Aloha David...........

Barc Boyd another "Old" Wolf Pack 36

TESTIMONIALS

Barc Boyd
"Wolf Pack 36"

Dave passed on at about 0700 hours, Hawaii time on the 27th. I feel very fortunate to have spent a week with him this past June, and am probably the last Intruder to see him alive. I won't go into great detail about his condition, but if you can picture a MAN in his 50's, who looks like a man in his late 90's, and in terrible health, you get the picture. Even though he could barely walk and carry his oxygen at the same time, we spent all day, every day, driving around the island,

Dave never wanted anyone to know about his destitute condition, neither health nor financial. In that way, he was a very proud man! He was also very proud to have served with the MEN of the 281st Assault Helicopter Company, and especially the Wolf Pack. He never stopped talking about guys like "Willie", and Stanley, and Jay Graves! He served eleven years in the military, five of which were in U.S. Army Aviation units in Vietnam.

I feel very fortunate to have seen him again after all the years, and I forget who said it this morning, but thanks to the net, he and I were able to meet one last time and laugh at the world as we once did together in a far away place.

And! He is now somewhere where the air is clean and clear, and probably drinking beer and laughing with all the other guys that didn't make it home.

GOD BLESS THEM ALL! EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM!

Barc Boyd ........... "just another"  OLD WOLF PACK 36

20 October 2000

Patrick A. Gilbert
Hawaii

David and I became acquainted after his return from the Nam. We met as neighbors in 1973 in a small town in Hawaii named Kaaawa. He was a candle maker and a damned fine one too. His work was more like art, and he is fondly remembered by many as "The Candleman." I recall many mornings just sitting out in our backyard drinking Coffee and reminiscing. He spoke of All of you often with much affection.

On one of our camping trips up to the mountains, he had set-up our camp (with a perimeter I might add) and we talked for hours about his Nam experiences and guys, I gotta tell ya, that he really loved All of his "comrades in arms." Hell, it was raining cats and dogs, and we would still be there if it hadn’t been for the fact that we ran out of Coffee and tobacco. On our way out of the valley a pheasant flew up out of the brush and he pulled his 45 out and shot that bird "on the wing." There wasn’t much left of that bird but still it was a great Shot!

David was more than just a good friend to me. I had a severe drinking problem while going through a terrible break up and that man took me aside and helped me to get into a program and sobered me up! Not only did he guide me in showing me the right path he took me into his home and made sure that I followed through on it. That is the kind of guy David was!

I hope that you all take a few moments to remember David on October 25^th, 2000, at 1400 Hawaii Standard Time when his funeral service is being held at the Punchbowl Cemetery of the Pacific. Many of our friends will be in attendance and My Daughter is going to represent my family.

A special thanks from all of us who knew David, to Barclay, Fred and Jerry, for making the arrangements for full military honors, and the Great State of Hawaii for taking care of the cremation expenses.

Aloha Dave. Catch ya on the flip side!

Your friend and Comrade,

Pat

Wed, 27 Sep 2000
John Galkiewicz

I am saddened to hear that David has passed on. Though I had never met the man in person I have to respect him for being one of the more vocal personalities of the chat group when it first started. He sure helped keep things lively. I hope that he took the time to write down some of what he experienced for he hinted at so much that had happened.

Just over a year ago I didn't know who Steve, or Ken or Barc were but now I do and they and the others have sort of become family in a way. I guess its because there seems to be so little pride in the country anymore. I look at today's teens and college age kids and just shake my head, were we like that? I think NOT. Then I check my email and see the postings from you guys and sometimes the gals and I say to myself there they are.

Again, I did not know Dave personally but he was one of us and that is enough to make it hurt a little. He has friends waiting for him on the other side I do believe.

Galkie

Wed, 27 Sep, 2000
Ken Hamilton

We would like to honor and salute one of our own family: David Bitle. He was 281st and that is all that need be said a man who loved his unit. He was there stating his own views on things and pitching in to make this family grow.

Take care soldier; fly high with honor.

Ken and LaRie

Wed, 27 Sep 2000
Bob Mitchell

I was saddened to hear of David Bitle's passing. I have never met him but he was one of us. Dave was one of the first to join the net when it was formed last year. He and I have had conversations Back Channel and by Land Line over the past few months. I have asked Jack Mayhew and Barc Boyd to take care of a remembrance from the 281st AHC Assn. Dave was fortunate to have a friend like Barclay Boyd.

Bob Mitchell
President
281st AHC Assn.

Wed, 27 Sep 2000
David Dosker

We are all diminished by the loss of one of our extended family. There are few enough of us and we have been apart for far too long. Yet I believe that this amazing thing called "the net" is truly one of the greatest creations in history. As middle aged people we have been given an unprecedented opportunity to regain contact with our comrades. let us redouble the efforts to find the rest of the Intruders. That way we can experience each other as adults tempered by the unique lives we have led. We all have renewed pride in who and what we were. Don't blow off the next generation. Get involved. You don't need to be a parent to participate in Scouting, or campfire girls or your local school. Don't talk about it, do it.

