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U.S. Army Captain Thomas Pienta: Firsthand Account of a Vietnam War Helicopter PilotVietnam | 22 comments | Print This Post | Email This Post
I glanced to my left, and the next frame of the film was Trezona stumbling, his face burnt black and his helmet still on his head. I screamed his name and saw that he was working his way toward a Huey waiting on the ground. It was Chalk Six. Nineteen-year-old Warrant Officer Ron Timberlake was the aircraft commander of that helicopter. Timberlake, flight lead for the first platoon, was Trezona’s hooch-mate. I don’t know who his pilot was but wish I did, so that I could thank him for his bravery. Timberlake did not hear us call that the LZ was clear, and saw a ship burning on the ground. Nothing was going to stop him from coming back into the jaws of death to attempt to rescue us. Subscribe Today
Chalk Six’s pilot came in 90 degrees off our original approach axis, landed and faced the enemy battalions. Timberlake and his crew sat on the ground waiting as no less than 10 wounded Americans piled into his helicopter. The NVA fired RPG after RPG at Chalk Six and us during that time as well as intense small-arms fire. Timberlake noticed the RPG gunner up in a tree about 75 yards away at his 2 o’clock — with his assistant on the ground handing him up rockets. Timberlake told his gunner Nelson to kill them. Nelson’s M-60 riddled them, and they got what they deserved. Timberlake told me about that years later, and I have to say it made me feel better to know that the guys who had probably killed Brady and maimed Bob Trezona and me were dead.
I saw Trezona on the rescue helicopter and piled on top of the group already aboard. I think I was about the last aboard. I could see Timberlake’s instrument panel glowing red and knew the Huey was undergoing major damage. He then lifted that fragile but oh-so-strong-and-beautiful Huey out of the LZ while we were again racked with machine-gun fire.
The chopper had flown a short distance when I noticed Timberlake’s exhaust gas temperature rapidly decrease, and his engine quit. Timberlake began autorotation — the much-practiced, intricate maneuver to land a helicopter without an engine. I can tell you that what he was doing is very difficult under any circumstances. His autorotation and landing was the greatest power-off maneuver I have ever witnessed, especially since this was a low-level autorotation, which gives you no time at all to think about what you are doing.
He flew his bird to a velvety-soft landing in a rice paddy with more than 14 Americans aboard. We then set up a perimeter around his Huey, and before the rotor blades stopped turning, another Slick swooped in to pick us up. Warrant Officer Jack Flukinger was the aircraft commander, and his pilot was Lieutenant Al Barret. After Flukinger’s Huey landed, his gunners helped me slosh through some muddy rice paddies to his helicopter. I was pretty deep in shock, I guess, but still functioning pretty well.
I remember being in the back of the third helicopter I had been in that day and looking at Flukinger and Barret and shaking my head in disbelief. My thoughts were of my parents and how upset they were going to be to find out I had been burned, and I felt sad for them. The whole time at Tay Ninh I had been writing home telling them how safe it was flying and about all the safety equipment we wore to keep us alive. I was mad because I knew my flying days were over and I had only been in Vietnam a short time. But to hell with ambition, I was alive!
As we flew toward Tay Ninh and the field hospital, my vision became very hazy, and everything appeared to be smoky. I knew I was seriously burned, but I did not know how bad my condition was. We landed at Tay Ninh medevac pad and were met by medics and nurses. I elected to walk into the field hospital myself and did so escorted by medical personnel. I lay down on a cot and heard Trezona ask the doctor if we were going to die, and then I became very concerned.
I remember some pilots from our unit coming in to talk to us and telling us not to worry, because the Viet Cong had ambushed the convoy bringing us turkeys, and no one was going to have a happy Thanksgiving anyway. The last thing I remember for a month, except for short periods of pain and consciousness, was the doctors cutting off my flight gloves and watching the flesh on my hands being removed with them. They cut off my officer candidate school ring and my watch, and that was the last I saw of them. I then told the doctors I couldn’t see anymore, and they put patches over my eyes. By then I really was scared. ‘Please God, don’t let me be blind,’ I prayed. Sweet morphine then took me away to the land of hallucinations. My war with the Grim Reaper had just begun. Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to
            Tags: 20th - 21st Century, Airborne Operations, Historical Conflicts, Historical Figures, People, Vietnam War
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22 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