ladtx
Since Apr 27, 1998
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Served 20 years in U.S Army. Retired as a Chief Warrant Officer (CW4). Served as a Aircraft Commander/Pilot in Command in the 336th Assault Helicopter Company, 13th Combat Aviation Battalion, 164th Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, Soc Trang AAF, Republic of South Viet Nam from SEP 69 to SEP 70. Our AO (area of operations) was in IV Corps, the U Minh Forest, Nam Can Forest, MeKong Delta. Was also an instructor pilot at the United States Army Aviation School at Fort Rucker, Alabama in the UH-1D & H, OH-58A & C, and the CH-47B & C. Performed duties as an Aeroscout Instructor Pilot in the OH-58A and C, teaching the tactics and techniques employed by that aircraft in an Air Cavalry role. Served my last six years in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Fulda, Germany flying the OH-58A & C and in the 6th Cavalry Brigade at Fort Hood, Texas in the CH-47C & D.
Awarded the Master Aviator's Badge, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, 22 Air Medals (one for valor), Meritorious Service Medal, 3 Army Commendations Medals (1 for valor). Also received the U.S. Army Safety Center's Broken Wing Award when I was an Instructor Pilot for landing an OH-58 with no further damage after the engine came apart and was on fire during an Aeroscout training flight at Fort Rucker, AL.
"Yours is the profession of arms, the will to win, the sure knowledge that in war there is no substitute for victory, that if you lose, the Nation will be destroyed, that the very obsession of your public service must be Duty, Honor, Country."
The origin and author of Fiddlers' Green is unknown. It was believed to have originated in the 1800's and was composed as a song, sung by the soldiers of the 6th and 7th Cavalry. Its first known appearance in published form was in a 1923 Cavalry Journal.
Been a conservative Republican since high school when Dick Nixon ran against John Kennedy.
Married Mrs. ladtx after one date although we had known each other for about a year. We married about two weeks before I went to Vietnam in 1969. We now have 3 grown boys. One an ex-Captain in the Air Force, (WSO on B1's, flew in Afghanistan and Iraq and at Pensacola, Florida was a nav instructor). He now sells and is a consultant for Medtronic implants. Our second son is in the Army Reserves and police officer in Lubbock, Texas. He served in Mosul, Iraq with the 101st. Our youngest son is a professional baseball and softball hitting instructor and coach for a nationwide baseball and softball training program. I'm also Leila Kay's and Ashley Elise's grandfather, probably the cutest little girls in the world, (not that I'm prejudiced).
Dabble in pen and ink, watercolor and some oils and acrylics. Have written an as yet unpublished novel "DREAMS OF QUIVIRA", I am trying to peddle with no luck so far. Also written some poetry based on Viet Nam experiences. Self-teaching the banjo (frustration extreme).
A sample of my poetry.