During the Vietnam conflict, when the orders to deploy were received there were two points of departure. If ordered to report to Fort Lewis Washington, your destination was most likely Cam Ranh Bay with assignment likely in I or II Corps. Departing from Travis AFB California destined you to arrive in Vietnam at Tan Son Nhut and assignment to III or IV Corps. My first deployment had me depart Travis and assignment in a none flying ground support element south of Saigon for 1967-68. I departed Ft Lewis for my second adventure, arrived in Cam Ranh and then a night flight on a C-123 to Danang.

I arrived at the "Roadrunners" 212th Avn Bn, 1st Avn Bde in the darkness of night. While wandering in search of an open mess hall, I encountered two officers returning from an obvious night at the O’Club. Just as I passed them in the dark, one of them, a Major, turned and told me to stop where I was. He was quite vigorous in his chastising me for not saluting him. I rendered him his due, a crisp hand salute, and we parted. Pondering that episode, I had a mostly sleepless night. I awoke wondering what sort of command have found myself in here in Danang. My interview with the Battalion Adjutant was in the early  morning and he was kind to inquire what sort of assignment might I be looking for. I asked him what unit he had that was farthest from this Battalion flagpole. He told me there was an ACT north at Quang Tri, and they were still fighting the war, and if I was serious about that remote unit, they were short officers in several positions. "Yes," I said - "that would suit me fine.” As an Armor/Cavalry officer, I responded, “...yes, send me." On such spur of the moment decisions, one's life changes dramatically.
At this point, 16 Oct 1970, I arrived at Quang Tri to join the Troop. Shortly after my arrival, MAJ Danielson awarded me the command of the ARP, replacing CPT Bob Larkin who rotated home.

I was waiting my turn that morning for my proficiency ride along with one other pilot. We were killing time standing in the shadow of the Troop’s Maintenance hangar and observing the exam WO Knopik was getting from CW2 Miller. Full view was provided from our position when the tail boom separated, the Huey took a nose down attitude and plummeted to the ground. Along with several of the Maintenance personnel, I rushed in the back of a ¾-ton truck to the crash site and assisted as much as was possible extracting the two pilots from the wreckage.

The separation of the entire tail boom at the attaching point of four hardened studs and nuts ensued in an investigation of the cause. Metal fatigue and crystallization of the attaching points was the ruling over a month later. The UH-1 had been over stressed at some point in its recent history, but that particular event was never determined. All the Troop’s helicopters were given close inspections of the slippage marks and correct hardening standards on all the attaching points. The assurance that all other aircraft met all standards didn’t totally alleviate all the anxiety present, but the necessity of continued performance in the AO didn’t allow for the doubt to linger long.