SPIRITUAL WARRIOR
Issue 10, February 6, 2001 - Bill McDonald Editor
ZIPPO
STORIES
Contributed by Jay Riseden
I'm sitting here looking at my Vietnam
Zippo in a display case. The following
is a piece Steve Dillman wrote for his hometown newspaper for Veterans Day a
few years back. It also appears in the VHPA Historical Reference Directory.
A "ZIPPO" STORY
by Steve Dillman
Gunslinger 39
128th Assault Helicopter Company
Phu Loi, Viet Nam 1/67-1/68
In the gun (armed) platoon it was a common thing to have a Zippo cigarette
lighter that had been engraved in downtown Phu Loi with your name, call sign,
128th AHC and an armed B Model UH-1. My engraved lighter is one of my most
prized souvenirs from Viet Nam.
I completed my active duty time with the ARMY in early November 1969.
Subsequently, I left Fort Wolters, Texas for my home town of Etna, California
and actively searched for work as a helicopter pilot. While at home, I
participated in the recreational basketball program as a member of one of the
local teams. At one of the games during that particular winter my
"Zippo" was
stolen from my pants pocket in the locker room.
The following spring, April of 1970, I found work with TEMSCO Helicopters and
we moved to Ketchikan, Alaska. However, five years later we moved back to
Etna, California where I continued to fly helicopters, working for several
different companies. At that time, my wife and I became involved in different
community affairs, i.e., the volunteer ambulance service and recreational
softball which resulted in our family becoming well-known in the local area.
I believe that it was one evening in 1985 when I was serving as an umpire for
a ladies softball game that I was approached by a lady spectator. She asked
if I was Steve Dillman and I told her I was. She then handed me the
"Zippo"
that I had not seen in 15 years. I asked her how she had come to have it. She
explained that she had gone to a church-sponsored yard sale where members of
the church had donated items which were then sold to support various
functions. It was at this sale that she picked up my lighter. I thanked her
and told her how much that little "Zippo" meant to me. I recall trying
to
explain to her what it was like to serve in a combat unit like the 128th
Tomahawks and to be part of the 3rd platoon Gunslingers-- a very special
group of guys. I told her that I was very proud to have been in Viet Nam, to
have served my country, and that I would go again.
My engraved "Zippo" is even more cherished now (after its 15 year
disappearing act). I have told this story many times at the Viet Nam
Helicopter Pilot Reunions and it is simply amazing how many other pilots have
similar stories to relate. Please read on.........
This is another "Zippo" story about Jay Riseden, Gunslinger 35,
1967-1968 as
I remember it:
Jay and I served in the Gunslingers at the same time and flew many missions
together-- aircraft commander and pilot, fire team leader and wing man. We
Gunslingers were a team in every sense of the word. We flew together, ate
together at the 11th Combat Aviation Battalion Mess Hall, and yes we partied
together in our platoon club, The Horny Hollow where a large rendition of
Warner Brothers cartoon character Yosemite Sam was painted on the wall.
Jay also had a "Zippo" engraved with name, call sign, 128th AHC
insignia and
an armed B Model UH-1. Several years after leaving the Army, Jay was working
for the FAA in Eastern Nevada. One day while traveling a dirt road on a
fishing trip in a very remote part of the state, the muffler was knocked
loose from Jay's vehicle. It was here, forty miles from the nearest paved
road, that Jay lost his Zippo lighter while repairing the damage to the
exhaust system. Jay recalled that some miles down the road he reached for his
lighter and it was gone. After a couple days of fishing, Jay stopped on the
return trip where he had repaired the vehicle and searched in vain for the
lost lighter.
During the passing years Jay was transferred to the Reno, Nevada area with
the FAA. One day the phone rang. The caller asked if he was speaking to Jay
Riseden and if he had flown helicopters in Viet Nam. Of course Jay answered
"yes" to both questions. The caller explained that he was a resident
of
Sacramento, California and had found the engraved Zippo lighter near Elko,
Nevada. He had found Jay's number in the Reno phone book while visiting
relatives. Jay then related to the caller the circumstances of how his
lighter had been lost on a fishing trip 12 years earlier. The gentleman went
on to explain arrangements he was making to bring the lighter to his brother
in Reno who would deliver the lighter to him--( a very "grateful" Jay,
I
might add).
Now you might think these two stories are just coincidental, right? I
personally don't think so! The powers of the universe do strange things
sometimes. A third member of this same platoon and time period also had a
lost engraved "Zippo" returned-- remember the Gunslingers were/are a
"Team".
Please read on.............................................
