Welcome Home From Vietnam, Finally

#6) Medivac

Yes, I’m in the minority. But I prefer Medivac to Medevac. The young men that flew and manned the Dust-Off (Medivac) Huey UH1 helicopters of the 326th Medical Battalion were dedicated to rescue and deliver the wounded to our medical facility, the 85th Evacuation Hospital. Fourteen of their number were KIA during the year I served. My dear friend, Bob Nevins, piloted Dust Off missions for the 326th to the 85th that same year. They were heroic kids challenging the odds of survival as if crashing vehicles in a State Fair demolition derby. The choppers were sitting ducks for penetrating small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. Not deterred, they flew in borderline weather of mist, rain, and wind to navigate jungle growth in attempting to extract the wounded. Bob, a modest man, related one of his crashes wherein he extracted his crew from the wreckage, evaded the enemy, and awaited rescue. He vividly describes the white-hot rocket going through his aircraft. Few have heard his story and the stories of most veterans. I dealt with my PTS by story-telling, talking. Most veterans do not allow themselves to do the same. That and other factors contribute to PTSD and suicide. Bob Nevins has created the wildly successful equine-assisted Alliance 180 to address the veterans’ and first responder demons.