June 13, 2024 • 41 mins
Byron Bode, Vietnam Veteran, Helicopter Pilot
Medals and Awards: Army Commendation Medal awarded for Valor, Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, 1 Awarded for Valor
(and others not listed)
Byron Bode, a Vietnam veteran, shares his connection to the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the helicopter he flew during the war. He discusses the unique circumstances that led to the memorial and the significance of the helicopter in his personal story. Byron reflects on his time in the military, the challenges he faced upon returning home, and the importance of talking about mental health. He also discusses his hopes for the future of the country and offers advice to current and future military members. The podcast ends with a heartfelt appreciation for Byron's service and his involvement in the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Takeaways
Medals and Awards: Army Commendation Medal awarded for Valor, Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, 1 Awarded for Valor
(and others not listed)
Byron Bode, a Vietnam veteran, shares his connection to the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the helicopter he flew during the war. He discusses the unique circumstances that led to the memorial and the significance of the helicopter in his personal story. Byron reflects on his time in the military, the challenges he faced upon returning home, and the importance of talking about mental health. He also discusses his hopes for the future of the country and offers advice to current and future military members. The podcast ends with a heartfelt appreciation for Byron's service and his involvement in the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Takeaways
- The Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial holds significance for Byron Bode, a Vietnam veteran, as it features the helicopter he flew during the war.
- Byron reflects on his time in the military and the challenges he faced upon returning home, including the lack of recognition and support for Vietnam veterans.
- He emphasizes the importance of talking about mental health and seeking help, particularly for veterans who may be struggling.
- Byron expresses his concerns about the divisiveness in the country and hopes for a return to a common ground where people can come together as Americans.
- The podcast ends with a heartfelt appreciation for Byron's service and his involvement in the Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Link to info on helicopter flown by Byron Bode
Click here
Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial
https://nvvmf.org/
Credit to my friend John Bode Nephew for introducing us to Byron.
PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE!
Click here
Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Memorial
https://nvvmf.org/
Credit to my friend John Bode Nephew for introducing us to Byron.
PLEASE SHARE THIS EPISODE!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Connecting the dots, connecting his guests to the
world, creating more connections.
Welcome to the Connection.
Meet your host.
Author, coach, air Forceveteran Jay Morales.
This episode introduces us toByron Bodie, vietnam.
(00:34):
Veteran helicopter pilot whoserved our nation from 1967 to
1970.
He flew over 1,025 combat hourswith courage and grit.
Some of his distinguishedawards include Army Commendation
Medal awarded for valor, silverStar, bronze Star Medal,
(00:54):
distinguished Flying Cross AirMedal with four oak leaf
clusters, one awarded for valor.
Please honor our veterans bysharing this episode and their
stories.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Byron, this is the first day that we've truly met.
I've heard so much about you,john Bodie, your nephew, is that
correct, correct?
And I always heard about thisguy, byron, you know, probably
four or five years ago, and Johnsaid oh, you know my uncle, he
is a, he's a Vietnam veteran,and I little bits and pieces.
(01:30):
And then all of a sudden thisVietnam, nebraska, vietnam
veterans memorial startedpopping up.
You know, people were workingon it and that's when your name
really emerged.
So, byron, if you'll introduceyourself and kind of what your
connection is here to this Hueybehind me, and we'll just frame
the story from there.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
My name is Byron Bodie and I'm just thrilled to
be involved with the NebraskaVietnam Veterans Memorial
because this helicopter behindme is one that I actually flew
when I was in Vietnam, and it'squite interesting the way that
(02:16):
this whole memorial happened.
I think it's all bycircumstance or it was supposed
to be a very unusual set ofcircumstances.
The idea for this memorial cameup oh what, in 2017, I believe
it was Sure, yeah, and theydecided they wanted a helicopter
(02:39):
but couldn't find him, andapparently they found some
connection to somebody inBennington, vermont, who had the
helicopter but couldn't raisethe funds to do what they wanted
to do, so it was donated toOmaha and the tail number of the
helicopter was recognized byanother pilot who lives in
(03:00):
Florida.
Yeah, and he got a hold of thecrew chief in California who was
the original crew chief to thisaircraft.
Wow, and a little back story Atour unit in Vietnam, we were
rocketed and four of ouraircraft were destroyed all at
once, and so we got fourbrand-new helicopters and this
(03:22):
was one of the brand newhelicopters that we received and
the crew chief the originalcrew chief on this aircraft
wound up having this aircraftassigned to him on his 21st
birthday, so he thought thatthis was his birthday present.
And what's really great forthis memorial is that this
(03:47):
gentleman his name was CraigFouts was trained by his father
in his father's business when heand his brother worked for his
dad to keep a daily journal, andso while he was in Vietnam with
this helicopter, he kept adaily journal of the events of
happening of this helicopterwhile he was on it, and that's
(04:14):
why it's so significant to thismemorial.
And originally, apparently,they had this designed or
thought to be a Red Cross orMedevac helicopter.
The dioramas that they had setup helicopter.
The dioramas that they had setup yes, and when Craig contacted
me about it, I saw the dioramaand I just thought you know,
(04:34):
we've got to do something.
So I wrote a letter to thefoundation here and I said if
you're going to restore thehelicopter, it should be
restored to its original firstflying condition.
Yes, and that was with the noseart of the Snoopy.
Yes, and the nose yes, becauseour platoon was known as the
Snoopy Platoon due to our Snoopyscouts.
Yes, and then when they foundout that the journal existed and
(05:00):
all of the history, it was anautomatic for them.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Yes, that's great.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Because their goal to have an educational center here
going forward, it was justautomatic.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
You know.
First of all, byron, I mean toeven talk about this.
Can you bring us back to?
Let's talk about how old wereyou when you joined the military
?
Speaker 1 (05:28):
old were you when you joined the military?
I was 21 when I joined themilitary, in 67, and I had a low
draft number and college wasn'tgoing as well as it probably
should have.
Okay, and so I knew I wasprobably going to get drafted
and they had this program thatif you enlisted you could have a
guaranteed school.
And I've always loved aviation,so I enlisted with a guarantee
(05:52):
to get to flight school andlearn how to fly helicopters,
and the training for it was wefirst started in Fort Walters,
Texas, at the primary helicopterschool and basically learned
how to fly small helicopters andtrainers and go through some
basic training.
And then we went to Fort Rucker, Alabama, where we were
(06:16):
introduced to the Hueyhelicopter and learned how to
fly this.
Yes, and our continued training,but the training was a total of
almost a year and then, ofcourse, we knew at that time we
were almost automatically goingto Vietnam.
In the flight school our mottowas and the patch actually said
(06:44):
on the arm, patch above the best, Above the best.
We were trained to be above thebest.
The best are on the ground andour job was to do whatever it
took to support the groundtroops, and that's why I think
the Huey is recognized so muchand the sound of the Huey.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
The Huey is recognized so much, and the
sound of the Huey, which is kindof neat that they put this in
there as well.
Can you hear that?
Listen to that.
As I said earlier, just hearingthat sound makes my.
You know?
Where does that?
What does this do for you,byron?
Speaker 1 (07:28):
It just, you know it.
Just it brings back memories,both good and bad.
Yeah, you know, people ask meabout Vietnam.
They say, well, what wasVietnam?
Or what do you think I said itwas a good bad memory?
Yeah, would you do it again?
Yes, I would a good bad memory.
(07:50):
Yeah, would you do it again?
Yes, I would, uh and yes, I.
There were a lot of bad times,but there were a lot of good
times.
I learned a lot about myself.
Yeah and uh, it was a grosssituation, but there were some
difficulties with it as well.
So what?
Speaker 3 (08:01):
what are some of the things you think that you took
lifelong lessons from?
Maybe, maybe from, maybe theheat of some of your missions?
Speaker 1 (08:11):
That's a difficult question.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
I really don't know how to answer it, and that's
okay.
Maybe we'll come back to thator not.
You know when people think andthey see you and now they're
recognized Vietnam veterans.
