50-year love affair complete

TheSoutheastSun: 50-year love affair complete
Tuesday was a sad day for Chief Warrant Officer Lawrence Castagneto.
The Vietnam veteran, who is still serving on active duty at Fort Rucker, spoke of the loss of a true love while standing in front of a UH-1 Huey at Cairns Airfield Tuesday morning. Tuesday’s ceremony marked the end of the Army’s use of the UH-1 Huey Helicopters at Fort Rucker.

The Huey’s history with the Army is a long one, spanning more than 50 years. The helicopter was used heavily during the Vietnam War and holds special memories for soldiers who served then and now.

“We’re here for a family reunion. This is a family reunion to say goodbye to a family member, the UH-1 Huey,” said Maj. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield, commanding general of Fort Rucker. “This is an incredible machine as you all know and it served us proudly for over 52 years. It was first introduced in 1959 and in its first 20 years of service, more than 7,000 of these aircraft served in combat in Vietnam and more than 16,000 of them were built and served all around the world. Today, with all of you present, we say goodbye and farewell to this fine war machine.”

Castagneto explained part of what he called the Huey’s “amazing journey.”

“It was 48 years ago to this month in 1963 that the first Hueys arrived in Vietnam to units that were later to become the 145th and 13th combat aviation battalions, both units still assigned here at Fort Rucker today,” Castagneto said. “While in Vietnam the Huey flew approximately 7,457,000 assault sorties.

“I am so honored and humbled to have been a small part of that journey. To those in the crowd who have had the honor to fly crew or ride this magnificent machine in combat, we are the chosen few. We are the lucky ones.”

Crutchfield said the Huey has special meaning to many current pilots as well as those who flew the aircraft during the Vietnam War.

“Many of us cut our teeth on this aircraft learning to fly and it has special meaning for us as well,” Crutchfield said. “To show our appreciation for the 1950s engineering and the innovation that went into this aircraft we want to say thank you for your outstanding 52 years of service. I hope that I can be fortunate enough to lead this branch in developing equipment for our future that will serve us as well as this aircraft has served us the last 52 years.”

Hueys will still be seen around Fort Rucker as the Air Force is still using the helicopter. The Army is phasing out the UH-1 Huey. The Army’s Yakima Training Center in Washington held a retirement ceremony for the Huey in January and U.S. Army Europe retired the Hueys earlier this month.

The aircraft has special meaning to those who fought in Vietnam. Castagneto described the Huey as “the icon of the Vietnam War” and said the sound of the blades “causes our heartbeats to rise, our breaths to quicken in anticipation of seeing that beautiful machine fly overhead and feel the comfort that she brings.”

“How do I capsulize in a few minutes a 42-year love affair? She is as much a part of me and my fellow brothers as the blood that flows through our veins,” said Castagneto. “Try to imagine all of those who have been touched by the shadow of her blades. Other aircraft can fly over and some people will look up and some may or may not even recognize what they see. But when a Huey flies over, everyone looks up and everyone knows who she is. Young or old, all over the world, she connects with all. No other aircraft in the history of aviation invokes the emotional response the Huey does. Whether combat veterans or not, she is recognized all around the world, by young and old, she is the icon of the Vietnam war, Army Aviation and the United States Army, over five decades of service.”

The Army is now using Light Utility Helicopters in place of the Hueys, according to Lisa Eichhorn, public affairs officer at Fort Rucker.

While Castagneto had to say goodbye to his beloved Hueys on Tuesday, he was quick to say the helicopter that meant so much to so many would not soon be forgotten.

“So with that I say to her, that beautiful lady sitting out there, from me and all my lucky brothers that were given the honor to serve our country and the privilege of flying this great lady in the skies of Vietnam, I say thank you for the memories,” he said. “Thank you for always being there. Thank you for always bringing us home regardless of how beat up and shot up you were. Thank you. You will never be forgotten. We loved you then. We love you now. We will love you until our last breath.

“As the sun sets today if you listen quietly and closely you will hear the faint wop, wop, wop of our mother speaking to all her children past and present who rode her into history in a blaze of glory. She will be saying to us, I am here. I will always be here with you. I am at peace and so should you be.”