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I just posted this on my Facebook page.
This has been on my mind for some time now. I want the world to know about the maintenance personnel we Interested our lives with every day we flew combat missions in Vietnam.
They worked many long hours keeping our aircraft and weapons in a good fighting condition, often in horrible conditions; always in hot, muggy and sometimes monsoon conditions.
If not working on our aircraft back at maintenance headquarters, they could often be found making house calls to our detachments to fix things. Some even gave their life while doing their job to keep us safe.
They were so proud of what they were doing to support us and our country and we too often failed to let them know what their hard work and dedication meant to us.
On my detachment I don't recall ever having an issue with any of our aircraft that was related to bad maintenance or improper repairs.
These guys were on top of things and were the best of the best. God bless each and every one of you for SAVING OUR LIVES each and every day.
And let's not forget those that maintained our personnel records, kept our letters from home coming in and took care of our medical needs. This also includes those that worked hard gathering intelligence information to help keep all of us safe.
I wish I had posted this years earlier as we are loosing Seawolves, both aircrew and ground personnel alike, at an alarming rate. May they Rest In Peace.
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Your post was spot on Craig. My first four months were in Binh Thuy, assigned to maintenance doing maintenance turns (many hours tracking blades) and flying check flights. 24 hours a day, 365 days a week they busted ass fixing and turning old aircraft around for the dets. Typing on computers these days I think about all the hours the admin folks typed and re-typed correspondence, messages, and reports on clunky old typewriters. Like you said, not in the best conditions but they made it happen.
They were the best at what they did and the best to call shipmates. Like you I regret not thanking them enough. And I also never adequately thanked the det gunners who literally always had my back.
Thanks for posting what a lot of us should have done years ago.
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AAAHHH Shucks guys we were doing what needed doing as best we could with what we had to do it with.. But thankyou for Recognition.
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As a ordie on maintance crew at Binh Thuy, Thank You
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Thank You for your post and recognition. I think I can speak for most of the maintenance personnel at Vung Tau. We all had a job to do be it Pilot, door gunner, or fixer. Based upon our accomplishments with the limited resources I believe we all did well. May God Look out after all who survived, and bless those that didn't return.
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So true, we couldn't have achieved our goals without support of all the individuals backing but the detachments back at Binh Thuy base. They worked hard and with there dedication we keep the birds flying. I don't think the detachments could have preformed as well with out them.
I believe all those back in Binh Thuy deserved more and if I could see it my way every personnel assigned to HAL-3 Binh Thuy should have been awarded a Unit Citation. I can remember some very sweaty monsoon nights in the hanger getting those Huey ready for deployment to detachment.
Regards, Frank (Fletch) Miles
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I remember 1 bird we got from the Army that had
wires strung across the roof. Took several days to
get everything back in the cables and the radios/nav
working again. LOL
Jim
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I agree with all the above about our Maint, Magicians and Support staff and over the years have let the world know it with my Postings on other sites and news articles .without you there would have been a mission but no Helos to fly it , Thank you all ,
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HAY DONT FORGET THE COOKS .. I WAS A COOK FROM APRIL 66 TILL MARCH 67 AT VINH LONG .. WE HAD TO GO AROUND EVERMORNING WAKING UP GUYS GOING ON PATROL & MANY A NIGHT THE CHIEF IN CHARGE COME GET ME UP AT 12 MIDNIGHT & ASK ME GET THIS C B CHIEF WHO JUST CAME IN SOMETHING TO EAT .. I KNEW EVER GUY ON THE BOATS ..I GUESS U CAN SAY A GOOD COOK IS LIKE A MOTHER TO EVERONE I KNOW I WAS .. IT BROKE MY HEART ONE DAY WHEN WORD CAME BACK A PBR GUY JUST GOT KILLED & I HAD JUST FED HIM THAT MORNING & HE JOKED AROUND WITH OUR VITNEESE GIRL HELPERS .. SURE LOVE TO REVESIT ALL THE GUYS .A GREAT EXPERINCE TO BE A PART OF THE PBR S .. GOD BLESS THEM ALL ..BOB NELSON CS 2 ..
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Over the past 3 years that we have been in production of Scramble the Seawolves, it was very clear to us early on that it was the collective efforts of ALL of the members of the Seawolf Squadron that led to their tremendous accomplishments over the 5 years.
I am a very proud daughter of Seawolf, Joe Crutcher Plank Owner Maintainer 67'-68' and my Husband, Jeff, is the proud Son-in-Law. We have been blessed with the opportunity produce the story of the Seawolves and our goal has always to create a film that each of the Seawolves will be proud of and this includes HC-1, Pilots, Gunners, Maintenance and Support Personnel.
Respectfully,
Shannon Arballo (Crutcher)
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Well said Craig, thank you.
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Thanks Brother. Sure miss ya. Are you going to the mini reunion in Branson?
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Craig I am sorry to say that I have not kept up with the mini reunion. Only thing I know is where it is to be held so at this point I would say I probably won't be there. Hope it turns out well and you brothers have a great get together.
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Locked
