Third Quarterly 2013
Longtrip E-Newsletter
Updated: July 10, 2013
HONOR ROLL: (29 September)
There were last minute additions to the roster to include several who died since Vietnam. These men will be honored at the reunion in Las Vegas during the CAC Memorial Service on Friday evening.
FOUND LONG TRIPPERS: (July 10)
When Bob Dodge submitted a series of photographs, one of those was a good photograph of a sharp looking but unidentifiable fellow standing by a U–21, with a hand on its propeller. A little work with Photoshop CS5 helped narrow the search down to a few possibilities, and a set of orders with one of those most likely to be that fellow helped during a name search. Sure enough, a few days after leaving a voice message on his home phone, Dave Heebner returned my call. Later in an email, Dave identified himseld as the officer in the photograph and shared other informatiuon in the message below the photograph. Dave is now on our notification roster:
Don: I’ve enjoyed looking thru the web site and remembering people and places that were important to me. Here are a few things for the update:
I was an Air Defense guy and trained in Mohawks after basic fixed wing flight school. When I got to Long Binh, the need for Mohawk drivers was down because they were inactivating two of the four companies in country. I got lucky when I called a friend, Bill Belfy, who was flying U-21s for the 2 Corps Hqs. He told me the CAC was looking for twin engine qualified guy—so I called the company and they told me to go hide at Long Binh until they could get the requisition into the system. The company had only about 35 pilots at the time for 25 airplanes, so they showed up the next day to pick me up. The personnel guys at Long Binh weren’t happy because they had me slotted to fill another slot somewhere. My lucky day.
I spent a year at Long Thanh, was nearly killed trying to land just after a Chinook on a calm day (Dick Stearns was the A/C that day and had let the new guy fly back from Saigon), and really enjoyed flying all over SE Asia. In the 70–71 timeframe, we flew to Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia (supporting a helicopter task force helping that country with flood relief) and, of course, from Phu Bai to Con Son and An Thoi Islands. I really enjoyed the flying and the guys in the CAC. In those cellphoneless days, it was a special day when the atmospherics supported high frequency radio calls back to the states thru Kadena in Japan or Clark in the Phillipines. That was a lot better than the trip to the Red Cross phone bank in Saigon.
I stayed on active duty for almost 33 years, but was “voted out” of aviation by MilPerCen in 1974 when the Army had way too many aviators for the post war needs.
I am still in contact with Brooks LaGree who is updated on the roster and with Jack Ouellette, who I’ve contacted with the news of the web site. So you might hear from him soon. That’s me leaning on the prop in front of our Long Thanh hangar, in Bob Dodge’s photos.
As I mentioned on the call today, I will do everything possible to be at the LV reunion in October. I expect to be there for a weekend family event and will try to come in a day or two early. Thanks again for your initiative setting the website up and helping it grow. What a great set of memories you’ve stirred.
Dave Heebner
LONG THANH NORTH AIRFIELD REUNION, LAS VEGAS, OCTOBER 2013: (April 11)
We still need your attention to making reservations, if you are coming with us to lLas Vegas. Please sign up for a room at the reunion hotel at your earliest convenience.
UPDATE: JULY 10:
We are not yet at the minimum number required for progressing with plans for Las Vegas. You can help out by making your reservation, if you plan to attend. As you know, this is a joint effort with those who were in other units at Long Thanh North. For planning, a crowd is more beneficial that a small group. Here is a note from our reunion chairman, Terry Edmunds:
We still have about seven weeks to go for the contract deadline. At this poin,t we need FIVE more room confirmations to meet the terms of the contract. Since my name is PERSONALLY on the contract I would appreciate it if you would get signed up sooner rather than later!!! Please confirm with me when you do. Thanks
Terry “Pro” EdmundsCome join us in Vegas!!!
PHOTOS BY CPT DAVE HASSEN, 1971:
Remember when we had so many memorable celebrities flying in CAC aircraft? Just about any time, but in the flying experience lof most of us these events happened during the “OFF-Season” for those who came. It was usually a good experience for us, and an eye-pleaser to see the many ladies on USO–sponsored visits. Dave Hassen recorded these professional baseball players visiting, but the jungle fatigues just didn't match their image. If you know these crew menbers, please email the editor.
The mileage chart, which hung in operations, was not needed after flying with the unit after a while, simply because we all memorized distances, frequencies, and routes to where we were able to file in the air without much thought:
UPDATE ON JOHN MOORE AND PAULA HARDIMAN:
I recently spoke with John Moore, and he seems to have recoveded well from his fall and injuries. Terry Edmunds sent a notification that John had registered at the reunion hotel in Las Vegas and will do all he can to make the event in October. John is in good spirits.
When I call to check on Paula Hardiman, I had to leave a message. Del's called me back and gave me his direct cell phone number, and if you want it I will share via an email only. He was at that time with Paula at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. He shared that she is now walking with a cane and on a treadmills, has gained some weight and is doing well. One of her long–term doctors surprised Del when he revealed that at first during her treatment they did not know if they could save her. It has been a long road to recovery, but Del also said she might even return to work in a few weeks, she has a good outlook, and smiles often. Del acknowledge the many helpful prayers that have gone up for Paula and says she appreciates the cards and letters received from so many. While both Del and Paula would like to think about coming to Las Vegas, both have exhausted any leave they had saved up. Just keep them in your thoughts and prayers, please.
SAIGON, BEFORE HO CHI MINH CITY:
Courtesy of Robert Dodge, near center is a photo of the famous Marine Statue in downtown Saigon. The Rex Hotel, not in Bob's photo, but to the left rear, and within walking distance to the People's Committee House of Ho Chi Minh City, the Opera House and the Ben Thanh Market. The hotel sits on the corner of Nguyen Hue and Le Loi Boulevards and was a roaring place dating back to the 1960s:
