2000 VHPA Reunion
Standing L to R – Bob Hamilton, Jim Furman, Jerry Crews, Bob Morris, Mel Doremus, Phil Hornbeck, Frank Tigano
Sitting L to R Weird Harold & Jim Pfutzner
The Comanchero mini reunion in Washington, DC on July 2,
2000, in conjunction with the VHPA reunion was not only a great success but a
tremendous opportunity for our families to see DC. The children and I
arrived early in DC on Saturday the 1st & left late Sunday the 2nd of
July. That Saturday, the children and I visited the different buildings
belonging to and surrounding the Smithsonian. We saw the original
Declaration of Independence with all the signatures, the Hope Diamond, the Mona
Lisa, visited the Air & Space Museum, saw dinosaur skeletons, paused at the
Washington Monument and much more, including riding around the White House and
the Capitol. It was really something special. Of course, the
children and I were priveyed to stand in front of the "The Wall" in
remembrance were we touch the names of some of our Comancheros who paid the
ultimate price to preserve our freedom. We took pictures with the Vietnam
Memorial Statue which is just "awe-inspiring!"
The statue consists of three dirty, sweaty soldiers setting back from "The
Wall" looking upon "The Wall" and is a reflection second to
none. If you haven't seen the Vietnam Memorial Statue along with,
"The Wall" which can bring tears to your eyes, a trip to DC would be
well worth it. Our family was fortunate to tie the visit in with the
Comanchero mini reunion which made it extra special. Our family did not
plan for more than two days in DC. We missed the banquet on Monday and
some Comancheros coming in later along with the great festivities that followed
through the 4th of July. The mini reunion on Sunday, July 2nd,
started at 1pm and went through 5pm. Jerry Crews and his lovely wife
Andie so graciously invite us all to attend this year’s mini reunion in DC and
were just wonderful hosts. We were provided a nice size room that
comfortably accommodated our members and those who intentionally made their way
over to stop in and chat with the Comancheros in town. I was impressed on
how well the Comancheros are known among the best. Gary Rossomme was one
of our visitors who were with A /158 back in 71-72 and remembers the
Comancheros during Lam Son 719. He was Ghost Rider 17 and was personally
aware of some of the attributes that followed the Comancheros. In fact,
in my amazement he informed a few of us of a book that is out by Tom Marshall
called, "Price of Exit" which talks about the Comancheros during Lam
Son 719. He warned us that the book was on the technical side but
accurate reading for those who are interested. Comanchero Jim Pfutzner
and his wife Diane, I believe, were the first to arrive for the mini
reunion. I noticed Jim with his Comanchero hat on and walked up to him
and his wife and introduced myself. Jim's daughter Diane and her husband
Ken and their two children, Andrea and Aydan, accompanied Jim and his wife to
Washington, DC. Being early, I decided to mosey on down and look at some
of the other aviation units that had put out displays in coordination with the
VHPA reunion. About an hour later I ran into Jerry Crews and Bob
Morris. Two very special soldiers from back in the old days whom I was so
glad to see. We chatted for a while and decided to head up to the
dedicated Comanchero room. When we got there, we were met by Harold Smith
and his wife, Jeannette. Weird Harold, as he was called way back then,
was the original Comanchero 11 and quite a fellow. He shared some of his
old days as Eagle 11 with us and I found him to be very impressive. Sitting at
the table with Harold and his wife was Comanchero Joe Thibodeaux and his wife
Sara. In walked a familiar face, Comanchero Jim Furman and his wife Susan
accompanied by their grandson Ryan. Jim quickly set up his lap top
computer which began a revolving display of hundreds of pictures from Vietnam
he had converted from slides. Jim offered his services to the
Comancheros as an attorney and more important, he has the services of a young
