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Huey brings back memories of Vietnam War
Documentary film crew lands helicopter in Liberty County to record veterans'
stories.
By Noelle Phillips
Savannah Morning News
SUNBURY -- Before the helicopter's green body ever appeared on the horizon
Saturday, before the rotor blades spun into sight, Donald Singleton heard the
distinctive sound of a UH-1 Huey helicopter.
Whop. Whop. Whop. Whop. Whop.
"I always liked that sound," Singleton said, clinching his fist to
make the point. "I liked that sound.
"I knew when I heard that sound and saw the blades on the horizon. I knew I
was getting some cold chow, some hot beer, a re-supply
of ammo or out of a hot spot."
Singleton stood among 100 or so other people Saturday afternoon in southern
Liberty County as a Huey touched down in a grassy field. The helicopter landed
as part of the traveling production of "In the Shadow of the Blade," a
documentary about Huey helicopters and Vietnam.
The filmmakers plan to take the Huey on a two-month, 12-state tour to record the
memories of Vietnam veterans as they reminisce about their experiences in a
Huey.
When Singleton climbed on board Saturday, tears welled.
"The last time I flew in one of these, they didn't have any seats,"
Singleton said. "I was the only guy "
He broke off, unable to finish telling his story in front of the cameras.
Later, Singleton said his last flight on board a Huey was on May 18, 1967.
Singleton, an infantryman in the 101st Airborne Division, had been wounded by
shrapnel, and the Huey flew him out of the combat zone.
Details of the flight, though, are too gruesome for Singleton to talk about.
"When I heard the blades -- I didn't even see the chopper -- I saw all of
that again," he said.
The documentary concept began three years ago, and the Texas-based Arrowhead
Film and Video company launched the project last week from Fort Rucker, Ala.,
said Cheryl Fries, creative director.
The film project will travel through Veterans Day. Some stops are scheduled to
be small, private interviews; others are more public.
When the project started, filmmakers hoped there would be some spontaneous
landings along the route.
That's exactly what happened with Saturday's stop.
Bruce McCartney, who served as a medic on Hueys in Vietnam, read about the film
project on the Internet. He noticed there was a stop in Savannah and e-mailed
the filmmakers, asking if there were any planned events.
When McCartney heard the crew only planned to refuel at Hunter
Army Airfield, he invited them a Low country
boil.
The next thing he knew, the filmmakers asked if they could land the Huey in his
yard.
When the project began, Fries said they hoped such impromptu events would
happen.
"This particular one in Savannah is the most spur-of-the-moment and the
most grassroots that has been organized," Fries said. "This will be a
very public thing. We'll just roll cameras and see what happens."
McCartney was thrilled with the outcome.
"We put it out and I'm glad everybody came and they're having a good
time," he said. "What I'm proud of is that I heard that 'whop, whop,
whop.'"
Military reporter Noelle Phillips
can be reached at phillips @
savannahnow.com or 652-0366.
On the Web
To read more about the documentary project, check out the Web site
www.intheshadowoftheblade.com.
About the project
"In the Shadow of the Blade" is a documentary that has been in
the planning stages for nearly three years.
Last week, the film crew launched its project at Fort Rucker, Ala., to begin a
six-week, 12-state tour. On the tour, they will meet Vietnam veterans and record
their stories about Huey helicopters.
The 12-member crew includes three Vietnam veterans: One is a chaplain; one is
verifying accuracy of stories, and one is handling logistics. The Huey's two
pilots are former Army aviators but they did not serve in Vietnam because they
were too young.
Source: www.intheshadowoftheblade.com
and Cheryl Fries, creative director
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