John DeWitt
springcedar@neto.com

From September of 1968 until June of 1969, I flew in direct support of the 3rd MSF as a gunship pilot and fireteam leader. Call sign Sidewinder 2. From June of 1969 until DEROS in March of 1970 I flew in direct support of B-35 at Duc Hoa as fireteam leader for the Firefly missions being staged from there. It has been a long time but you can't live that closely and that intensely and not wonder what happened to them. I have many, many pictures of the FOBs we called home with the 3rd MSF. Ironically, I can't tell you a thing about Duc Hoa except that it was damn dark every time I ever landed there and faces don't hang in your memory when you have only seen them in the halo of a flashlight.
I remain proud of my service to the 5th.

The unit I was actually assigned to was a special missions company. We
supported several units with slicks and guns. The net result is that we
were not a unit at all but rather more closely tied to the units we lived
with and supported, I guess my memory ties will always end up with the few
of us who flew for the Mike force and the people of B-36. I can't seem to
remember names so much any more. I spoke and worked with Smokey and Nonstop
every day. We ate together and lived in the same tent but I'll be damned if
I can remember them with any name but their call sign. Isn't age great.
Lee Torbett, I could not remember. Destroyer, on the other hand is as clear
as a bell. Go figure. I will get you some pictures in the next couple of
weeks. I made it a point to take a picture of each base we set up from the
air. Somewhere, I have pictures of the hellholes on top of Nui Ba Ra and
Nui Ba Din also. We had to spend the night on Nui Ba Din one time, I still
have the Poncho liner to prove it. I think that was the only place in III
Corps where you actually needed one of the things. Take care, I had not
thought about FM homing in 30 years you have helped to bring back some great
memories about some great people. John

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