also because I had only five little incisions (maybe 2 inches each max) spaced across my abdomen, not one long one as in open surgery. I wouldn’t recommend that this procedure be done if you had nothing better to do on a day off, but if you have to have to have a radical prostatectomy, this is the way to have it.

I felt good enough over the next few hours to make a few phone calls to let people that I was out of surgery. I didn’t do too much over the next 24 hours, except watch TV, look at the Bellevue skyline, have the RNs check on me periodically, and get up and walk around the medical floor a couple of times with tubes hooked up to me. My surgeon’s associate came in to see me on Saturday morning, and after his assessment said I could go home later that day. A wonderful nursing and tech staff took great care of me at the hospital. I was home by about 3 o’clock on Saturday! And I’m very glad to be home and to have the time to recover, sit watching old movies on TCM with a fire in the pellet stove, with our little puggle (his name is Mr. Puggles) next to me on the couch, and our big lab mix named Holly on the other end. Karin is taking great care of me, and Tim and Meg brought dinner on Sunday. Nick came by with a card that Jacob (our 5 year old grandson) made for me.

I have a follow-up appointment on Thursday, Feb. 9^th; I should know what the pathology reports say about how much cancer was there and if it was all removed. This is the next part of the adventure that the Lord and I are on. He is still very much in the middle of this and I am very thankful indeed. In the Bible God says “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) This was Moses speaking to Israel as they were about to cross into the Promised Land, but these words can also apply to us if we know the Lord. He certainly has not left us during this time of trial! And He will continue to be with us, too!

Thanks again for all your love and support for Karin and me over the past few months, please know that it very much appreciated!

A Couple of Videos and One Photo

2012-02-06T16:44:00.000-08:00

This is a picture that SP4 Steve Bogner took from the water tower that overlooked out photo labs at Phu Hiep. I had forgotten how rusty the roof over the portable photo labs was. Thanks Steve for sending this!

Jim Taylor sent this link that has some great footage of vintage WWII aircraft at the Duxford 2011 air show. Enjoy!

“If you're a piston-engine WWII aircraft nut, as I am, you absolutely have to go to the URL at bottom here. I kid you not, I nearly wet my pants.

When was the last time you were at any kind of air show and saw the following all flying together and where you could actually hear the unique "voices" (sound) of their engines both taxiing & in flight?

• ME-109s

• Spitfires

• Hawker Hurricanes

• Hawker Tempests & Sea Furys

• F-4U Corsairs

• P-38s

• P-40s

• P-51s

• B-17 bomber

• Lancaster bomber

• C-47 Skytrains

• A1-E Skyraider (remember, this was developed for WWII)

Missing were a few (e.g., Fw-190, ME-262, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell)”

http://www.clipwings.com/clip/1182/Duxford_Flying_Legends_2011__DE_vers_

Walt Kalohi, Henry Kalohi’s brother, sent me this link about the largest boatlift in history that occurred on September 11, 2001. I had not heard about this before. It’s amazing how Americans pull together when it counts! This is his note to me:

“This video of events during 9/11 will ‘grab’ you. Eleven years have passed since that terrible day and this is the first I’ve known and seen of what took place on the waterfront of Manhattan . An evacuation of a half million civilians by water craft – the only way out for those who were there. Quite likely, this may be the first time you’ve seen this video of such a major evacuation and perhaps, like me, even had any idea that such took place. The fear of those who were there and waiting to be rescued had to be tremendous. Also tremendous was the gallant effort of those boat and ship Captains who moved them to safety. It might be hard to watch for some. It’s well worth the time. Absolutely unbelievable.”

http://www.youtube.com/v/MDOrzF7B2Kg?version=3

The Adventure: Surgery

2012-02-02T16:41:00.000-08:00

If you have been following this blog over the past few months you know that I have prostate cancer, presumably a result of exposure to Agent Orange while I was in Vietnam in from 1968 to 1970. Tomorrow (Friday, February 3^rd) I’ll be having surgery to remove my prostate and, hopefully, all the cancer that may be in my body.

In preparation for this major event in my life, I have worked over the past few weeks getting my affairs in order. This is something that I have been meaning to do for a long time, but have been putting it off because that was the easy thing to do. I said to myself “Self, why put it off any longer?” I found a website that had a listing of the essential items that should be listed such as where important documents are located, names and contact information of family members, names and phone numbers of friends, financial information, “final wish” instructions and details and any other important information.

Having cancer and making this list has also prompted me to reflect on, to evaluate, my life, the past, the present and the future. I have not lived a perfect life, a sinless life (only Jesus Christ did that!), but the Lord has blessed me in so many ways that I could not begin to count them! And he has forgiven me, because he said he would if I asked him to do so. Jesus’ forgiveness is spoken of in the book of Isaiah (1:18) when God says “Come now, and let us reason together”, says the LORD, “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” What a promise!

The other thing that has struck me in the past few weeks is just to try to be kinder to those around me, to handle stress more effectively and not to get stressed more than necessary over the little everyday things that happen, like goofy drivers or that slow person ahead of you in line. I can tell you that it is a better way to live! I’m not looking forward to surgery tomorrow, but I know that the outcome is going to be okay because God is right in the middle of my life, just as he was when I was in Phabulous Phu Hiep four-plus decades ago! And he hasn’t let me down yet!

Look for the next installment of my adventure that will be posted in a few days.

Latest Mohawk Association Newsletter and Videos

2012-01-22T09:31:00.000-08:00

Good morning Everyone! Below is a link to the OV-1 Mohawk Association's latest newsletter "The Mohawker." There is extensive coverage of our reunion that was held in Las Vegas over Veterans' Day in November.

http://ov-1mohawkassociation.org/downloads/nl_107...jan_feb_2012.pdf

There are several videos of the parade on which we participated on YouTube, here's a link to one of them and you find others on the YouTube website.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-tBdG4KrHs&feature=share

Here's a link to the Association membership application. 2 new members are Dennis Wert and Luke Christ ... so I'd encourage you to consider joining too! It's only $35 a year, so I think the price is right. Click and take a look!

http://ov-1mohawkassociation.org/join.php

I've also created 2 short videos on my Observer website - one of the parade and one of Aviation Nation at Nellis AFB that weekend. The link is:

http://225thobserver.weebly.com/

Have a great weekend everyone!

Rare Photo of Mohawk with Christmas Lights Found

2011-12-23T21:43:00.000-08:00

In digging through some boxes of photos recently, I found this rare photo of a B-model all festooned with holiday lights!

Because our faith as Christians is absolutely and completely rooted in our Jewish heritage over two thousand years ago, I thought it is appropriate to share with you the prophesy from Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign - The Virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my brothers who served with the 225th Aviation Company so many years ago!

Editor's note: My son Tim reworked this photo I took of Phantomhawk 13 in late 1969 for me a couple of years ago. Steve Sachs told me that he actually wrapped one up in some barbed wire when he ran off the end of the runway once, but it wasn't nearly as festive a sight!

The Cancer Consults: The Next Step

2011-12-11T09:20:00.001-08:00

Karin and I met with Dr. Jay Zink, a robotic laparoscopic urology physician at Group Health in Seattle, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and had a very good conversation about the pros and cons of having a laparoscopic prostatectomy. One of the questions I asked him was “What has been your outcome success; in other words, how’s your batting average?” He told us that if I were asking about men who had prostates four times normal size, it would not be really very good. But, on the other hand, if I were asking about a man in my situation, the outcome would be very good because mine had not enlarged and would be a fairly straightforward surgical procedure.

We also asked about the advantages/disadvantages of robot-assisted surgery. Two things stood out for me: 1) the short-term recovery time is shorter in terms of wound healing time because the incisions (there will tree small holes) are more precise. And 2) blood loss is considerably less with this surgery (about 2-3 tablespoons) compare with regular open surgery (2-3 pints). The longer-term recovery is about the same; I’m planning on taking a few weeks off from work at Seattle Children’s to let everything heal up and return to normal as much as possible.

On the way home Karin said that we should talk and pray about our decision over the weekend and then decide. I said right there in the car that I had decided to go with Dr. Zink; she thought that was a good decision. So, I have surgery scheduled for February 3, 2012. That gives us time to enjoy the holidays with friends and family without worrying about making this decision.

So the saga will continue in a couple of months. I’ll let you know when the next installment of my adventure will be published on this blog. Thanks to all of you who have been keeping Karin and me in your prayers. We can certainly feel them daily! And we are assured that the Lord is still in the middle of our circumstances, as he has been from the beginning. Meanwhile, everyone please enjoy your preparations as you get ready for the holidays!

Doug Clark's Photos as a Movie

2011-11-27T12:03:00.000-08:00

I set Doug's photos to music so I could publish all 25 of them. (Soon to come will be the Las Vegas Reunion photos.)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

2011-11-24T08:37:00.000-08:00

Lost Then Found!

2011-11-24T08:25:00.000-08:00

Doug Clark, another of our intrepid 84G20s at Phu Hiep has been found! I don't think he thought he was ever lost, but a lot of us sure did, because we haven't seen him or talked with him for 4 decades or more! I got a call from Luke Christ the other evening, and in our conversation he said that he had looked Doug up in the white pages for Georgia. Anyway, I wrote an email to Doug and he sent these pictures of our home away from home so many years ago. Gary Chambers is in some of them and you will probably recognize others, too. If you recognize someone, please send me an email at darraghsplace@gmail.com and let me know! Thanks!

Doug, it's great to make contact with you! Maybe we will see you in Branson for the Mohawk Reunion in 2012! I sure hope so!

Steve Kelley Photos

2011-11-20T09:29:00.000-08:00

Steve Kelly sent me some photos that he thought you'd like to see. If you recognize someone, please send me an email at darraghsplace@gmail.com and let me know so we publish their name and hopefully make contact with them. Thanks!

And thanks Steve for sending these wonderful pictures!

A Duck Walks Into A Pub

2011-10-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

Duck walks into a pub and orders a pint of beer and a ham sandwich.
The  barman looks at him and says,   "Hang on! You're a duck."

  "I see your eyes are working," replies the duck.  

"And you can talk!" exclaims the barman.  

"I see your ears are working, too," says the duck.   "Now if you don't mind, can I have my beer and my sandwich please?"

  "Certainly, sorry about that,"   says the barman as he pulls the duck's pint.   "It's just we don't get many ducks in this pub. What are you doing round  this way?"

  "I'm working on the building site across the road," explains the duck.  "I'm a plasterer."

The flabbergasted barman cannot believe the duck and wants to learn more, but takes the hint when the duck pulls out a newspaper from his bag and proceeds to read it. So, the duck reads his paper, drinks his beer, eats  his sandwich, bids the barman good day and leaves.   The same thing happens for two weeks.

Then one day the circus comes to town. The ringmaster comes into the pub for a pint and the barman says to  him   "You're with the circus, aren't you? Well, I know this duck that could be  just brilliant in your circus. He talks, drinks beer, eats sandwiches, reads the newspaper and everything!"

  "Sounds marvelous,” says the ringmaster, handing over his business card.  "Get him to give me a call."

So the next day when the duck comes into the pub the barman says,  "Hey Mr. Duck, I reckon I can line you up with a top job, paying really good money."

  "I'm always looking for the next job," says the duck. "Where is it?"

  "At the circus," says the barman.  "The circus?" repeats the duck.  "That's right," replies the barman.

  "The circus?" the duck asks again. “With the big tent?"

  "Yeah," the barman replies.

  "With all the animals who live in cages, and performers who live in caravans?" says the duck.  

"Of course," the barman replies.

  "And the tent has canvas sides and a big canvas roof with a hole in the middle?" persists the duck.

  "That's right!" says the barman.  

The duck shakes his head in amazement, and says .. . .  "What the hell would they want with a plasterer??!"

(Editor note: I got this from Jim Taylor a few days ago.)

The Cancer Consults

2011-10-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

On Friday, October 21^st Karin and I met with my urologist to discuss the options to get rid of the cancer from my prostate and ultimately from my body. I gotta tell you it was a generally crappy 24 hours before our meeting at 4pm, with the stress of anticipation of even meeting with the doctor and again facing this thing head on. Karin and I had come up with a list of ten or so questions to ask the doctor, ranging from my outcome goal of being able to see my grandchildren grow up to what will be the best results from which treatments that are available to me.

