Year of the Cockpit Majors - 66
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On Sun, Sep 9, 2012, Jim Peterson wrote:
I'm writing about the Centaurs and D Troop to give you something to mull over while I get ready for my 86th birthday. Why do this? One reason is to get some things down on paper (read: into the computer) while I can!
At the outset: the name 'Centaurs'. The symbol or icon is simple enough. However, I tried - when joining the Troop back in '66 - to find out the origins of all this. I was hoping 1st Sgt Petty would be of some help, but it all 'happened' before his time. They were 'in place' when he joined the unit in Hawaii in 1965. He was unable to come up with any historical background.
One of the points that seems to be lost in all the history I've read lately is that back about 1965 the Department of the Army decided on the 'build-up' in Vietnam. Aviators were at a premium. That is, if you could fly a helicopter you were sent to Vietnam, regardless of rank. If you were 'fixed wing', you were sent to helicopter school first.
Since years before so many officer aviators were created, by this time 1965 to 1966 became known as the year of the Majors in the cockpit.
You think this is not a historical 'bump'? It certainly was. The Majors were sent to Vietnam 'en mass'. As it turned out a large percentage of them were Signal Corps officers.
It was rather amusing in that as these Majors arrived in Vietnam they were sent to combat units as 'combatants'; their 'branch of service' meant little.
So as these Signal Corps Majors (maybe half a dozen) arrived in the 25th Division, the Division Aviation Officer assigned most to the Cavalry Squadron for D Troop. A few were assigned to the Division Aviation Company.
So when I became CO of D Troop, I found myself in command of a unit with half-a-dozen or so Majors, three or more of which were Signal Corps. They did not mind flying, but had no idea how to fight and showed no inclination to learn the art of close combat.
If this is what you'd like to hear about, lemme know and I'll round out the story.