282nd ASSAULT HELICOPTER CO.

Brothers, sad news. I just received word that Danny Williams passed away today. Danny had been in the hospital the past several days and he told his family yesterday that he was ready to go. Danny had been ill for quite a while but now he is at peace and in a better place. On behalf of the 282nd AHC our prayers and condolences go out to Vicky and the rest of Danny's family. May you rest in peace Brother

Received a call from Joe Whalen and he informed me that he had a heart attack March 1st and the doctor placed a stent in. Joe got out of the hospital March 8th and he is doing well. Let's wish him a speedy recovery and he is planning on attending the reunion.

Enjoyed rays story of the doughnut Dolly and the captain. must have been in oct or later in 67. I must have just missed it. Do you remember the boot in the foot rest on the corner of the bar. That was the jump boot of the 282nd commander Charles Ward. That was his seat at the bar. I won a lot of money at that poker table.Paid for my R & R in Hawaii. 

for Raymond Caryl: I was the guy who came up with the idea of the Cat in the floor of the 282nd club. In fact i designed and built that club. Almost got electrocuted sanding the cat. had to use water and the electriccord of the maintance hanger sander had many cuts.

Hello,

I have lost all my pictures and letters after coming home. My tour was from 1970 - 1972 and our call sign was Black Cat 13. Also our crew was flying one day when we were asked to go in and pick up wounded soldiers because the medical Huey could not because it was a hot LZ

I am going to sign up to become a member.

Thanks,

Gary Browne 

Counting the days until the reunion. Hope to see you all in Sacramento 

Hello,

Would anyone happen to have know Bob McWilliams? I believe he was over 69-71 2 tours. I am his son and would like to just learn more of what he was doing.

I have a request from Steve and JoAnne Chann. Steve and JoAnne are asking that you keep their grand daughter Marissa in your prayers. Marissa has osteosardomo bone cancer and needless to say she has a long road to go. We wish her the best.

Looking for a david Hawk server form 67-68 Dan Nanga

hello

my father was a huey pilot 69-71. Dads name was Robert (bob) Mcwilliam. If anyone here knew him I would be honored if you could give any info about that time and what was going on.

he ended up retired Lt Col. He had silver star, bronze star, and at least 2 Purple Hear. He spoke more about Vietnam the last y of his life that the 42 before at least that I remembe. Would just like to be be able to tell kids, grand kids, and now great grand kids about the hero I never knew yet they need to remembe.

please email me at john.mcwilliams@rlgiobal.com

Any listing of flight ops personel?   Ssgt. 22nd flight operations from July69 to DEROS Dec 7, 1969.  also 2 212th CSAB from May 68 until joining 22nd AHC.  

I would like to thank all the Brothers of the 282nd AHC a Happy Veterans Day and a Happy Veterans Day to all that served out Country. Welcome home Brothers.

Judy - Thank you so much for posting these pictures. As you know I was in the hospital or I would have gone down for David's funeral. Dave and I spent a lot of time together while in Vietnam. He was always so happy. I will miss him dearly. Be well my brother world has lost a special person.  

We honored the memory of David Howington on Saturday, September 10th, 2016. Below are some photos from the funeral, including a picture of members of the Black Cats in attendance.

Pictured left to right: Dave Parkhurst, Bob Tallent, Jody Summers, Bob McQueen, Danny Williams, Ray Jennings, Lennis Lee, Jerry Staggs

Services for David Howington is Saturday September 10th at the First United Methodist Church in Milledgeville, GA. Visitation is at 1:00pm followed by the service at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America, 8719 Colesville Rd. Suite 100, Silver Springs, Maryland 20910 or Georgia War Veterans Home, 2249 Vinson Highway, Milledgeville, Ga. 31061

Brothers I have some sad news to pass along. David Howington passed away Sunday night Sept 4th. I do not have any details but I think he passed away in his sleep. Walter Burch who was the CO 70-71 passed away August 16. 2016. Donna Elliot is recovery from brain surgery and is doing well. Unfortunately is having to go radiation treatment for lung cancer and we wish her well.

