Posted on 02/03/2020 10:33:45 AM PST by Red Badger
The Army's helicopters have a number of names you recognize immediately: Apache, Black Hawk, Kiowa, Lakota, Comanche. They are also known as the names of Native American tribes. This is not a coincidence.
According to GlobalSecurity.org, this was originally due to Army Regulation 70-28, which has since been rescinded. Today, while the regulation is gone, the tradition remains, and there is a procedure to pick a new name. The Bureau of Indian Affairs keeps a list of names for the Army to use. When the Army gets a new helicopter (or fixed-wing aircraft), the commanding officer of the Army Material Command (the folks who buy the gear) comes up with a list of five names.
Now, they can't just be any names. These names must promote confidence in the abilities of the helicopter or plane, they cannot sacrifice dignity, and they must promote an aggressive spirit. Those names then have to be run by the United States Patent Office, of all places. There's a lot more bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo to go through, but eventually a name is picked.
An OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter from the 1st Infantry Division takes off on a mission from Forward Operation Base MacKenzie, Iraq. It is armed with an AGM-114 Hellfire and 7 Hydra 70 rockets. (U.S. Air Force photo)
_____________________________________________________________
Then comes something unique – the helicopter or aircraft is then part of a ceremony attended by Native American leaders, who bestow tribal blessings. You might be surprised, given that the Army and the Native Americans were on opposite side of the Indian Wars – and those wars went on for 148 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Three UH-60 Black Hawk (Blackhawk) helicopters prepare to touch down next to the Point Salines Airport runway during Operation URGENT FURY. (SUBSTANDARD)
___________________________________________________________________
Don't be. The fact is, despite the 148 years of hostilities, Native Americans also served with the United States military. Eli Parker, the only Native American to reach general's rank, was a personal aide to General Ulysses S. Grant. Most impressively, 25 Native Americans have received the Medal of Honor for heroism.
Gen. Abidin Ünal, Turkey's Air Force Chief of Staff, waves during takeoff in a UH-1N Iroquois at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 6, 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ryan J. Sonnier)
___________________________________________________________________
In other words, the Army's helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft bear names that reflect fierce and courageous warriors who also have fought well as part of the United States Army. That is a legacy worth remembering and honoring with some of the Army's most prominent systems.
huey?
Can’t wait for the Liz Warren model...
lol.
“prattling skeletal blowhard” is too many syllables.
I later learned it's part of their routine in-flight check list, but when you aren't aware of that, it can be a bit distressing.
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, nicknamed “Huey”, for “utility helicopter.
What tribe was the Cobra?
Isn’t the official name the Iroquois? I believe “Huey” is a nickname because it’s a UH-1 or HU-1.
Ojibwe?
Huey is a contraction of numeric designation UH-1, utility helicopter.
Official name is Iriquois.
Cobra?
I don't think our forces would like to fly an aircraft named "Chief Grey Beaver".
“Huey” is the Iroquois.
“Huey” comes from the nomenclature “UH-1” Utility Helicopter.
Still waiting for the Hekawi. It’ll be a very small chopper. Maybe a one man gyrocopter.
1024th scale model.
American Indians were historically in a constant state of conflict, if not open warfare, with each other. It was brutal and unspeakable atrocities and torture was the norm.
Many tribes. allied themselves with colonists for mutual protection against the more aggressive attackers.
While it is undeniable that disease killed many native Americans, disease also killed many colonists as well. Genocide was not the norm and many of the Native Americans simply were assimilated into colonial life .
In short, they are not gone, they are us
Stand Watie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_Watie#Civil_War_service
I’m surprised white liberals haven’t berated Native Americans yet for allowing their tribes to be portrayed as helicopters.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.