When I was 19, I joined the army and....

[Snarl]

@"PLOTUS" 

Curious how many times you were awarded the Air Medal.

Cheers

Hours flying earned me flight wings, was a Spec. 4 at the time. If the Lotto pays off, I'll have a Huey UH-1 all my own... Lewies and Wobbleys got all the awards.
But really it was all about Flying in a Huey hours and hours day after day.

Wow.  Award of the AM was supposed to be automatic for those who flew in the helos.  My father was foot infantry but was awarded the AM with two oak leaf clusters just because of the time he was aloft.

But those flight wings had to be sweet.

My best helo memory was at Fort Carson.  We rode and the pilot flew nap of the earth.  Awesome!

Cheers

You know something SNARL...  I had a notion somehow we had walked similar paths at some time in the long ago past. Since we have crossed paths for years now.

I didn't get to be a real soldier until after I retired.  Even then ... nothing I've done compares to hanging out the open door of a helo that's heading to a specific spot the enemy is well aware of.  I don't care how much back-up you took in with you.

So if you ever wondered if it was me walking against you ... I was the guy with his right hand raised to his eyebrow.