As the doctor began the consultation, our anxiety began to dissipate because he was very clear in his explanations and frank in his assessment of possible outcomes. He used the illustration of a Predator drone attacking a hut filled with terrorists in the desert. The drone launches a missile and destroys the hut and all the occupants in it. Yay! Well, the hut is equal to my prostate and the missile is equal to the surgery that removes it. However, there is always the possibility that if there was one terrorist out in the outhouse relieving himself, he will survive the attack. That one guy is equal to the small chance that all the cancer may not be removed with surgery. But that is always a possibility no matter what treatment plan we use. There is the chance that the cancer might come back after treatment.

We also met with a radiology oncologist on Thursday morning, October 20^th, to discuss the possibility of radiation therapy. There are two types available: EBRT (external beam radiation therapy) and PSI (prostate seed implant). The EBRT would require as many as 40 or so treatments (which equals 5 treatments a week for about 8 weeks); the PSI involves the implantation of radioactive seeds that release a high dose of radiation to be delivered to the prostate with limited damage to surrounding tissues into the prostate. The implants remain in place permanently, and become biologically inert (no longer useful) after a period of months.

I’ve decided against radiation therapy for a couple of reasons. One is that if it doesn’t work, radiation cannot be attempted again … that card has been used. Surgery would be the only option, but that isn’t really a very good alternative either because the prostate wouldn’t be as good a candidate because its physiology would have been altered by the radiation.

The other reason, and the most important one in my mind, is that with seed implantation I would literally have to stay away from my grandchildren for the duration of the radioactive output of the seed. This is simply that I would be radioactive, emitting radioactivity that could harm the kids. We’re talking a year or maybe more. What kind of a life would that be for them or me? Not so great, to say the least!

I have talked with a few guys who have had either type of therapy, and the outcomes have been good in most instances. So I am confident that our decision is sound and Lord-directed. That’s the clincher, that I have a chance at a reasonable quality of life, even though the recovery time may be longer, I can still have Jake, Maddy, Charlotte and Elise around me and not be worried if a dose of radiation from me will harm them.

Jesus Christ has been involved in my life since high school, nearly fifty years ago now. I am convinced that he is in the middle of this cancer situation too. I am trusting him through this part of the adventure that I’ve been on for the last sixty-four years. Stay tuned as this saga continues!

The Beaver Song

2011-10-19T19:29:00.000-07:00

Every day on the way to work at Seattle Children's I pass by the Lake Washington terminal for Kenmore Air, which flies Beavers exclusively all around the Northwest and southeastern Britich Columbia. I often think of the trust U-6 Beaver we had at Phu Hiep. This, unfortunately, is the only picture I have of that ole workhorse.

Well, George Drago sent me this link to a fun, great video that I thought you'd all enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w_v0k57KhE

Tha Adventure Continues ...

2011-10-14T18:51:00.000-07:00

I’ve been thinking on how I wanted to write this next entry of my “Adventure”, since I told you last time that I was to go in to my urologist and have a biopsy to see if I had prostate cancer. Well, on October 5^th the biopsy was taken … not as unpleasant an experience that I had imagined, but I wouldn’t recommend it just for something to do if you have a couple of days off! That was Wednesday, and Thursday I had decided to take off in case I was in any pain or discomfort (I would recommend taking the day after off). Friday evening the doctor called me to let me know that he had received the pathology report, and it showed that I have an adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

I told Karin that the doctor called and that I had some bad news and some great news. The bad news, of course, was that the test had come back positive for cancer (there’s that “c” word again), but that the great news was that I was a good candidate for surgery or radiation treatment. Now I’m just new at this cancer stuff, but as I understand it I fall somewhere in the mid-range of severity, and that it is treatable! The other great news was that I knew that somehow God was in the middle of this whole thing.

So, the load of unknowing had been lifted somewhat off our shoulders, but I’ll let you know that it is still not all that easy, as I am sure many of you who have experienced a potentially life threatening disease or situation already know. I have my “up” moments and my “down” moments to be sure. There is a new song by Laura Story called “Blessings” that has really helped me in the past month or so. She is talking to God when she sings in the chorus:

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

 What if Your healing comes through tears 

What if a thousand sleepless nights

 Are what it takes to know You’re near 

What if trials of this life are

Your mercies in disguise

Our raindrops have caused some tears and some sleepless nights, but, like I said in the previous article, Karin and I know that God through Jesus Christ (that big “C” word I spoke of) is near and involved in every circumstance in our lives, including that awful little “c” word!

I have also applied to the VA (through my Service Officer at the Disable American Veterans) for additional Special Monthly Compensation for prostate cancer as a presumed disease due to exposure to Agent Orange. It's an easy process. Take advantage of the VA if you haven't, you have earned it!

I’ll keep you posted as I begin treatment after we get back from the OV-1 Mohawk Association Reunion in Lost Wages, Nevada, next month. The urologist said we would have to wait about 6 weeks after the biopsy to allow the wounds to completely heal before beginning treatment. The adventure continues!

So, I encourage you, if you have not looked at a Bible in years, or even if you have, read the Gospel of St. John (it’s available online too!) to get to know Jesus. He really is worth knowing, believe me!

And Now for Something Completely Different...

2011-10-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

I hope John Cleese will forgive me for stealing his famous line from Monty Python’s Flying Circus, but I thought you all would like to see this video in the first link from Jim Taylor and then hear the audio from Lutheran Airlines in the second link below…

Look at stills, and then watch the video on a full screen view. (Tighten your seat belts) The language you hear is the one spoken in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. These glider pilots are unbelievable! No power and flying like the Blue Angels! Click below and view the stills followed by the video.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1265891/Hold-think-youre-going-Skydiver-grabs-gliders-tail-fin-fly-2-100-metres-100mph.html

We’ve all flown commercially and are familiar with the flight attendants’ instructions that are given as the aircraft taxis for takeoff. Well, click below and listen to this wonderful speech (no pictures with this one) that was recorded on a recent Lutheran Airlines flight… My friend Karen Wygant at Seattle Children’s Hospital sent this one to me.

http://dauckster.posterous.com/lutheran-airlines-fg-audio-only

The Adventure Continues with Two "C" Words

2011-09-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

In my last blog posting in January 2011 (I can’t believe it’s been that long!) I ended with the sentence “I was amazed at the speed with which God had answered my prayer of desperation!” Well, fast forward 40 years or so years to 2011. A lot of great things have happened in those intervening forty years…I have a wife of 38 years, 3 great sons and their wives. Four wonderful grandkids. More friends that a guy should deserve. A good job with a great purpose. The list can go on and on.

In January during a physical for a life insurance policy I was applying for, the results of a blood test for blood glucose came back with an A1C level that indicated that I had Type II diabetes (what they used to call Adult Onset Diabetes). My own doctor had been watching my blood glucose levels for that previous year or so and was concerned that I was at risk to be a Type II diabetic. Well, sure enough…that what I was now! I have been watching it closely by eating better and exercising more by running and going to Gold’s Gym regularly, as well as having been prescribed oral medication that I take twice a day.

In January I applied with the VA for special monthly compensation for Type II Diabetes due to Agent Orange exposure during my time in Vietnam; the Phu Hiep area was sprayed with Agent Orange area during the time I was there between February 1968 and June 1970 (http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/agentorange/chi-091204-agentorange-map,0,1959438.htmlpage). In June I began receiving 20% disability compensation from the VA.

A couple of weeks ago I had a routine blood panel done and was very surprised to find out that my PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level was higher than the recommended level of between 0 and 4.0. On Friday September 23^rd I had an appointment with a urologist who recommended that I have a biopsy taken to determine what kind of prostrate cancer I have. (The elevated PSA level is enough of a symptom flag that a biopsy is an appropriate in determining what the next step(s) should be in treatment.)

To be honest, for about two weeks the “c” word (“cancer”) was right at the front of my mind during every waking hour. But gradually I accepted that the fact that I probably have prostrate cancer, no matter if it is benign or otherwise, was indeed a fact. Karin and I decided that we would face this head on, together, and with the knowledge that God is indeed in control of this just as He has been in control in every aspect of my life from the get go. I was talking earlier today with a friend of mine who I’ve reconnected with in the past few months after 4 decades since the last time we saw each other. I shared with Dave that it has been amazing to me to see how God has kept us all in contact with each other after so many years! I’m absolutely astounded at the circumstances that were begun and orchestrated when I was 20 or 21 years old at Phabulous Phu Hiep by the Sea that has led to me writing this note tonight! No one can tell me that there is no God, simply because I have experienced him in the most profound ways through my friendship with you guys who I served with in the Army so many years ago.

This brings me back to the “c” word. Yes, the “c” word can mean “cancer”, a scary, chilling, maybe even terrifying word.

But I know another “C” word that is filled with hope, love and peace…that word is Christ! I met Jesus Christ a little over 40 years ago at a coffeehouse in Bellevue, Washington, and He changed my life and is continuing to change it daily…and that change has always proven to be for the better. And I’m betting that this prostate thing will be another change for the better.

In a capsule form this is what I know: I know God loves me and you. I know we all will live forever. Every one of us. If I know Jesus Christ as my personal savior and lord (and I do!) then I will live forever in Heaven. I know I if I didn’t know him, in other words rejected his offer of unconditional love, I would live out eternity in utter aloneness, separated from God forever. I know Hell is not living with others in sin and fire, as some have portrayed it. It is being utterly alone. My vote is for living in Heaven forever, for eternity.

Here is a little more that I know…no matter what the outcome of the biopsy, God is in the middle of these circumstances, all part of the continuing adventure of my life. I was talking with my good friend and brother Tony Chapa earlier today and he reminded me of the a verse in the Old Testament in which God says “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future….” (Jeremiah 29:11) So I have no reason to be afraid of the future.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. I hope that you take it to heart; I would really like to see all of you in Heaven! If you have questions, please feel free to write me, or phone me (my number is on the OV-1 Mohawk Association website under the Board of Directors).

(Be sure to look into reading "Heaven" by Randy Alcorn ISBN-13: 978-0842379427, it's a wonderful read with some great insights.)

Several That Have Been Sent To Me

2011-08-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

Here are some items that have been sent to me. I thought that you might enjoy looking at them.

OV-1 Aileron Roll
This was posted on the OV-1 Mohawk Facebook page by Rober Mendoza of the Argentine Army. It was taken at Camp Humphries, Korea at the 1986 Memorial Day celebration. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28IIVn-cGlQ

Top 10 Air Forces of the World
Our friend George Drago, the one who was in the left seat on my last mission in Vietnam, sent this to me. It's about 5+ minutes long and well worth it! Be sure to turn your sound on.

Great photos presentation made by an Israeli group and I suspect some of the rankings will surprise you. It did me.

I was especially surprised that China did not even make the top ten, but then with that many people maybe they don’t need to.

Note what we spend to train each USAF pilot.

...and before you complain about military spending -- consider it part of your Life Insurance Policy.

http://fun.mivzakon.co.il/video/israel/10460/במקום_4_בעולם.html

An Osprey Fishing
Jim Taylor and Terry Carlson sent this link recently:
http://www.arkive.org/osprey/pandion-haliaetus/video-00.html

Air Swimmers
Jim Taylor sent this one…
http://www.wimp.com/airswimmers/

They Fly By Night
I don’t remember our birds leaving trails like this! Again, turn your sound up and enjoy!
http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1103012503001

And finally….

Semper Fi Baby!
Steve Bogner, fellow Photo Lab Tech of the 225th, sent this wonderful picture:
I hope the picture will go through for you - of this Army soldier in Iraq with his tiny 'plot' of grass in front of his tent. It's heartwarming! Here is a soldier in Iraq, stationed in a big sand box.

He asked his wife to send him dirt (U.S. soil), fertilizer, and some grass seed so that he can have the sweet aroma, and feel the grass grow beneath his feet. When the men of the squadron have a mission that they are going on, they take turns walking through the grass and the American soil -- to bring them good luck.

Of all the things he could have asked his wife to send to him from home...........he asked for American soil. WOW.

If you notice, he is even cutting the grass with a pair of scissors.. Sometimes we are in such a hurry that we don't stop and think about the little things that we take for granted.

Upon receiving this, say a little prayer for our soldiers that give and give (and give up) so unselfishly for us.

Thanks, everyone, for sending these! Keep 'em coming!

