Why would we POSSIBLY want to go to Indianapolis for a reunion????

http://www.americanhuey369.com , that's why!

The dates are set, August 7 and 8, 2010 for a chance to fly in a Dustoff Huey one more time!! Former 237th pilots will be at the controls and ANYONE who wants a ride can climb in the back. Yes, 237th pilots at the controls!! Crew, ground personel, Moms, Dads, kids and grandchildren can all fly with us at the controls! Crew chiefs and medics? We'll put pads on the floor behind the armored seats for you one more time...except hopefully this time, no one will be shooting at us!

369 is a former Dustoff bird from the 498th Dustoff and flew for about 900 hours in country. Those 237th members that flew "borrowed" aircraft from the 498th at Khe Sahn may have flown her! Although the records are incomplete, because she was assigned to the 498th and because they loaned aircraft to the 237th and 571st during Lam Son 719, it may very well have flown there. Gentlemen, now is your opportunity to fly a Huey one more time!

http://www.AmericanHuey369.com is a not for profit organization started by a former CH-53 Marine pilot, John Walker. He and his brother decided it would be neat to own a Huey, and after purchasing it, realized it was very restorable and hence, 369 lives again. Further, in obtaining parts for 369, they found another restorable Huey , 803, and they are in the process of restoring IT! So 2 flyable Hueys may be available for our 2010 reunion! 369 is fully certified by the FAA to give flights...a donation of 100 bucks is required from each person flying, even the pilots, but it also gives you a membership in the organization for one year to help keep 369 flying.  (This paragraph updated October, 2008 )

Ironically, 803 was also a Dustoff Bird and then later a slick, Warrior 11 in VN, so both Hueys are war veterans, too, just like us. 803 is being restored to it's Warrior heritage.

Come join the fun of flying a Huey again, just like before. Mark your calendars NOW! August 7 & 8, 2010, Saturday and Sunday. Don't have your 2010 calendar yet? No problem...just mark it on the last date of your 2008 calendar and then do the same thing when you get your 09 calendar...no problem! The initial plan is a hotel near the airport, a bus trip to the site, picnic type eatin' (BBQ?) and an LZ suite at the Hotel. Fly Saturday and Hotel on Sunday or a rain date of Hotel Saturday and fly Sunday,

"Commin' hot...!"

"Clear left, Sir"

"Clear right"

"Commin' up!"

How long has it been since your heard THAT in your headset???

Well Phil, I have to give credit where credit is due, you've outdone yourself again. I'm not sure about sitting in the back of a 40 year old huey with a 60 year old Pilot!!!!   What a blast this reunion is going to be.  I'll start getting the word out ASAP, my youngest son Ryan, his wife Vanessa and my two adorable grandchildren are already committed as is my dear wife Judith.  I have started to collect some awesom raffle prizes the first being a limited edition Kevin Webster painting entitled "Army Aviation Heritage"  So start signing up guys. For those of you who missed the recent reunion, we missed you! We had a great time and it was so nice to hear a former satisfied customer.  It made that year worthwhile.  See you in 2010
Pancho Villa CE 67-17673

Coming Hot!?? I say that almost every shift I work but with a different type of crew. Thanks Phil for a job will done, I am really looking forward to attending the 2010 reunion. Anyone remember how to start a Huey? I think its roll the throttle open, full closed, rollon to idle detent, roll back a little and pull the trigger............wait for N1 and let'er rip.  I am sure there will be lots of help once we are there.......I fly a 3.4 mil helo and I would trade it across the board for a good H model. Ha,   Jim Harris   Ahhhh the memories.....

Phil, I have personally worked on 369 at invite to Peru, Indiana 2 years ago. Would love to come to your reunion in Indy, if invited. We were talking about combining your guys (and Gals) with ours. Will be in touch...private Long 571st Dust-off Phu Bai 68-69-70.  Great idea by the way for Indy 3hrs away from me,hell I can get drunk and crawl that far home ha-ha

Private Long- Of course you would be welcome, and yes, there will be a time when we seriously discuss co-locating with the 571st. The 237th and 571st were two peas in a pod, so to speak, so it's probably inevitable that we will have a combined reunion. Let's just hope for good flying weather on those dates in 2010!

