Together Then Together Again
A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not likely to have what it takes to make a living."
-John F. Kennedy (JFK)
Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
-John F. Kennedy (JFK)
UPGRADED TO A PAID SITE SO IF YOU WANT TO POST ANYTHING LET ME KNOW PICTURES ETC. I HAVE MORE SPACE NOW!!!!
Never Forget 
Hi my name is John R Griffith. My rank was a SP/5 E5 .
I was a crew chief on a UH1C (Huey) gunship #66-522 from the 2nd gunship platoon (Avengers) of Air Cav Troop from 1967-1968.Call sign at this time was Thunderhorse for the Huey's. The armament system on 522 was a flex gun system consisting of 4 M60's pylon mounted 2 M60 door guns and 14 rockets. The Cavs base camp then was located at Xuan Loc. My First gunner was Paul Favillia then later it was Paul Wilson. Pilots were not assigned to a ship they rotated to different ships in the platoon. Frequent pilots I had where WO's Burns ,Clancy and Eggerth. Lt.'s Schwent and Reese( THUNDERCHICKEN)
.Reese's favorite color was YELLOW! One of my best friends was Garland Gene Haley who was
killed in action. Another good friend was Rodney T (Pineapple) Yano who was awarded the Medal of Honor Posthumously. I'll always be proud of the 11th Cav. Memories seem to fade and change with time. That's why I didn't list a history of the unit. Some places say that Air Cav when it was deployed to Nam was equipped with UH1H's.This model wasn't even produced yet. Gunships were UH1B's modified with a 540 rotor system to make the UH1C model. Our troop carrier ships (slicks) were UH1D's.We were divided into four platoons. 1st gunship platoon was the Midnight Raiders 2nd gunship platoon was the Avengers (this was my platoon) 3rd gunship platoon was Thunder studs and the lift platoon was Road Runners Near the end of 68 the Cav started to replace the Charlie model with the Cobra and armed LOH's. This is the reason I changed my mind at the last minute and did not extend my tour. Also a
Thunderun to Air Cav meant a light (2 ships) or heavy(3 ships) fire team was "rolling hot" on a position. I would like to thank the ground troops for saving us every time we were shot down. If it were not for your bravery and skills we would not be here today. Now way past my prime this old trooper try's to remember the good times of my stay and not dwell on the rough times. I'm still fighting the ghosts from '67-'68 but with the help of my Lord ,My family My unit , fellow vets, the VA drugs and therapy I am finally winning my 35 year private war.
I encourage any of you fighting the past to seek allies to win your personal war. REMEMBER WE DIDN'T LOSE THE WAR OVER THERE ,SO PLEASE DON'T LET THEM WIN NOW!
These Special Links Might Help You
Disabled American Veterans Facts About PTSD Military Veterans PTSD Reference Manual
National Center For PTSD Paralyzed Veterans Of America The American Legion
The National Veterans Organization, Inc. Veterans Administration
Archival Research International's ( Records for VA claims) Veterans Of Foreign Wars
Agent Orange Victims and Families In Touch
Please see my link page for other topic links click here
I am a diabetic for years. It is starting to progress. Even though I knew I had it I didn't follow what they told me to do. As a result I am now on insulin and pills This disease is crippling and killing Nam Veterans at a alarming rate .Part of the Agent Orange Package we received when we were there. Please get your doctor to check you for this killer that lurks in many of us all these years.
Want to contact officials on any subject use form below. Let them know what YOU think.
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This is still my feelings!
Air Cavalry Troop Officers
President.....Randy Richmond VP...... Lester Hunt Sect/Treasurer.......... James Angelini Quatermaster.......... Phillip Massengill
Click on form to print
It was easier to copy the newsletter then to to input all the information . Air Cav is also is selling raffle tickets for our operating expenses first prize $300.00 second prize $200.00 third prize is $100.00
Tickets are $1.00 each or $5.00 for 6 tickets .Check with Jim. Air Cav also takes donations of money large or small. Send it to Jim. To get in touch with our workhorse here is the information James Angelini 2512 Lower Hunters Trace Louisville, KY 40216-1352 Phone (502)449-0262 or just email him.
