LZ Houston

AFTER ACTION REPORTS AND PHOTOS

In the Shadow of the Blade

LZ Pasadena & LZ Houston

Thursday 11/7/02

Left Franklin, La at 0900 driving to Pasadena, Tx. Kept well within the speed limit and drove super defensively, no way was I going to get delayed or waylaid. Arrived Pasadena and was in my hotel room for 1400. Went out, bought a map and did a recon of the area, found Ellington Field and the Pasadena LZ, Wasn’t about to fight the Houston traffic to check out the Houston LZ.

Met up with Jerry later that evening and was treated to an outstanding meal and good conversation at a Mexican restaurant he frequents. Thanks Jerry, it was great. Learned that permission had been granted, courtesy of the Texas National Guard, for the Shadow bird to have an Apache escort.

Friday 11/8/02

Woke up at 0600 and had 4 hours to kill before our planned meeting time at Ellington Field. Kept looking at my watch, but the damned hour hand just didn’t seem to be moving. Finally it was time, hopped in the truck and drove out to Ellington. Jerry was there with Connie MacPearson and his wife, who curiously enough is also named Connie. Connie is the guy that Keith Bodine saved, setting the stage for this reunion. The Pasadena Chief of Police arrived shortly after to let us in. I believe his name is Ron Cobb, (Jerry will correct me if I’m wrong). He was an ex-snake driver who had gotten shot up pretty bad flying front seat one day. Jerry’s wife Lucille arrived along with their son and their three granddaughters. One could not help but see the pride in their eyes.

At 1030, right on schedule the Shadow bird arrived, but was directed to land at the wrong place. After about 15 minutes or so she was finally repositioned and I could finally get my hand on her. WOW!!

Met Bruce LeMoine (pilot), Jim Palmershiem, (regular co-pilot), and the Rev. Bill McDonald (project chaplain). There were so many other there as well I just can’t recall their names, (here’s where you can step in Jerry). The Rev Bill is a character.

Two of the Apache drivers showed up for the pre-mission briefing, Jerry went over the charts he had so carefully put together and the film crew started their preliminary filming with Connie. Afterwards I was able to place a Comanchero decal on the left side door post. It was 1130 before we knew it and all of a sudden there was a burst of activity, Pat Fries, (aka Spielberg) wanted us at the Pasadena LZ immediately. (Found out later that one of the Apache front seaters thought he was actually going to meet Steven Spielberg) We got Connie and his wife loaded, Jerry climbed in the left seat. Ron, myself and a couple of others hopped in the back and Bruce cranked her up. Remember Jerry’s charts, well in all the haste he forgot them and his helmet. Hee hee hee, sorry Jerry, I just couldn’t pass it up.

After cranking we repositioned over to the National Guard area and waited on the Apaches’, man they take a long time to crank. In the meantime, Ray Asgar was flying the photo bird around and was not making any friends with anyone in the tower, while doing it. He was warned away from different areas a couple of times. After what seemed like an eternity, the Apaches’ were cranked and we lifted off in a Vee formation with us in the lead and headed to the first LZ. What a rush!! Ray, much to the consternation of the Apache drivers, was all over the place trying to get pictures. This would be played out many times during the afternoon.

Right at 1200, after a couple of flyovers, we landed in a field right next to the church. The Apaches’ did a couple more flyovers and set down next to us. Connie and Keith, after all these years, finally got to see each other again. It was quite emotional as one would imagine. Got to meet Cheryl and Pat Fries, both were very happy to hear that Comanchero’s were present and that there would be more at the VA Hospital.

As emotional as the meeting between Connie and Keith was; the highlight of the day for me, besides being able to play CE for one more day, happened at this LZ. A 60 some year old woman was walking around the Shadow bird with her 16 year old granddaughter, someone noticed she was wearing a Red Cross pin and started asking her questions. It turns out that she was a Donut Dolly, I believe she had done two tours. Anyway, while she was telling her story, I was watching the granddaughter. I guess that this lady had not spoken much to her family about what she had seen and done in Nam. Well as she spoke, the changes in the granddaughter’s expression and demeanor as she learned about her grandmother, was truly amazing. It was one of those proverbial priceless moments to watch this young woman learn what her Grandmother had done, and come to the realization that her Grandmother was as much a hero as anyone there. Before we departed for the VA Hospital, a few people were invited to take a short hop, both the Grandmother and granddaughter were included and I had the honor of escorting them from the aircraft afterwards.

