SAMUEL K. BEAMON
There have been many stories of those that served in Vietnam. Some stories have been of combat units, battles, Pilots that had been shot down and captured, along with some helicopter squadrons. This story gives a different prespective of the war.
No matter what conflict that a helicopter and its crew flies into; the job, the level of responsibility and the feelings are the same.
The troops on the ground would hear the sounds of a helicopter coming into their area. Looking up, they saw this complex flying machine blowing sand and dust all around. The chopper brought in anything and everything that the troops needed. The wounded and dead were evacuated. Reenforcements were delivered and the troops were brought back to their camps.
Did the troops ever think about the people that operated these helicopters? What did it take to keep the machines flying? What kind of pressures were the flight crews facing on a daily basis?
This story is the memories of a Combat Helicopter Crew Chief doing what was necessary to accomplish the mission of supporting the troops.
Sam Beamon enlisted in the Marine Corps in April 1965 on a delayed entry program. He went on active duty on August 26, 1965. He completed 19 months in Vietnam serving as a Helicopter Crew Chief.
After being honorably discharged from the military service, he worked at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft for a year. He then joined the Police Department in Waterbury, Connecticut and rose through the ranks to the level of Lieutenant. For his last 12 years, he was in charge of the Juvenile Division. He retired after 28 years of service.
He still lives in Waterbury, where he was born and raised.
For more information, reviews and events - Please checkout my web site -- www.sambeamon.com
The worst kept secret on the base was that in December the entire squadron was going to South Vietnam. I was a reciprocating (piston driven) engine mechanic and knew nothing about these jet engines. I was told that the Corps would take care of that. How was I going to tell my mother? What was she going to think? I was going to Vietnam and to war.
Bingo ----- Reality Check ----- The Marine Corps!!
We were flying both day and night missions in support of the Marines battling for the Hills. We were flying into the face of death and had been lucky. On May 10th, 1967, I was aboard the carrier. We were scheduled for a morning launch to Khe Sanh. We received word that Captain Paul Looney had been killed.
REALITY CHECK -- “You could get killed doing this job!”
No battle lines and the enemy could be anywhere. Our friends were being wounded and dying. We were not the Generals or the policy makers, but our job was the dirty one. We did the job that we were trained to do. Too many died doing their job. This was war.
Our troops died from the enemy, they died from our own troops (good old friendly fire) and they died from equipment that was defective. You prayed that you did not make a mistake that might cost an American his life. Nobody is perfect and there are mistakes that were made in every war.
