Rattler/Firebird Guestbook
Randy Billings [E-mail]
Former: Warrant Officer Pilot with Company A/501st Aviation Battalion
Call sign: Ratler 17
Just wanted to say Web Site looking good and Rattlers and Firebirds have a Great July 4,2002 "GOD" BLESS AMERICA
June 30, 2002 - Eiddington, Maine USA
Donald R Weston jr [E-mail]
Former: NULL NULL with NULL
Call sign: NULL
I first want to say you guys did a super job on this updated web site!I have been here 4 times in the last 2 days I can not keep from comming here.I remember hearing and seeing the guys names and faces here.I have heard a few stories about what happened over there but some things were so bad my father had to stop because I was still a kid. I remember asking who won the war and he said you win when you come back alive when you loose you die!The main thing he said was he was only trying to keep the guys he was with alive and the machines flying.Can anybody tell me a few stories about him?Or how he was good or bad?I think this would help him out if he joined the group or went to a reunion .Maybe he can find some peace here.
June 22, 2002 - Neunkirchen, Saar Germany
Ron Seabolt [E-mail]
Former: Enlisted Crew Chief with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign: NULL
RATTLERS and FIREBIRDS...A former crew chief of the Snakedoctor, Tom Bokkes (EM 70-71), recently contacted our Association. During the conversation Tom mentioned that he had the actual nose cover taken off the last Snakedoctor in September 1971. He hand carried it home and has had it hanging on his wall in his workplace for years now. Tom has now donated this work of art to our Association. Chuck Carlock received it on 6-20-02 and assures me it is a beauty. This item will be mounted and displayed at all future reunions. If you have something gathering dust that has direct ties to our unit, please consider donating it for the enjoyment of hundreds of our men. If you went dead, what would your family do with these things?
June 21, 2002 - Terrell, TX USA
Whiz [E-mail]
Former: Warrant Officer Pilot with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign: Rattler 12
Gary, you are doing a fantastic on this site. I know it takes a lot of work and time to do this, thanks for the labor and love!! Whiz
June 20, 2002 - Alexandria, VA USA
George F. Bailey [E-mail]
Former: Warrant Officer Pilot with Company A/501st Aviation Battalion
Call sign: Rattler 29
Great new look for the site. I just checked out the remembrance page. When the comments start rolling in that's going to be the most powerful page in this site. Thanks GaryGB
June 11, 2002 - South Orange, NJ USA
Raul O. Guerrero [E-mail]
Former: NULL NULL with NULL
Call sign: NULL
Gary, you are to be complimented on the tribute you pay those that gave their lives. It is for the living to keep their memories alive, and you Sir have picked up the challenge and are to be commended. I salute you
June 11, 2002 - Lee's Summit, MO USA
Gary White [E-mail]
Former: Officer Pilot with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign: Rattler 19, Rattler 5, Firebird 96
The Remembrance page has been updated. You may now view more information about each of our KIA's and leave your thoughts and memories about them. Simply click the person's name and a separate page will be opened with the "official" data and a form where you can leave your message.I am ashamed to say that we only have photos of only 12 of our 55 men killed and many of those are really bad pictures. With all the camera equipment we bought while serving over there, we MUST have some better pictures of nearly all our men. Please help us do a better job. Those who died deserve to be remembered and you can help.One thing you may notice is what is referred to here as "classification". We all know of some of our comrades who died while serving as a crewmember of an aircraft that continued to fly and did not crash and in some cases were practically undamaged. You will notice that these losses are still referred to as one of the following categories:AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LANDAIR LOSS, CRASH AT SEAExcept for those two categories, all other losses are considered to be ground losses. That it is a poor system goes without saying. The point is, don’t get upset because you know something like that is not correct. The system simply was not designed to handle our unique situation. What you CAN do about it is to post your memories of what actually happened. That way, the truth can be preserved.Thanks,Gary White
June 8, 2002 - Overland Park, KS USA
Ron Seabolt [E-mail]
Former: Enlisted Crew Chief with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign: NULL
RATTLERS and FIREBIRDS....Our webmaster, Gary White, is about to upgrade our "Remembrance" page (KIAs)and give it the capability to be of much more use to everyone. You will be able to click on the KIAs name and have his photo pop up with his "Official" Army info. We are well aware that the official and the actual are often not the same. Below the photo will be a place for anyone to enter any memories or stories they wish about the deceased man. Just think what this info could mean to the families of our KIAs. We need help on this. Will you please take the time to send Gary any photos you may have of our KIAs. We have about 14 or 15 of the 55 so far. The photos will be returned ASAP. Send the photo(s) to: Gary White, 10015 West 94th St, Overland Park, KS 66212 or e-mail it to: gary@apptools.com .....Thank you for making our unit the best of the best!
June 7, 2002 - Terrell, TX USA
Norm (ND) Pruett [E-mail]
Former: Enlisted Pilot with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign: ANKA
Was just parrusing the pictures, good stuff, but in the Sam Moss pics, the first one refers to Cpt. Berry as just pilot...many of you, I'm sure, remember he was also our XO...well hell let me get to it...this was just an ice breaker, what I really wanted to do is post an apology!...a while back a special forces Major posted a guest book entry about how he was seriously wounded and how, because of a 71st Rattler crew, he made it back to Chu-Lai...He wanted to recomend that crew for a DFC and SS, for their brave rescue of him. I commented back to him in a kinda flip way, talking about how I did'nt care about no medals and did'nt need any to know what I did over there...truth is I was probably only involved in a handfull of "Hot LZ" CA's and mild ones, compared to what we went through when the unit flew out of Quang Tri (I did'nt start flying till' we got back to Chu-Lai). I should not have said what I said and Major..if you read this, I respectivly apologize, to you, your rank and the crew that got you home safe...I guess I tend to only get on here after having a few in the evening and can sometimes be pretty stupid as some of you can tell from my previous postings...well in the future, if you guy's catch me sayin' somthin' dumb (beer talk) please...just yell back - "Put a cork in it Pruett!" and I'll understand...Once again, sorry Major I hope you do find the crew, if there's anybody derserving of such high honors, it's a 71st Rattler crew!Thanks for puttin' up with me guys...Sign'n off,Norm "ND" PruettCC 1st plt Widow Makers, 71st AHCRVN 70-71"clear up left"
June 6, 2002 - Escalon, Ca. USA
Cherie Paxton (daughter of Terry) [E-mail]
Former: Enlisted Crew Chief with 71st Assault Helicopter Company
Call sign: Rattler
My dad was in Viet Nam with many of you. If you have any photos or stories about him, please e-mail. He passed away about 8 months ago and he never got a chance to tell us of his days in Viet Nam. I'm told he was in the Widow Maker group. Thanks. I honestly don't even know what a crew chief is.
June 5, 2002 - Longview, WA USA