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The spade says it all

Photo By Staff Sgt. Miles Elder | U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Eric Osborne checks out unexploded ordnance found during a...... read more read more

05.09.2006

Courtesy Story

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There are many variables which come into account when there is a clear and present danger, and with enemy contact there becomes a chance for Soldiers to pay the ultimate price for our country, their lives.

During the Vietnam War, nearly 12,000 helicopters were flown by over 40,000 pilots.

Of the nearly 12,000 helicopters flown in Vietnam from 1966 to 1975, over 7,000 were the UH-1 Huey, which almost all were from the Army. Of the 7,000 UH-1 helicopters flown, 1,074 pilots and 1,103 crew members were killed in action.

Losing one life is losing one too many. Unfortunately, lives lost on the battlefield are almost certain during a time of war.

These brave Soldiers sacrificed their lives in a variety of different ways, as they had a multitude of missions.

According to a crewchief who flew with Company B, 101st Aviation Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division (AH) in Vietnam, any given day missions could include flying "ash and trash re-supply" in the morning, come together for a "combat assault" at noon, and fly "Night Hawk" or "Flare" missions that night.

Of the pilots and crewchiefs who gave their lives in Vietnam, one flight, 185, is remembered to this day by the present day and former Kingsmen, the moniker for Company B.

After previously surviving two near-fatal events earlier on the day of March 20, 1971, Maj. Jack Barker, Capt. John Dugan, Sgt. Billy Dillender and Spc. John Chubb flew their final mission as they were attempting to rescue Army of The Republic of Vietnam Soldiers on the ground in Laos. They were briefed of the dangers and had known that other aircraft had been shot down in that location, but they chose to live the company's motto, "Opera Non Verba", which is Latin for "Deeds Not Words".

It is because of their actions on that day, the present day Kingsmen gathered to pay tribute to the four on March 20, 2006. The company took time from their high-operational tempo to pay tribute to these four.

"It was an honor to remember those men," said Capt. Michael Stull, current company commander for B Co., 4th Battalion, 101st Avn. Regt. "It was important for us to take time out of an extremely high operational tempo and combat mission set to remember these men and many like them. It is important to remember, even 35 years after the fact, that we refuse to forget the sacrifices and "deeds" of those men."

Today the present Kingsmen find themselves in a combat zone again. They are flying a multitude of missions, just as those former Kingsmen did over 35 years ago.

According to David Whiteley, a former crewchief with Company B, there aren't as many differences as one would think between the brave men he flew with and the current Kingsmen. He said there is no doubt in his mind the pilots currently flying missions in Iraq can man their aircraft as those he knew so well in Vietnam.

"The tradition of the Army rest heavily on the shoulders of those Kingsmen flying in Iraq as ours did in Vietnam," said Whiteley. "I grew up amongst World War II Veterans, those men were my role models and I thought of them often during trying times in Vietnam, I hope our example in Vietnam can sustain them the same way."

The past and present Kingsmen live the motto of Opera Non Verba, They both agree that the spade flown on the aircraft represent more than just a lineage, but how the unit has outlasted anything the enemy has put in its way.

"It is with great pride that each and every one of us calls ourselves Kingsmen," Stull said. "We may not find ourselves dodging bullets on our way to hot LZs everyday, but we carry on the lineage and pride of being in this unit with our character and same commitment to excellence that the former Kingsmen have set forth. I believe our character is the common ground that the Kingsmen of today and yesterday stand on."

It is the job of all Army Aviation units to support the ground force. It is what many commanders, at all levels, say they pride themselves on.

As an assault company, Company B, finds themselves conducting some of the same missions of those pilots and crewchiefs did in Vietnam.

Today with the proud heritage of the Air Assault moniker tabbed to the 101st Abn. Div., the battalion prides itself on ensuring the ground force is on time, at the right location and that they are returned safely. Stull said he has total confidence his pilots and crewchiefs would sacrifice their safety if called to conduct the same-type missions as their predecessors did.

"Being in an assault helicopter company means that, typically, you have some type of habitual relationship with the men that you support on air missions. The most rewarding part of our job is being able to get those guys that you have a relationship with to an objective safely and putting them on it with precision," said Stull. "To be able to turn around and see those guys, looking back at you with confidence, their success partially depends upon how well you do your job, trusting you with their lives to do your job well, it's truly rewarding. No pilot or crewchief in this company would ever allow a Soldier to endure hell on the ground if he had the opportunity to get them out, no matter what the cost."

Whiteley said his crews felt the same bond between the troops he and his comrades supported.

"We always felt an unwritten commitment to the troops on the ground," said Whiteley,

"We realized their survival depended on us. Our crews carried that type of commitment to the verge of destruction. Most of us who flew there refer to Laos as of having 'survived" it."

Whether it was 1971 or 2006, most past and present Kingsmen say the same thing.

"The sense and belonging and dedication to mission was a big part of why we feel so strongly about being Kingsmen," Whiteley added. "I say Kingsmen in the present tense because we will always be Kingsmen."

"With the spade comes the history of this unit and we are honored to have that placed upon us, and just as proud to add new chapters," Stull said. "Since the company's inception a tradition of excellence and heroism has been built."