Right, it took so many years.
Do you feel like you?
Do you feel recognized now morethan you ever have, at least 20
(08:37):
, 30, 40 years?
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Oh, absolutely.
I think you know the country'sevolved.
I think you know the country'sevolved At the time that Vietnam
was going on, the whole countrywas in a state of cultural
revolution.
There were so many differentthings going on and you know it
was protests.
(09:00):
Ban the bra you know, burn theflag.
Yes, sex, drugs, rock and roll.
You know everything was goingon.
So you know, and sometimes,when I got back from Vietnam, of
course you didn't even want toacknowledge that you were a
(09:22):
Vietnam veteran because of whatwas going on and people were
against the war.
Yeah, most of the veterans werelabeled I should say not most.
We had a label put on us thatwe were all alcoholic drug
addicts, yeah, yeah, and so itwas tough to get a job and you
(09:42):
just didn't even really mentionit and keeping all of that
bottled up inside of one, Ithink that had a big effect on a
lot of people, that they didn'twant to talk about it and
really the healing is gettingout and talking about it.
And I found that out after Igot involved with the VA and
talking about differentsituations, both good and bad,
(10:07):
and opening up and you know ithelps that's so important, byron
, that's so important and youknow you never know which way
these interviews are going to go.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
But I want to stay right here with mental health
right and the things that everysoldier goes through, but
soldiers like yourself who wentthrough a hard time and then
came back and the world turnedtheir back on you and then, like
you said, you didn't want totalk about it because either you
were labeled a certain way oryou were shunned.
It was hard to get a job.
(10:38):
Let's talk about that.
Byron, how old were you whenyou got out?
Speaker 1 (10:42):
and how old were you when you got out?
Well, when I went to Vietnam, Iwas 22.
And, of course, I served a yearin Vietnam and then after that
we had a commitment and I cameback and was a flight instructor
in Fort Walters, texas.
So I taught a lot of Vietnamesestudents how to fly and I got
(11:04):
out of the service in Decemberof 70.
Okay, so I was like 24 yearsold when I got out of the
service.
Wow.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Okay, so now you're out, you take the uniform off.
Thank you, byron, for yourservice.
What are those days like?
Or what are those months likeafter that?
Where did you know what youwanted to do?
Or did you try to go back towork right away?
What, what was that like?
Speaker 1 (11:28):
you know, total confusion, I guess, right, uh,
what do I do now exactly?
You know, you know you've gotto try to get a job.
Well, you go out and try to geta job and a lot of people they
just, oh, you're a v vet, youknow, and just kind of no.
And it was kind of neat thatthe company I started working
(11:49):
for, probably, oh, six monthsafter I got out, I found this
company that had agovernment-subsidized training
program, oh, yeah, managementtraining program.
Yeah, didn't pay a lot, but atleast it got a job and got me
started in the finance industry,yes, and you know, in consumer
(12:11):
lending.
And then my career just kind ofgrew with that, yeah, and so it
was beneficial at that point.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Byron, I can't imagine like you said.
I mean here you are in chargeof lives and the safety and the
protection of thousands flying apiece of equipment like this,
right entrusted by thegovernment to operate at a high
level.
And it was hard to get a job.
Yeah, that's crazy to me.
(12:40):
It is no-transcript my life.
(13:19):
Who wouldn't want to hiresomeone like that?
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
It's it's it's hard.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
I know, I know it is difficult, but you know, I think
unless you've been there peopledon't understand it.
Just, it changes you and Ithink everyone knows that yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
So, yeah, talk about mental health.
So you were, were you justcompletely, almost silent about
it, byron?
Because even even john bodetells me hey, um, you know I
don't talk to uncle byron toomuch about it, but you know, I
mean we're proud of him, youknow.
And but how are you, when itcomes to talking about your time
(13:59):
in vietnam now, versus I don'thave a problem about?
Speaker 1 (14:02):
it now.
Yeah, before it was just kindof like a non-subject.
Yeah, you know, god Reed, andpeople really weren't interested
Really, you know they reallyweren't interested in you as a
person, about what you did, whatthings went on or anything like
that.
Anyway, that was my experience.
(14:23):
Maybe others had a differentexperience and I'm sure that you
know the people who served inVietnam that maybe stayed in the
military, they had a chance todecompress because they had, you
know, camaraderie withlike-minded, and I think that's
the difference of the lessonthat was learned about Vietnam
(14:48):
by the government, by themilitary.
You know, in World War I, worldWar II, the Korean, War
everyone was sent over as a unit.
Yes, so they had camaraderie,they built the team spirit, they
went over together, they didtheir mission, they came back
together so they had a chance todecompress.
(15:08):
Talk about it Vietnam when youwere done with whatever training
you did, you were processedthrough central processing on
the West Coast.
You were sent to Vietnam andyou entered, entered country.
You went through processing andindividually, one guy went
(15:29):
north, one guy went south, oneguy went east you were all split
up and then you entered yourunit and you didn't have a
chance.
Your unit, because it was aconstant rotation.
You know one guy may be there aweek before he, because it was a
constant rotation.
Yeah, you know, one guy may bethere a week before he goes home
, another one just got there,another one might be there two
(15:52):
or three weeks.
So you form friendships, butnot solid.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Well, you had solid bonds, but not a permanent bond
like some of the other ones had.
You know previously, traintogether, get stationed together
, deploy together as a pack or agroup or a troop or a squad,
right, and you're right, it wasprobably chaos at just the
churning of people coming in andout of Vietnam, like you said.
I mean that's such a goodperspective.
No one, as long as I've been inthe military, as long as I've
(16:26):
studied, I've never heard thatperspective before Byron.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Well, and you see, now they don't do that.
I mean Desert Storm,afghanistan.
They're all going over his unit, coming back his unit and
celebrating together.
So somebody higher uprecognized what I just said and
so it's changed.
I don't think they'll ever dothat again and I think that's
another reason that I you know,probably a lack of recognition
(16:52):
or a lack of concern.
Nobody really talked about it.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
You know talking about it.
If people engage people likeyou, byron, or yourself
specifically, and they ask youquestions, I mean, what do you
want most people to know now?
What do you want them to knownow?
If you could just say hey, Iwant this to resonate with you.
This is what I want you tothink about when you think about
(17:18):
Vietnam veterans specifically.
What do you want them to know?
That's a hard question, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Well, just think we're no different than any
other person who went to war,who had a conflict and came home
and recovered.
And I think that's what's neatabout this particular memorial
that the state of Nebraska put,or the veterans here, the
(17:52):
Vietnam Veterans of Americachapter here in Omaha put
together.
It's honoring all veterans.
It's not just Vietnam veterans,we're just an era.
That's what's so neat aboutthis.
People that haven't visitedthis memorial just don't get a
(18:14):
chance to visit it.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
It's spectacular, it's vast, would you say.
This is part of your healingprocess too.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Yes, absolutely, and you know it was one part of it
is.
You know, the crew members ofthis helicopter another pilot,
our company commander, a doorgunner, the crew chief.
You know we had a chance toreunite, yeah, and that wouldn't
(18:47):
have been possible without thismemorial and that was healing
in itself, just to sit down andtalk about some things.
You know, in our off time atthe hotel, just general BS Right
hanging out with the troops,yeah, and lying and telling war
stories amongst ourselves.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
So you know, when you travel in the airports, do you
ever connect with other veterans?
You know, sometimes you mayhave the hat on, they may have a
shirt on.
I mean, do you ever like?
Is there a silent connection?
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Yeah, every once in a while I think you see, well,
like a hat?
Yeah, I don't normally wearhats.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Yeah, I'm glad you did today though.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Every once in a while you do, you see it.
You just say welcome home,brother, and you get that back.
If you're recognized, if yougot something on.
That is there.
The Vietnam veterans recognizeeach other, I think, quite
readily, and a lot of people now, I think, due to well, just
(19:49):
general publicity, if they hearthat you are a Vietnam veteran,
a lot of people just say thankyou for your service.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
And that's what's so cool.