Hello to the Blackcat family –

It is with tremendous sadness I write you to tell you my father, Blackcat 06, Lt. Col. Walter M. Burch, USA, Ret., died on 16 August 2016. He commanded the Blackcats for a portion of his second tour in Vietnam between 1970-1971. He rarely spoke about himself, or his past, but he always mentioned the Blackcats with fondness and pride, and I know he’d made an effort to reconnect with several members during the last decade of his life. His health declined sharply in 2013, keeping him largely housebound, but he found escape, solace, and entertainment beyond these walls through his relationships with the Cats. Thank you for brightening his days!

If the Cats would like to read Dad’s obituary, you can find it online here: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/walter-burch-obituary?pid=1000000181158311

If anyone would like to send condolences to his wife, Eydie Burch, she can be reached at Dad’s email address, whitebarktree@sbcglobal.net.

If there’s some kind of distribution list for the Cats, please share news of his passing there; I found a spreadsheet with a lot of separate addresses on his computer desktop, but didn’t know if I should write them all individually, or ask for a collective notice.

Respectfully,

Christa Burch (daughter) and Eydie Burch (widow)

I was Catkiller 3-2 from July '67 to Feb 2 '68 then became Catkiller 4-2 and moved to fly the DMZ. I was pretty close to CWO Bart Coburn and knew CWO Dick Messer.

I wrote a story about your little O-Club and the day a Donut Dolly stepped on the Cat. You can fine it at our Catkiller website: www.catkillers.org.

Go to History Index, scroll down to 1967, then find the title: Captain Wonderful, The Donut Dolly and The Three Legged Cat.

Enjoy!

Staggs is doing a lot better. The doctor has lowered his oxygen lever and according to Letta he is getting back to his old self and being grouchy.

Jerry is home but not doing well. His oxygen is still low. Letta's sister is a RN  and is keeping an eye on Jerry.

No new news on Jerry Staggs he is still in the hospital. If you wish you can send him a get well card at:

Harris Methodist Hospital

Richardson Tower Room 476

1301 Pennsylvania Ave

Ft. Worth, Texas 76104

Jerry Staggs update:

Jerry slept well last night. Oxygen levels stayed in the 90's. Got a new Pulmonary Dr. yesterday, ran an overnight test and will run more tests today. His pain level is bearable (he has a very high pain tolerance) just needs pain meds once or twice a day now so he is getting restless. That is all I know for now. Will let you know more when I do.

anyone remember McBrides copilot and when he died ..or if...my memory is getting soggy....seems like last time I saw Mac his copilot had been KIA down south of marble mountain in the same vil I had gone on mission with he and crew ....maybe left door gunner had taken a round in the mouth ..cheek....could someone tell me their names....anyone know if Mac died of natural causes or accident ....wish I had found him before...crazy that I lost touch with so many good men for so long....for people that I never even told I was in DaNang and didn't really care....thanks Seabee Chris Haney

Jerry Staggs is still in the hospital recovering from his accident. He is still having breathing problems. He hopes to see a breathing specialist today to see what can be done to help his breathing.

Just returned from visiting Staggs in the hospital. For those of you who does not know, Staggs crashed his helicopter last Friday April 8th. He failed to unlock the tail rotor so when he lifted off he started spinning with no control. On crash landing he broke his back. He is having a little trouble breathing so he is hook up to oxygen. The doctor said today that they will try to take him off the oxygen so he can walk a little more each day and if he is breathing good the doctor hopes to release him Monday. When Jerry crashed he clipped the corner of his house and knocked the top of a tree that Letta has been wanting him to cut down the last couple of months. Letta said that was an expensive tree trimming. The xray technician after looking at Jerry's xrays, said it look like he had been in a war zone. Heck I told Jerry he was safer in Nam. I will post any updates as I receive them.