Rattler/Firebird Home Page

Welcome to the snakepit! This is the home page of the Rattlers and Firebirds of Company A/501st Aviation Battalion, 71st Assault Helicopter Company, 151st Transportation Detachment, and the 94th Signal Detachment. We served in Vietnam from 1964 until 1971, moving from our original base at Bien Hoa to Chu Lai in 1967.

Firebirds attacking

Firebirds attacking

Rattler & Firebird Names

The radio call signs “Rattler” and “Firebird” were used by our aircraft during our service in Vietnam. “Rattler” was used by our UH-1D & H helicopters that carried troops, supplies, ammunition, performed command and control, combat assault, medical evacuation and insertion/extraction missions, as well as many others. The call sign “Firebird” was used by our UH-1B, C & M gunships, some of the most feared gunships in all of Vietnam. You can find more about the call signs and where they came from on our history page.

The Association

The Rattler/Firebird Association has no political agenda. We simply provide a means to stay in touch with those who share our experiences. If you served with us, or with anyone else during the Vietnam conflict and nobody has told you this already, we'd like take this opportunity to say, “Welcome Home!”

What's New?

Here are the most recent changes to our site:

Added Pictures
Added a new page to the photo gallery for Jerry Merritt's pictures from 1968-69.
Added a magazine article
Thanks to Rob Eggleston and Charles Bogle, we have added a magazine article to the history section about the Firebird decals that seemed to turn up everywhere.
Added new photos
Added three new photo to Rob Eggleston's Pictures.
Added one new photo
Added one new photo to Charles Bogle's Pictures.
Added Pictures
Added a new page to the photo gallery for Steve Hopkins' pictures from 1970-71.
Added Pictures
Added a new page to the photo gallery for John Leone's pictures from 1967-68.
Updated Reunion Information
We've updated the information on the 2010 Rattler/Firebird Reunion
Added Newsletter
Added the November 2009 Newsletter to the Newsletter Section.
Added Pictures
Added a new page to the photo gallery for Jim Lavelle's pictures from 1969-70.
Updated Agent Orange Section
Added B Cell Leukemias and Ischemic Heart Disease to the list of presumptive service connected illnesses associated with Agent Orange.
Added Pictures
Added a new page to the photo gallery for Arnold Morris' pictures from 1966-67.
Added to the History
Added a link to a Life Magazine article from 1965 to the unit history section.