Ft. Lewis was where we
started out. In 1965, the 220th
Aviation Company was formed and left here for Vietnam. We are invited back for a reunion
and to see how they now do our old mission to "conduct armed
reconnaissance, security, target acquisition and designation, command and
control." Or just "find em and fight em."
The fort's namesake, Captain
Meriwether Lewis, would have been only a little more amazed at my 1950's
spotter plane than I am of its modern replacement. The job in Iraq and Afghanistan is pretty much the same as
Vietnam, but today's tools are amazing - both to find the bad guys … and to
kill em.
The killer is the Apache
attack helo - big, black, ugly and bad … very bad. A few of the items in the cockpit look familiar, but the
lasers, video screens, night vision and rows of ordinance controls make us wish
we had them on call back in the day - a cross between a bomber and a flying
tank.
The finder is the OH-58DR
Kiowa Warrior. It may not be as cute
as my little 0-1 Birddog, but has a way bigger bite - machine guns, rockets and
even guided missiles - more than my ride could even lift off the ground.
I note the doors lying on the
pad - where they stay when this bird goes to fight. Today's recon crew still hangs their heads outside, and I am
glad to know some combat pilots still get to feel the wind in their hair.
And that has changed
too. We all had Army issued buzzed
scalps, but the young recon pilot showing off this bird has returned from Iraq
with tales to tell and blond hair to blow.
Meet Ms. Mulder,
my replacement.
- Replaced Rod
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Jean tries a .50 Cal machine gun on a Styker. Parking and mileage would be a bitch,
but when you signal, they let you change lanes.
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We've come a long way, Baby!
|
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| Some of the survivors - of my war ... and the night before. |
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Our brothers rubbed off the wall + one we just learned had died right after he left the company - on his way to board the "Freedom Bird" for the flight home.
The last night's supper with - a place set for those who gave their all.
