Rattler/Firebird Guestbook
Don Lynam [E-mail]
Former: Officer with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign: Rattler 16
Today is a real sad day for me. Bill was one of the good guys and will be missed by those of us who knew him. I always looked forward to seeing him and his family at our reunions. My condolences and prays go out to Robin and Brandi. We probably all have our favorite "Bill Irby" stories. Here is mine. Bill and I flew a defoliation mission out of Duc Pho near the Laotian border that Bill always gave me a hard time about. We managed to get shot down while flying over the ‘redline’ and dragging our skips along the tops of the rice. I remember looking over at Bill as everything went quite and the instruments went to zero. Some way we survived with only slightly bent skids. Since we were so far out I never thought we would get the ship back - so with the gun ships ringing us with covering fire and the high ship coming in to pick us up – I decide to shoot out the radios. Needless to say they recovered the ship and it got back to Chu Lai before Bill and the rest of the crew made our way home … I guess we shouldn’t have stopped at Quang Ngai for some water buffalo burgers. Everyone, including Col Silvers and his ‘yes’ men, were standing by our huey with the slightly bent rear cross tube and the shoot out radios. Col Silvers asked why / how we had a hard landing out in no-man land. I think Bill told him that we decided to land when the engine quite. Silvers wasn’t buying that … told everyone that the only holes in the aircraft were self inflected … he was going to prove it by starting the engine. I think Bill got in and as he reached up to pull the fuel circuit breaker the overhead panel came down and hit him on the shoulder. Apparently, we took one hit that entered though the caulking holding in the A/C upper side window and took out the overhead panel. Had I been sitting up straight in my seat the round would have gone through the top of my head. Bill always said if he had been flying we wouldn’t have bent the skids … he was probably right.
June 29, 2009 - Chandler, AZ USA
Ron Taylor [E-mail]
Former: Enlisted Crew Chief with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign:
Bill Irby will be missed by many but especially me. My connection with his late uncle made me close to Bill. I called Robin this morning with wishes and prayers. Bill (Rattler 10) you will never be forgotten. Now for those reading this, please have regular protate exams.
June 29, 2009 - Las Vegas, Nevad
gbi zavod 177 [E-mail]
Former: with
Call sign:
Çäðàâñòâóéòå, Õî÷ó íàéòè ãðàìîòíîãî õîñòåðà, äåéñòâóþùåãî íà òåððèòîðèè Ðîññèè è ñòðàí ÑÍÃ. Íî òîëüêî íå "äåøåâîãî" à ðåàëüíî ðàáîòàþùåãî, íî êîíå÷íî íå ñàìîãî äîðîãîãî. Ïðîáëåìà â òîì, ÷òî ïîñëå òîãî êàê âûáðàë õîñòèíã, ìîé ñàéò ïåðåñòàë ðàáîòàòü. Õîñòåð çàÿâëÿåò, ÷òî ó Âàñ, ñïàì àòàêà íà ñàéò è ïðî÷óþ íåñóðàçèöó. Êàêàÿ ìîæåò áûòü àòàêà íà íîâûé, íèêîìó íå èçâåñòíûé ÷àñòíûé ñàéò. Åñëè åñòü íàäåæíûé õîñòåð, ïëç, ñîîáùèòå îá ýòîì, ìîæíî â ëè÷êó èëè ïî ýë. àäðåñó. 1170156. Ñïàñèáî. Ìîé àäðåñ: gbi-service.ru @ mail.ru
June 26, 2009 - Ðîññèÿ, British Columbia Ðîññèÿ
Abe Fisher [E-mail]
Former: with
Call sign:
Raymond J. "RJ" Williams, 62, of 745 Orchard Road, Manheim and formerly of Philadelphia, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at the Leba-non Veterans Administration Medical Center. Born in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, he was the son of the late Norville John and Mary Agnes McDonough Williams. RJ was employed in the telecommunications field for over 32 years. He worked for Bell Atlantic which later became Verizon; also during that time he was the owner and operator of the former Micronitics Inc. in Philadelphia. He was the loving husband of Catherine Ballendorf Williams and they would have observed their 39th wedding anniversary on June 13th. A U.S. Army veteran of the Viet Nam War; RJ spent 26 months and 11 days in Viet Nam where he served with the distinguished 71st Assault Helicopter Company. He was a door gunner, a Crew chief, and finally a Tech Inspector of the UH-1 (Huey) Aircraft. RJ was wounded, shot down, and decorated for valor. He contributed to the writing and publishing of two books about his military service experience during his deployment in Viet Nam. The first book was titled Rattlers and Firebirds and the second book was called Firebirds. RJ was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Post 10, The Viet Nam Helicopter Crew Members Association, a member of the 145th Combat Aviation Battalion Viet Nam Association, a member and Officer of the 71st Assault Helicopter Company Association, and a life member of the Manheim V.F.W. Post 5956. He was a member of St. Richard Catholic Church, Manheim and served as a Eucharistic Minister at the Lebanon V. A. Medical Center. He was an avid reader and had a passion for the shore and boating. RJ was a true Manheim Central Baron Football Fan and he enjoyed watching his grandson participate with the Manheim Central Football Team.
