The Huey Helicopter at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

 Day 16 -- August 14, 2021 -- Part II

On the way back from having an awesome lunch at Eagle Nest Cafe, we stop at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  There is a Visitor Center, Museum and Gift Shop, and Chapel.

Herb is a Veteran, having served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1961 to 1965.  His brother, Gerald, now deceased served in the US Navy.    First we get a brochure from the Visitor Center which gives a lot of information, including a description of the helicopter, UH-1D (Huey).  I am Amazed at the size:

UH-1D (Huey) Specifications

Tallest point - 14'5"

Rotor length - 48'

Weight empty - just over 5,000 pounds

Maximum take off weight - 9,5000 pounds

Range - approximately 300 miles

Crew - 2 pilots, door gunner, crew chief

Seating capacity - 8-10 troops or 6 stretchers and 1 med tech

The Role of the Huey

The Bell Iroquois UH-1 (AKA) Huey) was the most widely used helicopter in the world, and its service in Vietnam makes it the most recognized.

During the Vietnam War, helicopters evolved into an essential asset on the battlefield.  Due to their mobility, Hueys took the place of the traditional horse cavalry rifle troops and were redesignated as the Air Calvary.

Their missions included troop transport, air assault and medical evacuation.  Mdevac made it possible for wounded soldiers to be transferred to nearby hospitals quickly, dramatically increasing their chances for survival.

Huey 64-13670

During the Vietnam era emarkable advances in aviation took place where pilots "pushed the envelope" to develop amazing flying skills.  On 19 March 1967 while this Huey was assigned to the 121st Assault Helicopter Company (AHC), an experimental smoke apparatus was installed.  Smoke was produced from a ring of nozzles around the turbine exhaust using a reservoir of oil.  this was one of the first of many Hueys to be outfitted as a smoke ship.  This aircraft was nicknamed the "Viking Surprise."

Smoke ships were used to provide cover for ground operatitons.  When troops were inserted, the smoke ships flew in first to lay down a smoke screen around the landing zone (LZ).  Then a pair of gunships would follow them to clear the area.  Finally, additional Hueys carrying troops would have up to 5 minutes to unload the troops if the wind & weather conditions were favorable.

We walk about the grounds, seeing along the path bricks that name Veterans who served in the Vietnamese War.

The sculpture of a serviceman who is writing a letter home.

A couple of tourists visit the Chapel, which has tiered seating.

Along the walk to the Visitor Center we see yellow ribbons on the aspen trees.

In the Visitor Center are many displays that humble a person; a Christmas tree with boots which had belonged to some of the fallen and a tribute to David Westphall, platoon leader of Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Division, who said, "My fellow citizens pay the taxes to support me, and I intend to be worth the pay."

With tears in my eyes, I read what his father, Dr. Westphall, commented, "As matters developed, he was to give his life to earn his pay."

A plaque by the bust of Dr. Westphall reads, "If those who died can, in any measure, become a symbol that will arouse all mankind and bring about a rejection of the principles which defile, debase, and destroy the youth of this world, perhaps they will not have died in vain."

A map shows the areas in Vietnam where different branches of US Military served.

We are especially interested in the room with Marines displays.  Herb explains the meaning of the term, Grunt, and I copy this origin from the Internet:

"Major H.G. Duncan of the United States Marine Corps once defined a grunt as, “a term of affection used to denote that filthy, sweaty, dirt-encrusted, footsore, camouflage-painted, tired, sleepy, beautiful little son of a b*tch who has kept the wolf away from the door for over two hundred years.”

The photo of this Grunt is autographed with many signatures, and copies of the artwork have hung in the White House, the Capital building, the Pentagon, the Veterans Administration, and the homes of Bob Hope, Colin Powell, Gary Burghoff (Radar O'Reilly on M.A.S.H.), Tom Selleck, Gerald McRaney, Senator John McCain and New Mexico's own Tony Hillerman.

In "God Loves the Grunt," we learn that Vietnam Veteran George L. Skypeck created this work in 1983 to commemorate the service and sacrifice of combat infantrymen in that war.

Herb points to the uniform that he wore while in the Marines.

As a Veteran, he signs the guest book, stating his branch of service.

Below is more history on the service of the Huey:

The Battle of Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday, 26 March 1967 at LZ Alpha near the village of Hoa Binh in the Vinh Long Province, two battalions were ambushed and a Huey was shot down.  Two more Heys attempted to assist the rescue and were also shot down.  The companies sent in to secure the LZ were pinned down; all troops needed immediate evacuation.

Chief Warrant Officer (CW2) Jerry Daly and a brand new Warrant Officer (WO) flew the Viking Surprise to Vinh Long to refuel and wait for the rescue effort to get organized.  Dal and his friend and veteran pilot, WO Larry McDonald, linked up in Vinh Long and the new WO was bumped off the flight.  McDonald then used his flight helmet and equipment for the rescue mission.  Daly radioed the 175th AHC who was organizingthe rescue effort, and said, "I think I have something you can use," referring to the smoke ship.  As Maverick gunships set up a large daisy chain around the LZ, the Viking Surprise smoked the tree line, allowing four other Hueys to land and rescue the stranded troops.

The wind was strong enough to dissipate the smoke cover, so pilots Daly and McDonald had to make multiple passes, flying as low as 50 fet above the tree line to lay down additional smoke.  During the Battle of Easter Sunday, 13 helicopters were damaged and one crashed on the way back to base.  McDonald estimated that the Surprise made 12-13 smoke passes; they ran out of oil just as the 4th rescue helicopter departed the LZ.  The Viking Surprise was badly damaged so it was rebuilt on the USNS Corpus Christi Bay.  During the inspection it was discovered that the Surprise was riddled with 135 bullet holes, six of which had gone through the pilots' compartment.

After the rebuild was completed, the Viking Surprise returned to duty in Vietnam and was assigned to the 118th AHC for another 9 months.  Later it came back to the USA where it was stored until 1976 when it was acquired by the Arizona National Guard.  Eventually it was transferred to the New Mexico National Guard.

In 1999 the New Mexico National Guard donated the Viking Surprise to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Restoration

Years of exposure o the harsh mountain climate had taken its toll in October 2016 the Viking Surprise was removed from the Memorial to undergo much needed restoration.  The New Mexico DOT transported the Huey to and from Roswell NM where AerSale, Dean Baldwin Paintig, and volunteer New Mexico Guardsmen restored it to its 1965 condition.  Current and retired Guardsmen maintain it to this day.

Willie of Sweet Georgia Brown

   and of Walldog and Willie

   August 14, 2021