Yesterday?

Hi Curt,
Might have been yesterday for them, but long ago for you and I and most of the others herein. Those Combat Aircrew Wings have a signifigance that even the "wings of gold" don't come with. I've posted on my feelings in the past and won't dwell on them, other than to say that these Marines have entered yet another Brotherhood, within our Marine Brotherhood, that few others have. OORAH gentlemen, this salute is for you and all my Brothers and sisters that we proudly share it with!!!!!!
Semper Fi
Joe

Joe

Well spoken!

Yes sir I too rate my wings as amost prized possesion. The second thing I think of when I look at them is the men that know what they mean. semper fi

CAC Wings

For each of you Marines who earned your COMBAT AIRCREW WINGS flying with those of us in combat who had previously earned our WINGS OF GOLD, there is nothing we can say or do but to thank each of you for watching our six (and three and nine) and taking excellent care of our aircraft between missions.

Rest assured that we trusted each of you to the point where we had no doubts that the mighty steed that we were about to board for a mission was "ready for combat". Each crew chief was the best in the business and our gunner(s) was going to perform to the crew chief's specifications.

Thanks guys,
CAC wings are not enough reward for all you did, but they do serve as a symbol of excellence.

Al Barbour

Thanks Big Al

Very well spoken, I am sure you know the Enlisted Crew revered our Pilots as well.

Together we experienced the best of times and the worst of times, and that bonds us in a special BROTHERHOOD forever

.:D

I second Al's Post

Al, I can't say it any better. Thanks for saying it out loud so we can all reflect on what our crews really meant.

Great Crew

I'm sure all of you Crew Chiefs and Gunners had your favorite pilots, all were so well trained! We had confidence in YOU and your abilities to get us in AND out of the tough ones.
My personal favorite compliment was "I'd fly a tractor with him if you'd put rotor blades on it"!! That statement was what I reserved for my own rendition of the "best of the best"!
Remember the CH-46 "A" model "hover aft" fast approaches?? Low and fast, yank both sticks, call for "hover aft" and jump on the rudder pedals. If it was done right, you ran out of turns and airspeed at about the same time, hopefully right over the zone! LOL! You guys are STILL the best! Thanks for gettin' us home again, time after time!
Semper Fi, this Bud's for YOU!!
Joe
😀

Nice Joe, very nice!

Combat Aircrew Wings

A beautiful sight

You guys have made me remember those great pilots that caried our butts all over Nam. They could sit us down on god awfull places where eagles chickened out to land. They re-cheked our birds and offered great sugestions and offen prizes us and our birds. The best compliment I recieved was actually illegal... "Corpral your plane is always ready! we'll by pass the pre-inspection today." With faith like that, you only pushed harder to keep those planes fling at top notch condition.
And also a word here about the staff NCOs who were there to help and did help. Yea, there were a few who didn't help, but the many who did made pilots and crewmembers come back to base with thoughts that the next flight will be safe and sound with the plane(s). Here's to Gunny Williams of 361 and men like him who stay forever in our minds and hearts, and again to the pilots who slaved to get us there and back again. God has blessed us with you men. Semper Fi !
And to the new men and women who have earned their wings, You now have something that nothing can take from you, and will always lift your spirits when life trys to drag ya down! Well done Marines!
jd

I miss Curt

I will see him again in the BIG HANGER!!