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U.S. Army Captain Thomas Pienta: Firsthand Account of a Vietnam War Helicopter PilotVietnam | Single Page | 23 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post
That particular day I was not wearing my two-piece NOMEX flight suit because I had worn it about a week. It stood in the corner of my hootch, and even the rats stayed away from it. For all the money spent on that war, they still only issued us one set of NOMEX. I really don't think the NOMEX would have helped, however. When fire reaches the kinds of temperatures we had that day in that helicopter, I believe NOMEX breaks down and disintegrates. My aircraft commander was wearing NOMEX flight gloves, and he almost lost his left hand. I believe years later he did lose it after more than 60 plastic surgery operations. I was wearing gray kidskin-leather gloves, and although my hands were still severely burned, I'm glad I had them on. Asbestos was the only thing that would have prevented injury, but pilots couldn't dress like bomb-disposal experts. Subscribe Today
My aircraft commander, Warrant Officer Bob Trezona (in the helicopter, experience took precedence over rank), told me to pick up the helicopter out of the sandbag revetment. Those revetments were built by the Army to provide some protection for the Hueys should we be hit with rockets or mortars while waiting strip alert. I glanced back at our crew chief, Specialist James Brady, who gave me thumbs up. We were on our way.
Although I had been in-country only seven weeks, I had logged 153 hours of flight time, most of which was combat assault time, and I was now addicted to the adrenaline flow. Trezona was just back from rest-and-recuperation leave, and I believe he requested that I be his pilot, since I had not been scheduled on the chalkboard the night before to fly that day. I felt proud that I had been accepted by the more experienced pilots in the unit. Trezona had been with the Crusaders more than eight months and was one of the unit's finest pilots. He taught me a great deal about 'airsense.' I loved flying with Trezona not only because of his skills but also because of his ability to convey a feeling of calmness in the cockpit. Brady and Trezona were both about 23 years old, had been in-country the same amount of time and were good friends. They had just been issued a brand-new Huey with about 110 total hours of flight time. Trezona felt the chopper wasn't developing the power that it should have had, but he was still pretty happy with it.
Leaving Dau Tieng in the afternoon, our first platoon formed into an echelon left, and we headed for the pick-up zone to load up with soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division. During flight we switched to trail formation and landed at the designated area, where the infantrymen got aboard. Each time I glanced back at their faces it occurred to me that this war was being fought by the cream of America's youth — 18-, 19-, 20-year-old infantrymen carrying M-16s, grenade launchers, machine guns and various other weapons. These brave infantrymen will always have my utmost respect. I had been an infantry rifleman for almost two years before graduating from officer candidate school, and I knew these men not only fought the enemy but also faced the elements 24 hours a day. As aircrewmen we were constantly exposed to enemy fire, but at least we could take a shower most every night, drink some whiskey, and sleep in a bunk with a Colt .38 as a pillow.
Loaded with six 'Electric Strawberries' (as the 25th Infantry Division troops were known), our Huey lifted off and headed for the designated rendezvous point (RP) to form up with the second Crusader lift platoon. As we orbited over the RP at 1,500 feet, we could see the LZ in the distance being pounded with artillery. We hoped that those 105mm and 155mm high-explosive rounds were finding their targets. Our command and control (C&C) ship then ordered us to fly into a trail formation, with the second platoon in the lead and the first platoon following.
As we flew into our assault formation, my mind raced back to two weeks earlier, when I had pulled bunker line officer duty for the perimeter of Tay Ninh base camp. In the command bunker with me that night on guard duty had been Jim Brady, the crew chief. We had talked about our mothers and fathers, our brothers and sisters, and our feelings about the war. I felt very close to him after that night. We were young and brave, and we loved our country even though we knew that some American people, in their stupidity, were spitting on soldiers who were returning to San Francisco from Vietnam. Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
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23 Comments to “U.S. Army Captain Thomas Pienta: Firsthand Account of a Vietnam War Helicopter Pilot”
CPT.Pienta i am glad you made it home safe to your family I was a door gunner with the 71st AHC awarded DFC lam son 719 LZ LOLO mar. 1971 have a good day'
By bronniebat21@aol.com on Aug 24, 2008 at 12:31 am
To bronniebrat21, thanks for serving, the courage and accuracy of the guys in back, gunners such as yourself was quite amazing…Lam Sam was a real bad day..over 200 helicopters shot down….you also have a great day..thanks for the comment
By Tom Pienta on Dec 6, 2008 at 12:32 pm
sorry bronniebat21…..mispelled your name in my comment….
By Tom Pienta on Dec 20, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Tom and I were stick buddies in flight school at Ft. (Mother) Rucker. We had some wild and crazy times there … and since. I flew slicks for the 190th AHC in the same AO in '68-'69. The area around Dau Tieng was know as the Iron Triangle and contact with Charlie was pretty much guaranteed if you flew there. We are old men now. Something many of our comrades did not get to experience. Tom's ordeal illustrates how uncommon valor was a common virtue in all the young men who faced the challenges of that war. Keep 'em turning, Brother.
By Spartan 26 on Dec 21, 2008 at 1:29 am
My dear friend , Spartan26 is a Doctor now of Veterinary
medicine…he is one great man and piloted an Army UH-l helicopter through much combat. we had a ball in flight school and to this day are the best of friends…salute!!!!!! to my best friend Dr. Captain Spartan26, second platoon leader for the 190th assault helicopter co.
