WELL, I GUESS SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO TO WAR TO PROTECT THE FREEDOMS THAT SO MANY WANT TO TAKE AWAY. BUT OTHER THAN 50,000 DEAD AND A WAY TO TEST WEAPONS, WHERE DID VIET NAM GET US. WE NEED TO PICK OUR BATTLES A LITTLE MORE CAREFULLY BUT WHEN WE DO DECIDE TO GO TO BATTLE WE NEED TO GO TO WIN. NOT WASTING LIVES FOR NOTHING. THAT'S HOW I FEEL ANYWAYS.
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I'M A VIET NAM VETERAN
THOSE WHO SAW-----NEVER STOP SEEING
I WAS A HELICOPTER DOOR GUNNER / CREW CHIEF IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY
240TH AHC - BEARCAT RVN
A door gunner is soldier tasked with firing and maintaining manually directed armament aboard a helicopter. The actual role will vary depending on the task given on a particular mission. Origins. The role of "door gunner" originated during the Vietnam War, when helicopters were first used in large numbers
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"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger...... I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it--and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country."
From the Inaugural Address of
President John F. Kennedy
Washington, D.C.
January 20, 1961
I served my country in Viet Nam as a helicopter door gunner/ crew chief with the 240th Assault Helicopter Company at the beautiful base of Bearcat in 1971. I flew with white flight {slicks} almost every day and have come to appreciate my time spent in Viet Nam with this outfit and the fine protection the Mad Dogs gave us at every turn. I had some good times and some bad times but again, the experience was something I would never want to trade for anything. I will always remember 1971 as long as I live.
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The VietNam Veterans' Memorial Wall Page--Please Visit