Last of a Breed

[W McSwiggan]

This is the speech given at Ft Rucker when they retired the last Huey: CW4

Lawrence Castagneto, 17 may 2011

As a Vietnam Veteran Army Aviator, I would like to thank everyone for coming

to this special occasion, on this to be honest...very sad day, the end of a

era. An era that has spanned over 50 years. The retirement of this grand old

lady "OUR MOTHER" ... the Huey.

I would like to thank, MG Crutchfield for allowing me to speak at this event

and try to convey in my own inadequate, meager way.. what this aircraft

means to me and so many other Vietnam veterans.

First a few facts:

It was 48 yrs ago this month that the first Huey arrived in Vietnam with

units that were to become part of the 145th and the 13th Combat Aviation

Battalions; both units assigned here at Ft Rucker today. While in Vietnam,

the Huey flew approximately 7,457,000 combat assault sorties; 3,952,000

attack or gunship sorties and 3,548,000 cargo supply sorties. That comes to

over 15 million sorties flown over the paddies and jungles of Nam, not to

include the millions of sorties flown all over the world and other combat

zones since then ....what a amazing journey.... I am honored and humbled to

have been a small part of that journey.

To those in the crowd that have had the honor to fly, crew, or ride this

magnificent machine in combat, we are the chosen few, the lucky ones . They

understand what this aircraft means, and how hard it is for me to describe

my feelings about her as a Vietnam combat pilot.... for she is alive... has

a life of her own, and has been a life long friend.

How do I break down in a few minutes a 42 year love affair, she is as much a

part of me, and to so many others,,,as the blood that flows through our

veins. Try to imagine all those touched over the years ...by the shadow of

her blades.

Other aircraft can fly overhead and some will look up and some may not; or

even recognize what they see but, when a Huey flies over everyone looks up

and everyone knows who she is... young or old all over the world she

connects with all.

To those that rode her into combat... the sound of those blades causes our

heart beat to rise... and breaths to quicken... in anticipation of seeing

that beautiful machine fly overhead and the feeling of comfort she brings.

No other aircraft in the history of aviation evokes the emotional response

the Huey does... combat veteran's or not... she is recognized all around the

world by young and old, she is the ICON of the Vietnam war, U.S. Army

Aviation, and the U.S. Army. Over 5 decades of service she carried Army

Aviation on her back, from bird dogs and piston powered helicopters with a

secondary support mission, to the force multiplier combat arm that Army

Aviation is today.

Even the young aviators of today, that are mainly Apache pilot's, Blackhawk

pilot's, etc., that have had a chance to fly her will tell you there is no

greater feeling, honor, or thrill then to be blessed with the opportunity to

ride her thru the sky... they may love there Apaches and Blackhawks, but

they will say there is no aircraft like flying the Huey " it is special".

There are two kinds of helicopter pilots: those that have flown the Huey and

those that wish they could have.

The intense feelings generated for this aircraft are not just from the

flight crews but, also from those who rode in back ...into and out of the

"devils caldron". As paraphrased here from "Gods own lunatics", Joe

Galloway's tribute to the Huey and her flight crews and other Infantry

veterans comments:

Is there anyone here today who does not thrill to the sound of those Huey

blades?? That familiar whop-whop-whop is the soundtrack of our war...the

lullaby of our younger days it is burned in to our brains and our hearts. To

those who spent their time in Nam as a grunt, know that noise was always a

great comfort... Even today when I hear it, I stop...catch my breath...and

search the sky for a glimpse of the mighty eagle.

To the pilots and crews of that wonderful machine ...we loved you, we loved

that machine.

No matter how bad things were...if we called ... you came... down through

the hail of green tracers and other visible signs of a real bad day off to a

bad start. I can still hear the sound of those blades churning the fiery

sky ....To us you seemed beyond brave and fearless... Down you would come to

us in the middle of battle in those flimsy thin skin -chariots ...into the

storm of fire and hell,..

...we feared for you , we were awed by you. We thought of you and that

beautiful bird as " God's own lunatics"... and wondered ...who are theses

men and this machine and where do they come from ...... Have to be "Gods

Angels".

So with that I say to her, that beautiful lady sitting out there, from me

and all my lucky brothers, that were given the honor to serve their country,

and the privilege of flying this great lady in skies of Vietnam - Thank you

for the memories...Thank you for always being there...Thank you for always

bringing us home regardless of how beat up and shot up you were...,

Thank You!!!!.

You will never be forgotten, we loved you then..... we love you now... and

will love you till our last breath ...

And as the sun sets today, if you listen quietly and closely you will hear

that faint wop wop wop of our mother speaking to all her children past and

present who rode her into history in a blaze of glory ...she will be saying

to them: I am here... I will always be here with you.

I am at peace and so should you be ... and so should you be.

[speagle]

A link to show the activity at Ft Rucker http://www.army.mil/...rcraft-retires/

It also has a video link showing the ceremony.

Edited May 21, 2011 by speagle

[Chuck In Oregon]

I was an Army aviator in Vietnam. I flew Hueys with B/229AHB/1CAV, including this one. It is remarkable to me that what once seemed so ordinary and prosaic has become extraordinary after 40 years of hindsight. The UH-1H served me very well and I returned without so much as a scratch. Thank you for this reminder of what once was and will never again be.

Chuck Stromme

Cottage Grove, Oregon

[W McSwiggan]

You are welcome Chuck!

Tonight I raised a glass to this fine old war horse!

A finer mount a cavalryman could not ask for!

wem

F-9 Cav, 1CD

I was an Army aviator in Vietnam. I flew Hueys with B/229AHB/1CAV, including this one. It is remarkable to me that what once seemed so ordinary and prosaic has become extraordinary after 40 years of hindsight. The UH-1H served me very well and I returned without so much as a scratch. Thank you for this reminder of what once was and will never again be.

Chuck Stromme

Cottage Grove, Oregon

Edited May 21, 2011 by W McSwiggan

[Chris Boonzaier]

In spite of being retired from the US Army, are they still in production for other markets?

[speagle]

In spite of being retired from the US Army, are they still in production for other markets?

Check out this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UH-1_Iroquois

[Paul C]

To the men who flew these fine old birds in harms way....I salute you!