That Sound, RVN

[Retired W4]

As a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, and a member of the Ga. Chapter of VHPA, I received this in our regular email news letter. The author was not an aviator, but spent a lot of time on the machine that produced that sound. I was with the 187th Assault Helicopter Company and the 190th AHC. For your reflection, those who were there.

The Sound that Binds
by Keith Nightingale
​

Unique to all that served in Vietnam is the UH1H helicopter. It was both devil and angel and it served as both extremely well. Whether a LRRP, US or RVN soldier or civilian, whether, NVA, VC, Allied or civilian, it provided a sound and sense that lives with us all today. It is the one sound that immediately clears the clouds of time and freshens the forgotten images within our mind. It will be the sound track of our last moments on earth. It was a simple machine-a single engine, a single blade and four man crew-yet like the Model T, it transformed us all and performed tasks the engineers and designers never imagined. For soldiers, it was the worst and best of friends but it was the one binding material in a tapestry of a war of many pieces.
The complete story-
190th AHC - Reflections From the Past - as recalled by unit members

About the Author
Keith Nightingale
COL Nightingale is a retired Army Colonel who served two tours in Vietnam with Airborne and Ranger (American and Vietnamese) units. He commanded airborne battalions in both the 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 82nd Airborne Division. He later commanded both the 1/75th Rangers and the 1st Ranger Training Brigade.

 

[handejector]

Come get me, slick.
I wanna go away from here!

 

[Lee Barner]

GHOST RIDERS IN THE SKY. C troop 2/17

I WANNA GO HOME.

lee

 

[carpriver]

I was Air Force but I know the sound, it still sends chills up and down my spine. I was at a small air field in the centeral highlands, we supported some fire bases and artillery units, the Hueys carried much needed emergency supplies to the fire bases but they brought us much needed supplies in the form of ammo and food and water and driving back a ground attack that would have over run our airfield; more then likley we would have all been killed. I never knew any of the crews that flew those birds but I am thankful for their skills and courage.

 

[luangtom]

The sound will never leave you, nor will that of the F-4 fast-mover bringing in support. SE Asia Games...a time never forgotten.

 

[JayCeeNC]

I worked on a small firebase in NE Afghanistan; our only supply was via chopper. A Canadian company ran a round-robin air service called Molson Air using Hueys. We had Chinooks and Blackhawks in all the time, but you could identify the "wop-wop-wop" of that Molson Huey a loooooong ways out.

 

[310Pilot]

Man, there is nothing like the sound of a stick of Hueys coming to pull your butts out of a hot spot! Of course, they often dropped you in there, too. Best and worst of all worlds. That sound can get me all weird and tactical, even after all these years (wow, can it really be that long ago?).

 

[Retired W4]

I want to thank the good people who maintain this forum for all of us, and for helping me get this message out. I knew not what to do. For all the Vietnam vets here, Welcome Home, and I and the rest of "God's own Lunatics" would come and get you any time.

The term God's own Lunatics comes from Joe Galloway.

 

[Flathead]

It isn't just the sound, you actually feel the "wop,wop,wop". And then the ghosts return.

 

[labworm]

The sound that guarantees an instant replay.

 

[rags]

Thanks to you ALL Gentleman, and Welcome Home.

 

[COL Jagdog]

During my service years, I flew on lots of different helicopters -
Chinooks, Blackhawks, Sea Kings, Sea Stallions, Lynx, Alouette, MI-8's,
Agusta, even an old H-19 still in service in Thailand and was the CJA
(Command Judge Advocate) of a Theater Aviation Operations Command
204th TAOC, which had not only helicopter battalions but airfield control parties controlling airfields and airspace (thus providing opportunities to fly on various other helicopters) and as a civilain have flown on many Bell 206's, Sikorsky S-76's, A-Stars etc -- even with all of those experiences, there is nothing quite like the sound of a UH-1.
One of the units that I provided judge advocate services to was a medevac company that was still flying Hueys up until a couple of years ago -- it was always a thrill to ride with them.

 

[Alnamvet68]

It seems like yesterday I was a 20 year old B Co, 4th Avn Bn "Gambler Gun"; just where exactly did all the time go?

 

[deanodog]

My sincere thanks to all Viet Nam veterans. All others also including police officers and first responders.

 

[Mickey D]

I was too young to participate in that war, 1 year shy of being draft eligible. I did spend 7 months living off base of Yokota AFB, Japan in '67-'68, as my father was supporting the war flying cargo and GIs on B727s into 'nam with World Airways.
I can never totally imagine how the sounds of the Huey will forever bring the thoughts of that war, good or bad.
God bless all who serve.

 

[williamlayton]

CJA----hummmmm!
Blessings

 

[Len]

The heavy whuppa-whuppa when they are inbound, versus the sound of departure...

Getting up in the air after extraction...and the "cool ride" home.

Len

 

[XAVMECH]

That sound....

Heard it the other day and realized that it has been awhile.....also read where 2/3 of us VN vets have reported in to a higher authority. Hmmm, all those years have passed by rather quickly, but I'm proud to have had the privilege of serving my country. We've got an old H-model Slick in our hangar - still in OD. It brings a lot of smiles to myself and a lot of folks in my generation..... yeah, a totally unique sound, indeed.
XAVMECH

 

[amazingflapjack]

Thank You Chief.

 

[Retired W4]

Heard it the other day and realized that it has been awhile.....also read where 2/3 of us VN vets have reported in to a higher authority. Hmmm, all those years have passed by rather quickly, but I'm proud to have had the privilege of serving my country. We've got an old H-model Slick in our hangar - still in OD. It brings a lot of smiles to myself and a lot of folks in my generation..... yeah, a totally unique sound, indeed.
XAVMECH

Our brothers are being lost at an alarming rate. I lost an old hochmate last year to agent orange related illness, and several others are undergoing serious medical treatment for the same.