| Fw: F Troop 8th Cavalry (Blue Ghost) |
| From: | Adam Mouton (adam.mouton@cox.net) |
| Sent: | Tue 11/20/07 8:42 PM |
| To: | (blueghostred@msn.com); BlueGhosRd@aol.com |
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 8:24 PM
Subject: F Troop 8th Cavalry (Blue Ghost)
"Do We Have the 'Turtle' Here?" "There once was a scout
named Turtle, in his LOH over trees he would hurdle.
As was often his luck,
While in pursuit of old 'Chuck,'
He'd end up with holes in his bubble."
Turtle flies helicopters. Light observation helicopters specifically.
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert V. McRae of Lauringburg, North Carolina call him John, but to the officers of the Americal Division's F Troop 8th Cavalry (Blue Ghost) WO1 John S. McRae is known affectionately as Turtle. The Origin of his nickname is obscure although a turtle is generally the pseudonym for a replacement or
new guy in Vietnam. For the name to have stuck with WO1 McRae
over the months is paradoxical since turtles are generally Slow
moving, passive, defenseless little creatures - everything a
LOH pilot isn't. Actually, no turtle in his right mind would fly a LOH.
Except the Blue Ghost's Turtle of course. Recently WO1 McRae was
interviewed about his job as scout pilot in an Air Cavalry Troop. His
answers provide a real insight into the kind of man who flies the
small Hughes Helicopter at tree top level through enemy infested areas.
(Q) "Turtle, what is it that you like about being a scout? Is it the
challenge of flying low level over known enemy positions or trying to
get them to compromise themselves by shooting at you, or is it the classicchallenge of battle of man against man? The matching of wits and
cunning with the winner taking all?"
(A) "No. Actually, it's the days off. We scouts get more days off than
the other platoon."
(Q) "When you're down there low level, Turtle, flying at 100 knots,
what are you looking for? Is it trails, hootches, fighting positions, or
what?"
(A) "Mostly I'm looking for an excuse to come up to altitude and go
back to Chu Lai."
(Q) "Turtle, what is the biggest hazard to you while you're down there
on the deck" Is it the AK-47 fire, .30 caliber machineguns, or .51 caliber fire? What do you fear the most?"
(A) "Trees. Tall, thin dead trees. They'll get you every time."
(Q) "It's hard to believe that you worry more about trees than NVA."
(A) "Not really. There are more trees out there than NVA."
(Q) "Turtle, on your aircraft you also have an observer and a door
gunner. Beside their obvious duties of trying to spot the enemy and
signs of activity, what are their secondary jobs. Just what else does
the observer do for instance?"
(A) "He prays. From the time we take off until we land. And it's not
his secondary job either. It's his primary."
(Q) "And what about the door gunner?"
(A) "Mostly he just screams stuff like "Takin'fire! Look out! Watch
that tree! We're hit! He prays too."
(Q) Here's a question that will probably require a little thought. To
date what has been your most significant sighting as a scout pilot?"
(A) "That's easy. A beautiful girl taking a bath in the Song Ve River."
(Q) "No, Turtle. What was your most significant military sighting as a
scout?"
(A) "A beautiful girl taking a bath in the Song Ve River. She was an
NVA nurse."
(Q) "Did you capture her?"
(A) "No, I hit a tree and had to go back to Quang Ngai."
(Q) "Turtle, do you have any big operations coming up in the near
future? What are you looking forward to in the next month or so?"
(A) "The monsoons. We don't fly much in the monsoons."
(Q) "Last question, Turtle. What do you remember as your most gratifying experience as a scout?"
(A) "It was during the battle of Hiep Duc. There were .51 cals all over
and beaucoups .30's and AK's. They were even shooting RPG's at
choppers. The air mission commander had just told me to go down
and do my thing when my high engine oil pressure light came on and
I had to go back to Chu Lai. Now that was a gratifying experience.
If the whole truth were known, Turtle did go back to Chu Lai but only toget a replacement aircraft in which he returned to Hiep Duc and did histhing much to the dismay of many of the NVA who were roaming the
Que Son Valley at the time. Although they may not be textbook
responses, Turtle's answers do reflect one of the qualities a good scout
pilot must have in order to survive in his dangerous business. In a
moment of serious contemplation Turtle put his finger on it. "There's
an old saying among scouts that there are two things you can't afford
to lose while you're flying scouts.
Your sense of humor and your main rotor."
"Of course, being a practical man and given a choice, I'd rather lose my
sense of humor!"
