Choo Choo’s Train
I have danced around this story for a bit and finally settled on a way to tell the story about the man/machine relationship we had with one Huey in Vietnam. Hueys had many different relationships with the humans involved in the Vietnam war. This story needs to be about this particular Huey not the people.
Our hosts for this reunion are truly remarkable people and they deserve our thanks and respect for what they have done to bring us all together for this event. They also deserve to have their privacy respected, if they should decide to publish this story, fine, I’m sure the Potato Mashers would would support them in any way possible. The Mashers participating in this event will forever keep the owners in a special place in our hearts for what they have done this day. I hope they can realize the impact they have had on us. It will be something that all of us will be processing for quite a while.
Rather than try to process it all and put out a narative for you, I have decided to just show you the album that the owners have compiled on the history of the Huey with the tail number 68-15754. It is a great piece of work and I don’t think I could improve on it. So, I’d like to share it with my friends and family. My only request is that no one republish any of what I am sharing with you.
So here is the entire album: 
So, we all had a great time and made cherished memories.
The weather was perfect.
So far I've reached acceptable proficiency at the following, in chronological order: Silversmith, infantryman/door gunner, helicopter pilot, fireman, carpenter, residential contractor, FAA Air Traffic Control Specialist and crotchety old retired guy. Currently, I'm learning to fly again and that is what this is all about. 7/7/2020 edit: As I have had the opportunity to reflect (old people do that a lot) on my actual proficiency level at the above occupations, I feel adjustments are in order. The term "acceptable" depends on the observer, their own proficiency and experience level. Acceptable to me might be woefully deficient to the master. I think it would be more accurate to claim that I have earned a living wage at all of these occupations but never got rich. Actually, I feel that I have gotten rich at the last one. I have what I need and am profoundly grateful for all of it. The future looks bright indeed, as I have learned to fly again. For that I have all of you to thank. Thank You!
Thanks for posting this! Makes me want to reflect, too. My neighbor, who was one of my platoon leaders (not necessarily the best one, but he tolerated me) in C/227, also did time in Bravo after a stint in Delta. Makes me wonder if he flew 754, also. I’ll have to ask him. Thanks, again!