282nd ASSAULT HELICOPTER CO.

This Memorial Day, as on past Memorial Days, I am sure you have heard Happy Memorial Day. You may have wished someone Happy Memorial Day, I know I have, BUT Memorial Day is more than a day to celebrate a day off from work. More than a day to grill hot dogs and hamburgers and have a cold beverage. It is much more than retailers having a big sale. Memorial Day is the day to remember and honor the men and women who sacrificed their all for our country. It also the day to remember and say a prayer to the families of our fallen veterans. They have had to continue living without their loved ones, be it a family member or a friend. Memorial Day I will remember and honor my 24 Brothers of the 282nd AHC who gave their all for our country.

George Robert Browning     Roy James Bultman     George Dare Carr   

  Eugene Francis Christiansen    Dwight D. Dedrick   Jose Manuel De La Torre

Leonard Eugene Easley    Jerry Williams Elliott    Arthur Anthony Freda, Jr.

William George Hasseman   Billy David Hill   William Charles Keeler   

Harry Grover Kunkler, 111    Lewis Nelson Langford    Gerald Leroy McKinsey, Jr.

Robert Charles O'Hara    David Eugene Padgett    John David Phillips

Joseph Albert Reichlin, Jr.    Joseph Earl Rohlinger    Clifford James Rush

Gary Charles Salanitro    Robert Garland Simes, Jr. Charles Irvin Stanley

                                     Rest In Peace Brothers

If someone wishes you a Happy Memorial Day, instead of repeating the words back, how about saying, "Let's remember and honor the men and women who gave their all".

I was stationed with the 318th ADD at Lane Army Heliport An Son, July 70-71 as a control tower operator.

My father-in-law was LTC Benjamin D Waterman, your fisrt commander in Nam, he passed in 2000.

I would like to wish all the Brothers a Happy Vietnam Veterans Day. Thank you for your service and Welcome Home.

I am a former member of the BlackCats 66/67 and am trying to locate a good friend of mine Walter Grinnell.  I lost track of him a couple years ago and would like reconnect while we both are on this side of the grass.

If anyone has any information concerning Walt please email me at luhradsam@yahoo.com

Sam Potts

I'm trying to locate Walter F. Grinnell.  He served with me in the 282nd from 1966 to 67.  A phone # or email address would be fine.  The last I heard was he could be in either Pennsylvania or Florida. 

Sam Potts

luhradsam@yahoo.com 

I'm friend of Marine vet of 1/9 (Walking Dead) who were picked up from Tamboi hill in March '69 before being overrun.  He is trying to find the unit that had the Black Cat/Panther? on its tail rotor.  Would this be the correct unit?  If not, could you please guide us to it with contact info?  Would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you all for your service!

Carl

I'm a Vietnam Veteran, member of Vietnam Veterans 1018 in Fenton, MO.  We received some memorabilia from a St Louis member of your group.  This memorabilia was found when a house was being renovated.  There is no name that identifies the Vet.  Lots of pictures with names of the men he served with.  Alley Cats was his unit and his helicopter was #288 "Little Ms Bright Eyes".  I'd be happy to send this material to you if you are interested.

Don Aird

Charley Battery - 1/83rd FA - FDC - January 1970 - March 1971 

James (Jim) A. Niemi, Major, US Army and Florida Army Air Force Reserve, passed away on July 6, 2018 as a result of prostate cancer.  He was a 100% disabled veteran.

Was looking on the Blackcat website to see if anyone from the group ever followed up and completed the PUC effort that I had started for support of my advisory team during the initial days of the Khe Sanh battle.  

I still have all of the material that I collected if anyone else wants to pick up the pieces.

Thanks for your support in January 1968.

I am attempting to locate anyone who was with the 282nd during the period May 1967 and May 1968.  I remember that Maj Re was our CO at the time.  I at times crewed the U8 of the commander and flew missions as needed.  I also would like to find someone that worked in operations during this period.  To all my brothers may you all have a Happy New Year with your families and friends.  I was called Cousin Brucie.  The Italian.

