I read this poignant story several years ago. The widow would eventually be guided to the location by the VC who shot down the helicopter her young husband was flying. Vietnam War widow meets the man who shot down her husband - Task & Purpose (taskandpurpose.com)

See next post

CanyonAg77 said:

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Dug through some old TexAgs threads, and figured out why I thought it was fake.

When you used to post as ArmyTanker, you were posting this and other stories as if they were you own words, and not attributing them to their actual authors.

https://texags.com/forums/49/topics/3160627/replies/58037155

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Bingo. This was an AY thread too. OP caught so much flak over it that he's disappeared.

Quote:

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OP caught so much flak over it that he's disappeared.

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ArmyTanker hasn't posted since 2020. This is a new handle.


He's baaaaaaaacccccccccccckkkkkkkkk

CanyonAg77 said:

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Dug through some old TexAgs threads, and figured out why I thought it was fake.

When you used to post as ArmyTanker, you were posting this and other stories as if they were you own words, and not attributing them to their actual authors.

https://texags.com/forums/49/topics/3160627/replies/58037155

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You were quite adamant that it was a fake story and you were right.

It seemed very likely to be fake, but I found it in reputable publications

What was fake, was how you copied it without attribution, making it appear you were claiming the story as your own

No. I said it was an essay based on a true story which you vociferously said was false. If I write an essay about the P-51s being a Revolution in Military Affairs, then am I taking credit for P-51s? haha

OldArmyCT, Thank you for your service and insight. I had no idea the military is still leading search efforts for MIA's and assumed it was led by non-profits. Do all branches deploy members in search attempts and if so, who may be eligible?

And if you're familiar, at Randolph AFB Vietnam vet pilots are allowed to fly the T-38s one last time. Is there a program similar the Army has for you helo guys?

OldArmyCT said:

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There are a few organizations offering Huey rides, if there are any allowing pilots to actually fly, I don't know of any, and I'm fairly well dialed in.. I could probably safely fly a Huey today but would need help starting it correctly.I don't want to come off as an a-hole but I've always had a problem with people inflating their military service. For example, a Finance officer espousing Sun Tzu like he experienced combat just bugs me. And I've always had a problem with non-combat vets claiming PTSD benefits. Lots of people disagree with me but how a company clerk comes home with severe PTSD just baffles me. If the VA offered treatment instead of money those numbers would drop. And anyone not trained in PTSD treatment trying to help people also baffles me. I guess I'm what some consider a curmudgeon.

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My older brother was an Army aviator with two tours in Viet Nam, and is currently retired in Carlisle, PA. In the last couple of years he became involved with an organization called Liberty War Birds. They have a restored Huey which is used for outreach to vets and the public. He was flying Bikini Blue until earlier this year, when I believe he had to stop.

They do not offer rides, but fly to events to provide an opportunity to learn about the aviation effort in the war. Although he misses being the pilot, he has told me the reward of being able to discuss the shared experiences with other pilots, door gunners, mechanics and grunts that were flown into and out of LZs is much more rewarding than flying the bird ever was. According to him, frequently the non-aviation vets will just sit in the bird without talking, just reflecting and thinking. Afterwards, he and the other staff will sit one-on-one and quietly talk if desired.

I believe this experience has truly helped him deal with some long-buried feelings from his time in-country.

Here's a link to the Liberty War Birds site:
Liberty War Birds

eta: One of his associates wrote a book about helicopters in Viet Nam titled One Full Year Around the Sun. If you haven't read it, and you are interested, it's worth the read.

lurker76 said:

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OldArmyCT said:

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There are a few organizations offering Huey rides, if there are any allowing pilots to actually fly, I don't know of any, and I'm fairly well dialed in.. I could probably safely fly a Huey today but would need help starting it correctly.I don't want to come off as an a-hole but I've always had a problem with people inflating their military service. For example, a Finance officer espousing Sun Tzu like he experienced combat just bugs me. And I've always had a problem with non-combat vets claiming PTSD benefits. Lots of people disagree with me but how a company clerk comes home with severe PTSD just baffles me. If the VA offered treatment instead of money those numbers would drop. And anyone not trained in PTSD treatment trying to help people also baffles me. I guess I'm what some consider a curmudgeon.

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My older brother was an Army aviator with two tours in Viet Nam, and is currently retired in Carlisle, PA. In the last couple of years he became involved with an organization called Liberty War Birds. They have a restored Huey which is used for outreach to vets and the public. He was flying Bikini Blue until earlier this year, when I believe he had to stop.

They do not offer rides, but fly to events to provide an opportunity to learn about the aviation effort in the war. Although he misses being the pilot, he has told me the reward of being able to discuss the shared experiences with other pilots, door gunners, mechanics and grunts that were flown into and out of LZs is much more rewarding than flying the bird ever was. According to him, frequently the non-aviation vets will just sit in the bird without talking, just reflecting and thinking. Afterwards, he and the other staff will sit one-on-one and quietly talk if desired.

I believe this experience has truly helped him deal with some long-buried feelings from his time in-country.

Here's a link to the Liberty War Birds site:
Liberty War Birds

eta: One of his associates wrote a book about helicopters in Viet Nam titled One Full Year Around the Sun. If you haven't read it, and you are interested, it's worth the read.

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This is one of our books:
https://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Pack-John-Jack-Mayhew/dp/1506901883/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?crid=LG75TK3OOO0D&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.wd1_79Ltnh7gOm3G6hgBKtZNmtOt-pP7LYaVxlCRpf4SJ_FI6cXW9A_aA7uvng84.YeJSlTY38VsSPQT5hn-IPUWbNeUl8NzsYO1IW_IJRr4&dib_tag=se&keywords=wolf+pack+will+mccollum&qid=1733653781&s=books&sprefix=wolf+pack+will+mccollum%2Cstripbooks%2C94&sr=1-1-fkmr1

Thanks. I'll put it into my cue.