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

2011-08-11T08:12:00.000-07:00

MAJ Bill Page

CPT Steve Hammons

Our friends Mark Nestor (Association Membership Director) and Chris Walker (Association Reunion Director) alerted me to this article about that ugly but very beautiful warbird we flew in and took care of those many years ago in Vietnam and elsewhere. Two of our Blackhawk/Phantomhawk comrades, Bill Page and Steve Hammons, are prominently featured in it too!

Thanks Bill and Steve for sharing you stories!

Click the link to Warbirds Magazine and enjoy!

Our National Symbol

2011-08-08T06:10:00.000-07:00

Around 6:45am last Saturday morning I saw the most wonderful sight, though not so unusual around the Puget Sound region nowadays. As I was driving into Seattle Children’s Hospital heading to work to finish up some tasks as I prepared to begin a two-week vacation, I decided to go across Lake Washington from the Eastside instead of around the north end of the lake. As I was nearing the Seattle end of the Highway 520 Floating Bridge (also known as the Evergreen Point Bridge), I saw our national symbol sitting on the top of a light standard watching the wetlands for his breakfast. Highway 520 bisects the Washington Arboretum, which a 230-acre park created in 1934 and located on the edge of Lake Washington jointly managed by the University of Washington and the City of Seattle.

What a wonderful way to start the day! Seeing a majestic wild bald eagle while driving into a major American city! They are not an uncommon sight around here; there are several nesting pairs residing along the shores of the lake in our urban and suburban neighborhoods.

On a related note, Jim Taylor sent this photo from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, as have several of you, taken on a June morning at the Minneapolis National Cemetery. If you have not seen it before, it kind of takes you breath away.

Photos from Bob Coveney

2011-07-16T08:31:00.000-07:00

I got the following email from Bob Coveney a couple of weeks ago. Bob was in the 225th in late 1970, so I never got a chance to meet him overseas. Bob, I hope you will be in Las Vegas in November!

Click on link below to see his wonderful photo collection! Thanks for sharing them with us!

Gordy,

I just received a forwarded email from Bob Heckendorn about your new posting of your last flight in a Mohawk on the 225th web site. I have a bunch of pictures from my time in the 225th on Picasa that are open for viewing to the public. Below is the link to see them and you are welcome to post the site on your 225th Observer Blog so that others may view them. Thanks for your efforts in keeping the memory of the 225th's time in Vietnam alive.

https://picasaweb.google.com/bobcoveney/225thSurveillanceAirplaneCompany

Bob Coveney

More Drago Wisdom!

2011-06-24T07:23:00.000-07:00

George Drago (the guy who was the pilot of my last mission in Vietnam) ... did I ever tell you story about my last flight in a Hawk? It was a really dumb thing to do - fly a mission on your last day in-country! - but how else was I to get toe Cam Ranh to catch my flight home? Anyway, George sent some quotes below to me. But now for the short story of my last day in-country....I did a flight-follow mission, and George (Mr. Drago then) gave me a special going away present of a buzz of a radome somewhere off the coast near Nha Trang. Not the low flight over the Company Area as was the custom for DEROSing pilots, but it was close enough...I don't think there was any of the Navy's (or whoever owned the radar site) white paint transfered to the belly of of our OD green aircraft...but it more than qualified in this 22 year old's mind as a bone-fide low pass! Thanks again Mr. Drago!

And here is some more wisdom from an email George sent me this morning. Thanks George!

Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself, “Lillian, you should have remained a virgin.”

- Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy Carter)

I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: - “No good in a bed, but fine against a wall.”

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister, and now wish to withdraw that statement..

- Mark Twain

The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible.

- George Burns

Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year.

- Victor Borge

Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.

- Mark Twain

By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you’ll become happy; if you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.

- Socrates

I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.

- Groucho Marx

My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe.

- Jimmy Durante

I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back.

- Zsa Zsa Gabor

Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.

- Alex Levine

My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying.

- Rodney Dangerfield

Money can’t buy you happiness .... But it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery.

- Spike Milligan

Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP.

- Joe Namath

I don’t feel old. I don’t feel anything until noon. Then it’s time for my nap.

- Bob Hope

I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it…

- W. C. Fields

We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress.

- Will Rogers

Don’t worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.

- Winston Churchill

Maybe it’s true that life begins at fifty... But everything else starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out.

- Phyllis Diller

By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he’s too old to go anywhere.

- Billy Crystal

And the cardiologist’s diet: - If it tastes good spit it out.

Las Vegas 2011!

2011-06-04T23:15:00.000-07:00

The OV-1 Mohawk Association’s 2011 Reunion is fast approaching! Our headquarters this year will be the beautiful Golden Nugget Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. My son Tim and I were there 10 years ago, and since then there has been some major additions that have upgraded this historic hotel which was originally built in 1946, one of the oldest in Las Vegas. In 2005 the hotel embarked on a 14-month, $100 million renovation project, which was completed in November 2006. In December 2007, it completed its $70 million Phase II project, which expanded the resort west onto First Street and introduced additional entertainment, event and dining venues. Phase III was the opening of a 500 room, $150 million dollar hotel tower on 20 November 2009.

Here’s the general rundown of Reunion events:

Thursday evening, November 10, we will have a welcoming mixer at the Golden Nugget beginning around 5:30pm. (Get there in plenty of time before Joe Beckham and I drink up all the beer!)
Friday morning the 11^th is the big Veterans’ Day Parade, the largest in the Nation! We will be participating as a Unit of Mohawkers.
Friday evening is our Annual Mohawk Banquet at the Golden Nugget with a special guest speaker to be announced soon.
Saturday the 12^th is the all day "Aviation Nation" airshow extravaganza at Nellis AFB.
Sunday is departure day.

This is shaping up to be one of the best reunions ever! Get your reservations in to the Golden Nugget soon. Your Association has a block of rooms set aside. Just call the hotel at 1-800-634-3454 and use reservation group code 1DK8Q1. Log on to the Association website (www.ov-1mohawkassociation.org) or to see the latest Mohawker newsletter go to http://ov-1mohawkassociation.org/downloads/nl_104...may_june_2011.pdf for more info about the Reunion.

I hope to see a huge number of Blackhawks/Phantomhawks at the Reunion this year. It will be great to see my brothers, many of you I have not seen in more than 4 decades! What a kick it will be to catch up!

My Daughter-in-Law's Great Uncle

2011-05-29T10:18:00.000-07:00

On this Memorial Day weekend, my daughter-in-law Meg sent me an article from the Military Times on-line. It's about her great uncle Wayman Walker who served his country in Vietnam and was awarded the DSC. I thought I'd share it with you all, because war touches every American somehow, even a couple of generations later. Meg said "I've never seen a picture of him. What a brave guy." She never knew her uncle, but she said she wished she had. Click on this link to read the article.

Memorial Day 2011

2011-05-28T15:30:00.001-07:00

Please take a few moments to remember our friends we lost so many years ago. And also take a moment to pray for our newest casualties of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Click here to watch my tribute to the men of the 225th Aviation Company (Surveillance Airplane). May we never forget them and their sacrifice.

Easter 2011

2011-04-24T14:10:00.000-07:00

(The following story was borrowed and adapted from our pastor’s sermon this morning.)

The announcement that came over the store’s PA system is one that no dad in the world ever wants to hear. “We have a little boy who seems to have lost his daddy. He’s about 3 and a half feet tall, has red hair, and says his name is Red. If you’re his dad, please come to the customer service counter at once.”

Dad hears this as he is frantically looking for his son and goes to the customer service counter as fast as he can. Out of breath and almost at his wits end, he arrives to see little Freddy (the store’s security person thought his name was “Red” because his hair) waiting for him with the store manager. As soon as little Freddy sees daddy, he runs and jumps into his arms. And the expression on Dad’s face is one of overwhelming joy!

Well, that’s what Easter is all about. God’s one and only Son Jesus came to earth (that’s the Christmas Story), grew up and eventually gave his sinless life for anyone who would believe he’s the Son of God, to pay the penalty of eternal death for our sinful life by being executed on a common criminal’s cross. When I met Jesus many years ago after I returned from Vietnam, God Himself repeated the story of the little red haired boy as I figuratively came running and jumping into His outstretched arms. And, although I didn’t actually see his face then, I know that He had a big smile on His face, because I would literally be his adopted child forever!

If you have never read this amazing true story in the Bible, please take a look at the Easter Story (click on the link). If you have known this story and Jesus for many years, take a look at it again. The Lord will show you something new in it!

I hope you all had a great holiday this weekend. May God bless you this coming week!

More Photos of Blackhawk Soldiers!

2011-04-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

Roger Kent sent some wonderful photos by was of Larry Conway that we all thought you'd like to see. If anyone knows the whereabouts of any of these guys (I've been in contact with Perry Bundy, Steve Simula, Ed Belanger and Norm McCauley, and of course Larry and Roger) please pass on the info to someone.

Thanks Roger and Larry for sending these! Enjoy the pictures...what great memories! (Hint: I think if you click on a photo, you should be able to see the descriptive caption that Roger provided.)

Jerry Murphy Pictures

2011-03-13T17:47:00.000-07:00

Jerry sent these photos to me sometime ago and I am just now getting the posted for you all to see. (Sorry it took so long Jerry!)

Just click and view!

Quad 50s in Vietnam

2011-03-12T16:49:00.000-08:00

I got the following email from Steve Bogner a few days ago...

"Were you ever on guard duty at the inner perimeter, when "Kiss of Death" came by and blasted the outer perimeter for us?!

YEEEEE-HAHHHHHHH!

PVT Bogner"

I don't honestly remember seeing this slightly modified vehicle, but Steve sent this photo (below) and caption. In the background of it certainly looks like our hooches at Phu Hiep! Thanks Steve for sending this!

Quad 50 gunner William Gossett aboard gun truck SMOKE I just prior to having the name painted on the turret in early 1969.

The Quad-50 B-17 Aircraft Tail gun assembly continued in service during the Vietnam War. They were used in semi-fixed locations to protect the perimeter of fire bases (photo above).

The gun trucks were specially modified cargo trucks outfitted with armor and powerful weapons, often the Quad-50.

A typical gun truck crew had six members, including driver, gunner, and loaders.

Part 3 - So, what does all this have to do with “what Jesus means to me?”

2011-01-23T21:12:00.000-08:00

(Author’s note: This continues my autobiography of my experience as a Christian and how my time in Vietnam has played an integral part of who I am today. Part 1 of this saga was published on this blog on October 9, 2010, and Part 2 on October 23, 2010.)

So, what does all this have to do with “what Jesus means to me?” In 1969 the Commo Platoon got a new leader by the name of Captain Larry Stallard. CPT Stallard, for some reason or other, decided that he would share with me a little booklet published by the Navigators Christian ministry organization that introduced Bible verse memory to me for the first time. He helped me memorize five short verses that I still remember today. (It’s still available after all these years at Navigators.org.) Well, I DEROSed in June 1970, put Vietnam behind me like a lot of us did, and came back to the “world” and resumed my job at the TV station. In about a year a crisis was beginning to take shape in my life (more about that later), suffice it say that I was in very low spirits that summer of 1971. (I did not know until many years later that I was clinically depressed.) On the front page of our local weekly newspaper I saw an article about a Christian coffeehouse that was opening in August, and, just like had happened in high school when I had first been invited to the high school group at a local Presbyterian church, after about two or three weeks of building up my courage, I went to this place that was in a former Catholic church sanctuary on a Friday night. When I walked in there was some band on the stage and a few people sitting at makeshift tables drinking coffee or pop. A man welcomed me to “Andrew’s Coffee House” and then left me to be alone at the table. I had not prayed much recently (some with Larry in Vietnam and fervently for a Coast Guard friend named Dave Pitkin who I met while on R&R in Hawaii, but not much before), but that night I literally asked God to do “something with my life, anything, but please do something!”

As soon as I opened my eyes, two people, Bob and Nancy Van Der Horn, who had been the advisors to my high school church group six years before came walking in the door to that coffeehouse. I was amazed at the speed with which God had answered my prayer of desperation! (To be continued very soon…)

Edwards AFB Open House

2011-01-22T15:03:00.000-08:00

Roger (aka Superman) Kent sent me this link to the Edwards Air Force Base Open House. Some great pictures AND audio too. Enjoy!

http://home.comcast.net/~bzee1a/Edwards09/Edwards09.html

A Potpourri of Video Links

2011-01-17T08:34:00.000-08:00

Here are some links that have recently been sent to me. I thought you might like to watch them.