I mean, without even knowing it, they just hear that you are a
veteran, yes, and notnecessarily just a Vietnam
veteran.
I think it's just kind of theAmerican public, I think, is
more attuned to dishonoring.
Yes, if they're patriotic.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Yes, of course there's some in our country that
don't care Right, and you knowI mean that's a whole other
podcast in itself.
And here's how I feel.
I'm patriotic and I know thepeople that surround us are.
Patriotism to me is the honorand respect of all those, the
shoulders who I've stood onright.
(20:39):
Patriotic is a love for yourcountry.
I mean this country opened itsarms for my parents when they
came here.
But when I first joined themilitary Byron, I didn't join
because I was patriotic.
I joined to get away fromCalifornia.
After 10 years I learnedpressure, sacrifice, things of
(21:00):
that nature.
It wasn't until probably 10, 15years after.
I'm 29 years out of the servicenow.
I probably feel more stronglyabout it now than I did when I
was in.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
I think that's a good perspective.
I think that I probably do too.
Yeah, because I think now we'reseeing a lot of people who want
to.
Well, I look back.
You know what made this countrygreat.
You know it's the immigration,it's the blending of cultures,
it's everyone becoming anamerican.
(21:34):
Yes, and you know, you had theirish blending with the.
You know with, yeah, witheverybody, you know and you know
, we had times and now it seemslike everything wants to be
separate.
You know, everyone wants tomaintain their own culture.
They want to fly their own flagand you know, or I'm this
(21:56):
American, I'm that American.
You know the label.
Yeah, yeah, we should be justAmericans.
We're Americans.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
We're just Americans.
I mean, we are, that's you know.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
When I see, and I wish that, you know the
divisiveness that I see today.
I wish that could go away andwe could just be all Americans.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
I mean you fought to keep us all united, right and
strong and together the protests, or the this rally or that
protest, you know.
One is yes, we did fight forthat freedom of speech.
(22:39):
But number two is just becauseyou have freedom of speech
doesn't mean that you can be anidiot.
Yeah, right, you know what Imean.
And well, you can be an idiot.
Just be ready for therepercussions.
Very well, put Byron when youstepped foot here at this
(23:00):
memorial.
Okay, we're switching subjectshere.
What day was it when you firststepped on this memorial?
Was it just a few days ago, the5th of June?
Speaker 1 (23:09):
5th of June okay.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
So you stepped on the memorial.
Was it just a few days ago, the5th of June?
5th of June, okay.
So you stepped on the 5th ofJune, the day before the formal
dedication.
Yes, so you entered.
Bring us back to that moment.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
It's overwhelming, I guess it just—to see it in its
glory.
You, just, you can't imaginethe dedication that everyone put
into it.
It brought tears to my eyes andjust the thought, the
dedication, and to feel that I'mpart of being honored in this
(23:48):
memorial.
Yeah, as all veterans can feelthat way.
Yes, you know, and you goaround and, like I mentioned
earlier, this memorial has aspecial dedication to the crew
of the Frank Evans.
Yes, yeah, which, you know,that's a unique story in history
all by itself.
(24:08):
That's, you know, sad that theyaren't recognized.
Well, here they are recognizedthe three Nebraska veterans that
were killed in the Frank Evans.
Their name was on the blackwall in this memorial, but it's
not on any.
Their names are not on anyother black wall in the country
(24:30):
as well as their 71 crewmateswho were killed in a tragic
accident in 1969.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
And they don't classify it as killed in action.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
No, the government didn't classify them as killed
in action for some stupid reason, and who knows?
But, they're recognized here.
Yeah, and that's another uniquething about this memorial.
And you see the flags flyinghere.
Yeah, one flag for every branchof the service, yes, and then
(25:05):
the American flag centered, andthen.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Yeah, it's.
I mean, this is breathtaking.
This is again my first timehere, you know, and sitting with
you Byron.
You know, when I talked to John, I said John, I know Byron's
getting pulled out fromdifferent directions.
Do you think I could podcastwith?
Speaker 2 (25:25):
him.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
And he goes.
Oh, he goes.
Let me ask he goes.
I don't know.
You've been pretty busy sincewe've been here, right, I mean
doing, but it's been fun, it'sbeen fun.
Yeah.
Military men and women today.
What's some advice you want togive them?
I know these are good questions, Byron.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
These are all tough questions.
Yes, be proud.
Be proud of what you're doingand do it because you love it.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Yeah, and that's probably why they're in the
military.
To begin with, They've got apassion or a reason that they
well, most of the time noweveryone is enlisting in the
military.
So they did it for a reason.
What's the reason?
Well, maybe their ancestorswere in it, Maybe their brother,
(26:25):
maybe you know, who knows whatthe reasons are, but I think
they have a reason to be proudJust to be in the military
wearing a uniform representingthe country.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
I think that's important and it transitions us
to the next question, which isthere's a brother or sister out
there right now who's recluse.
They're pulled back.
Recluse.
They're pulled back.
They're not having the averageexperience that, or they're not
having a good experience withlife, and they know they should
(27:00):
get help.
Everyone knows they should gethelp.
What do you want to tell thatperson?
Speaker 1 (27:05):
That's our veteran.
Get involved with the VA.
Yeah, there's help there if youseek it out.
And you know there's still toomany that don't talk about it,
you know, and there's too manythat are.
Well, they take their own lives.
(27:26):
Yes, because they don't talkabout it, they didn't get the
help.
That's the sad part.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
It's important that people know that talking is
everything.
It doesn't mean you have totalk about every explicit detail
.
It just means open up.
It just means that it'simportant that we know that
we've been through some pressurecooker.
Right, you've been through apressure cooker, and that's not
normal.
(27:59):
But, um, and then what do yousay to the people who are
civilians, who said who've neverserved, but they want to and
they want to talk to someonelike byron, they want to.
Hey, I want to talk to my dad,I want to talk to my uncle, I
want to talk to my grandfather,but they just don't have the
guts to do it becauseron, theywant to.
Hey, I want to talk to my dad,I want to talk to my uncle, I
want to talk to my grandfather,but they just don't have the
guts to do it because they don'twant to make them mad.
What would you say to thosepeople?
(28:19):
You never know unless you askRight.
So, byron, back in the day,when you know, maybe when you
were you know, when you weregoing through challenges, would
you have gotten mad at someonereaching out to tell you that
they love you so?
I don't know?
No, I don't think so.
Do you remember anyconversations that were hard,
like when people reached out toyou?
(28:40):
When did you have a hardchallenge or not?
Speaker 1 (28:43):
maybe your experience was different I don't, I don't
think, I don't think I was everreally asked a whole lot.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that too.
I think people just kind ofsaid oh you know, again, maybe
the label came into effect.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
See, and that's important, byron, because people
get labeled oh, that's yourUncle, byron.
He was in Vietnam.
Think of how many times thatthat was said, not even
disrespectfully, just even likeas a word of caution.
But Byron's human Right, he's ahuman being, just like you said
.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Well, and so often I mean you look around all the
labels that are out there, thedifferent races, the different
cultures, all of that you know,and that oh well, byron's just a
human being at the end of theday.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
We all are.
Yeah, we all are.
Yeah, we all are, yeah, byron,maybe a couple more questions
and we'll end this, but I alwaysthink about just our country in
general and the patriotism andsome of the things that we stand
(29:52):
for.
And then I think, 20 years fromnow, I think 40 years from now,
with all these things that arehappening, what are you most
worried about when it comes to,or are you worried about, our
future?
And then, on the other side ofthat is, how can we make it
better?
So what are you most worriedabout now, 20, 40 years, when it
comes to our sector?
Speaker 1 (30:13):
The divisiveness that we see in the political parties
right now.
Yes, it's upsetting, and weused to have a middle ground.
Yeah, yes, we're all going tohave different opinions on the
right hand, on the left, butthere was always a middle ground
(30:34):
where commonality andsensibility can be reached.
I'm not seeing that now.
