Lonnie McKellips Remembers

I remember working the cement plant and Rock Jaw a lot.  Don't remember
the other place, but who knows.

I also remember a Loach that was painted flat black - and it had the #
13 in it - and it was a great ship.  Some Col. or other officer saw it,
got angry and demanded it be painted O.D. per reg. - and it was.   And
it went down in a crash not long after.

I still need to find my pictures.  I have one with me standing by my
Longknife (599) with pilot and gunner - and a bandage around my left
shoulder - from when two Crusaders locked main rotor blades while I was
loading rockets into one of them (the other one was hovering next to it
for ammo load).  I think that was at Roch Jaw (spelling?) Rach Gia.  Both Cobras
became junk, pilots got out OK, and I was hit from some part as they
self destructed.  Still have the scar.
The official story is that the xmsn exploded on the hovering Cobra.
Anyway, it was an otherwise good day.

I still enjoyed my Loach days far more though.
You were there after me - did the gunner/observer still use the sawed
off Cycic Stick?  Also, I had an M60 with a sawed off barrell and no
butt plate - last saw it when I went off to the hospital.  Would have
preferred flying to the Hospital in the Loach - but it had some damage.

Yes, I would be interested in the story, but with Webtv, cannot handle
attachments.  My address is:

2120 N. Lazona Dr.
Mesa, AZ  85203

Thanks!

Lonnie


Check in Index
Light Horse Home