>document.getElementById("MsgContainer").innerHTML='\x0d\x0a\x0d\x0a\x3cmeta http-equiv\x3dContent-Type content\x3d\x22text\x2fhtml\x3b charset\x3dunicode\x22\x3e\x0d\x0a\x3cmeta name\x3dGenerator content\x3d\x22Microsoft SafeHTML\x22\x3e\x3ctitle\x3eBlank\x3c\x2ftitle\x3e\x0d\x0a\x0d\x0a\x3cstyle\x3e\x0d\x0a.ExternalClass\x0d\x0a\x7bfont-size\x3a10pt\x3bmargin-left\x3a25px\x3bcolor\x3a\x23000000\x3bfont-family\x3aArial, Helvetica\x3b\x7d\x0d\x0a.ExternalClass EC_P.msoNormal\x0d\x0a\x7bfont-size\x3a10pt\x3bmargin-left\x3a0px\x3bcolor\x3a\x23ffffcc\x3bfont-family\x3aHelvetica, \x26quot\x3bTimes New Roman\x26quot\x3b\x3b\x7d\x0d\x0a.ExternalClass EC_LI.msoNormal\x0d\x0a\x7bfont-size\x3a10pt\x3bmargin-left\x3a0px\x3bcolor\x3a\x23ffffcc\x3bfont-family\x3aHelvetica, \x26quot\x3bTimes New Roman\x26quot\x3b\x3b\x7d\x0d\x0a\x3c\x2fstyle\x3e\x0d\x0a\x0d\x0a\x0d\x0a\x0d\x0a\x3cdiv\x3e\u00a0\x3c\x2fdiv\x3e\x0d\x0a\x3cdiv style\x3d\x22font\x3a10pt arial\x22\x3e----- Original Message ----- \x0d\x0a\x3cdiv style\x3d\x22background\x3a\x23e4e4e4\x3bfont-color\x3ablack\x22\x3e\x3cb\x3eFrom\x3a\x3c\x2fb\x3e \x3ca title\x3d\x22wpage1\x40cox.net\x22 href\x3d\x22mailto\x3awpage1\x40cox.net\x22\x3eW Page\x3c\x2fa\x3e \x3c\x2fdiv\x3e\x0d\x0a\x3cdiv\x3e\x3cb\x3eTo\x3a\x3c\x2fb\x3e \x3ca title\x3d\x22adam.mouton\x40cox.net\x22 href\x3d\x22mailto\x3aadam.mouton\x40cox.net\x22\x3eAdam Mouton\x3c\x2fa\x3e \x3c\x2fdiv\x3e\x0d\x0a\x3cdiv\x3e\x3cb\x3eSent\x3a\x3c\x2fb\x3e Tuesday, November 20, 2007 8\x3a24 PM\x3c\x2fdiv\x3e\x0d\x0a\x3cdiv\x3e\x3cb\x3eSubject\x3a\x3c\x2fb\x3e F Troop 8th Cavalry \x28Blue Ghost\x29 \x3c\x2fdiv\x3e\x3c\x2fdiv\x3e\x0d\x0a\x3cdiv\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x3c\x2fdiv\x3e\x0d\x0a\x3cdiv\x3e\u00a0\x3c\x2fdiv\x3e\x0d\x0a\x3cp\x3e\u00a0\x3c\x2fp\x3e\x0d\x0a\x3cblockquote class\x3dcite cite\x3d\x22\x22\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x26quot\x3bDo We Have the \x27Turtle\x27 Here\x3f\x26quot\x3b\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bThere once was a scout \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3enamed Turtle, in his LOH over trees he would hurdle.\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eAs was often his luck,\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eWhile in pursuit of old \x27Chuck,\x27\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eHe\x27d end up with holes in his bubble.\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eTurtle flies helicopters. Light observation helicopters specifically.\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eHis parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert V. McRae of Lauringburg, North \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eCarolina call him John, but to the officers of the Americal Division\x27s \x0d\x0a\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eF Troop 8th Cavalry \x28Blue Ghost\x29 WO1 John S. McRae is known \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eaffectionately as Turtle.\u00a0 The Origin of his nickname is obscure \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3ealthough a turtle is generally the pseudonym for a replacement or \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3enew guy in Vietnam. For the name to have stuck with WO1 McRae \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eover the months is paradoxical since turtles are generally Slow \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3emoving, passive, defenseless little creatures - everything a\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eLOH pilot isn\x27t. Actually, no turtle in his right mind would fly a \x0d\x0aLOH.\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eExcept the Blue Ghost\x27s Turtle of course. Recently WO1 McRae was\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3einterviewed about his job as scout pilot in an Air Cavalry Troop. His \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eanswers provide a real insight into the kind of man who flies the \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3esmall Hughes Helicopter at tree top level through enemy infested \x0d\x0a areas.\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28Q\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bTurtle, what is it that you like about being a scout\x3f Is it \x0d\x0a the\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3echallenge of flying low level over known enemy positions or trying to\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eget them to compromise themselves by shooting at you, or is it the \x0d\x0a classic\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3echallenge of battle of man against man\x3f\u00a0 The matching of wits and\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3ecunning with the winner taking all\x3f\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28A\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bNo. Actually, it\x27s the days off. We scouts get more days off \x0d\x0a than\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3ethe other platoon.\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28Q\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bWhen you\x27re down there low level, Turtle, flying at 100 \x0d\x0a knots,\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3ewhat are you looking for\x3f Is it trails, hootches, fighting positions, \x0d\x0a or\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3ewhat\x3f\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28A\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bMostly I\x27m looking for an excuse to come up to altitude and \x0d\x0a go\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eback to Chu Lai.\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28Q\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bTurtle, what is the biggest hazard to you while you\x27re down \x0d\x0a there\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eon the deck\x26quot\x3b Is it the AK-47 fire, .30 caliber machineguns, or .51 \x0d\x0a caliber\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3efire\x3f\u00a0 What do you fear the most\x3f\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28A\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bTrees. Tall, thin dead trees. They\x27ll get you every \x0d\x0a time.