Sixteen years after retiring from active duty, Mr.
Baird still feels drawn to the "first ship I flew."
"You could smell that jet fuel burning in the air, and it just got in
your blood," he said.
Terry Reininger of North Richland Hills had the same reaction. The
53-year-old retired Army aviator spent 24 years on active duty, including a
stretch as an aircraft manager during Desert Storm, where he kept tabs on about
2,800 Hueys.
"I run out the front door of my house when I hear a Huey or a
Chinook," he said. "Opening the [Huey] door and smelling the canvas
... there's no feeling like that in the world."
When Mr. Reininger recently climbed into the co-pilot's seat for the first
time in six years, the memories came flooding back. It didn't take much to
persuade him to sign on to the documentary as a project manager in charge of the
Huey's maintenance.
Mike Vennable, a captain for Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, joined the
flight crew after a similar experience. Like Mr. Baird, the Granbury resident
served two tours in Vietnam as a Huey pilot.
The chief pilot for the documentary will be Bruce LeMoine, who said he has
been fixing or flying Hueys for 23 years. The first officer for American
Airlines says he's most at home when he's in the cockpit. When he's not working,
he pilots the Texas Air Command Museum's Huey for school programs, special
events and memorial services.
Meeting veterans who flock to the helicopter is part of the fun, the Army
Reservist said. He recalled a man who had been in line at a nearby grocery store
when he heard the unforgettable whir overhead. The man left his cart in the
checkout line, jumped in his car and tracked the helicopter down so he could see
it up close.
"It's absolutely my honor and privilege to even be associated with these
men who have never been honored," Mr. LeMoine said. "These guys
defined sacrifice years and years ago."
Distinctive whir
Even people with no military experience are often moved to tears when they hear
what some veterans call the "sound of freedom."
In late June, The Church at Burleson had a ceremony to honor police officers,
firefighters, medics, military and the heroes of Sept. 11. One of the highlights
was a fly-by and display of the Huey helicopter that's being used in the
documentary.
Worship pastor Stan Denman said he would never forget the surge of emotion
that swept over his congregation as members heard the distinctive whop-whop-whop
overhead while singing "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The moment inspired Mr. Denman to write and record a song that he donated to
the project. The lyrics honor those who served their country:
"They were heroes, angels on the wind
They bravely faced the devil to save the lives of friends
They were heroes, though we may not know their names
The freedom that they fought for was won beneath the shadow of the blade"
More than the smell of the jet fuel or the unforgettable whop of the rotor,
many veterans and reserve officers say they treasure the history surrounding the
Huey and the sheer joy of flying it.
"This is where you got to use your hands, both hands, and both
feet," and your head has to keep moving at all times, Mr. Reininger said of
the complicated controls. "It's old-fashioned flying."
E-mail kholland@dallasnews.com
