282nd ASSAULT HELICOPTER CO.

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.

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.

The National Viet Nam War Museum in Weatherford, Texas is having a ground breaking ceremony for Phase 1 of the main building December 9, 2017 at 3:00pm CST.

  Program of Activites:(times are approximate)

3:00pm      Ceremony begins

3:01           Welcome

3:05           Invocation

3:10           National Anthem

3:15          Introductions

                 Founders Assn-membership option

                 closed after this ceremony

                 Builders Club-not too late to join

3:20          Guest Speaker(s)

3:25          Keynote speaker--B.G. Burkett Author of 

                 Stolen Valor,-How the Vietnam Generation

                 was robbed of its Heroes and its History

                 Followed by:  Shovel Ceremony (turning of the dirt)

After the ceremony, beginning at 5:30pm the AMVETS Post 133 will host their annual

Christmas at the Wall event. Please stay or return for that event if you can.

The grand daughter of Steve and Joanne Chann passed away Monday morning November 27. Their grand daughter fought a long and brave battle with cancer. Our thoughts and prayers for the Chann family.

As Thanksgiving nears, we need to step back and think of all the things and people in our life that we are thankful for. One of the things I am thankful for other than Kay my wife is the opportunity I had serving with the great men of the 282nd AHC. Kay and I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

I would like to wish all my Brothers of the 282nd AHC a Happy Veteran's Day, thank you for your service and welcome home.

My name is Mike Peeters and I grew up with CW2 Glenn W. Arrandale, call sign Blackcat 10. Glenn served in Vietnam from May 1969 to May 1970 with the 282nd AHC. He was close to CW3 Tim Case. I lost track of Glenn before he served in Vietnam due to a move by me to Hawaii. The last contact I had with him was short and before his tragic and untimely death in 1979, at age 31. I am now 69 and would like to hear from anyone who served with Glenn during his service. I have not been able to contact Tim Case. Thank you.

Good Morning Brothers. Our sister Donna Elliott passed away after a long battle with cancer. Donna passed away October 22, 2017. Her service will be held Saturday October 28, 2017 at 2:00pm at Roller Coffman Chapel in Mountain View, Arkansas. Donna was unable to find her Brother, Jerry who is MIA. Lets hope she is reunited with Jerry in Heaven. Our condolences to Donna's family and friends. Rest in peace Sister

Greetings fellow Cats.  Have not checked in on the site for a long time.  I just wanted to say hello, stay well, and best wishes from sunny, but a bit wind blown, Florida.  John 69-70

The flight jacket below was restored by Bob Ford for Joseph Albert Reichlin's sister. She is going to place it in a museum in honor of Joseph.

I served with the 282nd assault in 1970. I was gunner on uh1 models hueys. I used to get the black cat newsletter by mail and for some reason it stopped coming in. I have tried to see the roster but the pass word I put in wont work. Has it been changed? It used to be zippo. I used to be able to communicate with the guys I served with but now I am unable to. I would like for some one to call me at 432-209-2070 since I can not access entry into my E-Mail for some reason. I also would like to pay any dues that are required to become a member of my family once again. By the way, they nicknamed me pinchie, that's what everyone knew me by. My home address is 306 S E Ave E   Seminole, Texas 79360. I am interested in buying caps and mugs from our unit. I attended the reunion in San Antonio back in the 90s and was glad to see my brothers once again. I would like this info so I can attend future reunions. I thank You ahead of time for helping me out. Thank You and God Bless

Another Brother has left this Earth and is now in the big Hangar in Heaven. Heidi Atanian passed away Monday morning September 18th. Heidi fought a long battle but now he is at peace. Calling hours are Sunday September 24th from 2:00-5:00pm at the Grise Funeral Home, 280 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA. A funeral service will be held on Monday, Septemper 25th from 9:30-10:30am at the funeral home followed by a committal service ath the Massaachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 11:00am. On behalf of the 282nd Black Cats our prayers and condolences to Heidi's family. May you rest in peace Brother.

Lets keep all of our Brothers and their family in our prayers who were affected by Harvey and Irma. If you know of anyone who was affected please let me know.

Brothers, one of our Brothers is in poor health, Heidi Atanian. Lets keep him in our thoughts and our prayers. His wife, Bonnie, said you can contact her at 413-782-7531 if you wish to check on his status.

I was with the 43rd Army Postal Unit, located fairly close to you guys at DaNang. I got to ride with you once to Quang Naigh, I have the utmost respect for you folks. I hope all is well with you - everyone.

Just returned from the the Khe Sanh Vets annual reunion in Cleveland.  Members are from all services, and civilians who lived in the Khe Sanh area.  During the reunion week one of the members spoke  of an aviation museum in the Atlanta area.  It was run by former Army personnel.

The member, former Marine, heard my conversation about trying to find out who were these military people in these helicopters who would stage at  the Khe Sanh combat base landing strip.  A question I had been posing for decades at our reunion.

Milton Jones, a friend, and fellow Khe Sanh Vet, advised that this aviation museum dealt with a lot of helicopter displays.  This was last Saturday night at our dinner.  And yesterday on Tuesday he spoke with Glenn Jones, who is a member of a local Viet Nam Vets business association, and one of the curators of the aviation museum.

Eureka!!!!! Not only did Glenn Jones know that the unit was the 282nd Assault Helicopter Co., Glenn Jones had been a member of the "Black Cats".

As a marine that was stationed at Khe Sanh for over year, I could not understand no one could not remember these helicopters, sometimes it seems like dozens of choppers, would take off to a secret location, and return all shot up, loaded with wounded and dead.

No one would say where they were going or where the 282nd Assault unit was coming from.  I pulled up your sight and had flashbacks.

Next August 12-19 2018 the Khe Sanh Vets are meeting in Washington, DC. Your museum will be the first stop on my intinerary, if I don't visiting before then.

Staff Sgt

George Peterson

1/26 Comm. Repair Platoon

Thank you. 

Received a phone call from Edwin "Bugz" McPherson's sister and she informed me that Bugz had a stroke last year and is paralyzed on one sided of his body. He is doing well and we wish him a speedy recovery. Needless to say his spirits are running low and if wish to call him, his phone number is 731-694-1478.

Hello Black  Cats, Just found this site and had to post a message. I was in the 484TC Det. from the start at Ft Benning. Was with the aircraft escort group to RVN. I spent my tour in the Electricians shop. Knew the Fishbeck Bros. and a couple of others that have posted in the guestbook. I still have a lot of memories of those days and wonder about the where abouts of some.

Sorry to hear of the passing of Bill Phares, we were Hooch mates at the "new" compound.

So much for now, would like to hear from one and all.

Willliam H Dignan