Terry Carlson and George Drago sent this one......

The attached video was filmed by some Air Force Joint Tactical Air Controllers (JTAC) in Tal Afar, west of Mosul in Iraq .

A marine unit got pinned down in the street. They set their video camera on the bumper of their armored HUM-V, which they were using for cover. Keep an eye on the opposing van parked just down the street. On the audio you can hear them shooting back and forth. The rounds you can hear are from the Marines, and the ones you hear pinging against the side of the vehicle with no accompanying pop are from the bad guys.

When the Marine says they just fired the "rifle," it means an F-16 aircraft just launched a Maverick missile. You can hear it come in and see it strike the vehicle the bad guys were using for cover.

Talk about pinpoint accuracy! Listen for the word "rifle" and then listen for the pinging of incoming rounds hitting the armored vehicle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0c0EMO7-mI

------------------------------------------------

Bud Hart sent this about a slightly modified C-130. (It reminds me that the Marines tried a STOL version years ago, successfully landing and take off of a Marine C-130 off an aircraft carrier! Look up the videos, they are unbelievable.)

Here's the test video … first of some "lead in" JATO firings in the air and on the ground .. Then a takeoff and then a landing test w. Firing the JATO bottles in the air, which caused a "firm" landing … to say the least!

The "Credible Sport" military operation was a new plan to rescue the Iranian hostages after the dramatic failure of the Operation Eagle Claw rescue effort. Eagle Claw failed when a C-130 Hercules and a Sea Stallion helicopter collided in the Iranian desert, killing 8 servicemen.

Credible Sport was abandoned after the election of Ronald Reagan as President in November, 1980.

The Credible Sport plan called for highly modified C-130 Hercules cargo planes to land in a soccer stadium not far from the American Embassy in Tehran and airlift the hostages out. Three aircraft were modified under a top secret project at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida to YMC-130H configuration with rocket packages blistered onto the forward and aft fuselage, which theoretically enabled the planes to land and take off within the confines of the sports arena.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSFjhWw4DNo&feature=related

The remaining plane is in the museum at Warner-Robbins AFB in Macon, GA.

--------------------------------------

And another one from George…whew! I don't think I would want to fly with this 737 pilot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJoXMcehrYo&feature=player_embedded

--------------------------------------

And for another kind of aircraft…
http://www.youtube.com/user/OrnithopterProject

--------------------------------------

And finally from George Drago. Even if you’re not a golfer, honestly, this is one you’ll want to watch!

This is one of the very best things you will ever get on email.... I knew I always liked his color on the PGA broadcasts and thought what a great pal he would be to hang with, but he's much better than I could have imagined..... also a GREAT GREAT NEW AMERICAN CITIZEN! WOW!!! Too bad more people don't realize how good they have it and love their country as much!

http://www.thegolfchannel.com/human-energy/?select2=14760

Love Came Down

2010-12-25T08:42:00.001-08:00

Love Came Down at Christmas,

Love all lovely, love divine;

Love was born at Christmas,

Star and angels gave the sign.

(Christina Georgina Rossetti - 1885)

This lovely old Christmas hymn spells really it out! As Charlie Brown of Peanuts fame asks "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" Many of us have also asked or are asking this also.)

Linus Van Pelt answers this question so well with "Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about." He goes on to explain "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.' That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." (from A Charlie Brown Christmas - 1965)

Karin and I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and hope you have received and accepted the best gift of all...the Gift God sent down that first Christmas more than two thousand years ago, the Gift of eternal life that Jesus Christ offers.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Everyone!

I'd like to wish you and yours a very Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving! I found this proclamation by President Ronald Reagan, and I wanted to share it with you.

"America has much for which to be thankful. The unequaled freedom enjoyed by our citizens has provided a harvest of plenty to this nation throughout its history. In keeping with America’s heritage, one day each year is set aside for giving thanks to god for all of His blessings.

 "As we celebrate Thanksgiving in 1981, we should reflect on the full meaning of this day as we enjoy the fellowship that is so much a part of the holiday festivities. Searching our hearts, we should ask what we can do as individuals to demonstrate our gratitude to God for all He has done. Such reflection can only add to the significance of this precious day of remembrance.

 "Let us recommit ourselves to that devotion to God and family that has played such an important role in making this a great Nation, and which will be needed as a source of strength if we are to remain a great people. Now, therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 26, 1981, as Thanksgiving Day."

My Great Adventure - Part 2

2010-10-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

Part 2 – Southeast Asia

I spent maybe three or four days at Oakland Army Terminal, during which the normal drudgery of hurry up and wait was made a little bit more fun for me and a bus load of other GIs who had volunteered to give blood at the San Francisco blood bank. You see, if we gave our pint of blood, then we would be on light duty for then next 24 hours! What better incentive was there? So, we assembled to board our OD green bus and headed off across the Bay Bridge towards downtown San Francisco. We arrived a little while later, donated our blood and then loaded up again on the Army bus, driven by a civilian Army employee, to head back across the bay to Oakland. However, the driver, before even starting up again, asked us if we would like to see Haight-Ashbury Street. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haight-Ashbury) To a man we all said yes! And off we went, in our khakis, and in our OD green Army bus, to the center of the known world for the Flower Children, the Love Generation, the Summer of Love (but this was February). What a trip! We didn’t want to go to Vietnam, and the Love Children didn’t want us to go either! Amazingly, looking back on this mind-blowing scene, we were on each other’s side, GIs and Flower Power as one!

Well, we finally got back to Oakland, and the next day, after a couple of miscues and more hurry up and wait at Travis AFB, I was on an Eastern Airlines stretch DC-8 charter headed for SE Asia. I distinctly remember that as soon as we were off the ground, and the no smoking light went off, this long tube we were sitting in almost instantly acquired a blue haze atmosphere from all the cigarettes that were lit! We refueled in Honolulu at Hickham AFB, again at Wake Island (I remember thinking to myself as we came closer and closer to the whitecaps under the aircraft on our final approach that “There’s gotta be a runway down there somewhere!”) and again at Clark in the Philippines. As we reached the coast of South Vietnam the pilot announced to us in the cabin that if we looked out the right side of the aircraft we would see Vietnam for the first time. As we all moved to that side of the cabin, the DC-8 made a significant attitude shift banking right! (Too much weight on that side I think.)

On February 15, 1968, I was celebrating Tet with most of the other Americans in Vietnam by ducking mortars and rockets that had been thrown at all allied forces by Charlie and Papa Ho since the end of January. If the Army had told us that this was happening, I would have tried to catch a later flight!

This is what I wrote on this blog in November 2007 about those first few days in Vietnam: “On 18 February I was assigned to pull sentry duty (without any kind of a weapon, however!) at the 93rd Evac Hospital at Long Binh. My job was to stand by a door and just monitor who came and went. I don’t remember what the entrance was, but there were a lot of people coming and going. I had not been on duty very long when, all of a sudden, there was a terrific whoomph! and the air was transformed into a fog of dust!

“Turns out it was Tet. And the enemy had just hit the hospital with a rocket attack. I don’t remember if there was more than one explosion, but I imagine there were multiple rockets and mortars; these lasted pretty much all night. As I was laying flat on the ground (must have been a basic training learned reaction) my thoughts were “Oh shit!” and “Welcome to Vietnam!”

“Later on, after my shift, I went back to the barracks to try to get some sleep. That was a little difficult, what with the VC attacking, the gunships that were in the air all around and the huge amount of adrenaline that was being pumped through the bodies of all us new guys. At about 3:00 in the morning there was a HUGE explosion when the VC blew up the 12th Combat Aviation Group’s ammo dump where 8 pads detonated with a total ammo value of $2,774,348 (in 1968 dollars).

“I have had a picture in my mind of the massive explosions that night, but I had never seen a photo of it. Last week, at http://www.nonags.org/members/raffia/, I found a photograph, which is published here and is remarkably very close to what I remember.

“Later that day, my name was finally called and I was on a C-130 on my way to Nha Trang, and the 17th Group HQ. They told me I was assigned to the 225th at Phu Hiep (I responded “Phu What?) and not long after that I became a member of the Blackhawks .” (http://225observer.blogspot.com/2007/11/welcome-to-vietnam-or-how-i-celebrated.html)

I ended up serving twenty-eight months with the 225^th(several of our company spent much more than the one year there, Rob Jensen and Dennis Wert come to mind), during which time I became friends with many guys who have remained my friends over these past four decades, having reconnected with them beginning in mid-1998 because of the marvel of the Internet. Some of you are reading this now! We all had a shared experience that was unique and has bonded a lot of us together for the rest of our lives. Stay tuned for the next installment in my story.

To Be Continued...

My Great Adventure

2010-10-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

(Author's note: This is my story. As Steve Bogner pointed out to me in an e-mail today, I totally forgot to say who wrote this. It was me, Gordy. Thanks Steve!)

Part 1 – The Adventure Begins

My aviation career consisted of on-the-job-training as a Flight Follow Observer (a special 225^th SAC MOS) in Vietnam in fall of 1969. I was never a “Mohawk driver” or a pilot of any kind. The closest I ever got to becoming a pilot was when Joe Beckham, Dugan Lawrence or one of our other incredibly talented and able pilots let me handle the controls at twenty thousand feet in Double Zero somewhere over II Corps. I well remember a flight with Mr. Beck where we did very close passes around big, high, beautiful cumulus clouds in an otherwise bright blue sky over the South China Sea. Tight banking to the left and then to the right and then up and over the top, complete with a pencil floating in right in front of my nose! What an exhilarating experience for a 22 year old!

But I do know that whenever you go on a flight, you’re supposed to file a flight plan. Of course, in Vietnam forty years ago my part of the flight plan consisted of the target runs I had been assigned and our estimated time of return (plus lots of other information). For us Flight Follow guys, we plotted the target runs for all the missions we were following.

This was a really an amazing time in my life, those days some forty years ago. Now that I have reached the six-decade mark of my life (actually I am 63 now) I have realized God has had a plan for me all along, even when I was in that map room at Phu Hiep plotting targets in the wee small hours of the morning so long ago.

For a long time I have wanted to write my story to tell what Jesus Christ means to me and what he has done in my life, and put it on this blog to share in order to maybe help someone who may be looking for something more, some additional meaning to life. It kind of reminds me of that old cartoon of the guy climbing the mountain, finally reaching the summit just to encounter the old guy at the top just to discover the sage doesn’t know the meaning of life any more than he does. Well, just as I have seen with my 20-20 hindsight how Jesus has been involved in my life these past forty-plus years, I thought it would be better to not keep it all to myself.

I have been in a quandary, however, on how to present this without sounding preachy or judgmental or holier-than-thou. When I started the 225^th Observer blog in July 2007 my purpose was connect those of us who had had the shared experience of serving with each other as Blackhawks or Phantomhawks at Phu Hiep AAF and Tuy Hoa AFB. I didn’t want to alienate anyone by presenting old, worn out clichés that we all have heard since our parents made us go to Sunday school when we were little, but may have rejected “religion” as irrelevant later on. Suffice it to say that this short essay has been a long-time incubating.

When I was a high school junior a friend invited me to a local church youth group called Lamplighters that was sponsored by a local Presbyterian church. You see, I had never gone to church, except occasionally with the neighbor kid when I was in elementary school, and my parents didn’t go either. My dad was sort of a Christian Scientist and my mom, well, I don’t know what she was because religion was never talked about in our family. The impression I had growing up, and it was only an impression, was that religion or church was not a thing to be involved with. Curiously, however, I can remember dad watching a Billy Graham crusade on TV and even asking me if I wanted to send away for the free literature.

Anyway, to make a long story longer, after three weeks of building up courage (why that was necessary, I don’t know) to go to Lamplighters, I went. Well, at the youth group I “accepted” Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I asked him into my heart. But no bolts of lightening came down, no life-changing events happened immediately, life just continued on.

In 1965 I graduated from high school, went one year to the University of Washington (and did miserably grade-wise), got a job in a television station and then attended community college. Sometime in the early spring in 1967 Uncle Sam (or was it Uncle Lynden?) sent me a notice to appear for my pre-induction physical. The dreaded draft notice was sure to follow, and the one thing since I was a little kid that I never wanted to do, to be a soldier, was now looming just over the horizon. To avoid the draft, I decided that I would enlist to at least get a job in the Army that wouldn’t necessarily guarantee I would die in combat. The staff sergeant recruiter signed me up to be a photo lab tech (MOS 84G20); I was to report to begin active duty to the Army Entry Station of the Seattle waterfront on June 20^th, 1967, my 20^th birthday!

