Warbird Information Exchange

There is a video of my work on youtube that you guys would like, but I can't seem to post it. Can one of you guys P.M. me, and post it here for me/ Thanks in advance.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

I got it now, I think.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDd5ianEkqk

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Cool mustang.

One of those types fly over my house a lot since I live right next to a small hospital.

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Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com

And before anyone asks, the EC-145 helicopter is now a warbird. The U.S. Army just bought a bunch of them. That is one of the types of helicopters we operate.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Mustang, I recieved a number of medals with the V on them during my time in. The army said that made me a hero, but I never really believed them. My heroes have always been, and I think always will be, firefighters, paramedics of every flavor, and the Coast Guard. You guys put your lifes at risk almost every day in order to save people you never met, often in conditions most of us wouldn't leave the house in. Thank you. Oh, and GREAT VIDEO!

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"I knew the jig was up when I saw the P-51D-20-NA Mustang blue-nosed bastards from Bodney, and by the way the blue was more of a royal blue than an indigo and the inner landing gear interiors were NOT green, over Berlin."

Thanks alot man, but we still feel that the service men of this country are the true heroes. As a matter in fact, on the tail of each of our helicopters, there is a ribbon that says "Support our troops". I am glad that you liked the video.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Just a thought about heroes. I have had the distinct privilege to know a few real heroes in my life. One was a very heroic police officer that was awarded the Medal of Valor and that was after being gunned down two years earlier in another incident. I also have a friend who holds the Navy Cross. I knew him two years before I found out about the award. I have a friend who holds a Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. I only found out about those medals after he went through a shooting and happened to mention that he hadn’t been that scared since NAM. They all have one thing in common. They are humble. They wouldn’t dream of telling folks about their awards or ever claim to be heroes. They would all tell you that they were just doing their jobs. Quiet unassuming gentlemen. These guys don’t wear “Death From Above” T-shirts or Vietnam Veteran ball caps. If you met them on the street you wouldn’t have a clue. Real people. Real heroes.

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I have to agree, Dan. Medals are...candyfloss. I wouldn't start paying attention to one until it was at least a silver star, simply because mine are bronze and I know how stupid (as in not very worthy of attention) the things I did to get them were. I'm sure that isn't a good scale, it's just my scale. I own an SFOR tshirt I wear all the time (been there did that got the tshirt) because my friends gave it to me as a joke. There can be a certain sarcasm in those tshirts But I agree that they generally don't impress me.
I'm not sure I would go with the "no ball caps and never talk about it thing," though. Some do and some don't. I think the thing that always impressed me with men who had really been there was simply that they appreciated each other, and perhaps valued others more than themselves. To me that is the definition of heroism. Willingness to risk yourself for others or simply something greater than yourself. It has almost nothing to do with shooting people or kill ratios and almost everything to do with sacrifice and personal risk.
I am not sure about the "doing your job" thing. I received my last award for doing my job, and while it was traumatic, it certainly wasn't heroic, or even brave. I wasn't at risk as far as I know. I just took the pictures and left, and a few weeks later they had a little award ceremony for me and shook my hand. That's not heroic, you know?

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"I knew the jig was up when I saw the P-51D-20-NA Mustang blue-nosed bastards from Bodney, and by the way the blue was more of a royal blue than an indigo and the inner landing gear interiors were NOT green, over Berlin."

I absolutely agree with the medals comment. When I was in Iraq with the 82nd, it was division SOP for ALL E-7s and above to be submitted for Bronze Stars. Likewise when I was in Bosnia (11 years ago ), it was also SOP for ALL Army aviators who had flown during SFOR 1 to be submitted for an Air Medal. I agree that one needs to stand up and take notice of a Silver Star of higher.

The medal inflation that is going on now makes lesser awards suspect, even though folks were legitimately in harm's way and rightly earned their Bronze Stars with "V".

As for "Doing Your Job" , I think it's all relevant. Doing My Job has different meanings to an admin soldier, a convoy driver, a rifleman kicking down doors, and a Delta operator. Personally, I make it a point to tell people that I was only doing my job, and in the same breath try to heap praise on those warriors who are either not coming back or have a lifetime of physical pain for their efforts. Their scars, both physical and mental are a lot worse than mine, and they are my heroes for their perseverance.

Sorry for the soap box!

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"So there I was, knee deep in a river I couldn't pronounce..."