……………………………………………………………………………………………………
I met up with the Army at the suggestion of a Broward County Florida judge. I was 18 and he gave me a choice of door #1 misdemeanor jail time or door #2 Military. It seems that it's illegal to run over a hog in a wildlife hunting preserve at night and get caught with it in the trunk. My brother-in-law and I had enlisted in the Navy about a month before this but they couldn't take us for 3 months and the recruiter wouldn't vouch for me. So across the hall we went where the Army recruiter said we could join right away under the buddy system and be trained to be helicopter crewchiefs (my hope) AND the recruiter would accompany me to court and guarantee my new station in life. Whoopie!
I took basic training in Ft. Benning, Ga, aviation training in Ft. Rucker, Al and then Vietnam. I arrived in Chu Chi Jan '67 where I worked maintenance and crewchief on Stableboy for about 6 months. Then 6 months on an Aerorifle slick. I wish I knew the number and the people I flew with but my memory fails me. I'm still trying to recall events from my tour but my brain needs an overhaul. If anyone remembers me, I'd sure appreciate hearing from them as well as seeing any pics or film.
I returned stateside in Feb '68 and was hit by an ambulance in an intersection on my new motorcycle while home on leave. This delayed my arrival to Hunter Army Airfield where I finished 14 months in the Army and where I met up with some great guys also back from Nam.
I can truly say that I don't regret joining the Army, the people I met, the things they taught me and the experiences I had. I'm very proud to have served my country.
And all because of a hog......Larry
Larry stays busy in his hometown
The American Legion of Okeechobee, Florida donated a memorial stone for the pilots and aircrews in Vietnam.
The unveiling took place Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 in Flagler Park.
The stone is located in front of the Huey UH1H helicopter that is on display in the park. The helicopters were in service from 1961 to 1975 during the Vietnam War.
The current post commander, Larry Richardson, who served in the 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry of the 25th Infantry Division and finished time in the service as an E-5, and past commander Dan Fennell, who served in the 3rd Marine Division with an occupational specialty of motor transport and did two tours, 1965-66 and 1968-69, and retired as a major, represented Post 64 at the placement of the memorial stone.