Everyone's worried about that.
Yeah, now and you know they'resaying different things and I
guess I look at it that thiscountry has been through some
real difficult times andeveryone says I feel sorry for
(30:55):
the younger generation, I feelsorry for my grandkids, or
whatever, and they say you know,I think about it, you know
there's a lot of very smartyoung people out there and, in
spite of all the difficulties,I'm optimistic.
I believe they're going tofigure it out.
Yeah, they're going to figureit out.
(31:16):
And get it back to the comicbook.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Yeah, I mean at least I hope so If we could keep
putting stakes in the ground onunfounded foundation.
It's just going to.
It's just we're going to keepgoing on the slippery slope.
But I appreciate that the nextfinal probably part of this is I
want to concentrate on this.
Give me some memories, give mesome of your first day with it,
(31:43):
like hey, this is what you'regoing to be assigned to.
What was that like?
I guess exciting because youknow, I mean you were 22.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Yeah, yeah Well, I was actually an old man.
Speaker 3 (31:58):
Compared to the youngins who were 18, who were
joining the service.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
And there were a lot of pilots who were 19, 20 years
old.
Yeah, 21 years old.
Maybe you know I was at 22.
I was a little older than most,A little more mature.
Speaker 3 (32:13):
Yes, for sure.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
But we had, you know, one guy in our unit was 35 or
36.
But the majority were youngguys.
You know, we were just doingour job, just like everybody
else.
But the thing was we developeda oh I don't know a love of
flying or want to fly, oh mygosh.
(32:36):
It's an adventure.
It's a new adventure, like boy,what's going to become of this?
You know, and you know, yes,you're worried.
You know what am I gettinginvolved in.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Or what's going to happen Of course, so you never
know.
But we had some good eveningconversations, sometimes Got a
little strange a little fun.
Oh sure, some songs were sung.
Oh yeah, matter of fact, theother pilot here.
He gave us all a CD ofdifferent songs that were sung
(33:10):
by the pilots in the evening andin between it says it breaks.
And it says I think it's timefor more beer before we sing.
Wow.
But yeah, to begin with it'sthe unknown, but it's an
exciting unknown, I guess that'sthe best way of putting it.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
Of how I felt you know, okay, I'm in this unit now
.
What's going to happen next?
Okay, I know I'm going to beflying a helicopter, but yeah
it's the but.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
It's the but.
That's what makes the story.
When you had to leave thisthing, did you ever think you'd
see it again?
Speaker 1 (33:50):
No, never no.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
You just thought is it okay?
It was a blip in time, it wassuch a blip in your time and you
don't think about it Right.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
You know, it was just a machine.
It really the tail number hadno significance.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
It was a helicopter.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Yes, now it does.
Yeah, it was a vehicle, it wasa tool to do your job.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, who would think that it'd be
restored to its condition then?
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Yeah, and have the significance of it with the crew
members, with some of thespecial things that did happen
on air.
Yeah, and I'll say it, you know, yeah say it.
One crew member, the door gunnerwho was assigned to this
aircraft.
He was supposed to be here forthe dedication after the
(34:39):
helicopter was restored.
Well, he died just shortlybefore and, of course, at the
dedication or the unveilingafter the restoration, we all
signed the helicopter and it'sbeen preserved that way.
Well, somebody thought the doorgunner who died should be
preserved, so some of his asheswere put in an urn and put in
(35:03):
the ammo can that you can see onthe helicopter yeah, right
there, and the ammo can waswelded shut.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
I mean Byron, first of all.
I can't believe that piece oftechnology got up into the air
like it did, right?
I mean hot Creams.
Well, I'm talking in its glory,you know what I mean, right In
its glory.
When you flew this thing, Imean it was a new machine, it
(35:32):
was a new helicopter.
How did you feel about thetechnology then?
Speaker 1 (35:37):
Like you said, hey until, but After a while you
probably didn't think about itand actually this helicopter
doesn't have much technology init.
You're right, it's very basic,it's a very basic machine
compared to what the militaryhas today, Right right.
It's real basic.
I've even said to some I don'tthink I'd want to fly today
(36:00):
because they know everything youwere doing all the time.
Speaker 3 (36:03):
Oh yeah, how many missions did you fly in this
thing?
Speaker 1 (36:08):
I don't know, we never really counted missions.
I had 1,025 hours of combattime of flying.
So you figure a work year is2,080 hours a 40-hour week.
So in one year I flew for ahalf a year.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
In combat.
Yeah, that's incredible.
I can't even imagine.
Speaker 1 (36:34):
I mean some of us, and not only this helicopter,
but we had a smaller helicopterthat we did a different mission
with.
Yeah, my whole time was notflying a Huey, yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
Another helicopter.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
It was called a 086A they called it a Loge, yeah,
which did scout reconnaissanceOkay.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
Which was treetop low level yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:58):
You know, wow, stuff like that, yeah, there was.
That technology wasn't there inthe day, that was all skill.
So that technology wasn't therein the day, that was all scale.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
Well, it was mostly scale and you're just the
machine just doing.
You know you didn't havecomputers, you didn't have all
the fancy stuff and navigationaids.
Yeah, you know, I think it'skind of like a Model A compared
to a current car A Model A.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
Oh my gosh.
And then so talk to me aboutthat.
You said you all signed upthere.
Tell us about that.
You were calling it a dog.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Yeah, it's basically.
Well, you can't really see itbehind the door gunner there,
right, but there's kind of arectangular piece that comes
down from the transmission, fromthe mast of the rotor and all
the gearing and everythingthat's in there, and they just
call that the doghouse.
I don't know how I got thatname, but anyway there's flat
(37:56):
walls there and we had theopportunity to sign the flat
walls All the people that wereinvolved with it, who did the
refurbishment of the aircraftsthat could be displayed, as well
as the crew members, so that'sincredible.
And then they've cleared overthat, so that's kind of a
permanent deal too.
As long as the helicopterremains here, hopefully the
(38:17):
weather in Nebraska doesn't gettoo bad.
Speaker 3 (38:21):
The tornadoes yeah, oh, knock on wood.
Yeah, the tornadoes.
Yeah, oh, knock on wood.
Last final thing I mean, didyou guys ever play any pranks on
each other as a crew on here?
Did you guys ever give eachother crap at all?
I mean, guys, are guys right.
Giving crap was normal.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Yeah, but you know when you're flying the mission,
probably no, no, no, there wereno games to be played Absolutely
, but afterwards, yeah, there'ssome untold good stories.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
Walt Afterwards yes.
Well, byron, I appreciate ourtime together more than you know
.
There's so many things insideof this podcast that I want
people to take away from.
I want you to know for most ofall, this is probably a selfish
gift for me and to share withothers.
I honor your story, byron.
(39:14):
I'm not trying to make you outto be some superhero or anything
like that, but I want you toknow I do see you.
I recognize you as the historichistory of our country, history
of our military.
You served honorably and yousacrificed a bunch.
Speaker 1 (39:34):
Yeah, but I had a lot of fun at the same time.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
I'm sure you did Any final words at all, Byron, and
we close out here.
Speaker 1 (39:43):
Well, I want to thank you for giving me the
opportunity or asking me to dothis, and I respect you a lot
because of what you've done inthe 50-mile march and getting
that foundation started.
Thank you, and all you do forthe veterans and the goals that
you've done.
(40:03):
I think this is what the fourthyear yeah, that you're doing
the done.
I think this is what the fourthyear yeah, that you're doing
the march.
I'm a little emotional becausewhat is the goal for fundraising
this year for your foundation?
I know you have nearly 200people that are walking 161 this
year.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
Sorry, I got a little emotional.
I just coming from you.
That means so much because Iwant to do it for guys who've
been to it right.
And yes, the fundraising goalis 1.2, 1.5 million.
That's the goal.
But the goal is to keep onemore alive, one more alive.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
That's pretty amazing to hear your goal that way yeah
.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
I mean I'll.
You don't know how much thatmeans.
I Sorry, I would've.
