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Travel to family in CONUS From Hawaii & To Reuions, WW2, Korea & Vietnam
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Vietnam Air Force Pilot Wings
My GySgt Rank came 3 months before I retired when the new E-8 E-9 ranks took full effect. I had a one year letter in to CMC for retirement & could not be promoted. I had been a MSGt E-7 since 1957, served as Personnel Sgt Major, Line Chief, Maintenence Chief, S-4 logistics Chief, S-3 Ops Chief. Had recived USAF/VNAF pilot wings on contract(after retirement USMC) at USAF Advisory Group-Vietnam 1964-1968). Also had Vietnamese award not shown on the available items.Served as Senior CH53 Rep for 14 Years on Okinawa Japan with MAG-36 (1973-1987). During those years was deployed to Korea each year for"Team Spirit Exercise". Also support of units in Cubi Pt PI. Was on the LPH Okinawa for Opertaion "Frequent Winds" Apr 1975 Evacuation of Saigon. Was deployed to Diego Garcia than to Oman in support of prepartion for rescue of prisoners in Iran Late Nov 1979 .Prisoners were released when Regan was elected as President WW II to Viet Nam
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121), also known as the "Green Knights", is a United States Marine Corps aircraft squadron operating the F-35B Lightning II. The squadron is based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan and falls under the command of Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12) and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW). Their tail code is VK and their radio call sign is "Combat".
Created/Owned By 60 Nicholson, Sean (Mongo), CWO22
Last Updated: Oct 24, 2011
Memories For This Unit
Best Friends Msgt Carl Woods, Msgt Ivan Evans
Best Moment Transfer to VMO-6
Worst Moment Firing on our OE A/C by Msgt Evans.
Chain of Command 1 St MARDIV
Other Memories Award to Msgt Evans at VMA-121 for shooting down our OE. Many small changes dim over the years. There were no more Rocks & Shoals after 1948 UCMJ was effective. Low points in the Corp was after WW2 when Truman tried to disband the Corp & we were reduced to a very small Corp. Than Korea came & the recall of Reserves . I recieved the effects of WW2 Pilots being recalled from the reserves. These poor guys were unprepared for the newer A/C such as the AD Skyraider & F9F Panther Jet. I was at atami awaiting assignment as a replacement at VMO-6 as a Senior Helicoper NCO. Suddenly they called me in and said there was an immediate demand for a Senior NCO at VMA 121 (AD Sqd) at K-6 Korea. I explained I was not qualified in that A/C. I was told they needed a Maintenance Chief NOW !! I arrived there to find the Reserve Pilot problem was the immediate priorty. The CO had me along with him at the night Interdiction flights where Pilots were taxiing back where they pulled circuit breakers to put the A/C down. Thye CO was on one side on the wing me on the other pushing circuit breakers back in & send them out again.. After few weeks a qualified AD NCO arrived & I was sent to VMO-6 at A-9 1st MARDIV . Many stories in areas were not told in history . Regular NCOs got the shaft when many of the old reserve NCOs called back stayed in the Corp. They had regular promotions while in the reserves which placed them at an advantage to those that had remained as regulars. When I finally arrived at VMO-6 at A-9 we had a visit from VMA-121 . One night our OE A/C were flying night fligths overhead our area. Suddenly we heard burst of heavy gun fire overhead. Our OE came down in a steep dive & landed. It had several 50 Cal ,holes through the canopy. We found out the next day Msgt Ivan Evans an NAP from VMA-121 was flying night interdiction over the front lines when he thought our OE was the Washing machine Charley that had been flying missions in an old Russian Bi Plane.. We prepared a hero award & sent it to VMA-121 !!! It had humor since no one was injured or killed ._________________