man who would be glad to convert slides to the computer. Jim said the
young man can convert approximately one slide every 60 seconds and will be glad
to work for $5 an hour. Those interested can reach Jim by e-mail:
[email protected] or by
phone at 512-454-3751. Anyway, Harold, Joe and Jim were in Vietnam at the
same time and they seemed to all agree on Weird Harold's version of how the
Comancheros got there name. Comanchero Ron Carl from the 68-69 era
walked in with Kingsmen Jim Little who was with B/101 back in 67-68. Jim
works with one of our own Comancheros, Ray Ferrante and both cannot be away
from Trump Aviation at the same time. I missed not seeing Ray but it was
a pleasure meeting and talking with Jim Little. Bob Heisterman stopped in to
give us a few laughs with a particular aviation helmet that caught our
attention. Bob was with D/101 back in 68-69 and passed on some good
information about the Kingsmen and Black Widow's getting together the next day
for their reunion. Comanchero Phil Hornbeck came in town for the VHPA and
noticed on the schedule that the Comancheros were having a mini reunion and
hustled right over. I gave Phil our web address and he was very
interested in checking in with the Comancheros. We had a nice discussion
about A/101 during both our transitions. He was leaving Vietnam and I was
there 3 months. There seemed to be some confusion, probably on my part,
on the transition of A/101 from guns to slicks. Well, it's only 30 years
almost, so a few of the details are sure to be a little cloudy. Mal
Doremus, C 2/17 Cav, from the 70-71 era remembers the Comancheros at Khe Shan
during Lam Son 719. We didn't have to do any bragging about the
Comancheros, he
did it for us. Also, Bob Hamilton who was with 1/17 Avn back in 70-71 and
some others stopped by to say hello. Our children were having a great
time running around playing with each other and the wives gathered together in
one corner of the room talking and laughing and just enjoying each other’s
company. Guys and gals, I cannot express to you how special I felt to
belong to an exceptional group known as the "Comancheros!" Am
I proud? You bet! During this mini reunion I found out that the
Comancheros call sign is the oldest in use in Army Aviation. That the
Comancheros made a difference and it showed up in print in several books and
magazines. And most important for me, this visit brought closure to a war
almost thirty years ago and a new beginning for long lost friendships that just
cannot be summed up in a few words. These friendships are automatically
extended not only to those Comancheros who paved the way before us or those
Comancheros who followed after us, but to all who stepped into the land of the
Num as I was so fortunate to experience first hand. For those
Comancheros of the Vietnam era who, for what ever reason, have not been able
to get together yet, "need to," it's a big part of becoming whole
again!!!
Frank A Tigano
Comanchero 11
All Photos property of Frank Tigano
|
Jim Furman, wife; Susan, grandson Ryan and Jerry Crews to the right |
L to R Jim Furman, Jerry Crews and Bob Morris |
Jim Furman left shaking hands with Gary Rossomme, A Co 158th 71-72 Ghostrider 17, Diane Pfutzner |
|
Jerry Crews with Wife along side of him. Weird Harold (center) telling stories, Joe Thibodeaux sitting. |
L to R, Bob Morris, Phil Hornbeck and Harold Smith |
L to R Diane Pfutzner, Mel Doremus, C 7/17th Cav 70/71, and Jerry Crews |
|
Bob Hamilton, 1/17th AVN 70-71, and Susan Furman |
L to R Bob Heisterman, D/101 AVN 68-69, Weird Harold, Bob Hamilton |
Around the Table L to R – Jerry Crews, Jeannette Smith, Harold Smith In Rear – Frank Tigano’s Grandchild Matthew Earl, Jordan Tigano and Andie Crews |
|
L to R Jerry Crews, Jeannette Smith, Harold Smith |
Bob Morris |
In the center is Jim Pfutzner’s Daughter Angie with her children, holding Aydan and Andrea on her other side. To the left is her husband Ken Willburn and to her right is Grandpa Jim Pfutzner. |
|
Jim and Dianne Pfutzner |
All Photos property of Frank Tigano |