By Tom Pienta on Feb 7, 2009 at 11:06 pm
I just now found this website and am so very proud of my brother, Cpt. Tom Pienta. It has been a long journey from November 27, 1968 and you, Tommy, are a hero for me. You said "yes" so many years ago and continue to heroically accept all that life brings. I hope that I can come close to overcoming the pain and suffering that you endured with the courage that I have seen in you again and again.
By Big Sis on Mar 6, 2009 at 8:38 pm
I, too, was a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam. '69 & '70. A lot of my friends were burned. It was my bigest fear.
I'm glad you survived. Good luck to you.
By Mike Nadler on Mar 7, 2009 at 1:23 am
Tom,
I just found this site. Great to be able to say "Hello". I know every day is a blessing, including this one. Years ago, I read your article in Vietnam magazine (still have a copy). Ron's been gone 10 years next month, hard to believe. I admire his legacy. You be well.
Gary Timberlake
Chu Lai
69-70-71
By Gary Timberlake on Apr 1, 2009 at 12:31 pm
thanks big sis, thanks for serving Mike, ABOVE THE BEST, thanks Gary, Ron was a great soldier and a good friend, yes the years travel so fast, i miss him dearly….he was one great pilot
By tom pienta on Apr 10, 2009 at 12:24 am
thanks for serving also Gary….the name Timberlake holds a great legacy in military history
By tom pienta on Apr 10, 2009 at 12:25 am
Tom,
I am so proud to know you and to have you as a very special friend. You, like so many of our brothers, made incredible sacrifices with little or no recognition and hardly any thanks.
You are a true American Hero ! You are the living definition of the word !! THANK YOU !!
P5
By Jim Collins on Apr 14, 2009 at 11:14 am
thank you Cpt. Collins, you are a very very dear friend and fellow combat helicopter pilot….thank you for your bravery flying many many combat hours for the Little Bears…..love ya big Jim…you phrazey Jeem :-))
By tom pienta on Apr 18, 2009 at 1:07 am
I grew up with one image of what a modern American fighter was, and that was Ron Timberlake. He above all things in my life represented what the meaning of BRAVE and DEDICATED to his country meant. Ron was Brave. He is forever in the pantheon of the American Hero. He once asked me to help him write a history of his action in the air. I wish I had been mature enough at the time to take him up on that offer.
Anytime the American air Calvary is mentioned I say a prayer for him. I have known many veterans and pilots in my life, but none so admirable in service to his country as was Captain Ronald Timberlake (my step brother and personal hero to this nation).
Also, that two of my step family were in Vietnam made my formative years quite conflicted, and yet no matter what happened then or now in my life, these two men were part of a proud history of our families in service to this country going back to the Revolutionary War.
By H. Lamar Thomas on Apr 19, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Mr. Thomas, you are so right in your comments…what a great family you have….I firmly believe that if it wasn't for Ron's courage in battle I and many more soldiers would not have survived that terrible battle of 27Nov1968….thanks for yout comment and may God bless you and your family….peace brother
By tom pienta on Apr 20, 2009 at 9:18 pm
What year was this source produced because its one of the questions on my history assignment? thanks
By Eric on Jun 22, 2009 at 6:08 am
my piece was published as the cover piece for VIETNAM magazine, produced then by Cowles History Group…it was the Dec. 1996 issue of the historical magazine
By Tom on Jun 22, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Eric….google my name, Cpt. Thomas Pienta in a search…more articles will come up…good luck on your history assignment
By Tom on Jun 22, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Hello Sir, I was with 187thahc at Tay Ninh in 70-71. You pilots were the best . I volunteered to gun when one was on r&r or other reasons and our pilots and crew chiefs/gunners were so great at their jobs. I went to last Nov. reunion, saw my best friend from Nam for first time in 37 year s, he died in Mar. Thank you for your service , bravery, and dedication to your fellow Crusaders and Rat Pack. I,m glad you made it sir.
By terry s on Jul 29, 2009 at 4:28 pm
hello Terry…thanks for the kind words about the 187th AHC. thank you for serving so bravely and manning a gun when you voluntered. our mission was to support the Infantry, the Queen of Battle…the grunts were the best, brave and tough…thanks Terry
By Tom Pienta on Aug 19, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Welcome Home Brother……
I too was with the 187th AHC when I first got in country 9/71. The move had already been made from Tay Nihn to Dian, but we still staged out of Tay Nihn. Flew as Gunner on 705 Ship of Fools.
It seems like yesterday…..but the years have past. I thank you and the rest of our pilots for the fantastic job you guy's did. We were young, dumb and full of —
Take Care Tom…..
John
By John W on Aug 27, 2009 at 3:28 pm
to Mike Nadler..thank you for your nicecomment and also for serving as a fellow huey pilot in that war….yep being burned was all of our biggest concern. glad you made it safely home and thanks again…tom
By Tom Pienta on Nov 1, 2009 at 1:19 pm
to John W….thanks for the nice comment and thank you for serving in the holy land as we called it…you guys in back were the greatest and so so brave…get some and glad you made it home…Tay Ninh was real Indian country as John Wayne would say….full suppression left and right
By Tom Pienta on Nov 1, 2009 at 1:23 pm
New Huey Vietnam Art www. michaelbryan. com
By Bryan on Jan 22, 2010 at 2:44 pm