1967 D Troop Christmas Card. I sent this card to one of my sisters who saved it all these years. It was recently given to me by her daughter. The photo was taken next to one of the "Heavy Scout" gunships. At that time the Scouts included the Heavy Scouts (C Model Huey gunships with rockets and mini-guns) and the Light Scouts (OH-23 Ravens) with a door gunner/observer, no speed and not much hope. The Aero Weapons (HOGS) Section flew C Model Hueys with the 40MM grenade launcher in the nose and the rectangular rocket pods holding 24 rockets on each side. Also see the 1968 D Troop Christmas cards, sent in by Rick Williams, at his images page. The PX PATROL WARRIORS (No offense intended to any PX employees past or present) shown here are identified to the best my memory at the moment. If you can identify anyone I could not, or can confirm the identity of those I am not certain about; please send me an Email (centaurswebsite@yahoo.com) with the information.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all from Charlie Johnson, Centaur 40 'HOGS' (Aero Weapons) Section Leader.
STANDING: Bain 'Shortround' Cowell, the Arty FO. To the right of 'Shortround' is, I think, WO Festus Hagen. The next man to the right, centered in the cargo door is that intrepid Slick driver with a gunship driver attitude, Lt. Larry Patterson. The next man to the right, wearing the white T-shirt, mustache and a smirk, is Lt. Lee "Smokey" Burgess, who was the magnet ass Light Scout Platoon leader and future evacuee. To the right of Smokey, wearing the non regulation soft cap is a WO gunship pilot whose name I cannot recall, but I recall he was a good pilot, good crewmember and an outrageous 'Jungle Rules' volleyball player. The next man to the right is WO Pete 'Petey' Johnson, a gunship pilot. I guess I missed formation the day they handed out swords as personal weapons such as the one Pete is hoisting. The man standing on the right in this photo is a Lt. who was, I think, a gunship pilot.
KNEELING: On the left in this photo, wearing the Artillery FO issue Jungle Warrior hat with Australian flair, is Lt. John Kelly, who also was an Arty FO and the prototypical 'Short Timer'. The man in the middle is WO Pat 'Joaquin' Eastes, a Sure As Hell Gunship Pilot and a heck of good man to fly with. The dark spot on his right hand is a smudge from handling the photo having nothing to do with personal hygiene. The man on right side kneeling is yours truly. Lt. Chuck (now Charlie) Johnson, future 'HOGS' Section Leader. At the time this photo was taken I could find the flight line by myself during daylight hours but I didn't know how to hold a Door Gun much less shoot one.