Speaker 1 (41:02):
Well, you know, you can't help but bring tears to
your eyes.
Speaker 3 (41:11):
You know, byron.
Thank you, byron, you'reconnected here.
You still can be a big writer.
Thank you for your service toour country, brother, thanks,
bye, brother, thanks thanks fortuning in to the connection.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
It's been a fantastic journey, exploring stories,
insights and inspirations thatbridge our lives.
Remember every connection hasthe power to transform.
Please subscribe, rate andreview.
Your feedback keeps us going inthis connected world.
Let's make meaningfulconnections that enrich lives.
(41:50):
Now signing off until next time, the Connection.
Keep connecting and let's go.
Connecting the dots, connecting his guests to the
world, creating more connections.
Welcome to the Connection.
Meet your host.
Author, coach, air Forceveteran Jay Morales.
This episode introduces us toByron Bodie, vietnam.
(00:34):
Veteran helicopter pilot whoserved our nation from 1967 to
1970.
He flew over 1,025 combat hourswith courage and grit.
Some of his distinguishedawards include Army Commendation
Medal awarded for valor, silverStar, bronze Star Medal,
(00:54):
distinguished Flying Cross AirMedal with four oak leaf
clusters, one awarded for valor.
Please honor our veterans bysharing this episode and their
stories.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Byron, this is the first day that we've truly met.
I've heard so much about you,john Bodie, your nephew, is that
correct, correct?
And I always heard about thisguy, byron, you know, probably
four or five years ago, and Johnsaid oh, you know my uncle, he
is a, he's a Vietnam veteran,and I little bits and pieces.
(01:30):
And then all of a sudden thisVietnam, nebraska, vietnam
veterans memorial startedpopping up.
You know, people were workingon it and that's when your name
really emerged.
So, byron, if you'll introduceyourself and kind of what your
connection is here to this Hueybehind me, and we'll just frame
the story from there.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
My name is Byron Bodie and I'm just thrilled to
be involved with the NebraskaVietnam Veterans Memorial
because this helicopter behindme is one that I actually flew
when I was in Vietnam, and it'squite interesting the way that
(02:16):
this whole memorial happened.
I think it's all bycircumstance or it was supposed
to be a very unusual set ofcircumstances.
The idea for this memorial cameup oh what, in 2017, I believe
it was Sure, yeah, and theydecided they wanted a helicopter
(02:39):
but couldn't find him, andapparently they found some
connection to somebody inBennington, vermont, who had the
helicopter but couldn't raisethe funds to do what they wanted
to do, so it was donated toOmaha and the tail number of the
helicopter was recognized byanother pilot who lives in
(03:00):
Florida.
Yeah, and he got a hold of thecrew chief in California who was
the original crew chief to thisaircraft.
Wow, and a little back story Atour unit in Vietnam, we were
rocketed and four of ouraircraft were destroyed all at
once, and so we got fourbrand-new helicopters and this
(03:22):
was one of the brand newhelicopters that we received and
the crew chief the originalcrew chief on this aircraft
wound up having this aircraftassigned to him on his 21st
birthday, so he thought thatthis was his birthday present.
And what's really great forthis memorial is that this
(03:47):
gentleman his name was CraigFouts was trained by his father
in his father's business when heand his brother worked for his
dad to keep a daily journal, andso while he was in Vietnam with
this helicopter, he kept adaily journal of the events of
happening of this helicopterwhile he was on it, and that's
(04:14):
why it's so significant to thismemorial.
And originally, apparently,they had this designed or
thought to be a Red Cross orMedevac helicopter.
The dioramas that they had setup helicopter.
The dioramas that they had setup yes, and when Craig contacted
me about it, I saw the dioramaand I just thought you know,
(04:34):
we've got to do something.
So I wrote a letter to thefoundation here and I said if
you're going to restore thehelicopter, it should be
restored to its original firstflying condition.
Yes, and that was with the noseart of the Snoopy.
Yes, and the nose yes, becauseour platoon was known as the
Snoopy Platoon due to our Snoopyscouts.
Yes, and then when they foundout that the journal existed and
(05:00):
all of the history, it was anautomatic for them.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Yes, that's great.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Because their goal to have an educational center here
going forward, it was justautomatic.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
You know.
First of all, byron, I mean toeven talk about this.
Can you bring us back to?
Let's talk about how old wereyou when you joined the military
?
Speaker 1 (05:28):
old were you when you joined the military?
I was 21 when I joined themilitary, in 67, and I had a low
draft number and college wasn'tgoing as well as it probably
should have.
Okay, and so I knew I wasprobably going to get drafted
and they had this program thatif you enlisted you could have a
guaranteed school.
And I've always loved aviation,so I enlisted with a guarantee
(05:52):
to get to flight school andlearn how to fly helicopters,
and the training for it was wefirst started in Fort Walters,
Texas, at the primary helicopterschool and basically learned
how to fly small helicopters andtrainers and go through some
basic training.
And then we went to Fort Rucker, Alabama, where we were
(06:16):
introduced to the Hueyhelicopter and learned how to
fly this.
Yes, and our continued training,but the training was a total of
almost a year and then, ofcourse, we knew at that time we
were almost automatically goingto Vietnam.
In the flight school our mottowas and the patch actually said
(06:44):
on the arm, patch above the best, Above the best.
We were trained to be above thebest.
The best are on the ground andour job was to do whatever it
took to support the groundtroops, and that's why I think
the Huey is recognized so muchand the sound of the Huey.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
The Huey is recognized so much, and the
sound of the Huey, which is kindof neat that they put this in
there as well.
Can you hear that?
Listen to that.
As I said earlier, just hearingthat sound makes my.
You know?
Where does that?
What does this do for you,byron?
Speaker 1 (07:28):
It just, you know it.
Just it brings back memories,both good and bad.
Yeah, you know, people ask meabout Vietnam.
They say, well, what wasVietnam?
Or what do you think I said itwas a good bad memory?
Yeah, would you do it again?
Yes, I would a good bad memory.
(07:50):
Yeah, would you do it again?
Yes, I would, uh and yes, I.
There were a lot of bad times,but there were a lot of good
times.
I learned a lot about myself.
Yeah and uh, it was a grosssituation, but there were some
difficulties with it as well.
So what?
Speaker 3 (08:01):
what are some of the things you think that you took
lifelong lessons from?
Maybe, maybe from, maybe theheat of some of your missions?
Speaker 1 (08:11):
That's a difficult question.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
I really don't know how to answer it, and that's
okay.
Maybe we'll come back to thator not.
You know when people think andthey see you and now they're
recognized Vietnam veterans.
Right, it took so many years.
Do you feel like you?
Do you feel recognized now morethan you ever have, at least 20
(08:37):
, 30, 40 years?
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Oh, absolutely.
I think you know the country'sevolved.
I think you know the country'sevolved At the time that Vietnam
was going on, the whole countrywas in a state of cultural
revolution.
There were so many differentthings going on and you know it
was protests.
(09:00):
Ban the bra you know, burn theflag.
Yes, sex, drugs, rock and roll.
You know everything was goingon.
So you know, and sometimes,when I got back from Vietnam, of
course you didn't even want toacknowledge that you were a
(09:22):
Vietnam veteran because of whatwas going on and people were
against the war.
Yeah, most of the veterans werelabeled I should say not most.
We had a label put on us thatwe were all alcoholic drug
addicts, yeah, yeah, and so itwas tough to get a job and you
(09:42):
just didn't even really mentionit and keeping all of that
bottled up inside of one, Ithink that had a big effect on a
lot of people, that they didn'twant to talk about it and
really the healing is gettingout and talking about it.
And I found that out after Igot involved with the VA and
talking about differentsituations, both good and bad,
(10:07):
and opening up and you know ithelps that's so important, byron
, that's so important and youknow you never know which way
these interviews are going to go.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
But I want to stay right here with mental health
right and the things that everysoldier goes through, but
soldiers like yourself who wentthrough a hard time and then
came back and the world turnedtheir back on you and then, like
you said, you didn't want totalk about it because either you
were labeled a certain way oryou were shunned.
