The Helicopter War: Things We Cherish and Something Our Community May Lose

After a tour in Vietnam, I remained on active duty with an assignment to the Army Combat Development and Experimentation Command, which was tasked with testing new concepts and equipment at Fort Ord. 

I didn’t spend much time “back home.” Therefore, instead of being confronted by hostile civilians and old friends who did not serve in the military, my experience was a continuation of a positive relationship with brothers-in-arms being surrounded by other aviators, and soldiers, many of whom had served their time in Vietnam. 

Upon being released from active duty, the family, me, my wife and two daughters, moved to Santa Barbara, a place where my father was born and raised. I became a citizen soldier, joining the California Army National Guard as a helicopter pilot. This opportunity allowed me to continue my relationship with the military aviation world. 

I retired from the military after 30 years of service. While attending “Guard Drills” in the mid-1970s, I was introduced to Jack Armstrong, who was a Santa Barbara City Firefighter. He led me through the arduous complicated process of City Government, and I was able to land a job, a career, in the fire service working for the Santa Barbara City Fire Department. (Jack is also a member of VVA 218). 

Some years after my military retirement, I was invited to attend a meeting of VVA Chapter 218, in the hopes my aviation experience would help to provide avenues of maintenance and security to the aircraft. I became aware of the existence of a UH-1C model gunship that lives in Santa Barbara and assists in many local displays – a continual reminder of the great contribution this helicopter made to successful military operations while in Vietnam. 

My unit of assignment was C Troop, 3rd Squadron, 17th Air Cav, Quang Tri. The mission was recon and patrol along South Vietnam’s DMZ and the border with Laos. The unit designation was changed in 1971 to D troop, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry, but the location and mission remained the same. Flying a Cobra gunship as part of a cavalry squadron reconnaissance team, I witnessed untold numbers of successful rescues in which either Cobras or Huey (slang for UH-1 designated utility helicopters) Gunships were used to protect friendly forces. The gunship firepower enabled scout aircraft to evade enemy contact, allowed the Lift Huey to insert combat forces to engage the enemy, to provide evacuation when the ground engagement became untenable; to conduct medivac rescues, and to provide ammunition and other supplies to locations distant from Depot locations. The use of the Huey Helicopter in every segment of military operations led to the reference of the War in Vietnam being called the “Helicopter War.”

The obsolete Army UH-1 helicopter gunship made its way to the South Coast after being retired from active service. Local Chapter members had the aircraft mounted on a custom-made trailer, and for more than 28 years, proudly accompanied this iconic symbol of the Vietnam War at a great number of parades and at various displays in Santa Barbara County. Locals and visitors alike have had the opportunity to experience the bird close-up, see the cargo bay, the pilot’s and co-pilot’s seats, the aircraft controls, and just wonder about the aircraft fuselage and cabin. Opened doors have allowed hundreds, maybe thousands, of children and adults to tour this local prize. Chapter 218 members have been able to educate viewers about many facets of the Vietnam War and its impact on a generation of soldiers who served during the era from the 1960s through the 1970s with the Huey as the star. 

Now, the days of moving the aircraft in a parade or transporting it for a display or allowing access at many local events in Santa Barbara are over. According to a recent letter received from the U.S. Army TACOM, “The aircraft must be on static display as a symbol of remembrance of those who served to preserve our Nation’s commitment to freedom throughout the world, portray a good image of the U.S. Military and must be maintained in such a way that honors and upholds the image of the United States, our military forces, and its veterans.” 

Santa Barbara Chapter 218, the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America, is now faced with a challenging change to its previous procedures. In order to keep this iconic symbol and fantastic airship, we must find a suitable static display location in our county, a place that will be approved by (TACOM) the Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command.” Otherwise, the TACOM will locate some distant approved location and repossess the bird. 

Our campaign is now in its infancy as we solicit your assistance. Please get in touch with me if you can assist us with keeping the Huey, like a member of our family here, that’s near and dear to the men and women who served in Vietnam. 

You can reach me by e-mail at edfoster.sb@verizon.net or by phone at (805) 770-0979. Thank you for your interest. The VVA 218 is deeply grateful to Montecito Journal for printing this and for its support of the organization. To discover more about the Huey Project, go to www.vvachapter218.org/huey.