Around 1430 we loaded Connie and Keith back up and departed the Pasadena LZ en route to the Houston LZ at the VA Hospital. Again we were in a tight Vee formation with the Apaches’, Ray was back to flitting all over the sky much to the concern of the Apache drivers and we had picked up a news helicopter. While flying to the Houston LZ, Bruce turned the controls over to Jerry. We were directed by Hobby ATC to cross right over the top of Hobby International at midfield and to maintain 500 ft at 60 knots, I think someone on the ground wanted a photo op.

Arrived at the Houston and did a couple of flyovers with the Apaches’, and landed. The Apaches’ did a few more flybys and because there was no room for them, returned to Ellington.

Saw Michael Gouch immediately, and after a few frantic minutes of looking around, I finally found Curt Bodin, (aka “The Ragin Cajun”). Even though we have lived only about 50 miles apart for the past 4 years, this was the first time we have been able to hook up. It was super to be able to meet up with another one of my old chauffeurs. Michael kind of stayed on the sidelines, but Curt hopped right up into the right seat. Well not exactly hopped, but he got up there. Curt’s brother was there and got some good pictures of him and I was going to get some video, but before I could, Curt had a mic in his face and some reporter was interviewing him. Later Curt got to place a Screaming Eagle patch in the left gunwell and when Pat Fries asked him why, Curt pulled out some rubbings from the wall with the names of George Berg’s and Craig Farlow’s crews on them. He simply told Pat, “This is why”.

While at the Houston LZ, Sarah Beal, who handles the still photography for the project took a good picture of Michael, Curt and myself standing in front of the bird. I don’t know where Jerry was. Also while at the hospital, an elderly gentleman walks up to Curt, starts poking at his CCN patch and then points to himself. Turns out this guy was one of the original SF FOB-1 group and had just had a bullet he’d carried around for 40 some years removed.

1630, time to pull pitch again and head back to Ellington. Before we departed the Houston area we made a couple of turns around downtown, it was just before sunset and the view was incredible. Of course I was on the wrong side of the aircraft, we made right hand orbits and I was on the left side. We did though while leaving, fly right over downtown at 500 ft, it was totally awesome. After departing Houston, Jerry once again took the controls and flew us back to Ellington where he shot a perfect approach to a 3 ft hover and sat her down like he was landing on a pile of pillows. Way to go Jerry!!

After arriving back at Ellington and putting the birds to bed it was time to retire to Keith Bodine’s house and unwind. Keith and his wife were wonderful hosts. The company was great. The crew has a song sung to the Beetles Yellow Submarine song, I don’t remember the verses but the chorus goes:

“We all live in the shadow of the blade,

the shadow of the blade,

the shadow of the blade”

When you think about it, we do all live in the shadow of the blade.

The food was great, Keith’s wife has a bean dip and an apple crisp to die for. The drink was great, Gary Lee was there in spirit, literally. A couple of weeks before he had sent me a special delivery of peach, I poured off a quart and took it with me. It was received with great appreciation and admiration that something as ordinary as a peach could be so transformed. Gary Lee, if your ears were burning Friday night, now you know why.

2130, all good things must come to an end. It might have lasted longer had it not been for the peach. The crew had an early morning departure so they could get to Angelfire, NM for the Veterans Day celebration there. Before leaving, I looked around and saw Connie and Keith sitting at the table holding hands while in a deep discussion, all I could think of was a line from a song by Louis Armstong “And I think to myself, what a wonderful world”.

Both Pat and Cheryl Fries are wonderful people, Pat went about his job of interviewing people in a very unobtrusive and respectful fashion. And Cheryl, well she was just everywhere, doing everything. I really think that she is the glue holding everything together. The crew, I can’t say enough about them. All are very professional and very respectful of the people who’s story they are trying to tell. My thanks and eternal appreciation go out to all of them for allowing an aging old CE once again perform his duties.

If the Shadow bird is going to be anywhere near any of you, go see it. The one mistake I made was to go by myself. When you go see her, bring your family.

May God keep them safe on their journey.

Tom Halligan

A selection of photos of this day and event by Tom Halligan

Additional photos of this day and event by Jerry Turner

It's taken me a while to understand what happened last weekend, I just wanted to share some thoughts with you all....

Anticipation; waiting for the Shadow Bird to arrive, wondering if I really could fly it after all these years, nervousness, pacing,
sweating...

