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Show Page 2 - THE DIXIE SUN - September 30, 1971 A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR EDITORIAL This week we are beginning the first in a series of articles written about Viet Nam by Rich Gilmore. This year, he is a Freshman student at Dixie College. Rich was stationed in Viet Nam from April 69 to November 70. During this period of time, there was the invasion of a special event which we in America know as Cambodia. Rich was a helicopter pilot in the First Cavalry Division (Pictured as piolot in machine.) Their mission was armed reconnaisance. While there, he was decorated with a Silver Star, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 2 Bronze Stars, Air Medal with V for Heroism, and Vietnamese Gallantry Cross. I, for one, am very interested in finding the details of the operation. Some of you may call it war hungry others may call it fantistic. But this is the way it was, 4 days in the Life of Rich Gilmore during the invasion of Cambodia, printed without change. snaranatinrn; Sept. 29 Sigma Iota Chi begins rush week - girls Bowler, Presi- dent. 30 Free movie short flick Glue, I Madigan, Airplane Love You. Assembly in FAC, 11: 00 Oct. Cheerleaders, Songlead-erand Rebelettes try out at 4:00 p.m. Highlights hold a dance on the water tower.. .8:30 to 12:30. , Football. .Ricks at Idaho. Lambda Delta Sigma with Evelyn Feller, President. Sociability meeting 5:00 p.m., Green House Committe Meeting - 6:00 p.m., Green house-RebRousers 6:00 p.m. Gym. Rush Night for Sigma s Gamma only. s 2 4 Days In Vietnam ! By Rich Gilmore Today, in Vietnam, the 1st Squadron (equivalent to an infantry battalion) of the 9th Cavalry has become a legend throughout the Army. B troop of the 1st squadron, is the most highly decorated unit of the entire war. B Troop is made up of four combat platoons and three support platoons. They are: The Red Platoon, made up of ten gunships (usually Huey Cobras); the White Platoon with ten OH-6Cayuse Light Observation Helicopters (known as Loaches); the Blue Lift Platoon, containing seven UH-IHuey troopships (called slicks); and the Blue Platoon with approximately 26 infantrymen (called Blues). The support section is made up of one headquarters platoon, one maintenance platoon, and one attached maintenance platoon. Much has been written about the clam of the Air Cavalry. We wore Stetson Cavalry hats when not flying. Bright bandanas and low slung pistols were also par for the course. Its an outfit that never took any steer manure from the enemy, the South Vietnamese Army, or the U.S. Army. I served with B Troop for the last 13 of my 18 months in Vietnam - most of it in the Scout Platoon. It was an experience that I would not trade for anything. It taught me more about life than anything has so far. You dont know what life is until you nearly lose it. The story I have written is about four days in my life. Four days that had significant impact on you as well as me. The story is true, except that some of the names have been changed to protect the men and their families. When dawn came, I was already awake. As a matter of fact I had been awake most of the night. How could anyone sleep on the night before invasion of a foreign country to confront an enemy on his AH-1- own ground? As I lay in the top bunk of the home-mad- e bunkbed that Keno and I had built, the events of the past three days raced through my mind. I had returned from 30 days leave in the states on the 28th of April, 1970. The day after returning I spent the morning flying as on one of the seven Hueys for our Blue-Li- ft platoon. Four hours of picking up amil, spare parts, and other sundry items from various bases in and around Saigon had convinced me that I faced a very boring last six months in the Army. Later, in the operations bunker, as I awaited another dull, drab mission, the Operations Officer came over to my corner and sat next to me. Rich, why don t you talk to the old man? Im sure hed like to see you back in the Scout Platoon; most of the Scouts are pretty new and a more experienced pilot would be a big help. After he left, I thought about what he had said. He was right, I wanted back in my old platoon so bad my teeth ached. Why Ill bet hed let me start flying this aft Mr. Gilmore, may I talk to you for a moment? Startled, I looked up into the C.O.s face. A freckled face that was usually broken by a grin; he was proud of his unit and not afraid to show it. Only he wasnt grinning, his expression was that of a eight year old boy asking his father for a raise in his allowance after getting all Ds on a report card. Yes sir, I answered, I was just going to come to see you Thats good, he said. Mr. Gilmore, theres a big operaanyhow. tion coming up soon, and I need two more Scout pilots. Would you consider flying Scouts again? Ive already asked Mr. Keeney and he said Yes. Never volunteer for anythingthats the first thing you learn in the military. I jumped to my feet, Yes, sir! Can I start this afternoon? Theres a spare Loach down on the flight line. Keno and - er, Mr. Keeney, could take her out this afternoon and get reoriented. We wouldnt need a gunner, sir, weU stay out of trouble! That afternoon Keno and I didnt stay out of trouble. For four and a half hours the countryside around Quan Loi was terrorized by an OH-6Light Observation Helicopter (Loach) piloted by two 20 year old juvenile delinquents armed with pistols and smoke grenades. No damage was done, but many a Vietnamese farmer got muddy - ducking from a helicopter flying three feet off the ground at ISO MPH and making mock attacks on anything that moved. We werent all bad that day, though. We did direct a rescue mission on a downed helicopter from another outfit. When we got back, the C.O. grinned for the first time all day. Back in our hootch that evening, Bolivia started the controversy, as usual. Bolivia was a Cobra Co-pil- ot in the gunship platoon. His real name was Bavier, but the rest of the pilots had trouble Victor Buono, and was known as the biggest pessimist in the entire 1st Cavalry. If you were feeling too good, just see Bolivia; in half an hour hed have you contemplating suicide. Our hootch was divided by a six foot home-mad- e partition. In one half lived Hankinson, Keno and myself. In the other half lived Bolivia, by himself - for obvious reasons. His bed had a tunnel of sandbags built over it; because sooner or later, a V.C. mortarround was bound to hit the hootch and he was going to be ready. After our platoon briefing, where we received an official hint that something big was brewing, Keno and I returned to our hootch CONTINUED ON PAGE Dixie Cultural 6 Chi-guy- 7 Free movieThe Knack1 The short feature is Grateful Dead. in Assembly 11:00 a.m. FAC at ATTENTION ALL CLUBS The October 7 th issue of the DIXIE SUN will be dedicated to informing the studentbody about the clubs on campus. We need information about club purposes, meetings, how to apply for membership in the club, and other pertinent information. A box will be placed in the LA building by room 102. All information should be in the box by Friday, October 1st in order to make the press. 3 a Welcomes New Teacher Klissa Heaton H- - F information. Dr. Nyberg was born and raised in Eastern Utah, where he attended Altamont High School. He is a graduate of Dixie College, (thats enough to make you know hes a great man) From Dixie, Dr. Nyberg went to Utah State University where he received his B.S. and M.S. Degrees. He then went to Oregon State and received his Ph.D. As you well know, you cant stay away from Dixie. Such was 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 COLLEGE WEEK AT OCT. 4TH - OCT. 9 TH F We would like to extend a warm Dixie Welcome to Dr. Peter Nyberg. So you will know something about him here is some Continued on page 4 20 Discount With A Student Activity Card 4 4 On All Sportswear Incl. 4 Slacks Skirts Hot Pants Sweaters 5 4-- ; 4 4-4-4-- 49 N. MAIN 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 |