So, almost exactly two years out of high school, I was off to North Fort Lewis, Washington, for eight weeks of Basic Combat Training, and then on to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, the Army’s Signal Center and School for four or five months of photo lab training. In February 1968 we took a day trip to Fort Dix for Vietnam orientation (in a snow storm!), and I received orders for Vietnam, along with the rest of my photo lab class. I took a couple of weeks leave to come home to the Northwest and then I was off on a flight to Oakland Army Terminal for shipment to Vietnam.

All the while, I had no clue that Jesus Christ was watching over me, putting people in place ahead of me who would have a profound effect on my life. He was setting the stage for my great adventure in life.

To be continued....

Some Fun Stuff To Look At...

2010-09-18T07:20:00.000-07:00

Good morning Vietnam! (Remember listening to AFVN and hearing that?)

Anyway, I thought I would compile some fun stuff that you all can link to when you have a few minutes to spare.

Chuck Galloway sent me the Google Earth coordinates so we can see what Phu Hiep AAF looks like today. You gotta download Google Earth to see it then put in the coordinates (13° 0'41.91"N 109°21'40.70"E) being sure to include the parentheses. The place looks better than when we were there!

Terry Carlson sent this:
Ultra Deep Field - - - Here is what happened when professional astronomers pointed the Hubble Space Telescope at absolutely nothing and left it there, first for 10 days, and then for 11 days. Then they made the images into a 3-D presentation.   Go to  http://www.flixxy.com/hubble-ultra-deep-field-3d.htm.   By the way, 13 billion light years are about equal to 880,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (880 sextillion) miles.

Kurt Olney sent this by way of his brother Dave:
A nice website for the Air Force’s 456 Fighter Interceptor Squadron. Click on http://www.456fis.org/OV-1.htm.

From Jim Taylor who sent me the following which is from an Army Aviator friend who takes another trip down memory lane:
It was just before Thanksgiving '67 and we were ferrying dead and wounded from a large GRF west of Pleiku. We had run out of body bags by noon, so the Hook (CH-47 Chinook) was pretty rough in the back. All of a sudden, we heard a 'take-charge' woman's voice in the rear.
There was the singer and actress, Martha Raye, with a SF (Special Forces) beret and jungle fatigues, with subdued markings, helping the wounded into the Chinook, and carrying the dead aboard. 'Maggie' had been visiting her SF 'heroes' out 'west'.
We took off, short of fuel, and headed to the USAF hospital pad at Pleiku. As we all started unloading our sad pax's, a 'Smart-Ass' USAF Captain said to Martha.... "Ms Ray, with all these dead and wounded to process, there would not be time for your show!"
To all of our surprise, she pulled on her right collar and said...”Captain, see this eagle? I am a full 'Bird' in the US Army Reserve, and on this is a 'Caduse' which means I am a Nurse, with a surgical speciality....now, take me to your wounded.” He said, “Yes mam'... Follow me.”
Several times at the Army Field Hospital in Pleiku, she would 'cover' a surgical shift, giving a nurse a well-deserved break.
Martha is the only woman buried in the SF (Special Forces) cemetery at Ft. Bragg, NC.
Hand Salute!
Check it out! Martha Raye Civilian Warrior

Ed Paquette sent this great video link about the 68th Reunion of the Doolittle Raiders. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/user/MsPolleyVision

And finally, Jim Taylor sent this great clip of the ultimate Short Take-Off aircraft. We shoulda had these at Tuy Hoa….my son said it is just really an old F-35!
http://www.patricksaviation.com/videos/cpasley/4823/

Thanks to you guys who sent these links! Keep 'em coming. Have a great weekend everyone!

A Russian P-39 Cobra

2010-09-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

Noble Atkins sent this link to me.....

Pete Gallivan reports on a warplane that went missing for 60 years, and is now back in its birthplace. I thought you might enjoy watching it also. http:\\link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid34757272001?bclid=0&bctid=87804472001

The F-35 Lightning II...What An Airplane!

2010-09-04T09:21:00.000-07:00

Our friend George Drago sent this neat video link to me the other day. We flew in amazing war-birds in our time, but the young pilots of today have some really incredible technology and machinery to drive. Aviation has sure come a long way since those bicycle brothers in Dayton first flew their Wright Flyer at Kitty Hawk 107 years ago!

To enjoy this short (about 4 minutes) video, click the link. F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level - Videos - AircraftOwner Online

Steve Bogner Found! (And he didn't even know he was lost!)

2010-08-14T13:58:00.000-07:00

Well, they just keep coming out of the woodwork!

In June I got an email from Steve Bogner, who was in the 225^th when I arrived at Phabulous Phu Hiep By The Sea in February 1968. I had not heard from or seen him since he DEROSed. Due to the wonders of the Internet, my replies to him bounced back to me. But Steve sent a card, with his phone number, by snail mail, so we talked for quite a while trying to remember names and all the goofy things that went on so many years ago.

He’s been active in photography all these years (he was an 84G20 photo lab tech in the 244^th SAC, then was transferred to the 225^th), and is now retired, living in Palo Alto, California.

Memorial Day 2010

2010-05-29T08:50:00.000-07:00

Please take a moment to remember the friends we lost so many years ago.

(click the arrow on the lower left of the screen below)

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (on May 25 in 2009). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action. (from Wikipedia)

4 More Blackhawks Found!

2010-04-10T16:32:00.000-07:00

A while ago you will recall that we had located Dennis Wert, another 84G20 who had served with us in the 225^th. Well finding Dennis seems to have opened up the floodgates a little bit because four more men have turned up in the past few weeks! On March 6^th Gary Chambers, another Photo Lab Tech signed in on the OV-1.com Guestbook (www.ov-1.com/roster). I put his email address on my alert list and emailed him. Then on March 19 Mike (Luke) Christ signed in on the Guestbook, so I immediately put him on my alert list for this blog and emailed him also. Luke was a 05C Radio Teletype Operator (Luke let me know if this is not correct). We’ve talked on the phone and it’s been fun hearing each other’s stories! Luke sent me Gary’s phone number and I’ve talked with him too. Then, Chuck Galloway let me Dennis know that he had found Rolin Randall who was also an 84G Photo Lab Tech. Rolin lives in Alaska, where he’s been since returning from the war.

Well, that’s three more guys with whom we’ve reconnected! “Who is the fourth” you ask?

Here’s where our connections are becoming more and more important…about a month ago Terry Carlson sent me a copy of the 223^rd Aviation Battalion (Combat) 1969 Yearbook. I saw the photo of Garry Ryals and remembered that he lived not all that far from me in Western Washington State. So I looked him up on Facebook and found a Garry Ryals who was about our age and sent him a message asking if he had served in Vietnam in the 225^th. Before long I received an answer: “Yes Gordy I am the same Garry Ryals that was stationed with you in Nam. And the one that you gave a ride to when I came home on leave that time.” I’m hoping to talk with him soon.

I’d encourage you to look for our buddies and connect with them, before we don’t have the energy to do so. Serving together in the 225^th Surveillance Airplane Company was a once-in-a-lifetime event, and to share our memories with each other 40+ years later has been a good experience for us.

I would also encourage you to consider coming to Dayton, Ohio, in September for the 21^st Annual OV-1 Mohawk Association Reunion. It is shaping up to be a very good time, and we will have the opportunity to visit the National Museum of the USAF at Wright-Patterson AFB. Check out the Association website for more information.

Gary, Luke, Rolin and Garry: It is so good to hook up with you guys again !

An Easter Message for All of Us

2010-04-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

I published this in March 2008, but Easter Sunday 2010 is not a bad time to reflect on who the real Saint Patrick was and what he did......

Over the past few weeks, I have been thinking about what I would like to share with you in celebration of Easter. Since it is so close to St. Patrick’s Day this year, I looked online and discovered that March 17 has been very important throughout the Christian Church’s history; in fact, according to Wikipedia “…the date of the feast is occasionally, yet controversially, moved by church authorities when March 17 falls during Holy Week; this happened in 1940 when Saint Patrick's Day was observed on April 3 in order to avoid it coinciding with Palm Sunday, and happened again in 2008, having been observed on March 14. March 17 will not fall during Holy Week again until 2160.”

My pastor, Rev. Steve Wilkinson of Northwest Presbyterian Church, writes a column in our church’s weekly online newsletter, and his thoughts in the March 13 issue made me aware of Patrick’s importance as a model of how Jesus Christ would have me live as a true disciple of His. Below is an excerpt of Steve’s Pastoral Pondering entitled “I’ll Never Go Back There” (used by permission).

“In the early 400's, a sixteen-year-old kid from a well-off family in Britain was snatched by Irish marauders and ended up slaving as a shepherd in the remote, mountainous areas of Ireland for six years. He was able to escape to France, and in the course of all this, developed a significant commitment to Christ. He matured in his faith and sense of call, and was finally ordained to ministry.

“Now most of us avoid places and people who've hurt us. But Patrick had a vision for Ireland to know Christ, and he returned there with a passion to help others know real hope and freedom in Christ. His concern for those who had held him captive was infectious. Not only did the gospel spread throughout Ireland, Irish Christians gained a reputation as "go-anywhere" Christians, taking the gospel to remote and threatening parts of the world. I’m sure this attitude was picked up from Patrick himself, who faced and faced down opposition to his work and the past that surely haunted him, who would go straight to those who were against the gospel to explain it and encourage them to believe.

“Patrick rose above whatever animosity or personal resentment he might have felt toward the Irish, and that made all the difference. Far from resenting them, he recognized their need to be right with God, got his personal issues out of the way, put Christ at the center, and "blessed his enemies." (Matthew 5. 43-48)

“To me, Patrick is a model of visionary evangelism and of a heart shaped by the love of God. Because of Christ he overcame natural human fear and probably hatred with a desire to share the love of God and the hope Christ gives. His own experience with grace and forgiveness gave him a heart bigger than most. I’m humbled when I consider that his willingness to put aside self-interest prepared the way for so many people to know Christ and re-shaped an entire culture. And it’s kind of fitting that this year St. Patrick’s Day falls the same week we’re remembering Christ’s service to the world, his death, and his resurrection. St. Patrick’s Savior set the bar for loving one’s enemies, didn’t he?”

Karin and I wish you a very Happy Easter!

Some of Terry Carlson's Photos

2010-03-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

Terry has sent me some photos over the last months, and I thought it was about time that I put them on the Observer so you guys could see them. (Sorry to take so long Terry!) I'll be posting some more in the next few days, so check back frequently.

These particular pictures, except for the ones that are of airplanes in revetments and formation, were all taken at Tuy Hoa AFB. Here's what Terry wrote me when he sent them: "These slides are tagged May 71. They were taken at Tuy Hoa. I think I was at the east end of the runway, just up from the beach. I'm not sure, but I think all the Mohawk pictures are Phantomhawk 17, making "touch and goes".

St. Paddy's Day 2010

2010-03-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

(Be sure to look at the slide show at the bottom of this article also.)

Last Sunday morning my alarm went off at “oh-dark-thirty,” rousing me out of bed to run in another St. Paddy’s Day Dash in Seattle. I had mentally, and somewhat physically, prepared myself for the 3.8 mile (6.1 km) jaunt that my son Pete and I were to begin at 8:40am. I had to get going early, however, because I was picking him up at the Fauntleroy ferry dock in West Seattle at 7:40. While I was waiting for the ferry to dock, the Olympic Mountains in the background to the west were absolutely spectacular, as was Mount Rainier to the south!

We arrived near the starting point on this beautiful, clear, sunny Seattle day in plenty of time to join 15,225 of our closest friends to begin our jaunt at 8:40am. With the beautiful strains of some local bag pipers playing somewhere in the crowd we were off!

It was more difficult that two years ago (click here to see the blog article I wrote then) because the route had changed…about half of the nearly 4 miles was up hill! Ugh! Two years ago it was all virtually level (or downhill). What a sneaky Irish trick to play on two guys named Darragh (which means “oak” in Irish)!