\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28Q\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bIt\x27s hard to believe that you worry more about trees than \x0d\x0a NVA.\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28A\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bNot really. There are more trees out there than NVA.\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28Q\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bTurtle, on your aircraft you also have an observer and a \x0d\x0a door\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3egunner.\u00a0 Beside their obvious duties of trying to spot the enemy and \x0d\x0a \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3esigns of activity, what are their secondary jobs.\u00a0 Just what else \x0d\x0a does \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3ethe observer do for instance\x3f\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28A\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bHe prays. From the time we take off until we land. And it\x27s \x0d\x0a not\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3ehis secondary job either. It\x27s his primary.\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28Q\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bAnd what about the door gunner\x3f\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28A\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bMostly he just screams stuff like \x26quot\x3bTakin\x27fire\x21 Look out\x21 \x0d\x0a Watch\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3ethat tree\x21 We\x27re hit\x21 He prays too.\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28Q\x29\u00a0 Here\x27s a question that will probably require a little \x0d\x0a thought.\u00a0 To\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3edate what has been your most significant sighting as a scout \x0d\x0a pilot\x3f\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28A\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bThat\x27s easy. A beautiful girl taking a bath in the Song Ve \x0d\x0a River.\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28Q\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bNo, Turtle. What was your most significant military sighting as \x0d\x0a a\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3escout\x3f\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28A\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bA beautiful girl taking a bath in the Song Ve River. She was \x0d\x0a an\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eNVA nurse.\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28Q\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bDid you capture her\x3f\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28A\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bNo, I hit a tree and had to go back to Quang Ngai.\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28Q\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bTurtle, do you have any big operations coming up in the \x0d\x0anear\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3efuture\x3f What are you looking forward to in the next month or so\x3f\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28A\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bThe monsoons. We don\x27t fly much in the monsoons.\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28Q\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bLast question, Turtle. What do you remember as your most\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3egratifying experience as a scout\x3f\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x28A\x29\u00a0 \x26quot\x3bIt was during the battle of Hiep Duc. There were .51 cals all \x0d\x0a over\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eand beaucoups .30\x27s and AK\x27s. They were even shooting RPG\x27s at \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3echoppers. The air mission commander had just told me to go down \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eand do my thing when my high engine oil pressure light came on and \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eI had to go back to Chu Lai.\u00a0 Now that was a gratifying \x0d\x0a experience.\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eIf the whole truth were known, Turtle did go back to Chu Lai but only \x0d\x0a to\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eget a replacement aircraft in which he returned to Hiep Duc and did \x0d\x0ahis\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3ething much to the dismay of many of the NVA who were roaming the \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eQue Son Valley at the time. Although they may not be textbook \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eresponses, Turtle\x27s answers do reflect one of the qualities a good scout \x0d\x0a \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3epilot must have in order to survive in his dangerous business.\u00a0 In a \x0d\x0a \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3emoment of serious contemplation Turtle put his finger on it. \x26quot\x3bThere\x27s \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3ean old saying among scouts that there are two things you can\x27t afford \x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eto lose while you\x27re flying scouts.\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3eYour sense of humor and your main rotor.\x26quot\x3b\x3cbr\x3e\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3e\x26quot\x3bOf course, being a practical man and given a choice, I\x27d rather lose \x0d\x0a my\x3cbr\x3e\x0d\x0a \x3cdd\x3esense of humor\x21\x26quot\x3b \x3c\x2fdd\x3e\x3c\x2fblockquote\x3e\x0d\x0a';