June 19, 2009 - Thompsontown, PA USA
registrazia OOO [E-mail]
Former: with
Call sign:
Ãîâîðÿò, ÷òî èç âñåõ ïîèñêîâûõ ìàøèí, ñàìîé ëó÷øåé ïî ðåçóëüòàòèâíîñòè ñ÷èòàåòñÿ ßíäåêñ. Âîò, ðåøèë ïðîâåðèòü, è ÷òî æå! Íàáðàë â ïîèñêîâîé ñòðîêå ÿíäåêñà ñëîâî "ôîðóì" - ÷òî æå âûäàë ÿíäåêñ - ôîòî ãîëûõ æåíùèí ïðÿìî íà ãëàâíîÿ ñòðàíèöå ßíäåêñà. Íå âåðèòå ïîïðîáóéòå ñàìè. À Âàì òàê ñëàáî? Ïèøèòå, ïðèñûëàéòå Âàøè íàõîäêè! ðåãèñòðàöèÿ : as11.ru @mail.ru ; Ðåãèñòðàöèÿ 1048.
June 11, 2009 - Ðîññèÿ, British Columbia Ðîññèÿ
Mike Chauncey [E-mail]
Former: Enlisted Maintenance with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign: Snake Doctor T.I.
R.J. Williams a former unit member 67-69 is currently in the hospial with lemphorma cancer. He is still alive but there is no hope of recovery. His son Ray Jr. asked me via e-mail to let our people know his situation. Please, all join me in Prayer for R.J. and for his family, thanks Mike Chauncey
June 5, 2009 - Jacksonville, FL United Sta
James A. Surwillo [E-mail]
Former: Enlisted Crew Chief with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign: Rattler 201
Today on 5/25/2009 about 4:00PM Paul Jolly passed. Paul suffered from PTSD for many years and never knew it. He thought he was just a screw-up. I looked for him for many years and finally found him when one of his sisters found our web site and found a message that I was looking for him. Paul had a rough life; He went through two marriages, a number of years in prison, and a number of years of drug abuse. In November of 2008 I drove out from California and rescued him from Flint, Michigan and brought him out to California to get back on his feet. He was doing so well. He got him a car and insurance. He got a California drivers licence. We got him a $1000 a month pension from the VA for being a homeless veteran. My family acepted him and my daughters called him uncle Paul. Last Thursday Paul did not come out of his room so late in the afternoon I checked on him and found him passed out. After I could not roust him awake I called 911. The doctor said he had a stroke and he was put on life support. Last night his daughter flew in from Florida and after consultations with a number of doctors she had him removed from life support and he expired this afternoon. This is a major tragedy for his family as well as mine since he was living in my home when this happened. Paul did many different jobs with the 71st. He worked in maintenance, did a little Sunday gunning, and was honored to burn crap when requested. He was an excellent person and I am extreemly saddened by this event. He was so close to being on his own and standing on his own two feet. He is survied by a sister, a brother, and two daughters. For those of you who remember Paul please take a minute of silence in his honor. He used to do a great impersonation of WC Fields saying "yes in dee dee I am from the motor city." Rest in Peace Paul!
May 25, 2009 - Whittier, CA USA
Mike Rogers [E-mail]
Former: Enlisted Crew Chief with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign:
This weekend our country will take the time to remember those individuals who have given everything to make our country what it is. I have been thinking of the 55 who were assigned to our company and gave everything so we could go on with our lives. I have also been thinking about the other members of our company who have passed away after serving with us. God Bless them all.
May 22, 2009 - Huntsville, AL USA
john bracken [E-mail]
Former: Enlisted Maintenance with Company A/501st Aviation Battalion
Call sign:
Howdy all, Do any of you know of a Walter McAdams who I worked closely with in 65-66, as crew leader in maintence, Bien Hoa. Thanks. John Bracken
May 11, 2009 - Milledgeville, IL us
gbi zavod 177 [E-mail]
Former: with
Call sign:
Çäðàâñòâóéòå, Õî÷ó íàéòè ãðàìîòíîãî õîñòåðà, äåéñòâóþùåãî íà òåððèòîðèè Ðîññèè è ñòðàí ÑÍÃ. Íî òîëüêî íå "äåøåâîãî" à ðåàëüíî ðàáîòàþùåãî, íî êîíå÷íî íå ñàìîãî äîðîãîãî. Ïðîáëåìà â òîì, ÷òî ïîñëå òîãî êàê âûáðàë õîñòèíã, ìîé ñàéò ïåðåñòàë ðàáîòàòü. Õîñòåð çàÿâëÿåò, ÷òî ó Âàñ, ñïàì àòàêà íà ñàéò è ïðî÷óþ íåñóðàçèöó. Êàêàÿ ìîæåò áûòü àòàêà íà íîâûé, íèêîìó íå èçâåñòíûé ÷àñòíûé ñàéò. Åñëè åñòü íàäåæíûé õîñòåð, ïëç, ñîîáùèòå îá ýòîì, ìîæíî â ëè÷êó èëè ïî ýë. àäðåñó. 117008. Ñïàñèáî. Ìîé àäðåñ: gbi-service.ru @ mail.ru
May 9, 2009 - Ðîññèÿ, British Columbia Ðîññèÿ