Bob,

Helicopters were amazing machines. With all of the parts that rotated,spun,pushed,pulled,filtered and everything else its a wonder that the damn things could ever get off the ground. When I first got to the flight platoon I was clueless. A post-flight was something we did to make sure that the main rotor and tail rotor were still on the ship. After about a week and some help from the other guys I learned how important my job was.

It was nothing to spend two hours after we returned to base to go over the ship from top to bottom. Greasing the head and checking all the slippage marks. Pulling on tubes and checking for leaks.Remembering what the pilots had said about something not feeling right on the last sortie into Firebase 29. A helicopter was the most demanding girlfriend I ever had in my life. I saw to her every need.It was the best job and the worst job I ever had in my life and I would not have missed it for the world.

It was also good to have a good gunner. A guy that would sit with you and hold the flashlight while you wormed your way into the hell hole to check the servos. Somebody to keep you awake as you filled out the log book.

I thank God that most of the things which I did were right. It was a good thing that we were all so young. There is no way that I could ever do that job today.