David is gone. David in Hebrew means "Beloved". The Intruders have lost one Beloved Member. We are diminished.

Thu, 28 Sep 2000
Trubee Krothe

I am saddened by Dave Bitle's passing, more than I thought I'd be. He was my platoon leader with the pack in 1967-68. I can only think of him in terms of the young man he was, and the pictures that are burned into my memory. He will always be that person I see in my slide pictures, raising a can of Budweiser in celebration upon returning from that mission where Dan DeGenova and Green were plucked from a sandbar in the river when their chopper was shot down. It is a happy memory.

Rotor on Dave.

Trubee

Thu, 28 Sep 2000
Jack Green

Dave was one of the original "Mardi Gras" shotgun members that came over from the 25th Division as a door gunner volunteer from Hawaii in 1965. He ended up staying 3 years and working his way up to platoon Sgt. and maintenance qualified. Dave was in on all the early trials and tribulations of a unit in the discovery phase of Delta which included free guns on a bungee cord, McGuire rig extraction's and B-Model running gunship takeoffs.

I know he was disabled and was not doing too well, but I certainly didn't realize he was that bad off and ended up departing our fellowship. He really enjoyed this net and our Association when it was first formed; however, he was unable to continue participation as a results of some front channel disagreements and decided he didn't need all the bullshit that spilled over.

The point being, it is better to exchange any and all differences "back channel" between ourselves and not putting our membership in embarrassing situations. We lost a lot from his non-participation.

I will miss David and his fellowship and I hope he was not alone. I do know that God was by his side all the way.

Jack Green

Thu, 28 Sep 2000
Lou Lerda

To Dave:

_____________________________________

Thu, 28 Sep 2000
Joe Baldwin<

One of your brothers has been welcomed home with honors....I stand tall for him and my silent pray is for this man.....

A FINAL "WELCOME HOME DAVID"

I knew you well.....

Joe

Fred Mentzer
Wolf Pack 36

To Wolf Pack 36 Yankee,

Dave, I’m truly sorry that you didn’t have the chance, and sadly, the time to get together with your 281^st comrades and especially all your old friends from the Wolf Pack.  We’re going to miss you old friend.

I am happy though that you were able to participate in the founding of the 281^st association.  I thought it was great how you pitched right in during the early stages of the associations internet email chat site.  Your comments and especially the offers of a "cold beer" to those who you thought deserved a cool one really contributed some color to the reading. You were family and as one of the more senior "Uncles" your praise was appreciated and your criticism deserved.

I will always cherish the memories of our time together in that land and time far away. I won’t bring up all the old stories, hell, you were there! I’ll just hang on to the memory of a proud and fierce warrior, a leader, a man loyal to his friends and unit, a soldier.

Good bye old friend.  It won’t be long before we’re all with you.

So keep the beer cold for that time soon, when the Wolf Pack is together again.

Fred

Col. John W. (Jack) Mayhew USA, Ret.
Intruder 6, 1967-1968

David, from the time that I joined the 281st Assault Helicopter Company in 1967 until I departed in 1968 you were the Platoon Sergeant of the Gun Ship Platoon with the call sign of Wolf pack 36 Yankee. You were one of the first to join the 281st and you served in the unit longer than any other individual. You where there when most of the aerial weapons systems were home made or borrowed and you were there when they become sophisticated. In both cases you made it all work and thanks to your efforts, your beloved Wolf pack was truly better than the best. You were the one with the experience, knowledge, and drive that made it all happen. David, you took the young pilots, and many of us older ones, under your wing and kept us safe. You were always there when we needed you and when we were in harms way, you and your crews were there to see us home safely. Some of my most vivid memories are of you teaching young pilots how to prepare rockets and ammunition for the next days missions, seeing you helping a crew chief with a maintenance problem, long after everyone else had settled down for the night or watching you climb out of a gun ship after flying all day as a gunner, knowing that your day was just starting. With you in charge there was never a question of availability, the Wolf pack led the way to the fight and was always there when we needed you. No job was to big or too small for you and you did them all in a way that earned you the respect of everyone who served with you. David, we took you for granted and we never told you how much you meant to us and for that we are sorry. The only thing that I can say to you now is that many of us, owe you our lives.

Sergeant David L. Bitle, Wolfpack 36 Yankee, on behalf of the members of the 281st Flight and especially those who have gone on before us, I salute you for your outstanding service to our country and to the organization that you loved and cherished. You will live on in our hearts and we will honor your memory forever. Each day we will give thanks for having know you, for you are truly above the best.

God Speed old friend.

Jack

Mike Johnson
Wolf Pack 34

It's moments like these that take me back to forgotten times and faces. To memories of the best friends I'll ever have. To the best men I've ever known.

Let's all tip our glasses and drink a toast to an old warrior. 

Gone but never forgotten.