282nd ASSAULT HELICOPTER CO.

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