Cleared Hot.

I congratulate Col. Stoffey getting his book in print. I would like to say its Great to say the Pilot did this, and the Pilot did that. But, on several Birds, if it was not a combination of Pilots, and Crew, The Crew Chief, and Gunner with Corpsmen at various times, the missions would simply not have been completed. There were med-evacs that we had no time to pick a Corpsman up. I would think the Huey, and the OV-10 didn't really need a crew, as the Huey Pilots had a good field of view most all around the Bird, as well as the 34. But the Huey had med-evacs as well, so they were needed. Then what happens when your hauling ammo crates, or C-rat cases into the zone, are either the HAC, or Left Seat going to get out of the front, and kick it off, or do the hoist when needed? I would say the 34, 53, and 46 had to have at least a Crew Chief, and Gunner to do the on's and off's in the back, plus supressing enemy Fire on most every mission, as there was a window that had to be followed in getting in, and out. Much over 15-20 seconds was cutting it close. Thats in, and out. I do believe on the Huey Gunships, the Crew Chief, and Gunner was needed to un-jam the guns, as they all did not work 100% of the time. I know on the 46, the Pilot could not guess the distance from the external to the deck before doing the pickle. If the hook jamed, it would have to be cut by the Crew Chiefs K-Bar, or the Bird would have been pulled nose down to the deck. They also had a limited field of view both under, and behind the Bird. We had to have very Good Pilots to get us to the Zones, and in rough Flying, keep the Bird in the Air, or it would have been curtains on manny Missions. I Salute each and every one, as well as each and every Crew Member. We were teams that had to work together, or there were very Bad Days for sure. Some Squadrons believed in adwarding Medals, and a number didn't. One Squadron, a couple of Heavys put each other in for the DFC, with the Crew nothing. BUT, the left seats wouldn't sign the decoration orders. One of the Heavys had stopped a Top Crew Chief from getting a Silver Star, and another one or two decorations. Kind of Poetic Justice I'd say, when he didn't get his. I'd like to see more Crew Chiefs and Gunners write their own books, but haven't seen very many out there. Some day I hope. Semper Fi, and READY-APP

"Bonnie Sue" is a classic, thanks Marion. Sam Beamond's book "Flying Death" is a must for the 46 guys. Everybody should read "Crazy Asian War" by Smiley (Dave Martin) the war from a grunt's prospective! All should be on the CMC required reading list. They should be in the Marine Corps Museum's Store and MCA Store and all should be reviewed by Leatherneck Magazine. I read them all and couldn't put any of them down until finished. They are all told by the guys that were there and are putting down in print their memories.