GIFTS of WAR

A Lady's Visit One of the strangest things I witnessed while in country occurred at our Battalion helipad at Landing Zone Sally. LZ Sally was our rear support area located in I Corps about 10 miles north of Hue and west of highway 1. I was working as Delta Company's XO (Executive Officer) after spending seven months in the field as a combat infantry platoon leader. My mission for this day was to accompany Delta Company's re-supply to the field and make contact with our Company Commander and platoon leaders to see if there was anything I could do to help them. As I recall, it was mid morning on a bright sunny day as I attended to our re-supply at the helipad and chatted with the two helipad operators. The helipad's landing surface was constructed of olive-drab steel landing mat. I could hear the signature sound, “whop-whop -whop, “of an approaching UH-1 (Huey) as its main rotor bit its way through the humid mid morning air to our helipad. Suddenly a dog appeared as on cue at the edge of the helipad. To me this was a rare occurrence since the only dogs I recall encountering were German shepherds and they were always accompanied by their handlers. This was a lone dog that trotted to the helipad and sat at attention, obliviously intently focused on something other than the heliport activities. I asked the heliport operators, “What's with the dog?” Then the story began to unfold. According to them, while one of our units was on an operation they discovered and liberated the dog from a village where she was soon to be dinner. The solders named her Lady and brought her to LZ Sally where she would be safe. Lady enjoyed her safe new family and would reciprocate by being a “Lucky Lady” and morale builder for the troops in base camp and those in the field. I was “awe struck” and somewhat in disbelief as I watched her sitting at attention. Her front legs were pulsing with excitement as the Hue approached. Being a dog lover I estimated Lady's' weight to be around 35 lbs., a medium sized dog. Her pedigree was unfamiliar to me though she looked like a cross between a Spitz and German shepherd. She was stout with medium to short legs and short hair. The Huey was now over the landing pad slightly teetering as its struts felt their way to the landing mat. Once the engine's rpms were cut, that seemed to be Lady's signal to board. She trotted up to the ship, jumped into the cargo area and boldly moved to her assigned position between the two pilots. The pilot and crew were elated that this VIP had selected their flight for a trip to the field. Once our re-supply was on board we lifted off, slightly tipping forward as we gained forward air speed then altitude. I was seated, center, on the bench jump-seat a few feet behind Lady as I took this photo. I was still in awe thinking of what fears this dog overcame to be able to hitch a ride on a helicopter and choose to live with us. As we flew to my company's field location Lady focused her attention forward on the view outside the cockpit window. Once we touched down Lady boldly leaped from the helicopter and started making her rounds. This Asian female Rin Tin Tin made her rounds as though she was a one-woman USO show. I can't begin to describe the positive uplifting influence she had on my unit that day. She was truly magical to a bunch of guys that needed and deserved magic. I confess that I felt a bit vulnerable on my flight back to LZ Sally since Lady Luck stayed with our company. She was in the right place with the right guys but I was no longer under her protection.