July-August

Mike Bodnar
307B N Main Copperas Cove, TX 76522
254-542-1961
E-mail: mbodnar27@gmail.com

DANIEL L. TOOTHMAN CPT, Retired (1967 - 1987) My year with the 1st Cavalry Division was the most formative of my life. I served as a helicopter ambulance pilot, and it was a profound experience that I will never forget. I graduated flight school on December 17, 1968, and within three weeks, I was reporting for duty in Vietnam. During flight school, I had trained to be a helicopter gunship pilot, but when I arrived in-country, I was reassigned to the 15th Medical Battalion of the 1st Cavalry Division. At first, I was hesitant about flying medevac missions instead of gunships, but I soon realized the vital importance of our work. The 1st Cavalry Division had a fierce reputation, and I was proud to be part of such an elite unit. Over time, I grew to love my role as a medevac pilot, and I formed deep bonds with the crew members I flew with. Even now, over 50 years later, I still maintain close connections with many of my former comrades. We make it a point to attend the annual 15th Medical Battalion reunion, where we can honor the shared experiences that forged an unbreakable camaraderie. The Army instilled in me the value of strong leadership and the importance of harnessing the talents of my team. Though I was passed over for promotion due to a lack of a college degree, I took pride in being a skilled and experienced aviator, logging nearly 29 years of flying time with the service. My time with the Division was a true privilege. The Army provided me with incredible opportunities, from flying medevac missions to serving as an installation aviation safety officer. Most importantly, it connected me with lifelong brothers-in-arms, whose bond and shared sacrifice I will always cherish.

CW2 HUGH M. “MAC” MCCLURE CW2, Honorably Discharged Veteran (1967 - 1970) I volunteered for the first medevac mission, eager to be part of the vital work they did. Throughout my year in Vietnam, I flew with the 15th Medical Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Division. Along the way, I earned a few accolades - a couple of Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Purple Heart, and a Bronze Star. The real reward was in the job itself. Those medevac missions were no easy feat. We’d often have to navigate into perilous landing zones under heavy fire. I went down four times myself, but each time I managed to get the wounded Soldiers safely extracted. Seeing those young men - now old Veterans like me - make it home, that’s what mattered most to me. The toughest mission I remember was the one to rescue comedian Martha Raye. We got the urgent call, flew into the hot LZ, and there she was - a piece of shrapnel lodged in her backside. I’ll never forget packing her wound and flying her to safety. Afterwards, she tracked me down stateside, and we became fast friends until her passing. That helicopter, the mighty Huey, was truly a godsend. It could take a beating and still get those wounded Troops to the aid station in time. Sometimes we’d be in and out in just 15 minutes, stabilizing them before the real work began on the hospital ship. Seeing those battered young Soldiers smile as we pulled them from the battle, that’s what made it all worthwhile for me. Being a pilot, not an officer, was my sole focus. The warrants flew, that’s all I cared about. I flew through heavy fire and dire circumstances, bringing those Troops home. It was the most rewarding job I could have asked for.

TIMOTHY J. “TIM” KIRWAN SGT, Honorably Discharged Veteran (1968 - 1976) I can still vividly recall my time as a door gunner in Medevac. It all started when I was sent over as a PFC firefighter crash rescue, ending up in the 15th Medical Battalion. They had initially thought they might need us for crash rescue helicopters, but that plan didn’t pan out. We found ourselves as duty Troops - drivers, CQ runners, that sort of thing. I got tired of that pretty quickly and told them I wanted a transfer. They said the only options were infantry or becoming a door gunner, so I chose the latter. As a door gunner, our main responsibility was providing protection for the Medevac flights. We had strict orders - we could only shoot if we were fired upon first. Otherwise, we were just there to wave back if the locals waved at us. We saw some pretty messed up stuff down there. Later on, my friend Cindy told me about the 1st Cavalry Division Association back in 1992. I found out some of the other guys I’d served with were already members, so I joined up too. I’ve enjoyed going to the reunions and reconnecting with that community. When I look back on my time serving, I’m most thankful that everyone I knew made it out alive. We did a lot of good work out there, and that’s what I’m most proud of. It wasn’t always easy, but we stuck together and looked out for each other.

KENT S. NABARRETE COL, Retired (1976 - 2006) As a young officer fresh out of ROTC at the University of Hawaii, I felt a deep sense of obligation to serve my country, following in the footsteps of my uncles who had fought in World War II and my father in the Marine Reserves. When I was assigned to Fort Hood, I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical - I had envisioned Texas as nothing but desert and cactus. My time with the 1st Cavalry and in various other roles on that base proved to be a career-defining experience. My first few months were a whirlwind, as I took command of Charlie Company, 15th Support Battalion on a Friday and by Monday we were deploying to the National Training Center. It was non-stop training and field exercises for the next 70 days. At times it was grueling, but I cherished the opportunity to put my skills to the test and lead my Soldiers. What really solidified my affection for Fort Hood, though, was my subsequent assignments - serving as the executive officer for the Evacuation Hospital and then commanding the Medevac unit. These roles allowed me to truly excel, applying my medical expertise to support our Troops. The chance to deploy to Desert Shield and Desert Storm was both challenging and immensely rewarding. In the end, I spent nearly six years at Fort Hood, and it remains one of the highlights of my military career. The people I served with, the missions we accomplished together - it all added up to something greater than myself, which is exactly what I had been seeking. The camaraderie, the shared purpose, the sense of being part of something bigger - that’s what made my time at Fort Hood so special. It was the turning point that shaped the rest of my career.

FIRST TEAM!
Garryowen,
Mike Bodnar C 2\7 '69
MEDEVAC 1-7\70
SO THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE