Good Morning Vietnam

My life is still situated in the middle of nowhere and next to pretty much no one.  

However, I am really starting to enjoy the peace and quiet that my life has become.

I am starting to go to some of the smaller towns that are around and seeing what they may offer.  When I found a festival that offered pork rinds and cracklins’ I was all over going.  What I expected when I arrived was much different than what was actually there.

In the small town of Harrod, Ohio the population of no more than 400 people sat this unique festival that they have every year.  The town has a very small, but powerful memorial to those that were lost during war.  As I arrived I moved past each of the stones and names that were on there all from around this one little county.  Each died early in their lives doing something they felt was for the greater good of the country.

On this day, there was an American Huey Helicopter that you could take a ride in.  

This helicopter flew in Vietnam.  

The helicopter was flown and ran by those that had been in the service.  Everyone was a volunteer and these helicopters meant the world to them.  These helicopters have been retired and replaced by what everyone knows now as the Blackhawk.  Nine out of ten times during Vietnam the men did not wear the “seat belts” that were provided and just jumped on and off out of the sides since there were no doors and this was due to the helicopter being the biggest target there was. 

All together you can have 10 people inside; two in the front and four on each side.

 

The headquarters for this operation is based out of Peru, Indiana.  The site can be found here and make sure that you see if they are coming near you.  For a price, you can become a member or a lifetime member.  The cost to fly a Huey alone is $2500 per hour.  The group also goes and restores ones that they find.  This can be all over and most of the time it is the same small group that goes. 

These men and women that came out more about the history of every Huey that was flown than I could ever try and write here.  That is why it is very important to click that link above and find out more.  This is something that needs to be kept going and these guys will tell you the more they do this and the more "seasoned" they get, they need a younger generation to help out.

Not only was the Huey there, but also veterans that had been to Vietnam.

These guys did not get the Welcome Home they deserve and to this day don't.

However, if you talk to them and listen to their stories it becomes clear what they did.

I had the pleasure of talking to a gentleman than looks for those that are still MIA.

He tries to bring them home.

Each name on this board has a date that is missing and that date is the "home" date.  That meaning they are still looking for them.  Everyone on these boards that you see are from Ohio.

They make it their mission to find these men.

Most of these were POW.

Take the time out and say thank you for what they have done and listen to what they have to say.  

The stories that they have to tell will touch your heart.

Please make sure to check out their site for more information on how you can help with this mission.