Photo By Spc. Scott Lindblom | World War II veterans John Pigott and Jay Johnston place a wreath at the World War II...... read more read more
HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Ga. – Two different veteran groups from two different wars had something in common Friday. They both came to Hunter Army Airfield September 23 to celebrate and remember their lost brothers during a tour provided by the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade.
Members of the 315th Infantry Regiment along with aviators from the 1st Cavalry Division were joined for a day as both toured HAAF and the 3rd CAB area of operations. There was even one gentleman from the Navy.
John Pigott was a Fireman First Class in the Navy and was stationed aboard the battleship U.S.S North Carolina near the end of World War II. The battleship is currently moored across the river from downtown in Wilmington N.C.
“I was in boot camp when the war ended,” said Pigott. “I was fortunate not to see any action.”
Pigott joined Jay Johnston who was a member of the Army Air Corps while stationed in the Phillipines in 1945. Both were supporting the 315th Infantry Regiment and its surviving Family members. After their tour, they placed a wreath at the World War II Monument in downtown Savannah in honor of the 315th Infantry Regiment.
Joining the World War II veterans was a group of aviators from the 1st Cavalry Division. The tours were synced due to a tight timeline on both sides.
Former Army Captain Bill Conway flew OH-13 Sioux helicopters, UH-1 Huey helicopters, and the CH-47 Chinook helicopter during his two tours of duty in Vietnam.
“I saw this Chinook hovering over there and it made me want to crawl back inside one and take a look,” said Conway.
Conway began serving in the Army in 1966 and ended his service in 1972.
“Flying is the only way to go,” he said with a smile.
The Vietnam veteran had some advice for anyone looking to join the Army.
“I recommend you go to flight school,” Conway said. “If someone is in school and doesn’t know what they want to do, the service is the best place to go.”
Capt. Taylor Pearce, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment was the coordinating officer for the event.
“They were excited to be able to talk to their counterparts who perform the job that they did only 50 years in the future,” said Pearce. “Just to shake hands with these men is to shake hands with a piece of history and that’s pretty cool.”
| Date Taken: | 09.23.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.27.2016 15:31 |
| Story ID: | 210752 |
| Location: | SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 46 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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