Jim Messinger Writes:

The National Vietnam War Museum
Announcement of Dedication Ceremony
Monument for the 170th Assault Helicopter Company
10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 11, 2009
To be held on the museum site on Hwy 180
At 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 11, 2009, members of the 170th Assault Helicopter Company will dedicate the first replica of the monument that was originally built at their unit’s headquarters in Kontum, Vietnam in 1970. The monument was constructed to honor Bikini and Buccaneer crewmembers missing or killed in action or taken prisoner of war. The public is invited to attend the ceremony, estimated to last approximately thirty minutes.
The surviving members of the 170th AHC decided to construct and donate a replica of the original monument to The National Vietnam War Museum. The monument has been placed in the Contemplation Garden, west of the Camp Holloway Memorial Wall and in the shadow of the UH-1 helicopter.
The replica was constructed from the last known photograph of the original monument. The headstone, made of a 205 pound slab of Luder sandstone, captured the design and inscriptions of the original, but was stylized to complement the presentation theme selected for the Contemplation Garden. A bronze plaque on the front plate of the memorial contains the names of those killed in action or presumed dead.
LTC George S. Crawford, USA (RET), the last commanding officer of the 170th, will be the keynote speaker. A framed copy of the last known photograph of the original monument will be presented to the museum board of directors by Captain Gary Knight, the last Buccaneer 6, for display in the museum.
After the ceremony, refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact Robert E. Talmadge, by email to: Robert.E.Talmadge@faa.gov or by phone at 817-684-6804 or 214-202-5263.