SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

A must read: Vietnam door gunners short story

4134 views
2 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Seattle
A must read: Vietnam door gunners short story
Posted by Papa-Echo-64 on Tuesday, January 3, 2006 1:56 PM

As you might have seen in the Huey Radio/headset thread.... I had help with my 1/32 Huey from Jack C. Combs of the 173rd AHC 'Robinhoods' now a retired Air National Guard Chief Warrent Officer, Huey / Hook driver and trainer.

Here is a story that I first noticed in Squadrons Huey book so I asked Mr. Combs if he knew of ths Gary fellow from the 173rd and of this mission?.......He said  "OH YES!"......He was hovering just about 100 feet above and behind a bit when the rockets first came in...VERY HOT LZ!

Well here is Gary's story a very interesting day and rescue indeed.

http://www.war-veterans.org/Wetzel.htm

Straighten up and fly right.....
  • Member since
    July 2013
Posted by DURR on Friday, January 6, 2006 12:12 PM

excellent story what a guy!

i was told by 2 diff vietnam vets the the average life expectancy of those gunners was about 18 min from take off

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Seattle
Posted by Papa-Echo-64 on Friday, January 6, 2006 2:54 PM

That is why they sat on 'Chicken plates' and field hemets! ( mostly to protect their future family palns ) Wink [;)]  I have met a few.

One gunner told me on his first run out he was all ready to shoot up some Charlie.....then the tail rotor was hit and the pilot brought the bird down into the tree line before it started spinning....it rested in the trees and they had to jump to the ground and a Hook picked them up within ten minutes....LUCKY! .....He then said he never did SEE Charlie....only that he knew that they were always throwing any thing that they could at them. 

Straighten up and fly right.....
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.