Gentlemen-

It is with great pleasure that I report to you that I have finally flown 369, and it was well worth the wait. This past weekend in Indiana was the second annual reunion of AmericanHuey369 and it truly is a beautiful sight and sound. Was very difficult for me to hold my emotions in when it landed (I couldn't hold them in) and everyone there stood in awe and reverence of it. John and Alan Walker have done an incredible job with it, and 803, Warrior 11, is due to be flying next summer, also. I got to fly left seat on 2 passenger trips with 8 pax and a crew of 2 each time...what a high!

Can't wait for our 2010 reunion and can't wait to see the emotion in all of you when you see it landing again; the emotion of the first flight in a Huey for many of you since we first lost our youth those many decades ago in a land far, far away. It will be a special moment for all of us as we fly a Dustoff bird one more time...

Phil

Phil, congratulations on flying the huey, wish i could have been there to see it. next time.

I am sorry to have to inform you folks that my brother, and your Webmaster, George Yakush passed away yesterday, 8/23/2008, about 6:00 Seattle time.

I stayed away from his web site here because I never served and it is none of my business what those of you who did serve talk about. I only come here now to inform you of his passing, for it must not go unnoticed.

George spoke very little to his family about his time in the service, and or Vietnam, but he did say just enough to lets us know how important that time, and his friends (you people) are to him. This time period above all other segments of his life defined who George Yakush (Rose) was, and will always be.

But from a brother’s perspective; “That frigin war in Vietnam got him, with that frigin agent orange that took his life after all these years.”  I feel his passing yesterday is no different then a Soldier falling in Iraq today! And although it will never happen, his name and all the others who have fallen victim years after that war ended; also belong on that wall in DC with the all the others.

I hope this intrusion by a non-Vet is forgiven.

We love him, and are going to miss him!
His loving brother, Ed


PS. As a guest I hunted for the thread with the most current activity so this could be seen sooner. Please as a member of DMZ, re-post this information in a more notable location.

Ed, you are most welcome at this website. Thank you ever so much for the news about George's passing. Feel free to visit and or comment at any time.
Dustoff709

[face=Courier][/face][color=red][/color]Phil,  thank you so very much for the invite to you guys web site.  I am honored to be included in such an elite group of men..  I was a flight medic way down south in the delta and in 3 corp.  I was with the 45th and 247th.  I love to fly and could never find a better job than flying DUSTOFF.
Just for you folks information we have a Vietnam Dustoff Assn as well.  It is open to anyone who was with DUSTOFF IN VIETNAM.  We are having a reunion this month in Dallas, TX  You are ALL WELCOME to come and check us out.  Our web site is http://www.vietnamdustoff.com and you are welcome to go there and look around.  The reunion is Sept 19-20 at the Marriot Airport.  There is a link to them on our web site.  The web site also lets you know about the prices, dates, etc.  This will be our third year there and we have always been well received.  You are welcome to contact me or any of the baord members about joining, visiting or anything else.  My name is Chet Crump and I am the VP to Steve Vermillion.  Our origanial founder is Delmus Williams- God Rest His Soul.  He was my crew chief and brother.  My  email is ccrn1993@sbcglobal.net and I live north of Houston about 30 miles so if any of you are around here, let's get together.  281-259-0701 or 210-216-3983.

W-E-L-C-O-M-E-  H-O-M-E

Please note that membership in http://www.americanhuey369.com has been changed. I have made the appropriate corrections in the first announcement on this 2010 Reunion board.

Membership is now $100 per year, which gets you an immediate flight. A Lifetime membership is $1000.00. Please go to their web site for membership details. The organization figures that it costs about $2000 per hour to operate, and that's with volunteer labor.

Counting the months here....

Information has been posted to the Reunion page of this web site for the 2010 Reunion.

Also, please note a small tribute to our original Webmaster George Rose Yakush at the bottom of the Contact Page.

Finally, if anyone would like to volunteer as the new Webmaster of this web site, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. It's anyone's for the asking, first come, first serve. I am more than willing to do it myself, but I am lacking in experince with web sites. I'm getting it done, but learning OJT here!

I certainly am looking forward to everyone flying Dustoff again next year in Indy. Can't wait to see the smiles! I promise that when you see that bird again, see it and hear it approaching, watching it touch down in front of you, there will be a plethora of emotion!

We really need to get a feel for how many will be flying at the reunion, both crews and their families. This is not a commitment on your part, but I would very much appreciate a note from each of you whether you plan to attend AND how many of your family & friends plan to go flying. Very important so we can plan one hell of a reunion!

Phil