December 1967.
Just another day at the office with "Genghis". Old 973 and crew is ready.
Going on a little scout mission. Platoon Sergeant Bright leading the way.
SP5 Ehrhardt is in the back on the other side. I don't think this is the
day we last our tail rotor gear coupling and went end for end. That was a
great ride. Finished upright with smiling skids. (Bob Young Photo)
December 1967.
Now, tell the truth, have you ever seen a more happier back seater?
Ehrhardt is ready to cover my side. He did damn good! Old "Blue Lu" 973 is
about to leave the garage. Don't think anyone else had two names on their
bird. Bright and I couldn't settle so we split it down the midddle.
Ehrhardt didn't care, he just wanted it to stay in the air. Got Bob Young,
the platoon leader, the platoon sergeant, and the platoon line chief in
the same bird. Never worry. (Bob Young Photo)
December 1967. I
need your help to name all in this photo. Lt Sapp, scout team leader, has
the red scarf around his neck. SP5 Ehrhardt's, the scout platoon line
chief, back is to the conex continer. We kept our tools and parts in the
conex. They are discussing the mission and maintenance. Heads you go,
tails I go. "We are not going back to the same old place where we got shot
at for last 15 days, or we?" "Well, I'll just send my spot report from
here. Hell! They are still there!" No job too tough for the cav! (Bob
Young Photo)
December 1967. Two
"REDS" on the go. Scouts call sign was "RED", weapons platoon was "WHITE"
and the infantry platoon was "BLUE". The wood and dirt barriers were to
protect the helicopters during an attack. We are kicking up some dust. The
fine red dust made maintenance more difficult. The nearest OH-6 is carring
a minigun out the left rear door. We either carried a crew of two with a
minigun or a crew of three without the minigun. Some thought a crew of
three provided more eyes and protection at our low and slow speed.(Bob
Young Photo)
December 1967. You
know aviators always look for the best places for lunch. The caption on
the back of the photo is "in a field along Dakto airstrip right after the
big battle eating c-rations." That is Bright and Young in the middle. May
be WO Pittman on the left and LT Sapp on the right. I need some help on
the names. (Bob Young Photo)
December 1967.
The caption on the back is WO Smith landing. An attempt was made to land
to the ground, not to a hover, to reduce the dust from the down wash.
Appears he is carring a minigun ammo container in the back. The minigun is
mounted on the left side. (Bob Young Photo)
December 1967. Well,
we are back. It was another great day. Ehrhardt's day isn't over. He and
the other crew chiefs now must work into the night to get ready for
tomorrow. They did a great job of spliting the load up amoung themself. I
think the real strength of Bright and Ehrhardt was their leadership and
willingess to jump in and pull the load. They were leaders who pull the
men together into a team, a cavalry team. (Bob Young Photo)
December 1967, These
two warriors are glad to be back. You can tell from the clothes it was a
hot and long day. WO Pittman, on the right, has put on his jacket. This is
the Central Highlands and in the evening, as the sun goes down and the
wind picks up, it turns cool. Good sleeping weather. Of course you are so
tired who cares. Bob Young
Photo)