It was hard to get a job.
(10:38):
Let's talk about that.
Byron, how old were you whenyou got out?
Speaker 1 (10:42):
and how old were you when you got out?
Well, when I went to Vietnam, Iwas 22.
And, of course, I served a yearin Vietnam and then after that
we had a commitment and I cameback and was a flight instructor
in Fort Walters, texas.
So I taught a lot of Vietnamesestudents how to fly and I got
(11:04):
out of the service in Decemberof 70.
Okay, so I was like 24 yearsold when I got out of the
service.
Wow.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Okay, so now you're out, you take the uniform off.
Thank you, byron, for yourservice.
What are those days like?
Or what are those months likeafter that?
Where did you know what youwanted to do?
Or did you try to go back towork right away?
What, what was that like?
Speaker 1 (11:28):
you know, total confusion, I guess, right, uh,
what do I do now exactly?
You know, you know you've gotto try to get a job.
Well, you go out and try to geta job and a lot of people they
just, oh, you're a v vet, youknow, and just kind of no.
And it was kind of neat thatthe company I started working
(11:49):
for, probably, oh, six monthsafter I got out, I found this
company that had agovernment-subsidized training
program, oh, yeah, managementtraining program.
Yeah, didn't pay a lot, but atleast it got a job and got me
started in the finance industry,yes, and you know, in consumer
(12:11):
lending.
And then my career just kind ofgrew with that, yeah, and so it
was beneficial at that point.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Byron, I can't imagine like you said.
I mean here you are in chargeof lives and the safety and the
protection of thousands flying apiece of equipment like this,
right entrusted by thegovernment to operate at a high
level.
And it was hard to get a job.
Yeah, that's crazy to me.
(12:40):
It is no-transcript my life.
(13:19):
Who wouldn't want to hiresomeone like that?
Speaker 1 (13:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
It's it's it's hard.
Speaker 1 (13:27):
I know, I know it is difficult, but you know, I think
unless you've been there peopledon't understand it.
Just, it changes you and Ithink everyone knows that yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
So, yeah, talk about mental health.
So you were, were you justcompletely, almost silent about
it, byron?
Because even even john bodetells me hey, um, you know I
don't talk to uncle byron toomuch about it, but you know, I
mean we're proud of him, youknow.
And but how are you, when itcomes to talking about your time
(13:59):
in vietnam now, versus I don'thave a problem about?
Speaker 1 (14:02):
it now.
Yeah, before it was just kindof like a non-subject.
Yeah, you know, god Reed, andpeople really weren't interested
Really, you know they reallyweren't interested in you as a
person, about what you did, whatthings went on or anything like
that.
Anyway, that was my experience.
(14:23):
Maybe others had a differentexperience and I'm sure that you
know the people who served inVietnam that maybe stayed in the
military, they had a chance todecompress because they had, you
know, camaraderie withlike-minded, and I think that's
the difference of the lessonthat was learned about Vietnam
(14:48):
by the government, by themilitary.
You know, in World War I, worldWar II, the Korean, War
everyone was sent over as a unit.
Yes, so they had camaraderie,they built the team spirit, they
went over together, they didtheir mission, they came back
together so they had a chance todecompress.
(15:08):
Talk about it Vietnam when youwere done with whatever training
you did, you were processedthrough central processing on
the West Coast.
You were sent to Vietnam andyou entered, entered country.
You went through processing andindividually, one guy went
(15:29):
north, one guy went south, oneguy went east you were all split
up and then you entered yourunit and you didn't have a
chance.
Your unit, because it was aconstant rotation.
You know one guy may be there aweek before he, because it was a
constant rotation.
Yeah, you know, one guy may bethere a week before he goes home
, another one just got there,another one might be there two
(15:52):
or three weeks.
So you form friendships, butnot solid.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Well, you had solid bonds, but not a permanent bond
like some of the other ones had.
You know previously, traintogether, get stationed together
, deploy together as a pack or agroup or a troop or a squad,
right, and you're right, it wasprobably chaos at just the
churning of people coming in andout of Vietnam, like you said.
I mean that's such a goodperspective.
No one, as long as I've been inthe military, as long as I've
(16:26):
studied, I've never heard thatperspective before Byron.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Well, and you see, now they don't do that.
I mean Desert Storm,afghanistan.
They're all going over his unit, coming back his unit and
celebrating together.
So somebody higher uprecognized what I just said and
so it's changed.
I don't think they'll ever dothat again and I think that's
another reason that I you know,probably a lack of recognition
(16:52):
or a lack of concern.
Nobody really talked about it.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
You know talking about it.
If people engage people likeyou, byron, or yourself
specifically, and they ask youquestions, I mean, what do you
want most people to know now?
What do you want them to knownow?
If you could just say hey, Iwant this to resonate with you.
This is what I want you tothink about when you think about
(17:18):
Vietnam veterans specifically.
What do you want them to know?
That's a hard question, yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Well, just think we're no different than any
other person who went to war,who had a conflict and came home
and recovered.
And I think that's what's neatabout this particular memorial
that the state of Nebraska put,or the veterans here, the
(17:52):
Vietnam Veterans of Americachapter here in Omaha put
together.
It's honoring all veterans.
It's not just Vietnam veterans,we're just an era.
That's what's so neat aboutthis.
People that haven't visitedthis memorial just don't get a
(18:14):
chance to visit it.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
It's spectacular, it's vast, would you say.
This is part of your healingprocess too.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Yes, absolutely, and you know it was one part of it
is.
You know, the crew members ofthis helicopter another pilot,
our company commander, a doorgunner, the crew chief.
You know we had a chance toreunite, yeah, and that wouldn't
(18:47):
have been possible without thismemorial and that was healing
in itself, just to sit down andtalk about some things.
You know, in our off time atthe hotel, just general BS Right
hanging out with the troops,yeah, and lying and telling war
stories amongst ourselves.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
So you know, when you travel in the airports, do you
ever connect with other veterans?
You know, sometimes you mayhave the hat on, they may have a
shirt on.
I mean, do you ever like?
Is there a silent connection?
Speaker 1 (19:18):
Yeah, every once in a while I think you see, well,
like a hat?
Yeah, I don't normally wearhats.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
Yeah, I'm glad you did today though.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
Every once in a while you do, you see it.
You just say welcome home,brother, and you get that back.
If you're recognized, if yougot something on.
That is there.
The Vietnam veterans recognizeeach other, I think, quite
readily, and a lot of people now, I think, due to well, just
(19:49):
general publicity, if they hearthat you are a Vietnam veteran,
a lot of people just say thankyou for your service.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
And that's what's so cool.
I mean, without even knowing it, they just hear that you are a
veteran, yes, and notnecessarily just a Vietnam
veteran.
I think it's just kind of theAmerican public, I think, is
more attuned to dishonoring.
Yes, if they're patriotic.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Yes, of course there's some in our country that
don't care Right, and you knowI mean that's a whole other
podcast in itself.
And here's how I feel.
I'm patriotic and I know thepeople that surround us are.
Patriotism to me is the honorand respect of all those, the
shoulders who I've stood onright.
(20:39):
Patriotic is a love for yourcountry.
I mean this country opened itsarms for my parents when they
came here.
But when I first joined themilitary Byron, I didn't join
because I was patriotic.
I joined to get away fromCalifornia.
After 10 years I learnedpressure, sacrifice, things of
(21:00):
that nature.
It wasn't until probably 10, 15years after.
I'm 29 years out of the servicenow.
I probably feel more stronglyabout it now than I did when I
was in.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
I think that's a good perspective.
I think that I probably do too.
Yeah, because I think now we'reseeing a lot of people who want
to.
Well, I look back.
You know what made this countrygreat.
You know it's the immigration,it's the blending of cultures,
it's everyone becoming anamerican.
(21:34):
Yes, and you know, you had theirish blending with the.