Arrival; the familiar sound of a UH1, first sight of the Bird, immediate deja vu, no flash back, just memories of a time long ago and
far away...

Preflight briefing; carefully planned route to LZs briefed to Apache Pilots and Bruce LeMoine, load Connie Mack Pearson into aircraft (he's a paraplegic from wounds suffered) then wait for a call from Pat Fries, call comes in, hurry up get into the aircraft, already late for arrival at the Church Reunion LZ, have to forego planned over flight of Johnson Space Center....

Enroute; crank up using checklist, wait for Apaches to crank, depart Ellington as a flight of four, Shadow Bird, chase aircraft, two Apaches, immediate right turn out, set course for Church LZ, oh shit, left map in car, hope I can find the church....

Arrival at Church LZ; manage to find Church, remembered preflight brief, this ain't so bad, overfly Church in formation with Apaches,
large crowd awaiting our arrival, a sea of upturned faces, two passes over LZ, Apaches break off, very windy, land to the south, short final, pick up Keith Bodine in LZ acting as landing guide, land to Keith, looking good!

Reunion; Keith and Connie Mack Pearson (a WIA grunt) finally meet after 30+ years, tears, emotions plain on all faces, film crews taking
pictures, people milling around admiring the aircraft, many "thanks for your service" and "welcome homes", look around for wife and family, instead find Ed O'Quinn whom I have not seen since 1966, hugs and "how ya doin, you look great"! Many pictures taken, lunch for crew, then rides for vets and a "Donut Dolly" and her Granddaughter, surprise, my son gets a ride with his old man at he controls, his face lit-up, scrambled aboard and off we go (yes, I have pictures), my big moment....

Departure; Load up up Keith and Connie, along with Johnny Hubbs, Tom Halligan, full crew, one CE, one DG, two pilots plus pax, join with
Apaches, chase bird, joined by three TV news ships enroute, off to the VA Hospital in Houston....geez, hope I can find it????

Enroute; TV birds film our formation, flitting in and out as we progress to the VA Hospital, cross Hobby Airport at 500' right over the
tower, Bruce very busy with the radios, everybody looking for traffic, Guard Pilots nervous about the TV ships, all clear, continue enroute, manage to find the hospital, over fly three times in formation, Apaches break off, we land, small LZ, Bruce handles landing, once more a large crowd, upturned faces....waves...Apaches handling security (The Apache Pilots were both Vietnam Vets, went into Hospital LZ just like we used to in Vietnam, one Gunship providing protection on each wing), LZ was too small for Apaches to land, so they were making simulated gun runs while we landed....

In LZ; once again many people milling around, film crews interviewing anyone who looked interesting, even me! Many Vets of all eras, met a gentleman who flew B24s in WWII out of Burma, said he was a Vietnam Vet also, he bombed Saigon, Hanoi and Haiphong (SP), watch Vets touch the aircraft sit in the seats, watched tears, smiles, pride, talked to an Infantry Man who cried as he touched the Huey. Met two more Comancheros at this LZ, Michael Gouch and Curt Boudin, Curt reunited with Tom Halligan, his CE in Vietnam, sat in the pilot's seat and reminisced about the old days....more embraces and tears...

Return; after 2 and one half hours in the VA Hospital LZ, we once again departed, this time returning to Ellington field, we made several orbits of downtown Houston to allow the chase bird to film us against the skyline, the sun was just starting to set, what a beautiful sight, Bruce turned the aircraft over to me and we turned for home at 500' and 60 kts, why 60kts? Bruce said it was so the bird could sing her song, he calls it a "time machine", singing songs of the past and her proud service, like us, a survivor. Once again a full crew and pax, one of whom was 1/Lt. Randy Stillinger, OIC for the Apaches, the guys in the back were taking bets on one, could I find the airfield and two, could I get us down safely, well I fooled 'em on all counts, I not only found the airfield, but I executed a textbook approach to the parking ramp, some things you never forget.....

I know this is long and rambling, but I finally got to the point where I could collect and express some thoughts on a wonderful day, a wonderful bunch of people, a wonderful aircraft and a wonderful experience, God Bless them all...thanks guys...

Jerry (The Remembering Lizard)
AAHS '61

Here is an article on the Shadow of The Blade reunion in Houston.....
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=6012605&BRD=1579&PAG=461&dept_id=181233&rfi=6