Mohawk Christmas Lights

I took the original photo of PH13 in 1969 for the back cover of the 1st Aviation Brigade magazine "Hawk".  Several years ago I asked my graphic artist son Tim to put Christmas lights on the airplane, and above is the result!  I think it was Steve Sachs who wrote me to say that one day he went a little too far off the end of the runway and discovered that Mohawks don't operate too well when wrapped in barbed wire!

Christmas 50 Years Ago

It was a few days ago when I realized that it’s been fifty years since my first Christmas in Vietnam.  Fifty years…50...can you believe it?  I actually don’t remember details of that first major holiday overseas except that I think I pulled guard duty on the western inner perimeter.  The highlight of that night was that we were on an alert (red or yellow, I don’t remember which) because of the holiday, when all of a sudden there was an explosion on the refueling helipad to the east and then the chopper went up with a white-hot glow like I had never seen before.  

Anyway, troubled times marked those days in our country’s history, much as they distinguish them now.  The same they characterized Palestine over two thousand years ago.  A lot of the world celebrates the holidays with Santa Claus, Father Christmas and Kris Kringle, but, of course, the real meaning of Christmas is contained in the name.  I was talking with a friend some time ago and I mentioned to him that Jesus is a big deal to me.  And he replied that Jesus was a big deal to him also!  Jesus really became more real to me during my twenty-eight month tour in Vietnam, thanks to my platoon leader (who became my friend) CPT Larry Stallard.  During my troubled times then when I was barely 21 years old, and over the past 50 years, Jesus Christ (who not what Christmas is all about) became and has continued to become more significant in my daily life.

In these troubled times in which we find ourselves, don’t be discouraged or lose hope.  Believe it of not, God is still in control even if it doesn’t seem that this is true.  God has said in his living Word the Bible that this life is a mystery, and he has shown himself to us in this holiday we call Christmas.

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the Highest.’” (Luke 2:13-14)  “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ within you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Two Soldiers Are Laid To Rest

UPDATE:

In May I posted an article about two fellow Mohawkers of the 131st Avn Co (Marshal Kipina and Robert Nopp) whose remains were coming home fifty-two years after they were declared MIA in 1966.  After I posted the article and Bob Colby’s link Bill Page told me that he was a good friend of Bobby Nopp.  You can watch the video of their services at Arlington that Terry Clark posted on the Association website near the top of the main page.  Just click on this link: Marshal Kipina and Robert Nopp Burial Services at Arlington