Info Sheet/ Bio - James R. "Rick" Arthur
Awards - Parade Grand Marshall
Growing up in Northern Kentucky, I received my draft notice. Rather than reporting for the draft, I tested and was accepted to volunteer for flight school. Attended Basic Training at Ft Polk. Louisiana (A/3/1) winter of 1965.
Then on to Flight School, Warrent Officer Class 66-23 Ft Wolters, TX and final training at Ft Rucker, AL.
My first tour in Vietnam was March 1967 to March 1968, with D Troop 3/4 Cav, 25th Inf Division at Cu Chi. Flew UH-1C model Gunship with the Heavy Weapons Section (Hogs).
I hoped to develop a career in aircraft maintenance, so I extended my tour for an assignment in 330th Transportation BN, general support aircraft rebuild. Worked as a Maintenance Test Pilot and Quality Assurance Inspector and as the Battalion Standardization Instructor Pilot (SIP).
I returned home and was assigned to assigned to the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment as their Maintenance Officer.
I accepted a direct reserve commission to 1st Lieutenant and took an assignment as the Battalion Maintenance Officer for the 6th Battalion, 32 Armored Regiment (Victory or Death))
Was able to attend the CH-47 Chinook transition and the Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course (AMOC) enroute to my second tour in Vietnam where I was reassigned to the 330th Transsportation Battalion as a Flight Platoon Leader and Contract Maintenance Supervisor, Flew mostly aircraft recoveries in the CH-47 Chinook.
Took a break in service for seven years. I became a police officer in Jefferson County KY (Louisville) . Did all the things police officer do (rode a beat, traffic motorcycle, special services, flew the helicopter)
Returned to Active Duty in the Army as a Regular Army, Commissioned Warrant Officer. Assigned to a Chinook Company (A company 159Th Pachyderms) that grew into the first CH-47 company of the 160th Special Operations helicopter unit Ft Campbell, KY. Flew Special Operations missions as Pilot In Command and as company Maintenance Test Flight Evaluator (MTFE).
Reassigned to Germany 70th Trans Bn aircraft maintenance as 
DCO not known and Contracting Officer Representative for the CH-47 maintenance contract for the Theater. Flew CH-47s as MTFE.
Reassigned to Ft Campbell, BN Maintenance Officer for the CH-47 BN, 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment.
Reassigned to Hawaii, Barbor’s Point as the CH-47 Maintenance Officer & MTFE. Deployed four CH-47s to Haiti as the Plt Leader. (6 Months)
Then with the 147th Assault Support Helicopter Company "Hillclimbers"; Deployed a detachment of 4 CH-47s to support operation Uphold Democracy to Haiti as the Plt Leader. (6 Months)
Reassigned as the maintenance officer and training officer to a CH-47 reserve unit 92nd Aviation Company at Payne Field, Everett WA.
Retired from the Army (Oct 1997)
Hired by Boeing as a QA inspector on the 777 Wing Manufacturing Line at Everett WA.
Transferred at Boeing as Flight Training Instructor in the flight training simulator with initial customer pilot training in systems on the Boeing 777, 747-400 and training development on the Boeing 787.
Retired from 14 years at Boeing in 2011.
Now I have a lot of time with my lifelong passion for playing bass.
Picture is of me on my Stand Up Bass the main stage Northwest FolkLife
https://nwfolklife.org/festival/home.html
Awards:
Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
Air Medals (23)
Purple Heart
Meritorious Service (5)
1,100 Combat flight hours
4000 hours total helicopter flight time.
Rick was The Grand Marshall of the Kirkland Washington 4th of July Parade in 2024.