You know with, yeah, witheverybody, you know and you know
, we had times and now it seemslike everything wants to be
separate.
You know, everyone wants tomaintain their own culture.
They want to fly their own flagand you know, or I'm this
(21:56):
American, I'm that American.
You know the label.
Yeah, yeah, we should be justAmericans.
We're Americans.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
We're just Americans.
I mean, we are, that's you know.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
When I see, and I wish that, you know the
divisiveness that I see today.
I wish that could go away andwe could just be all Americans.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
I mean you fought to keep us all united, right and
strong and together the protests, or the this rally or that
protest, you know.
One is yes, we did fight forthat freedom of speech.
(22:39):
But number two is just becauseyou have freedom of speech
doesn't mean that you can be anidiot.
Yeah, right, you know what Imean.
And well, you can be an idiot.
Just be ready for therepercussions.
Very well, put Byron when youstepped foot here at this
(23:00):
memorial.
Okay, we're switching subjectshere.
What day was it when you firststepped on this memorial?
Was it just a few days ago, the5th of June?
Speaker 1 (23:09):
5th of June okay.
Speaker 3 (23:10):
So you stepped on the memorial.
Was it just a few days ago, the5th of June?
5th of June, okay.
So you stepped on the 5th ofJune, the day before the formal
dedication.
Yes, so you entered.
Bring us back to that moment.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
It's overwhelming, I guess it just—to see it in its
glory.
You, just, you can't imaginethe dedication that everyone put
into it.
It brought tears to my eyes andjust the thought, the
dedication, and to feel that I'mpart of being honored in this
(23:48):
memorial.
Yeah, as all veterans can feelthat way.
Yes, you know, and you goaround and, like I mentioned
earlier, this memorial has aspecial dedication to the crew
of the Frank Evans.
Yes, yeah, which, you know,that's a unique story in history
all by itself.
(24:08):
That's, you know, sad that theyaren't recognized.
Well, here they are recognizedthe three Nebraska veterans that
were killed in the Frank Evans.
Their name was on the blackwall in this memorial, but it's
not on any.
Their names are not on anyother black wall in the country
(24:30):
as well as their 71 crewmateswho were killed in a tragic
accident in 1969.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
And they don't classify it as killed in action.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
No, the government didn't classify them as killed
in action for some stupid reason, and who knows?
But, they're recognized here.
Yeah, and that's another uniquething about this memorial.
And you see the flags flyinghere.
Yeah, one flag for every branchof the service, yes, and then
(25:05):
the American flag centered, andthen.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Yeah, it's.
I mean, this is breathtaking.
This is again my first timehere, you know, and sitting with
you Byron.
You know, when I talked to John, I said John, I know Byron's
getting pulled out fromdifferent directions.
Do you think I could podcastwith?
Speaker 2 (25:25):
him.
Speaker 3 (25:26):
And he goes.
Oh, he goes.
Let me ask he goes.
I don't know.
You've been pretty busy sincewe've been here, right, I mean
doing, but it's been fun, it'sbeen fun.
Yeah.
Military men and women today.
What's some advice you want togive them?
I know these are good questions, Byron.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
These are all tough questions.
Yes, be proud.
Be proud of what you're doingand do it because you love it.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Yeah, and that's probably why they're in the
military.
To begin with, They've got apassion or a reason that they
well, most of the time noweveryone is enlisting in the
military.
So they did it for a reason.
What's the reason?
Well, maybe their ancestorswere in it, Maybe their brother,
(26:25):
maybe you know, who knows whatthe reasons are, but I think
they have a reason to be proudJust to be in the military
wearing a uniform representingthe country.
Speaker 3 (26:38):
I think that's important and it transitions us
to the next question, which isthere's a brother or sister out
there right now who's recluse.
They're pulled back.
Recluse.
They're pulled back.
They're not having the averageexperience that, or they're not
having a good experience withlife, and they know they should
(27:00):
get help.
Everyone knows they should gethelp.
What do you want to tell thatperson?
Speaker 1 (27:05):
That's our veteran.
Get involved with the VA.
Yeah, there's help there if youseek it out.
And you know there's still toomany that don't talk about it,
you know, and there's too manythat are.
Well, they take their own lives.
(27:26):
Yes, because they don't talkabout it, they didn't get the
help.
That's the sad part.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
It's important that people know that talking is
everything.
It doesn't mean you have totalk about every explicit detail
.
It just means open up.
It just means that it'simportant that we know that
we've been through some pressurecooker.
Right, you've been through apressure cooker, and that's not
normal.
(27:59):
But, um, and then what do yousay to the people who are
civilians, who said who've neverserved, but they want to and
they want to talk to someonelike byron, they want to.
Hey, I want to talk to my dad,I want to talk to my uncle, I
want to talk to my grandfather,but they just don't have the
guts to do it becauseron, theywant to.
Hey, I want to talk to my dad,I want to talk to my uncle, I
want to talk to my grandfather,but they just don't have the
guts to do it because they don'twant to make them mad.
What would you say to thosepeople?
(28:19):
You never know unless you askRight.
So, byron, back in the day,when you know, maybe when you
were you know, when you weregoing through challenges, would
you have gotten mad at someonereaching out to tell you that
they love you so?
I don't know?
No, I don't think so.
Do you remember anyconversations that were hard,
like when people reached out toyou?
(28:40):
When did you have a hardchallenge or not?
Speaker 1 (28:43):
maybe your experience was different I don't, I don't
think, I don't think I was everreally asked a whole lot.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that too.
I think people just kind ofsaid oh you know, again, maybe
the label came into effect.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
See, and that's important, byron, because people
get labeled oh, that's yourUncle, byron.
He was in Vietnam.
Think of how many times thatthat was said, not even
disrespectfully, just even likeas a word of caution.
But Byron's human Right, he's ahuman being, just like you said
.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Well, and so often I mean you look around all the
labels that are out there, thedifferent races, the different
cultures, all of that you know,and that oh well, byron's just a
human being at the end of theday.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
We all are.
Yeah, we all are.
Yeah, we all are, yeah, byron,maybe a couple more questions
and we'll end this, but I alwaysthink about just our country in
general and the patriotism andsome of the things that we stand
(29:52):
for.
And then I think, 20 years fromnow, I think 40 years from now,
with all these things that arehappening, what are you most
worried about when it comes to,or are you worried about, our
future?
And then, on the other side ofthat is, how can we make it
better?
So what are you most worriedabout now, 20, 40 years, when it
comes to our sector?
Speaker 1 (30:13):
The divisiveness that we see in the political parties
right now.
Yes, it's upsetting, and weused to have a middle ground.
Yeah, yes, we're all going tohave different opinions on the
right hand, on the left, butthere was always a middle ground
(30:34):
where commonality andsensibility can be reached.
I'm not seeing that now.
Everyone's worried about that.
Yeah, now and you know they'resaying different things and I
guess I look at it that thiscountry has been through some
real difficult times andeveryone says I feel sorry for
(30:55):
the younger generation, I feelsorry for my grandkids, or
whatever, and they say you know,I think about it, you know
there's a lot of very smartyoung people out there and, in
spite of all the difficulties,I'm optimistic.
I believe they're going tofigure it out.
Yeah, they're going to figureit out.
(31:16):
And get it back to the comicbook.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
Yeah, I mean at least I hope so If we could keep
putting stakes in the ground onunfounded foundation.
It's just going to.
It's just we're going to keepgoing on the slippery slope.
But I appreciate that the nextfinal probably part of this is I
want to concentrate on this.
Give me some memories, give mesome of your first day with it,
(31:43):
like hey, this is what you'regoing to be assigned to.
What was that like?
I guess exciting because youknow, I mean you were 22.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Yeah, yeah Well, I was actually an old man.
Speaker 3 (31:58):
Compared to the youngins who were 18, who were
joining the service.
Speaker 1 (32:01):
And there were a lot of pilots who were 19, 20 years
old.
Yeah, 21 years old.
Maybe you know I was at 22.
I was a little older than most,A little more mature.