We both made it, though! Pete’s official time was 48:36, and his old man’s was 51:42. Not too bad considering I am twenty-nine years his senior!

I must admit that I was sore for the next two days, but I am excited to run this again next year. It’s just way too much fun to pass up!

F-16 vs C-130

2010-03-19T16:39:00.000-07:00

John Ferguson sent this to me a little while ago. You may have seen this already, but I thought it was great enough that it's worth reading again!

A C-130 was lumbering along when a cocky F-16 flashed by. The jet jockey decided to show off.

The fighter jock told the C-130 pilot, 'watch this!' and promptly went into a barrel roll followed by a steep climb. He then finished with a sonic boom as he broke the sound barrier. The F-16 pilot asked the C-130 pilot what he thought of that?

The C-130 pilot said, 'That was impressive, but watch this!'

The C-130 droned along for about 5 minutes and then the C-130 pilot came back on and said: 'What did you think of that?'

Puzzled, the F-16 pilot asked, 'What the heck did you do?'

The C-130 pilot chuckled. 'I stood up, stretched my legs, walked

to the back, took a leak, then got a cup of coffee and a cinnamon roll.'

The moral of the story is...

When you are young and foolish -

speed and flash may seem a good thing!

When you get older and smarter -

comfort and dull are not such a bad things.

Flying High in a U-2!

2010-02-24T21:38:00.000-08:00

Our friend Roger “Superman” Kent sent this link to me, so I thought you’d all like to take the ride too!

Fasten your seat belt for a fantastic ride in a spy plane.

See the world at 30,000, 40,000, 50,000, 60,000 and finally at 70,000 feet. From 70,000 feet you look down 35,000 feet at a jetliner passing below at its normal cruising altitude of 35,000 ft. The views are spectacular as the U-2 flies at altitudes that constitute "SPACE." Only the International Space Station is higher!

This video is a once in a lifetime experience of a British civilian, James May, getting a flight at over 70,000 ft. in a U-2 spy plane. (He is one of the hosts of the popular and somewhat whacky car show “Top Gear” on BBC, shown in the US on BBCA.) Please note at take-off the assist wheels on the outer edges of the wings drop away. The wings are so long that they need temporary support until lift-off. What is not shown is at the landing the plane actually slows to a slow enough speed that two guys are actually able to grab the wing tips and put those assist wheels back on.

(I saw one of these take off from Andersen Air Force Base on Guam on my way to R&R in 1969. It was on the runway, and then like a shot it went up at a 45 degree angle and was gone!)

Use your full screen and turn up the sound as this is a high-quality film clip, only 10 minutes long.

Click the link to take the ride! http://www.wimp.com/breathtakingfootage/

223rd Combat Aviation Battalion - 1969

2010-01-30T06:56:00.000-08:00

Terry Carlson sent me these wonderful scans of the 223rd CAB's 1969 Yearbook. Take a look and see how many faces you recognize. You might be surprised!

Another 84G20 Has Been Found!

2010-01-28T21:16:00.000-08:00

For many years I've wondered whatever happened to Dennis Wert, who was part of the Photo Lab for a very long time. After I DEROSed in June 1970 I lost track of him. Yet almost 40 years later on New Years Day I got this email from Chuck Gallagher:

Jan 1, 2010
Gordy
We have found another old friend from the photo labs of the 225th. I could not wait to send you this picture [above] that Dennis Wert sent to me. I am going to make him a DVD of the photos he sent and then a CD of the images to send you to share on the 225th Observer web site.
Happy New Year
Chuck Galloway

I talked with Dennis a couple of weeks ago, and it was wonderful! He and Chuck sent some pictures which I have put into a slideshow below. The picture above is one I brought back with me from Phu Hiep...I didn't know that Dennis had one also. We are looking forward to seeing each other in Las Vegas on Veterans' Day 2011 at the 22nd Mohawk Reunion!

Jerry Murphy's Photos

2010-01-28T20:35:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything on the 225th Observer, so I though I'd better get Jerry's photos up for all to see. Jerry was in Nashville last fall at the Mohawk Reunion, and it was great to see him! He sent his slides to Chuck Galloway who digitally transfered them so he could share them with you. He also had some movies of the company area transfered, but I haven't figured out how to get them on the web. As soon as I do I'll get them on the Observer.

Lots of memories came flooding back when I saw these pictures. Thanks, Jerry, for sharing these with us!

A Merry Christmas Card For You!

2009-12-19T09:53:00.000-08:00

Photo of Phantomhawk 13 adapted by Tim Darragh for the Holidays 2009

^{Luke 8-12}There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

^13-14At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: “Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.”

^15-18As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

^19-20Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!

How many kings, stepped down from their thrones?

How many lords have abandoned their homes?

How many greats have become the least for me?

How many Gods have poured out their hearts

To romance a world that has torn all apart?

How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Only one did that for me!

“How Many Kings” Lyrics - DOWNHERE

Jesus Christ indeed stepped down from His throne in Heaven more than 2000 years ago for you and me, to give us true life here on Earth and in eternity too!

I have been given many great gifts … God’s love, my family, and my friends from the 225^th(and other units, too)!

May you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving 2009!

2009-11-26T13:59:00.000-08:00

This year I will say this grace at the Darragh family’s Thanksgiving dinner…

Once more we come, Lord, to the day of special thanksgiving.

Our thoughts are turned backward.

The days have rolled in the seasons, the seasons into the year.

Each day has been crowded with Thee.

Each season has brought forth new proofs of Thy loving forethought.

May we this day pledge Thee our gratitude anew.

Continue, we pray Thee, to surround us with Thy care, in Jesus name.

Amen.

From Grace Before Meals, Compiled by A. William Nyce and Hubert Bunyea, 1911 by The John C. Winston Co.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

2009-11-14T15:17:00.000-08:00

First of all….HAPPY VETERANS DAY to all of you who have served your country selflessly in the United States Armed Forces! And THANK YOU for your service!

I was invited to share my experience as a soldier in Vietnam at a special Veterans Day assembly at Sidney Glen Elementary School, where my son Pete is a 6th Grade teacher, on Tuesday, November 10th. The entire student body, Kindergarten through 6th Grade was there with their teachers, along with several other veterans from all Branches. A Captain in the US Coast Guard and a US Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer were also on the program. I put together a short PowerPoint slide presentation to show the students where Vietnam is, what kind of conditions I lived in at Phu Hiep, and lots of pictures of our airplanes. They loved the airplane pictures!

The highlight of the assembly, however, was the US Navy Band Northwest, stationed at Silverdale, WA, who played many wonderful pieces. Two of the children were invited to conduct the band because the director, Senior Chief Musician James L. Ramsey, said he was “tired and needed help since he had been waving his arms directing the band all day” (it was only 9:45am!).

At the close of the program they played the theme songs for the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and Navy. The Sr. Chief Ramsey asked the members of the audience to stand when they heard their branch's music if a parent or other relative or they were in that particular service. Of course, I stood when “The Army Goes Rolling Along” was played. When “Anchors Aweigh” was played for the Navy, I leaned over to Capt. DJ Smith, USCG, and whispered, “I think we’re outnumbered!” He agreed. You see, Sidney Glen Elementary is in Port Orchard, on Washington State’s Kitsap Peninsula, which has many US Navy installations including the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bangor Submarine Base, NAS Whidbey, and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center at Keyport. Collectively (not including NAS Whidbey) these are now known as Naval Base Kitsap. I was correct that we were outnumbered because the majority of the children stood! What a wonderful sight!

I was humbled and very honored with the reception the other veterans and I received from the school’s Principal Jason Shdo, and Assistant Principal Laura Smith, and by the students and teachers.

This Just In! Discovery of a 1943 Mohawk!

2009-10-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

All the hoopla about Ardipithecus ramidus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardipithecus), the newest fossil find of what is purported to be one of our most ancient relatives, has overshadowed the much more recent discovery of video of a 1943 Mohawk. Yes, that’s right! A 1943 Mohawk, complete with a crew!

The video was discovered during a recent trip to a small town in middle Tennessee. The archeologists who located this historic record were in the Volunteer State to meet with their former Army aviation comrades, something they do annually. We owe a debt of gratitude to Steve Sachs for being willing to reveal to the world that he is in possession of the only flyable 1943 Mohawk. Click on the movie below and enjoy the ride!

(Editor’s note: Alex Berkeley and I certainly did!)

A Sad Anniversary

2009-10-14T18:51:00.000-07:00

Our friend Larry Conway sent me the following e-mail this morning:

Oct 14, 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the deaths of Mark Babson and James Savage, KIA while flying a mission for the 225th SAC out of Phu Hiep, RVN.

RIP, boys.

Who Was In Nashville?

2009-10-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

I thought you all would like to see who was at Nashville last weekend.

Here’s the list (not in any particular order): Don Bernstein, Bill Miller, Ernie Marsh, Jerry Murphy, Steve Sachs, Danny Talbot, George Drago, Joe Beckham, Bill Page, Ben Perez, Ron Peterson, Joe Floyd, Ernie Serna, John Ferguson, Alex Berkeley, Tony Chapa, Steve Hammons, Bob Heckendorn, Joel Haugen, John Gardosik, Bob Riha and Johnny Martin.

I think that’s everybody from the 225th. It was great to see everyone! Let me know if I missed anyone.

More Pictures from Nashville...

2009-10-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are some more pictures from our 20th Reunion in Nashville. These were provided by Margie and Joe Floyd and Jerry Murphy.

Headin' Home!

2009-09-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

Well, I’m on the final leg of my trip home…DFW to Seattle. It’s a beautiful clear day over the Western US with smooth flying so far (I think I’m over Colorado…Hello Larry Conway!) and we should touch down at Sea-Tac Airport in about 2 hours.

On board this American Airlines MD-83 there are ten or so troops (ranging in rank from PFC to E-7 and aged from too young to over 55) who are on leave from duty in Afghanistan. If you look closely at the photo above you will see several shoulders in camouflaged uniforms. The pilot announced that these troops were on board and the entire aircraft erupted in applause with a few “Hooahs” thrown in! I’ve taken the opportunity to say “thank you for serving” to several of them and have shared with them that I was a vet from a different war who was coming home from our Reunion, and there was an instant bond and recognition for our mutual service experiences. The next time you see a young (or older) service man or woman in uniform, take the opportunity to say “thanks” to them…they will really appreciate it!

A couple of hours later……..

We’ve touched down at Sea-Tac, and another Reunion has officially come to an end for me again. Now my task is to not get too anxious with anticipation for next year in Dayton. I hope you will seriously consider coming the second weekend in September 2010!

Banquet in Nashville

2009-09-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

The 20^th Annual Reunion continued tonight with our banquet and featured speaker MG Bill Page sharing about his eight years flying Mohawks (and his life-long love affair with the bug-eyed, triple tailed, funny looking, wonderful flying machine). The food was wonderful, the drink was plentiful, the lies no doubt a little more exaggerated, the stuff piling up on the floor a little deeper, and the camaraderie better than ever! General Page described the first time he heard, then saw his first Mohawk and how, as a young 2LT in a Birddog unit, he knew he just had to fly the Army’s newest and, he added, “the coolest” airplane. He masterfully described flying techniques, rolls, and other types of intricate flight maneuvers in a way that was completely understandable for the non-aviators, wives and others present.

For me, who spent my entire Army career at Phabulous Phu Hiep by the Sea, for many of our Blackhawk/Phantomhawk comrades, and indeed for others in the banquet hall, seeing the pictures of our airplanes, the company area and the beach on that big screen brought back a flood of memories of the good times there, and the tough times when we lost seven of our brothers in the four crashes of June and October 1969. The launch of the birds searching for our lost brothers and the soldiers on the ramp watching them go emphasized the effort we made and pulling together of the company as we tried to find our missing friends.

Bill said his one-year at Phu Hiep was the highlight of his 39-year military career. I would echo that remark by saying that I will never regret that I served my country in the Army with the 225^th Aviation Company.

We plan on putting a movie together and producing a DVD so people can see it. We'll let people know through this blog and the Association website when it's ready. (I’ll be putting more pictures on the blog soon. Steve Hammons [left] and Joe Beckham are pictured above. )

All in all, our 20^th Anniversary Reunion was an outstanding one, one that I will long remember for old friendships renewed and the new ones made, the bigger and more elaborate stories that were told (but not necessarily believed) and retold time and again, and the new places in Tennesee we visited.