John Swizer, Gunslinger 32, (1968), lost his "Zippo" from the pocket
of his
chest protector when he was shot out of the sky by old Charlie. John's UH-1B
took several rounds of .51's in the transmission. With low rotor RPM, he hit
the ground hard and was ejected, seat and all. The aircraft burned, the only
casualty being the crew chief. As Charlie was all around, troops were brought
in and a fire fight ensued. As was usually the case, our side came out on
top. John was evacuated to Japan, and later to the United States. After
several months of convalescence, John finished his time in the Army at Hunter
Stewart, Georgia. Just before his tour was up, however, another pilot
approached John and returned his "Zippo", more than a year after the
crash
and at the distance of more than 12,000 miles. Apparently, while securing the
crash site and kicking Charlie's butt, the infantry found John's lighter
within the burned wreckage and sent it back through channels to the 128th AHC
Tomahawks. The CO then researched to determine where John had been
reassigned. Subsequently, he sent John's "Zippo" with the next officer
going
that way.
To me, all three stories speak very well of our fellow man, and say much in
regard to our commitment/sacrifice in the service of our nation. I feel that
the people involved in the returning of our lighters have shown All Viet Nam
Veterans a great deal of respect. These people spent their time and money to
find us and return these lost items, so dear to us.
I say to you my fellow Veteran, that we are respected by most of our
countrymen and, if given a chance, they will show their appreciation of our
service. I believe that these three stories give firm confirmation to this
fact. Individually, they may seem insignificant; but within them
collectively, the message is clear to me---they truly do care!
P.S. - I offer my apology to Jay Riseden and John Swizer if I incorrectly
stated a fact, date, place, name or time. I have written this as I remember
the stories as told in restaurants and noisy lounges. My intent is to allow
us to remember and share these types of stories and experiences, to see and
look for the good things--the service, the caring, and yes, the love that
people can and do show, if we will just look for it.
......................................................
Jay Riseden
Gunslinger 35
128th AHC, Phu Loi 67-68
Winner/Medalist Tet Winter Games 68
Here is another 128th
Zippo story that Doc Daugherty
posted on the VHFCN server.
It was mid 1969 and I had just lit one of the
unfiltered Camel
Cigarettes, that I had smoked since age 12,and was putting my Zippo back
into the arm pocket of my flight suit. The student I was flying decided to
do a tap dance on the pedals of our TH55 for some unknown reason and my
lighter slipped from my fingers. I immediately grabbed the controls from his
hands and rolled the 55 over and down in hot pursuit. I caught a flash of
reflected sunlight a couple of times but was not able to pinpoint the
landing spot. We were working the Pinnacle area on the Brazos and we spent
the rest of his period of instruction hovering the area looking for a
reflection or anything that might have been my favorite Zippo. Alas, it was
not to be found. At the end of the day, my student got a pink slip and I
left in Texas the only thing that I would even consider going back for.
Doc
FEATURED WEB SITE
There is a web site on
line that features the history of the airfield at Phu Loi. For those who
served there this is well worth a visit. It is now linked on our web link pages
(Page 2) along with web links to Quan Loi Airfield.
Phu Loi Airfield , A History
TOMAHAWK REUNION UPDATES
Those attending the 128th AHC reunion in
Sacramento, now have a place in the Memorial Day Parade in the state capital. We
have been asked to march with other Vietnam Veterans that Memorial Day morning.
There will be an old Huey on display on a float.
We have requested that local veteran's groups join us for our memorial services
on Saturday of that weekend. It looks like we will have a color guard and
someone to play taps for our group.
The hotel is giving us continental breakfasts each day and a free place to meet
for our group.
A Word or Two from Bill
As we get closer to the reunion the excitement is growing. Last month Bobby
McBride stopped by my house on his way back to Washington state, with his
beautiful wife. This man has been the heart beat and the soul of the Tomahawks
long before this web site was given birth in cyber space. It is men like him who
have kept the fires burning. He has maintained an address list of those who
served and has spent many hours working with other veterans groups over the
years.
Another man that will be coming with his wife is Charles Olson. He has been
helping with the over all planning and has been sending out information as
well.
It is men just like these that makes all this work worth while. I am looking
forward to meeting all of you who can make it. This will be our first reunion -
but certainly not the last! God bless you all.
Bill
______________________________________________________________________
Vets in Need of Prayers
DOUG WARD
- 173rd AHC 1967 - The Robin Hoods
Is ungoing medical
testing - this month.
JOHN ALTANO -
Green Beret dying of cancer.
DONNY
PEARSON - 1st INF DIV.
Nam 1968 - PTSD & Stoke
______________________________________________
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