e-mail Air Cav Troop
You can copy form above and below by right clicking
Click on form to print
front view 66-522
Side view of 66522 (UH1C)
UH1C with 40 mm
e-mail me
e-mail Air Cav Troop
MEDAL of HONOR WINNER RODNEY T YANO (Pineapple) KIA 1Jan69
| MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT
NAME: Rodney J.T. Yano RANK: Sergeant First Class ORGANIZATION: U.S. Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment PLACE: Republic of Vietnam DATE: 1 January 1969 ENTERED SERVICE AT: Honolulu, Hawaii BORN: 13 December 1943, Kealakekua Kona, Hawaii CITATION SFC Yano distinguished himself while serving with the Air Cavalry Troop. SFC Yano was performing the duties of crew chief aboard the troop's command-and-control helicopter during action against enemy forces entrenched in dense jungle. From and exposed position in the face of intense small arms and antiaircraft fire he delivered suppressive fire upon the enemy forces and marked their positions with smoke and white phosphorus grenades, thus enabling his troop commander to direct accurate and effective artillery fire against the hostile emplacements. A grenade, exploding prematurely, covered him with burning phosphorus, and left him severely wounded. Flaming fragments within the helicopter caused supplies and ammunition to detonate. Dense white smoke filled the aircraft, obscuring the pilot's vision and causing him to lose control. Although having the use of only one arm and being partially blinded by the initial explosion, SFC Yano completely disregarded his welfare and began hurling blazing ammunition from the helicopter. In doing so he inflicted additional wounds on himself, yet he persisted until the danger was past. SFC Yano's indomitable courage and profound concern for his comrades averted the loss of life and additional injury to the rest of the crew. By his conspicuous gallantry at the cost of his life, in the highest traditions of the military service, SFC Yano has reflected great credit on himself, his unit and the U.S. Army.
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THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU CAN HELP
Mr. Griffith
Please let me start by introducing myself. I am CW3 Richard Bebb currnet
assigned to the 11th ACR. The purpose for this letter is to solicit some
assistance from you and your bretheren. I have been given the task of
restoring UH-1 serial number 66-00528, the Yano Helicopter. Though it was a
UH-1C when you probably last saw it, it underwent conversion to a UH-1M in
June of 1970.
What I am looking for is any information you or any one you know can provide
me beyond that in you website. Additionally, if you or anyone else have any
photographs of 528 or SFC Yano. I am attempting to have the aircraft paint
scheme correctly match what it was on 01 Jan 69. Did SFC Yano keep a
scorecard/kill record painted on the side of the aircraft. Last, I am trying
to find a Gunship Platoon Patch for here at the museum.
This is a new
computer and I'm not even sure if they have the email set up
correctly. Please email your response to hueydrvr@aol.com
<mailto:hueydrvr@aol.com> , or call me at one of the numbers provided below.
Respectfully,
RICHARD C. BEBB
CW3, U.S. ARMY
S3 (Air), 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
IF YOU CAN"T CONTACT MR BEBB YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT : john.griffith10@verizon.net
ALSO NEEDS HELP
Hi Jay Mahn here ARPS Jan 1970- Sept 1970. Been trying to contact
LRRP/ARPS concerning I book I am writing about the Air Cav Troop. I am
looking for Factual accounts from Gun ship Crews that supported them. I
have done mega research via records etc. To establish time lines.. I f
anyone out there still remembers the facts without the embellishments we
are all prone to give I would appreciate it. The incident with Cpt
Parris and Cpt Marshall. The 9 LRRP/ARPS who received the silver star.
Any mission that was significant and had a bearing on the troops
history. I have had a person send me pictures of the Hueys upside down
in the Bunkers after the Battle of Quon Loi in August 1969. I have been
receiving a stream of accounts from troops from supporting units but I
would love to get a few from our guys. If you know anyone who has
these
accounts that are verifiable. Please I would like them. Cassette
recordings are good. I have been trying to get a hold of Jim but I think
he is busy as hell. Anyway thanks and may God Bless.
Jay Mahn
ceasefire49@netscape.net
May I introduce myself ? I’m a 32-year-old major of the Swiss Armed Forces, branch artillery (M-109). My job is to instruct future artillery officers. Last year, I started to collect Zippo lighters, especially those from the Vietnam war.
Recently, I saw a Vietnam zippo lighter that belonged to Lt Bill Long "THUNDERHOSE 34".
I would be very glad the get more information about this veteran (rank, MOS, ...). While I was investigating in the world wide web, I found your address.
Do you know to whom this lighter did belong ? Do you know him ? Is there more information about the "THUNDERHOSES" on the internet ? Is there a listing about the call sign that werde used ?
One thing I'd like to say: I've no financial interest because I'm just collecting these very interesting lighters with their own history.
If you like and find the time, please visit my homepage: www.gersters.ch.
Thank you very much for your help.
Sincerely,
Rolf Gerster, Major GS Swiss Army (rolf.gerster@datacomm.ch)
Bobby Johnson
LOOKING FOR BOBBY JOHNSON WAS GUNNER FOR CHUCK ROLLINS ON 528 JAN 1968 -DEC 1968 PLEASE E MAIL CHUCK AT: CRoll16687@aol.com
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If you want the full size certificate click on this picture
The helmet and patches were given to me by the greatest huey pilot WO Dennis Clancy
If you ever "rode" with the 11th Cav there are a number of organizations you can belong to whether it was past or present .Check them out on my links page. TO copy an image on this page right click then select save target as select what file on your computer you want it to go then download
ALL MY PICTURES AND GRAPHICS YOU MAY COPY FOR FREE If you remember you can link to my page or use my name
IF you want your link on this page please email me. If you want to link to this page copy this
View My Guestbook
Sign My Guestbook
My POW Page
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