Albumpage7

Jim's Memorabilia

Album Pg 7

I returned to the states in Dec '67, was reunited with my family, and introduced to daughter, Theresa. My assignment was to Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia, where I served as an Instructor Pilot in the Aviation School. Left HAAF in June '69 as a newly pinned captain. Attended the Armor Officers Basic Course at Fort Knox, KY, and the OH-6 Instructor Pilot/Gunnery Course at Fort Rucker, AL. Headed back to Vietnam in Nov '69. This time, instead of the familiar mountains of two years past, I ended up in the Mekong Delta. Initially, I was assigned to the 164th Aviation Group at Can Tho, where I served the first half of my second tour as a staff officer. I transferred to Vinh Long, where I commanded HHT 7/1 Air Cav for the last half of my tour. I have no photos of my own from my second tour, since I didn't even take a camera with me. I really regret that because I made some good friends. The guys I think about most from those days are my orderly room staff: J.P., Mike, and Gary ... I think of you guys often.

NOTE: Most of the following photos from my second RVN tour were scanned from Mike Bowman's slide collection. He's still coming to my rescue after all these years!

(Because I suffer from CRS, a malady associated with old age, I rely on my viewers to help me). -- Jim

Album Pg 7

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Advisory Team 68

Mike snapped this sequence of photos during my Change of Command ceremony in Nov '70. I had never seen pictures of the event before he mailed these slides to me. I had mixed emotions about leaving the unit ... I was glad to get rid of the responsibility, but I worried about how my troopers would fare without me (mother hen?).

These OH-6 or "Loach" photos were borrowed from the Internet. I would gladly give credit to the photographer, if I knew who he was. I really enjoyed flying the little Loach, and was very disappointed when it was replaced by the OH-58. I was rated in both, and I honestly believe the OH-6 was the superior aircraft.

7/1 Air Cav Crest ---
My Latin is a little rusty, but I think this means "The Animals Ate Fido!"

Gary Morgan, Larry Erickson, Joe Gregory - downtown Vinh Long

Erickson, Freddie Blaylock, SSG Haley

Above Ground Swimming Pool near Vinh Long Airfield. Gary thinks it took a direct mortar hit around Easter 1970.

Approaching Main Gate to Vinh Long Airfield

'Bout the only folks we can identify are Lt Col (later Lt Gen) John W. Woodmansee, Squadron Commander; 1SG Curtis Patton; CPT Julian T. Marsh (Incoming HHT Commander); J.P. Hicks (Guidon Bearer, extraordinaire); and CPT James P. Bracewell (my own self!) (Outgoing HHT Commander).

Club in Squadron Area -- Location of JP's Farewell Party. He had a party for "going away" on 30-day leave! Any old excuse!

Vinh Long (Mekong Delta), RVN - 1970

Some people and places are ID'd as "CR." That simply means, "Can't Remember!"

Crossed Sabres

HHT 7/1 Guidon

Cavalry Hat

The only photo of my own I have during my tour at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, GA. is a family shot taken just before I shipped out. The only other pictures I accumulated that are even remotely related to HAAF are a couple of shots of my instructor, Duncan B. Dowling III, aka "Dunkie-Poo." He must have done something right, because I survived my tour as an instructor.