Rattler/Firebird Guestbook
Lloyd Coggins [E-mail]
Former: with
Call sign:
I visit this site often.Iam trying to kickstart my memory.God bless you all.
July 23, 2009 - Shoshoni, Wyo U.S.A.
Steve Mackey [E-mail]
Former: Enlisted Crew Chief with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign:
Bill Irby will be missed. Bill was the main reason, along with Kerry McMahon, that I came home safe. Bill was my AC for several months, always got us back to the company area safe and sound. One night, after we had moved inland at Chu Lai, I met Bill and Kerry walking near the officers club. Bill says hey come to the officers club with us. Bill and Kerry thought about giving me one of their WO bars, but then Bill thought if we got caught they would charge me with impersonating an officer. So Bill and Kerry decided to take me in without any rank on my uniform. Bill said he would tell anyone who inquires that I was a new guy to the unit. Bill says besides who is going to question he or Kerry. We went into the officers club and no one said a thing. Thank you Bill for all the great memories.
July 17, 2009 - Riverside, CA USA
STEVE HOPKINS [E-mail]
Former: Enlisted Door Gunner with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign:
NICE TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU RON.THAT WAS ONE HELL OF A TRIP TO THE STEAM AND CREAM.GOING TO TRY AND COME TO THE NEXT REUNION.HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. STEVE
July 3, 2009 - ,
Ron Taylor [E-mail]
Former: Enlisted Crew Chief with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign:
Steve I have pictures of us pre-flighting the A/C for the flight to Hue. Even have a picture of Irby walking around the A/C. I do remember the ass chewings but the best part was Fast Eddie never knew about it. Or if he did he never let on. That was a stressful R&R but what a story, AWOL in a combat zone. I remember we all thought we would get shot for that.
July 2, 2009 - Las Vegas, Nv.
STENE HOPKINS [E-mail]
Former: Enlisted Door Gunner with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign:
RON TAYLOR READ YOUR STORY -EVERYBODY GOT STEAMED ESPECIALLY THE C.O. I WAS ON THAT TRIP WITH YOU TO HUE-PHU BAI.WHEN THE PILOTS GOT SPOOKED AND LEFT US BEHIND.MAN DID WE GET OUR BUTTS REAMED OUT THE NEXT DAY BY THE C.O.FIRST SARGENT HARRIS MADE ME BURN SHIT FOR TWO DAYS.YOUR WRIGHT THE PILOTS THAT LEFT OUR ASSES BEHIND GOT OFF EASY.NONE OF US WERE SUPPOSE TO BE AT THAT STEAM AND CREAM.BUT WE GOT ALL THE HELL FOR IT.HOPE LIFE IS TREATING YOU WELL RON.I DON"T REMEMBER A LOT OF THINGS FROM BACK THEN.BUT I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT TRIP TO THE STEAM AND CREAM IN HUE-PHU BAI.LOOKING BACK NOW RON I THINK IT WAS WORTH IT.WE NEEDED A LITTLE !R&R!. STEVE HOPKINS
July 2, 2009 - ,
Ron Olson [E-mail]
Former: with
Call sign:
He was NOT a YES MAN. I was proud to serve with him. Rest Brother.
July 1, 2009 - Gainesville, Fl U.S.A.
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