Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire DigitalDan….a call out thread for a hero

There’s a documentary on Prime (Freevee?) called, “The Personal Experience-Helicopter Warfare in Vietnam”. It starts with training and continues on through the war with the personal experiences of guys like you. From LOACH to Slicks to Cobras and Chinooks this is a GREAT documentary (from my neophyte perspective) but I couldn’t help but think of you as well as my FIL and several other brave men that flew those aircraft. 👍🏼

As usual I wish you all the best my friend. God bless you all that did a very dangerous job, whatever that entailed!

DigitalDan thread from back when. Hope you don't mind I post this DD.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...r/6585900/A_roll_of_the_dice#Post6585900

I flew with an old 'Nam pilot for years that had crashed 8 times in his career and everyone thought I was nuts. I figured if he walked away from 8 he knew how to flop them down when the turbine quit whining.

You fellas are makin’ me blush!

Almost. 😜

I’ve seen a few shows of that sort and it’s flashback city. I even remember what napalm smells like in the morning.

I agree...........

DD is the only man I've ever known or even ever heard of that survived two tours in a Loach.

I am half expecting to catch a glimpse of him in one of the pictures he’s posted here but I’m sure that if he didn’t know anyone on the documentary he’d likely recognize 1 or 2. I think it’s quite well done and down to earth firsthand, no bullshit view of chopper pilots flying different choppers. Great pictures and great stories from MEN that were boys and how their experience changed their lives forever.

Good interview with a Loach pilot. He seems fairly casual about the whole thing considering he got shot down four times during his 1 year stint in Vietnam. He discusses them starting at the 42:00 mark.

DD's a treasure.

Thanks for the heads up Ace’s it’s very interesting.

Complete sidebar Dan may enjoy.

I used to work with a guy named Robbie. This was right after Vietnam. I was just a young sprout just trying to get by in a bad economy. Robbie looked like that guy on Reacher, only not as tall. He was a Vietnam Vet, fresh back from SEA. This was hard ass construction work we were doing for not a lot of money.

One day I said to Robbie, "Why don't you use your military experience to get a better job?".

He says to me, "Greg, There's not much demand for a helicopter door gunner".

I laughed my ass off, but I think he was probably right.
Helluva good guy.

I salute Mister Daniel, and all that served.

When I read Dan's stuff, it shriveled my nut sack. If all goes as planned, I'm going to meet him in a few months. It'll be an honor.

Dan is the man!
He has lead an interesting life. I, for one , wish he would publish a book of his experiences.

My hat's off to you DD. Utmost respect and thanks for your service.

A fraternity brother of mine went through helo training as a Warrant and in his tour in Vietnam he flew Loaches and Slicks. Some good tales. Down and dirty in all the small arms envelopes. Lots of “Golden BBs” flying around looking for a transmission or engine to destroy…

Thanks to all you fellas, dunno if I'm worthy of such praise.

One of the more curious adventures over there began early AM, 1 Oct '69. Started raining, and then it got quite cool. Cold enough actually that we put on our flight jackets and closed the hootch windows. Just to illustrate the unusual nature of the event, whilst visiting the outhouse one morning there appeared a bamboo viper next to my throne. Anyone not familiar with SE Asia snakes should know they look very much like a green snake, but have a red tail tip. And fangs. Little bastards can kill you right there. AND, they can warm the day up quite a bit. You may notice my jacket is unzipped?

to this day the sound of a Huey is heavens music and the sight of the pilot is close to seeing God.

Would that be because your handgun (a 38 revolver I think was standard issue) was in a shoulder holster?

/john

DD is a true campfire treasure. My father in law was also a chopper pilot in Nam, but won't talk much about it. True heroes I think.