I tried to send an email to krayjenn@verizon.net, the address in the newsletter.  I wanted to share some news about a deceased member, Tommy C. Stiner.  His death was reported at the time, Aug 16, 2017, and you published the news.  This is something new and current, an airport being re-named.  What is the best way to contact you? 

I receive the newsletter but have a change of address to report.  What is the best way to do that? Thanks.

Attempting to locate  friend Stu Turner. He served as a Black Cat CE and DG from 70-71. He dropped off the radar and I'm checking to see if he's still vertical. Any assistance will be appreciated. Clear right

Gene Womack

189th AHC Ghostriders 70

179th ASHC Hookers 71

I wish all by Brothers and their families of the 282nd AHC a Happy Thanksgiving. Let's remember the things we are thankful for and NEVER FORGET our Brothers who are no longer with us.

I want to ask what happen to black cat 848 it was in second platoon. when  I left august 1967 and went to 196th in anson. the picture of the second platoon on the home page was taken in plk march 1967  they took two  picture one just flight crew and the whole platoon. I know because I am in both pictures

I want to reach out to all my Brothers of the 282nd and say Welcome Home Brothers and to the ones who did not make it back RIP. I wish all vets Happy Veterans Day.

Hello, my dad was with the 282nd Assault Helicopter Co 12th battalon. His name was Gene Wildenradt.  He served 1967-1968. He passed away in 1988. I am just wondering if anyone knew him? I would love to hear from someone who did. Thanks so much!

I am here on behalf of my husband Chuck Palmer who was a door gunner at Marble Mountain during 1969-1970. He lost touch with the guys in the unit and has recently, because of videos he has seen on YouTube, become interested in finding them again, or at least those that he can.

Alleycat Gunship 049 its flying again,  check out.... American Huey 369.org  web site,

lower left hand corner, click on 049 Gunship, amazing photos,

maybe we can see it at next reunion,  

Sorry to report that John Adam Kemp, son of Ann Sizemore and step-son of Mike Sizemore passed away June 20, 2018. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ann and Mike. May John rest in peace. Also Malcolm Bussey, Alley Cat pilot 69-70, passed away May 2018. May you rest in peace Brother.

My dad, WO2 John (Mike) Reese was with not only the 334th AWC, but also the Black Cats from 67-68. My dad took his life in 1971, when I was 2 years old. We lost too many that way. I did not know his family, and mine did not talk about him much. I have reached out a few times over the years in search of those who may have served with him.  I am hoping I will have luck here! I would love to see any photos that may be out there (I only have about a dozen pictures of him) and maybe hear a story or two. I live near Indianapolis and am planning on attending the 2019 reunion. Thank you.

Robert, if you would give me a way to let the members of the 282nd a way to contact you, I will post it on our face book page and post your information in our next news letter. My email my email is krayjenn@verizon.net.

My father Robert J Collins served as a door gunner with the Black Cats from 71 - 72. I was wondering if any one remembers him and if they could share some stories with me. Unfortunately he passed away October 21 2017 from cancer that the VA believes was caused by agent orange. I'm a vet myself and it would mean a lot to me to hear back from someone. I have pictures he took and his Black Cat patch

Bob Webster called me yesterday and said his long time friend and companion Bobbie Ashmore passed away. She died peacefully in her sleep January 29th of heart failure. Our thoughts and condolences are with Bob and Bobbies family.

John Sisca is with the Arizona Branch of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation. They are restoring a UH-1B gunship 64-13986 that according to records, served in the 282nd from approximately June 1966-April 1969. They intend to restore 986 with the 282nd Alley Cat gunship paint scheme. Any photos you could provide would be of immense help. The only 986 flight crew names they have been able to scrounge up, were "AC F1 Steiner" and "P WT Colley", which pertained to an incident on August 1, 1966. If you have any information you cn contact John at go-by-air@cox.net.

Bill Kinsley passed away December 13, 2017at the Louis A. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center in Clarksburg, WV. Bill was a crew chief 69-70. Bill be laid to rest with full military honors December 19, 2017. His service will be held at the Smith Funeral and Cremation Care in Morgantown, WV. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to Dreams for Veterans through the Dream Foundation.