When I first arrived at the Troop, I was assigned to bunk in with Chuck Nole. I was assigned to fly scouts and was given Chuck's old call sign of War Wagon 12. Chuck, as I recall, had just completed Cobra transition school and had moved from Scouts to Guns and was then flying one the new Snakes just recently assigned to the Troop. Although prior to joining the Troop, I had not met but a few of the guys, I had however heard...via the grapevine... of the names and exploits of Chuck Nole, David Newkirk, Gary Winset and Ace as Scout Pilots.  Needless to say, I was somewhat in awe the first time that I actually met them and was somewhat anxious as to whether or not I would make the grade in continuing the reputation they held. This concern was further enhanced after I had been there only for a few days when David Newkirk came limping back into the Troop area with a cast on his leg and everyone began milling around him. At this time, I naturally did not know who he was and after inquiring discovered he had been shot with a 51cal in the leg and med-evaced to Japan (I think) from which he had escaped and somehow returned to the unit. Well, to say the least, this blew my mind.