I am looking forward to the weekend after Labor Day next year when we will gather in Dayton, Ohio, one of the birthplaces of powered flight. We will visit the Air Force Aviation Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB and, of course, the Wright Bothers’ Bicycle Shop among many other attractions. It is promising to be a very good Reunion!

Historic Lynchburg, Tennessee

2009-09-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

Our alarms went off in Nashville before the sun came up on Thursday, and at about 8:30am Mohawkers piled out of bed and, still blurry-eyed, climbed aboard 2 buses to head for historic Lynchburg and a wonderful day touring the Jack Daniels Distillery, the oldest registered distillery in the US.

We began with an authentic boarding house great lunch of fried chicken, meat loaf, fried okra, beans, and broccoli and cheese casserole at Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House (built in 1820 and just recently restored), we went on a self-guided walking tour of Lynchburg Square, and the walked the short distance to Jack’s. We were not permitted in any of the buildings except Jack’s original office, because of the alcohol fumes that are flammable, and a spark cannot be risked. We were shown how charcoal is made and ground to the proper size to filter the alcohol through. There was a great video on the hand-crafting of the barrels in which the new alcohol is stored until the right moment when the flavor and color of the sugar maple barrel staves has created the whiskey we buy.

It was a very interesting and educational tour. The only 225th Mohawkers on the tour were Alex Berkeley and me, who were doing research to make a full report to Joe Beckham. We then loaded the buses again for a short trip to Barbecue Hill, part of the distillery’s operation, for a great dinner of pork, chicken, coleslaw beans and hush puppies. (The consolidated city-county government of Lynchburg the only “dry” county in the US, so no liquor is sold at the distillery, except for a commemorative bottle. But the Association saved the day by bringing Jack that was purchased outside the county, and it was served to us at the barbecue.) Around 6:30pm we headed back to Nashville for an evening of socializing with more friends who had arrived that during the day.

I’ll try to tell you who all is here now, but as you know, my memory isn’t as good as it used to be…. The list is in no particular order, just how my brain is recalling them. Ernie Serna, Joe Backham, Joe Floyd, Jerry Murphy, Ernie Marsh, Don Bernstein, Bill Page and Alex Berkeley.

The OV-1 Mohawk Association 20th Reunion Begins!

2009-09-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I’m on my way to Nashville for the 20th Anniversary Reunion of the OV-1 Mohawk Association! Got up at zero-dark-thirty to catch the Metro bus from my house to downtown Seattle, and then get on our new Link Light Rail directly to Sea-Tac Airport. We left for DFW on a jet plane (hum the John Denver song now!) where I’ll connect a flight to Nashville. I’m somewhere over Oregon now; I’ll continue journal a little later in the flight.

I’m somewhere between DFW and Nashville at 29,000 feet now, and I’m thinking about what our reunion will be like this year. In Portland last year there were guys I had not seen in several, indeed many, years. Bill Page I saw last in 1999 in Minneapolis. Steve Hammons and George Baena I had not seen in a few years. The last time I saw Dugan Lawrence was in the summer of 1970 after he had DEROSed and I had gotten out of the Army. I am so glad that Dugan was there! Alex Berkeley, Loren Schrock and Danny Talbot were there too. I had not seen George Burns since Phu Hiep!

We’ve landed in Nashville now. Everything is a beautiful green, the thermometer is hovering in the low 80s, and the humidity is even higher. By chance, Dave Olney (the Association XO) and his wife, Kathy, are waiting for the hotel shuttle as I walk out of the terminal, so we’re on our way to the hotel together.

After a light snack and a glass of vino for dinner, I’m off to publish this blog entry and then hit the hay. I am anxious for our first full day tomorrow here in the Volunteer State, to renew friendships, and make new ones, with brothers with whom I shared a common experience. I’ll update with photos tomorrow…

Just In Case You Need A Laugh…

2009-08-30T20:59:00.000-07:00

Terry Carlson sent me this one that h as been making its rounds on the internet:

Remember it takes a college degree to fly a plane, but only a high school diploma to fix one; a reassurance to those of us who fly routinely in our jobs. After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form, called a 'gripe sheet,' which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.

Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS ' pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers.

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.

S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.

S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit

S: Something tightened in cockpit

P: Dead bugs on windshield.

S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.

S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.

S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.

S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.

S: That's what friction locks are for.

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.

S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.

S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing..

S: Engine found on right wing after brief search

P: Aircraft handles funny.

(I love this one!)

S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.

S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.

S: Cat installed.

And the best one for last...

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.

S: Took hammer away from midget.

Reunion Roster Update

2009-08-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

Here’s the latest update on Who’s Coming to the Reunion as of August 10^th…

Joe Beckham, Don Bernstein, Tony Chapa, Adrian Coty, Gordy Darragh, John Ferguson, Joe Floyd, John Gardosik Steve Hammons, Joel Haugen, Bob Heckendorn, Johnny Martin, D. Bill Miller, Bill Page, Ben Perez, Ronald Peterson, Bob Riha, Steve Sachs, Ernie Serna, and Danny Talbott

As soon as a new list is published, I’ll put those from the 225th who are registered on this blog. The entire roster is located at the Association website, click on Reunions.

Does Anyone Know J.Y. Hammack?

2009-08-20T18:14:00.000-07:00

Dave Olney, the Executive Director of the OV-1 Mohawk Association, received the following email from the son of a former Mohawk driver. I told Dave that I would post it to see if any of you might know this man's father, J. Y. Hammack.

On 07/29/09 10:04 AM, Steve Hammack wrote:
--------------------
Dave, You do not know me but you may know my father J Y Hammack in your role of Executive Director for the OV-1 Mohawk Association. My dad flew them way back when. He is getting on in years but I thought it would be nice to see if your group has any records on him or needed information from him.
Have a great day.
Steve [Hammack]
UH1/OH58/UH60 LTC(R)

Please let me know if you know Mr. Hammack and I'll be sure to pass the info along. Thanks!

NASHVILLE IS ONLY 6 WEEKS AWAY!!

2009-08-06T23:00:00.000-07:00

This is a reminder that the 20^th Anniversary Reunion of the OV-1 Mohawk Association is now only a little over 6 weeks away, and only 16 Blackhawks/Phantomhawks have sent their registrations in as of the 1^st of August. They are Joe Beckham, Tony Chapa, Adrian Coty, John Ferguson, John Gardosik, Steve Hammons, Joel Haugen, Bob Heckendorn, D. Bill Miller, Bill Page, Ben Perez, Ronald Peterson, Bob Riha, Steve Sachs, Danny Talbot and myself.

The following is from the Reunion Registration Info Form:

You are responsible for making your own room reservations at the Sheraton Music City Hotel @ 1-888-627-7060 -or- http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/mohawk09.

The block of rooms will be held until August 15, 2009 or until they are all gone. We needed to have our room reservations made NLT July 15, 2009, in order to accurately predict our contract obligations to the hotel.

Please have your completed registrations in to Chris by August 1, 2009. (This was a week ago!) Please note that a $20 late fee will apply this year for those received after August 15, 2009.

Chris Walker, our Reunion Director said to call him on his cell phone with any questions/problems: 660/351-2132 ~or~ email him: bcwalker01@earthlink.net.

MG Bill Page (USA Retired), and former XO and CO of the 225^th, is our main speaker this year (please see an earlier article on this blog). I have been working with him in the preparation of it, and it will be really fun to hear about his eight years as a Mohawk pilot and company exec and CO. We are planning an informal reception one night (probably Thursday) so we all have chance to see each other.

So get your registrations in ASAP! We all gather in Nashville a little over 6 weeks! We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Mohawk Videos on the Web

2009-07-24T23:27:00.000-07:00

Larry Conway sent the following note to us Army Aviation types:

"Howdy, Troops!

"I have long been disappointed in the paucity of videos of OV-1s in flight. Well, here they are - a bunch of them. Some good soul(s) took the time & trouble to put them on YouTube. Enjoy."

Click on the link to see some footage that may bring back some memories...http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&client=firefox-a&channel=s&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=VqP&q=grumman%20ov%201%20mohawk&revid=1585004651&ei=bPxpSrDMJ4PksQPwnMCWBQ&resnum=0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wv#

Nashville - 60 Days Away and Counting!

2009-07-21T21:24:00.001-07:00

Can you believe it? In about 60 days I’ll be leavin’ on a jet plane for Nashville and the OV-1 Mohawk Association’s 20th Annual Reunion and Reminiscing-Fest!

Chris Walker, the Association’s Reunion Director, has arranged for great activities for all us Mohawkers and our significant others. For example, if you always wanted to know how whiskey is made (and haven’t seen it on the Food Channel), we will be going to the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg on Thursday the 24th of September. On Saturday, during the Business Meeting, all of our better halves and guests will be going on an historic tour of the Belle Meade Plantation and the Hermitage, General (and President) Andrew Jackson’s home.

Saturday night we will dine in fine style at our annual Banquet and hear MG Bill Page share about the history of the OV-1 Mohawk and his eight years as a Mohawk driver. I’ve been working with him on his presentation, and believe me you do not want to miss it!

We’re staying at the Sheraton Music City Hotel and the rates are very reasonable, but they will not apply much longer. I’m personally looking forward to sitting around some table and listening to more true stories of all of our adventures when we were 20+ years old, and serving our country as Mohawkers. I learn something new each time we get together!

I looked at who’s coming from the ranks of the Blackhawks and Phantomhawks, and I count only eight as of the posting of the list on July 2nd. I see Steve Hammons and Joe Beckham were about first in line, Adrian Coty and Steve Sachs will be there too. (I’m looking forward to flying with you again Steve!) Where are you Alex Berkeley, Loren Schrock and Danny Talbot! Don’t make Joe and me consume all that beer again this year!

To make it easy for you to register, here’s the link to the Association website: http://www.ov-1mohawkassociation.org/reunions.html, so there can’t be any whiney excuses like “I didn’t know how to register” or “I didn’t know how much it cost”.

Seriously though, time’s gettin’ short (not to be confused with a short-timer), so send in your registration today! I’ll see you in Nashville!

LTC M. Dugan Lawrence, US Army (retired)

2009-06-14T16:26:00.000-07:00

Sadly I have to report that I just received word of the quiet passing last week of a friend and comrade, LTC M. Dugan Lawrence, US Army (retired), at his home in Corvallis, Oregon.

While in the Army he served with the 225th Avn Co., Phu Hiep, June '69 - June '70. He then was an Instructor Pilot at Ft. Rucker, '70 –’72; and Cdr, Det 1, 330th Avn Co. Stuttgart, FRG Aug ’74- Aug ’77. Following Germany he was Quicklook II Evaluator at Ft. Huachuca, Aug ’77- Aug ’80. He then was assigned to the 2nd MI Bn (Prov), Camp Humphreys, ROK Jul ’81- Jul ’82.

I had the opportunity to fly with Dugan on flight-follow missions in Vietnam in 1969 and 1970. When I DEROSed in June 1970, I made it a point to get his address in Corvallis, as he was due to rotate shortly after I came home. Later that summer I drove to his home and we had a chance to visit for a while. I’ll always remember his comment when he saw my brand new shiny red 1970 Cuda parked in front of his house. He said, “It looks like it’s going fast just sitting there!”

I hadn’t seen Dugan since 1970, so I was thrilled when I found his name on the roster for the Reunion in Portland last September! We had a chance to catch up on the last 38 years at the Reunion. I am so glad we saw each other!

Rest in peace, my friend.

Memorial Day 2009 - May We Never Forget

2009-05-17T17:05:00.000-07:00

MG Bill Page Will Speak In Nashville

2009-05-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

It’s official! The 20^th Anniversary Reunion of the OV-1 Mohawk Association will be 23-27 September 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee! And the Board of Directors just confirmed that our guest speaker will be MG William C. Page Jr., USA (Retired). Many of us in the 225^th knew him as our XO and CO Major Bill Page. But that was a few years ago. I just got off the phone with him to begin planning what his remarks will be and I’ve got to tell you that I am more excited about this Reunion than any of the five or six that I’ve been to since 1998!

I hope you are planning to be in Nashville in September. I’m extending you a special invitation to join Bill and me at the Sheraton Music City Hotel! I’ll be putting more info on the Observer over the weeks as we approach Nashville. You can find registration info at the Association web site www.ov-1mohawkassociation.org. But don’t wait until you’re on short final to register! It’s a good deal that costs only $102 a night (plus tax and all that other stuff, of course)! We’re counting on seeing you there!

The 225th's Hawks

2009-05-04T19:50:00.000-07:00

This is for all who served with the 225th Surveillance Airplane Company in the Republic of Vietnam...enjoy this look back at our airplanes!

Newly Discovered Photos from Chuck Galloway! (from Nov. 07)

2009-04-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

Since there have been several additions to the mailing list recently, I thought you'd like to see some photos that Chuck Galloway (see next article) sent to me back in the Fall of 2007...

Chuck was an 84G20 in April 1968 when he arrived a Phu Hiep, then was reassigned to the Capital Military Assistance Command as an 84B20 (photographer) in Saigon in July, but not before he had taken some pictures of the Company Area. He sent these to me last week, and I couldn't wait to share them with you!

Special Offer from Terre Haute! (from Dec. 07)

2009-04-19T07:16:00.000-07:00

Chuck Galloway, who was an 84G20 Photo Lab Tech and now lives in Terre Haute, Wisconsin, wrote me to say "...Any members of the 225th that have either slides or pictures and would send them to me we will scan then to DVD at no charge as long as they let [Gordy] put the photos on [his] web site. The originals will be returned to them unharmed."

Guys, this is an offer too good to pass up! You can contact Chuck at his website gallowaycamera.com.

A Sad 40th Anniversary

2009-03-21T17:12:00.001-07:00

Larry Conway wrote this note to me today...
"Hard to believe, but it was 40 years ago today that David Peterson & Norman McCauley were shot down. RIP, Cpt David Peterson."

A New Photo of Zero Zero

2009-03-21T17:05:00.000-07:00

Terry Carlson recently sent me this picture of Zero Zero, one I had not seen before.

An Old Friend

2009-03-06T19:59:00.000-08:00

Jim Thomas sent this photo and note to me and several others around Christmas time…

“Merry Christmas old friends! This is a photo of OV-1C 60--3747 that I took while out at the Fort Hood CAV museum. 3747 is listed as having served with the 225th from 9/67 through 10/68. So, it is an old friend also.”

If anyone happens to remember what big, yellow tail number this bird had in 1967-68, please post a comment on the blog! Thanks!

More of George Drago's Wisdom (stolen from somebody else, of course!)

2009-03-06T19:41:00.000-08:00

Pilot Philosophy (From an Airline Pilot. They have a different sense of humor.)

The difference between a duck and a co-pilot?
   The duck can fly.

A check ride ought to be like a skirt.
   Short enough to be interesting, but long enough to cover everything.

Speed is life. Altitude is life insurance.

It only takes two things to fly:
   Airspeed, and money.

The three most dangerous things in aviation:
   1. A Doctor or Dentist in a Cessna.
   2. Two captains in a DC-9.

Aircraft Identification:
   If it's ugly, it's British.
   If it's weird, it's French.
   If it's ugly and weird, it's Russian.

Without ammunition, the USAF would be just another very expensive flying club.

The similarity between air traffic controllers and pilots?
   If a pilot screws up, the pilot dies.
   If ATC screws up, the pilot dies.

The difference between flight attendants and jet engines:
   The engines usually quit whining when they get to the gate.

New FAA motto:
   'We're not happy, till you're not happy.'

If something hasn't broken on your helicopter --it's about to.

I give that landing a 9. . .on the Richter scale.

Basic Flying Rules:
   1. Try to stay in the middle of the air.
   2. Do not go near the edges of it.
   3. The edges of the air can be recognized by the appearance of ground, buildings, sea, trees and interstellar space. It is much more difficult to fly in the edges.

Unknown landing signal officer (LSO) to carrier pilot after his 6th unsuccessful landing attempt:
   "You've got to land here son. This is where the food is."

(Ed. note: I'm not a pilot, so I have no idea what he's talking about!)

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T08:58:00.001-08:00

The Darragh Family wishes you all a very Merry Christmas from the Pacific Northwest. We usually have a wet Christmas Day here in Seattle, but this year we dreamed of a white Christmas and we have one! It's been snowing off and on for over a week here.

Forty years ago today I spent my first of two Christmases at Phu Hiep (it can't be that long ago can it?)! It certainly was different than any previous Christmas I had experienced! I don't remember if there were services at the base chapel, but there must have been.

I hope you have a wonderful family time as the birth of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, and the hope he brings, is celebrated around the world!

Noel Josephs In Space!

2008-12-09T08:05:00.000-08:00

I received this e-mail from Larry Conway last month.

For those of you who didn't know him, Noel Josephs was a buddy from AIT at Ft. Huachuca, AZ, who was KIA June 6, 1969, while flying an aerial surveillance mission in Vietnam for the 225th Avn. Co. out of Phu Hiep, RVN. A good soldier & a good friend. We all hated to see him go.

Now this is very interesting. I did a Google search on Noel Fitzroy Josephs, and up pops this NASA link. http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/overview/microchip/names2j9.html His name is one which was picked to go into space aboard a NASA spacecraft named Stardust, launched in 1999 to visit Comet Wild 2 in 2004, and returned to earth in 2006. He's listed near the bottom [of this very long list]. A worthy choice for a space flight. RIP, Noel. Check it out. - L

left to right: Noel Josephs, Larry Conway, Bill Robertson, Norman McCauley, and Ed Belanger

Holidays in Vietnam

2008-11-28T09:37:00.000-08:00

Here are some comments I received about Thanksgiving in Vietnam:

From Tony Chapa: “Thanks for reminding me of the Thanksgiving I spend with the 225th, my memories are similar to yours. As I sit here reminiscing, I thank God for allowing me the privilege of serving my country during my two tours in Nam. It was during my second tour that we met.”

From Chaley Reasor: “I still remember our Thanksgiving, but mine was in 1967. I remember I was very surprised that we were even having a dinner to celebrate. I have fond memories of the 225th and always will.”

From Roger Kent: “I remember being thankful for having a Thanksgiving menu so far away from 'The World.'”

From Paul Reed (55th Avn Co. K-16, ROK '63 - '64): “I managed to miss Thanksgiving in VN. I arrived the day before Christmas Eve, so Christmas sticks in my addled brain. I got an early drop from VN and left the 18th of Nov, so missed Thanksgiving.

“My memories of my Christmas in VN are mostly centered around the Bob Hope Show, which was at Tan Son Nhut AB on Christmas Eve. Have no idea what I did on Christmas Day, except dinner in the mess hall at the tent city where we were living.

"My thoughts go to the troops who are in harms way and their families: may God bless them all.”

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-26T06:30:00.001-08:00

Forty years ago I was a 21-year-old soldier living in a war zone a million miles from home (or so it seemed). I had been with the 225th SAC Blackhawks for the first nine months of what was to become nearly two and a half years at Phu Hiep. There are, of course, many things I remember about that era of my life – and many memories that have gone away, too – but one of my fondest memories is of Thanksgiving dinner 1968. We had all the “fixins” that you need at any Thanksgiving feast…turkey, dressing, potatoes and pumpkin pie. We had one other ingredient too, that was our camaraderie as American soldiers serving our country.

As we gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving 2008, let’s pause and remember our fellow soldiers, sailors and airmen (and women) who are right now in harm’s way, defending our freedom and way of life.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

VETERANS DAY

2008-11-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

Thanks for serving our country so many years ago!

(Photo by John Ferguson)

More Military Humor from George Drago

2008-11-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Periodically George sends me funny items that have their origins in the military. This time he sent some great photos; I put a few of them in a slide show. You can see more by clicking http://www.tom-phillips.info/images/funny.military.2/_index.htm. Enjoy!

SP5 Henry Kalohi

2008-10-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

For Memorial Day this year, I published a photo of SP5 Henry Kalohi’s grave marker at the Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) as a tribute to a fellow soldier and friend with whom I served in the 225th Aviation Company (SA). Here is a sequel to that short article. First, here is what I wrote:

“When Karin and I were planning our trip to Hawaii in 2006, I remembered that Henry Kalohi was a Photo Lab Tech (84G20) in our unit in, if my memory serves me correctly, in late 1969. I knew he was from Hawaii, so I looked for his name on the Internet. Sadly, I found it among the listings for the Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Honolulu.

“While we were there in April 2007 it took this photo of his grave marker. I don’t know the circumstances around his death. Rest in peace, my friend.”

In June of this year I received the following e-mail: “Gordy, Thanks for your mention of my brother on your 225th Aviation blog. I am very glad he is remembered by someone he had served with in Vietnam. Thank you for stopping by at Punchbowl to pay your respects. That was very, very kind of you. Aloha, Walt Kalohi.”

Walt is Henry’s brother; he was searching the Internet for any mention of Henry and found this blog. I e-mailed Walt and asked him about the circumstances surrounding Henry’s death. He told me, in part, that when Henry returned from Nam, he was deeply affected from the experience. He was saddened by what he saw there, and Walt recalled that there was one particular person who died that really affected him. When he returned from Nam, Henry attended the University of Hawaii as an art major (he was an excellent artist) and shortly thereafter had an “emotional breakdown.” Although he was receiving psychiatric help, in the end, he took his life. Walt concluded that Henry “was a gentle and friendly man.”

That’s how I remember him, as a gentle and friendly man. Walt has sent some pictures that Henry took while at Phu Hiep. I’ve put some of them together for you look at and stir some memories. Thank you Henry for leaving these for all of us.

Loren Shrock's Pictures from the 19th Annual OV-1 Mohawk Association Reunio

2008-10-05T06:13:00.000-07:00

Loren sent me this note for you all to be able to see his pictures from the Reunion. To see the photos just left mouse the link below, or type mrloren.smugmug.com in your browser. Click on the gallery named OV-1 Mohawk; it is the first gallery.

Thanks Loren, these are wonderful!

"The 225th's Hawks" Video

2008-10-04T20:37:00.001-07:00

As many of you know, I work as an Administrative Assistant III in the Emergency Department at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Well, recently the hospital treated us all to a concert by the Beach Boys at Safeco Field to celebrate the recent name change of the hospital (from Children’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center), and the culmination of a 7 year fund drive to raise $300M for uncompensated care, facility improvements and research. The goal was exceeded by nearly $50M!

So, we celebrated!

As Karin and I were listening to this really good “old” music from the 60s and the 70s, I was also thinking about our upcoming reunion in Portland, and about what I could do on the blog to showcase the 225th’s airplanes. The music that night inspired me to put together a video of our Mohawks. Go to www.225observer.us and take a look at the result. I think you’ll like it.

If you would like DVD of “The 225th’s Hawks,” send me a blank DVD-R (that is capable of handling at least 10 minutes) along with a stamped, self-addressed disc mailer, and I’d be glad to make one for you. Address your request to me at 13111-88th Place NE, Kirkland, WA 98034-2636.

19th Annual OV-1 Mohawk Association Reunion!

2008-09-29T20:50:00.000-07:00

I'm home now after four great days this past weekend in Portland, Oregon, at the 19th Annual Reunion of the OV-1 Mohawk Association. I think everyone had a great time renewing old friendships, sharing war stories, bring each other up-to-date on our families, meeting new friends with whom we have that funny looking triple tailed airplane in common, going on a couple of very nice trips (to the Evergreen Air Museum and taking a brunch-time boat trip up the Columbia), perhaps drinking and eating a little too much and generally having a good time with each other.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites Hotel Portland Airport and were treated to a fine breakfast buffet each morning and free beer and wine each evening between 5:30 and 7pm. My guess is that the hotel was surprised when a seemingly endless line of Mohawkers appeared at 5 o'clock waiting for the first draft to be poured!

There was some Association business conducted on Saturday morning, and then it was off to play some more...seeing the sights of Portland and the beautiful surrounding countryside, for some of the ladies it was shopping, or just some more reminiscing with buddies. The banquet on Saturday night featured a wonderful presentation of the Oregon National Guard's 1042nd Aviation Company's role prior to and after the eruption of Mt. St. Helens. The 225's own Steve Hammons was one of the pilots who flew many missions around the mountain during that time.

After many of us stayed up late into the night (past our bedtimes!), we all headed home the next day with great new memories of the 19th Reunion, looking forward to 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. The dates for the 20th Reunion will be announced sometime after the first of the year, so be sure to watch the Mohawker for that info!

Here are some pictures I made to share with you...