The Day It Snowed in Vietnam

"Christmas carols played in the mess hall, but it didn't feel like Christmas Eve...." Here's a great Christmas-in-Vietnam story by Huey pilot Jim "Polecat" Shueckler, a fine man and founder of The Virtual Wall. The Donut Dollies in this photo are wearing "special holiday uniforms" instead of their usual powder blue as they joined Jim and his crew on a journey to deliver a touch of the holiday to the troops. Enjoy the story--and post your own in the comments.

Happy Holidays

We're gonna take some time "off" for a few days to enjoy Christmas but we'll come back soon with a little retrospective and a lot of looking ahead. In the meantime, here's a scene from this year's work...a shot by our cinematographer Michael Hanneman of the Emporer's Lookout near Hue, Vietnam. In our upcoming documentary An Ocean Away, Nguyen Van Loc, the "American War" veteran who helped bring Donald Matocha home to his family said something that seems appropriate for this time of year: "Long Live Peace."

Tillman Update

Talked to ITSOTBer Perry Tillman (LZ Rio Ranch0, "this is a healing experience...it really is") and his wife Diane over the weekend. They were on the way to a place they've rented about 30 miles from New Orleans, so they will be based, at least, close to their primary AO. Perry and Diane lost their home and everything in it to Katrina. As Diane said, "everything is wet and gone." But they did have flood insurance and they have their lives--and they've got lots of love coming at 'em.

What's a nice girl like this...

doing in Vietnam?

So, let's make sure we understand...young women just out of college dressed in powder blue skirts got on helicopters (jeeps) and went out to the firebases to play Bingo with the soldiers?

Wow. So what was that like? How did it affect them? Why did they do it?

We're in post-production for a documentary on the Vietnam Red Cross Girls, aka "Donut Dollies," and I'm looking for a few good grunts with a DD story to tell. Did you see those Round Eyes in powder blue drop into the FOB? Willing to tell your story for the doc? Let me know: cfries@arrowheadfilms.com. DD-214 required. (Watch the trailer.)



"Smile. Smile. Smile. Sometimes you had to smile even when it was just ...."

Let's Play

This is "Brasso," aka Joey Welsh. All you Huey pilots and crewmen out there might think you really love the UH-1, but from what I hear, you ain't got nothing on guys like this. Rangers, LRRPs, SF dudes...to say the Huey got a few of them out of a jam is a major understatement. (Once we overheard a Ranger tell a Dustoff pilot that he'd not only buy him a beer; he'd buy him a house.)

Here's Brasso today, with Huey pilot John Adams in New Braunfels.



Lately Brasso's been challenging my foggy memories of Latin 101 (freshman year, Southwestern University) to see if I can translate these phrases:

Sine Pari
Sua Sponte
De Oppresso Liber

(Uh, sorry, Prof, it's been a while.) Can anyone help me out? Got a guess? And can you explain why these phrases are in this post? Leave it here.

Welcome to the Hoods

Cliff Hyatt, John Deer, and John Adams took us by surprise big time at the New Braunfels screening when they inducted us as "Honorary Robinhoods." Those of you who know the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company's history in Vietnam understand what a great honor this is. It sort of feels like a little kid clomping around in her dad's shoes--shoes she can wear, but never fill.

By the way, they even gave me a "call sign." Now I'm also known as "Maid Marian 091." :)

After Action: New Braunfels, Texas

Last month's screening at the Brauntex Theater in New Braunfels was so great: an opportunity to meet new friends and to get the crew and several "old" Texas buddies together. Here are a few photos, and there will be more coming. We met some really cool people there and heard more awesome stories. Also, Patrick and I received a huge honor. I'll tell you about that later. In the meantime, meet our fabulous event coordinator Cliff Hyatt and see if you can recognize any of these other people....

101st Legacy

In September, 2000, ITSOTB took its first flight, on a restored UH-1 called "The Five-O-Deuce" in Punta Gorda, Florida. The Deuce had been restored and was flown by Bob Carr, a Vietnam veteran of the 101st "Comancheros." As we flew over the Florida swamps and down along the river line, the vision of a mission unfolded. We would take 502 and her Vietnam vets on a journey across America, to fly like this and to tell their stories.

Well....it didn't happen as we'd planned, but it did happen. And even though the ship ITSOTB flew wore the Robinhood hat, the Comancheros and the 101st were still ITSOTB VIPs at every landing zone. Although our Huey was tail number"091," we all knew she flew for the Duece.



And that's why this means so much to us. It's a print of a Joe Kline painting titled "A/101st Aviation Legacy," illustrating the helicopters and insignia that served in the Vietnam War. Comanchero friends traveled to Austin recently just to give this to us. And it's no accident that the number of this particular print is....

091.

To all you 101st pilots, crewmembers, and ground pounders: we are so honored to post your colors. We are so honored to know you.

Airborne. All The Way.















Comanchero Santas visit Arrowhead Films. Left to right: Dave O'Quinn, Ed O'Quinn, Patrick Fries, Cheryl Fries, Jerry Turner and Ron Crotty. Jerry coordinated our LZs in Pasadena and Houston, Texas, and flew left seat during the powerful reunion of Keith Bodine and Connie Mac Pearson. Jerry and Ed flew with the "Winged Warriors" in Vietnam, and met for the first time since the war at the Pasadena ITSOTB LZ.

ITSOTB on Veterans Radio

Tune in at 6 p.m CST, 7 EST tonight to Veterans Radio Network to hear Dale Throneberry interview yours truly.

IraqN The Shadow of The Blade

Say hey to ITSOTB LZ Coordinator and interviewee Larry Castagneto, now down range on the Tigris River. Here are some photos he sent of himself on the Tigris River, and doing his part to maintain the morale of the USO. Larry--you boys take good care.

(Send Larry and his troopers holiday greetings at ljc75@hotmail.com.)

Catching Up with the ITSOTBlog

Apologies for the lack of posts lately. In the last couple of weeks, this family has hosted two parties, endured chicken pox and an ice storm, attempted to prepare for the holidays, and put the final touches on "An Ocean Away." Today is catch up day on the posts, so there's a lot coming.