Grunts of the sky So your day time job in 1971 was to fly around and get shot at

A friend of mine who is now full time VA care a conversation we had years ago. Just got text sitting here having coffee from his daughter.
Hope I’m not waking you yet I know you usually work nights I just opened my email and my Covid results are+.
I was to take mom to spend the weekend with dad Saturday and Sunday we have hotel reservations Friday to Sunday as this will be their 54 th wedding anniversary was wondering if you could take mom over so she can spend time with dad.

I text her absolutely I’ll check her into hotel tomorrow pick her up Sunday evening the hotel has transportation to and from Veterans hospital. I remember having couple beers with Andy he was union driver and we became really tight over the years.

Yet my point in this ramble is Andy once described to me what as Loach pilots he did in Vietnam they flew as scouts some times bait and once they were engaged they would engage usually the door gunner / crew chief with a M-60 and call in cobras that were hovering off station.

Then cobra gunships come in and get the killing on with the NVA. Man that gave me chills listening to him tell me that. I said dam you were the Grunts of the sky he told me in one year tour he was shot down five times in one day he rode two little birds him and his crew chief we rode two little bids into the trees on that operation two birds in one day lose a bird get picked up by Huey fly back strap on another little bird just a day at the office .

Andy continued telling me of that day in 71,they the NVA had 51 caliber heavy machine guns in that fucking valley but we flew we had our people on the ground engaging them his words that to me is STUD dedication.
I was five years old in 71 a bad day for me was the romper room lady never once called out my name Long night going bed sleep off night shift. Have great day Du community especially those that lived like my friend Andy.