Essential Part of the Team
I connected with another Charlie Trooper over the weekend. Specialist 5 Jordan Green was a Cobra mechanic with Charlie Troop 1/9th (September 1969-70) and now resides in Yakima, WA. He made a two hour trip east to my home in Kennewick where we traded stories of different events while stationed in Phuoc Vinh. He also shared his photos which I am using in this blog entry.
Thanks Jordan!
The Maintenance platoon’s main job was to keep Charlie Troop’s aircraft running in tip-top condition, which was critical for the success of our missions.
Quite often a helicopter mechanic would ride with the pilot on a test flight. Jordan recalled one particular time he flew front seat on a Cobra on one such flight. He said the pilot was short and had a mustache. We both agreed it could have been Randy Zahn (“Snake Pilot“) who after gaining altitude, shut the engine down…
Spec 5 Jordan Green working on AH-1G ‘Cobra’
‘Snake’ ready for flight
Back side of maintenance hanger
‘Short Timer’ in this Group
CH-47 Chinook
HQ’s Troop bird that experienced sudden blade stoppage when the pilot was hovering out of a revetment at Phouc Vinh.
Brought in by the ‘Blues’
Can anyone name this Charlie Trooper?
Jordan Green puts himself to sleep by reading the Cobra Maintenance Manual.
Newly built Charlie Troop hooches before sandbags.
Look who did the sandbags.
Light Observation Helicopter (LOH)
Weapons from an enemy cache.
Steve Halverson, Frank Archdeacon & Jordan Green
Dennis Junger’s photo
Good going Rob. We need to find as many C Troopers as we can. The photos are very good.
Thanks Pat,
Seems like all the ‘Blues’ went into hiding…
Hi Rob!
Congratulations on the reunion, I would like to be there and hear your stories.
I am happy for you.
We never met while in Phuoc Vinh because we were in different platoons, but we could relate to many of the same events that occurred there.
Seeing those photos of papa victor after you (1st Cav) took over is great. Photos bring back a lot of memeroies. Thanks. roland hayes 3/187 company B 101st ABN Div 67/68
If you would share any photos of Phuoc Vinh while your time there, I will put them on my site and acknowledge their origin.
Rob, Thanks for puting my pictures up.The two troopers sitting on the bunk with me are Steve Halverson and Frank Archdeacon.
Jordan, the pleasure was all mine!
Thanks for the great pics…