A Remembrance From MOP
by
Bob Mitchell
Bandit 24

From: "Bob Mitchell" <bob.mitchell@mitchellsbodyshop-inc.com>
[COL Bob died on December 11, 2015. He had just retired from the TN NG.]

According to my DA 759, 34 years ago on 25 APR 1970 (my 22nd birthday), as a fairly new CW2, I flew 13 hours of Combat Time in a UH-1H which also marked my last flight for the 281st and the last time I would touch the controls of a helicopter in RVN.  On 3 May 1970 when everyone else was preparing to move to Pleiku, I was out processing and preparing to leave town for the WORLD.  By this time Doug Jones and I had already been fleeced by an unknown RECONDO SGT who promised to send our unauthorized M-16s, AK-47s, M-2s and sawed off M-79s home for us.  There had been a helluva DROS party at the main BOQ complete with slant eyed beer boiled (a recipe handed down from Mom Torbert) shrimp flown in from beautiful downtown Phan Rang. For the next week or so I wallowed around the company area, mostly in the 5th SFG "O" Club, drinking mass quantities of adult beverages in celebration of flying 1001 hours in RVN and being alive to celebrate that event.

I hereby apologize to my Commander, Darrel Stevens; my XO, Roger Green and my platoon leader Marshall Hawkins for lying drunk for a solid week.  I also apologize to the FNGs to whom I sold my room, which actually belonged to the US Army.  I also apologize to the FNG to whom I sold the folding stock AK-47 and convinced him he could send it home.  Please be advised, this is not an offer to refund your money, just an apology for taking advantage of you :-)  Finally, I apologize to all the FNGs, who flew with me during my last few months in country, for being such an asshole to fly with.

I, along with my entire family, would like to thank the FNG who was flying with me on an aerial recon in the mountains near Dalat for having the balls to take the controls from me when I got vertigo.  Had you not taken the action you did, I would have surely not been here to write this message.  I have no idea who you are, but hope you made home and are on the net.  I would also like to thank Ron Lee for putting up with my sorry ass.

I can't remember what the mission was or with whom I was flying.  I would bet that Pat Booth and Ron Lee were on board, maybe Mike Fellenz.  13 hours was a long time in saddle, I would hate to know that I had to crawl out of bed tomorrow morning at 0500 and try that.  I don't think my 56 year old bladder could stand the pressure :-)

Bob Mitchell

aka MOP
Bandit 24