16th CAB hosts Vietnam Veterans at JBLM

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - The 16th Combat Aviation Brigade hosted a group of Vietnam Aviators for a presentation on modern Army aviation, a tour of AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and lunch with junior Soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., May 20.

The Angry Skipper Association is a group of Vietnam Veterans who served with Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). They include pilots, crew chiefs and maintainers who come together annually for a reunion.

During their visit to JBLM, the Angry Skipper members were reacquainted with a place many of them attended Basic Combat Training over 50 years ago.

The group started their visit with a brief on modern Army aviation from Col. William Ryan, 16th CAB commander. Ryan discussed the legacy the Veterans left on Army aviation, and how modern operations differ from those in Vietnam.

Following the brief, the group was able to get a hands-on tour of Apache and Black Hawk helicopters, and to talk to current pilots and crew chiefs. They shared stories, answered questions and bonded over their shared service in different generations of Army aviation.

Before leaving for the day, the Veterans enjoyed a lunch at JBLM's Courage Inn Dining Facility with junior Soldiers from 16th CAB. The young Soldiers shared their experience, and listened to stories from the Veterans that took place decades before many of them were born.