Members of the 116th Assault Helicopter Company pose for picture in front of the Huey monument. *Photos by Joe Bayona & Carolyn Maxwell
By Joe Bayona –
HOLMDEL – In 1991 the New Jersey legislature designated May 7 of each year as Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day.
This year the day was marked by a special dedication at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial. The dedication of a “Huey” helicopter. The “Huey” is to Vietnam veterans what the Sherman Tank is to WWII veterans and the Hummer is to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.
The helicopter itself, a 1964 Bell UH-1D, Iroquois helicopter, serial #64-13732, had been laying in disrepair at Fort Dix for 20 years. Prior to that it had served two tours in Vietnam. First from Oct. 1966 to Sept. 1967 with the 116thAssault Helicopter Company, (“The Hornets”), and from Nov. 1968 to Feb. 1970 with the 118th Assault Helicopter Company, (“The Thunderbirds”), even crashing twice.
In January 2013 the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation took possession of the aircraft. It was moved from Fort Dix to Monmouth Executive Airport in February of that year. Thus was the beginning of “Operation Huey Restoration.”
Vietnam Vet Tom Aretz with Rocky Bleier
The goal of “Operation Huey Restoration” was to restore the helicopter to its original condition. This was done with the help of donations from private donors. Materials for the building of the platform, where the Huey would be mounted. Expert labor to put all these materials together. Electronic expertise to design and implement the sound system that plays the authentic sound of a Huey starting its engines that activates when people viewing the exhibit get close to it. A woman even came in after work to donate her time to “cut the lines” to prepare the chopper for painting.
But the crux of the actual restoration of the historic bird fell to a group of 30 volunteers. These volunteers consisted mostly of Vietnam veterans, many of whom were Huey pilots and support crews.
The helicopter was in bad shape. Animals had been living in it and there were over a hundred wasp nests in it. It was even hit by a truck once.
The volunteers worked through the spring and summer putting in 8000 hours of work, sanding, painting and rewiring, to get it back to its original shape.
So this year, on its 50th birthday, the Huey finally came to rest in its permanent “LZ” in “Huey Plaza” in front of the Vietnam Era Museum and Educational Center in Holmdel.
The dedication ceremony was attended by dignitaries representing the branches of the armed services, both active and retired, Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, and about 1000 veterans of the Vietnam War from all over the state and their families. Among the veterans that attended was keynote speaker Rocky Bleier. Rocky, former halfback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and holder of four Super Bowl rings, shared his story of being severely wounded in Vietnam and being evacuated in a Huey.
NJ Adjutant General Brig Gen Michael L Cunniff presents proclamation to Lieutenant Gov. Kim Guadagno
All of the speakers that were veterans of Vietnam shared the same thoughts. The cold and sometimes cruel receptions they got upon their return home. That is was time to heal and share their stories with family and friends.
One speaker, Al Server, author of the book, “Xin Loi Viet Nam Thirty One Days of War, A Soldiers Memoir,” and Vietnam veteran, recounted a story from his book about a soldier whose parents were so against the war that when their son was killed they refused to claim the body. And how, when the soldiers’ grandmother claimed the body, the parents refused to go to the funeral.
This project helped some of these veterans, in many ways, to begin the healing process from a war that happened so many years ago.
Although the Huey is now in its new home the project is still not complete. The NJVVMF stills needs donations and help with Phase 2 of the project which is to create an interactive museum experience and field trip activities that will complement their displayed Huey including a custom simulation experience based on the experiences of Vietnam Veterans.
People who want to visit the NJ Vietnam Memorial can do so anytime. It is open 365 days a year 24 hours a day. For more information you can visit their website at www.njvvmf.org .
SEE PHOTO GALLERY: OPERATION HUEY RESTORATION