Speaker 3 (32:13):
Yes, for sure.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
But we had, you know, one guy in our unit was 35 or
36.
But the majority were youngguys.
You know, we were just doingour job, just like everybody
else.
But the thing was we developeda oh I don't know a love of
flying or want to fly, oh mygosh.
(32:36):
It's an adventure.
It's a new adventure, like boy,what's going to become of this?
You know, and you know, yes,you're worried.
You know what am I gettinginvolved in.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Or what's going to happen Of course, so you never
know.
But we had some good eveningconversations, sometimes Got a
little strange a little fun.
Oh sure, some songs were sung.
Oh yeah, matter of fact, theother pilot here.
He gave us all a CD ofdifferent songs that were sung
(33:10):
by the pilots in the evening andin between it says it breaks.
And it says I think it's timefor more beer before we sing.
Wow.
But yeah, to begin with it'sthe unknown, but it's an
exciting unknown, I guess that'sthe best way of putting it.
Speaker 2 (33:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:29):
Of how I felt you know, okay, I'm in this unit now
.
What's going to happen next?
Okay, I know I'm going to beflying a helicopter, but yeah
it's the but.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
It's the but.
That's what makes the story.
When you had to leave thisthing, did you ever think you'd
see it again?
Speaker 1 (33:50):
No, never no.
Speaker 3 (33:52):
You just thought is it okay?
It was a blip in time, it wassuch a blip in your time and you
don't think about it Right.
Speaker 1 (33:57):
You know, it was just a machine.
It really the tail number hadno significance.
Speaker 3 (34:03):
It was a helicopter.
Speaker 1 (34:04):
Yes, now it does.
Yeah, it was a vehicle, it wasa tool to do your job.
Speaker 3 (34:12):
Yeah, yeah, I mean, who would think that it'd be
restored to its condition then?
Speaker 1 (34:16):
Yeah, and have the significance of it with the crew
members, with some of thespecial things that did happen
on air.
Yeah, and I'll say it, you know, yeah say it.
One crew member, the door gunnerwho was assigned to this
aircraft.
He was supposed to be here forthe dedication after the
(34:39):
helicopter was restored.
Well, he died just shortlybefore and, of course, at the
dedication or the unveilingafter the restoration, we all
signed the helicopter and it'sbeen preserved that way.
Well, somebody thought the doorgunner who died should be
preserved, so some of his asheswere put in an urn and put in
(35:03):
the ammo can that you can see onthe helicopter yeah, right
there, and the ammo can waswelded shut.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
I mean Byron, first of all.
I can't believe that piece oftechnology got up into the air
like it did, right?
I mean hot Creams.
Well, I'm talking in its glory,you know what I mean, right In
its glory.
When you flew this thing, Imean it was a new machine, it
(35:32):
was a new helicopter.
How did you feel about thetechnology then?
Speaker 1 (35:37):
Like you said, hey until, but After a while you
probably didn't think about itand actually this helicopter
doesn't have much technology init.
You're right, it's very basic,it's a very basic machine
compared to what the militaryhas today, Right right.
It's real basic.
I've even said to some I don'tthink I'd want to fly today
(36:00):
because they know everything youwere doing all the time.
Speaker 3 (36:03):
Oh yeah, how many missions did you fly in this
thing?
Speaker 1 (36:08):
I don't know, we never really counted missions.
I had 1,025 hours of combattime of flying.
So you figure a work year is2,080 hours a 40-hour week.
So in one year I flew for ahalf a year.
Speaker 3 (36:28):
In combat.
Yeah, that's incredible.
I can't even imagine.
Speaker 1 (36:34):
I mean some of us, and not only this helicopter,
but we had a smaller helicopterthat we did a different mission
with.
Yeah, my whole time was notflying a Huey, yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
Another helicopter.
Speaker 1 (36:47):
It was called a 086A they called it a Loge, yeah,
which did scout reconnaissanceOkay.
Speaker 3 (36:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
Which was treetop low level yeah.
Speaker 3 (36:58):
You know, wow, stuff like that, yeah, there was.
That technology wasn't there inthe day, that was all skill.
So that technology wasn't therein the day, that was all scale.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
Well, it was mostly scale and you're just the
machine just doing.
You know you didn't havecomputers, you didn't have all
the fancy stuff and navigationaids.
Yeah, you know, I think it'skind of like a Model A compared
to a current car A Model A.
Speaker 3 (37:27):
Oh my gosh.
And then so talk to me aboutthat.
You said you all signed upthere.
Tell us about that.
You were calling it a dog.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Yeah, it's basically.
Well, you can't really see itbehind the door gunner there,
right, but there's kind of arectangular piece that comes
down from the transmission, fromthe mast of the rotor and all
the gearing and everythingthat's in there, and they just
call that the doghouse.
I don't know how I got thatname, but anyway there's flat
(37:56):
walls there and we had theopportunity to sign the flat
walls All the people that wereinvolved with it, who did the
refurbishment of the aircraftsthat could be displayed, as well
as the crew members, so that'sincredible.
And then they've cleared overthat, so that's kind of a
permanent deal too.
As long as the helicopterremains here, hopefully the
(38:17):
weather in Nebraska doesn't gettoo bad.
Speaker 3 (38:21):
The tornadoes yeah, oh, knock on wood.
Yeah, the tornadoes.
Yeah, oh, knock on wood.
Last final thing I mean, didyou guys ever play any pranks on
each other as a crew on here?
Did you guys ever give eachother crap at all?
I mean, guys, are guys right.
Giving crap was normal.
Speaker 1 (38:37):
Yeah, but you know when you're flying the mission,
probably no, no, no, there wereno games to be played Absolutely
, but afterwards, yeah, there'ssome untold good stories.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
Walt Afterwards yes.
Well, byron, I appreciate ourtime together more than you know
.
There's so many things insideof this podcast that I want
people to take away from.
I want you to know for most ofall, this is probably a selfish
gift for me and to share withothers.
I honor your story, byron.
(39:14):
I'm not trying to make you outto be some superhero or anything
like that, but I want you toknow I do see you.
I recognize you as the historichistory of our country, history
of our military.
You served honorably and yousacrificed a bunch.
Speaker 1 (39:34):
Yeah, but I had a lot of fun at the same time.
Speaker 3 (39:36):
I'm sure you did Any final words at all, Byron, and
we close out here.
Speaker 1 (39:43):
Well, I want to thank you for giving me the
opportunity or asking me to dothis, and I respect you a lot
because of what you've done inthe 50-mile march and getting
that foundation started.
Thank you, and all you do forthe veterans and the goals that
you've done.
(40:03):
I think this is what the fourthyear yeah, that you're doing
the done.
I think this is what the fourthyear yeah, that you're doing
the march.
I'm a little emotional becausewhat is the goal for fundraising
this year for your foundation?
I know you have nearly 200people that are walking 161 this
year.
Speaker 3 (40:23):
Sorry, I got a little emotional.
I just coming from you.
That means so much because Iwant to do it for guys who've
been to it right.
And yes, the fundraising goalis 1.2, 1.5 million.
That's the goal.
But the goal is to keep onemore alive, one more alive.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
That's pretty amazing to hear your goal that way yeah
.
Speaker 3 (40:51):
I mean I'll.
You don't know how much thatmeans.
I Sorry, I would've.
Speaker 1 (41:02):
Well, you know, you can't help but bring tears to
your eyes.
Speaker 3 (41:11):
You know, byron.
Thank you, byron, you'reconnected here.
You still can be a big writer.
Thank you for your service toour country, brother, thanks,
bye, brother, thanks thanks fortuning in to the connection.
Speaker 2 (41:29):
It's been a fantastic journey, exploring stories,
insights and inspirations thatbridge our lives.
Remember every connection hasthe power to transform.
Please subscribe, rate andreview.
Your feedback keeps us going inthis connected world.
Let's make meaningfulconnections that enrich lives.
(41:50):
Now signing off until next time, the Connection.
Keep connecting and let's go.
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