Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans

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Dick Dyer

Vietnam | 118th Assault Helicopter Company, 145th Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade

The call went out. There was a unit in trouble and they needed casualties evacuated. Huey pilot Dick Dyer responded, but as he was taking off with the wounded, there was a loud boom. He settled back on the ground and then he heard from his crew chief. This helicopter wasn't going anywhere. (6:10)
When he returned from his first tour in Vietnam, The Beatles' Hey Jude welcomed him home. Nobody else did. After a couple of years stateside, Dick Dyer returned to the embattled country, this time north of Da Nang. He felt that the command structure there was always putting him in a bad situation. (5:35)
What was Operation Lam Son 719 like? To helicopter pilot Dick Dyer, it was a "gaggle." There were so many aircraft flying at once, it seemed to him like hundreds. A recurring problem on these big troop movements was overloading caused by eager soldiers. On occasion, the pilots were tasked with transporting reporters. (5:47)
The veterans today have it easier than Dick Dyer did when he returned from Vietnam. The mood is supportive, and when he wears his Vietnam Veteran hat, he gets a little of the love he missed back in the day. He is very proud of the role that helicopter pilots like himself played in the war. (2:48)
Dick Francisco

Korea | Marine Attack Squadron 214

Dick Francisco recalls taking a shrapnel wound while on a bombing run over the South China Sea. Provided by Sal Strom. (2:12)
Dick Sklar

Vietnam | 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division

After training at West Point, Dick Sklar took a train out to San Francisco and shipped out to head to Vietnam. Landing in Cam Ranh Bay, Sklar and his battalion had to scout the area and start their departure into the mainland of the country. (4:27)
After leaving Cam Ranh Bay, Sklar and his company set up base camp at Phan Rang with very minimal supplies. While trying to clear their camp for safe settlement, they faced some of the booby traps left behind by their enemy. (3:42)
While stationed near Phan Rang, Dick Sklar combined forces with another battalion to make the Tiger force, which worked together to clear out sweeps of the forest in the surrounding areas. (2:44)
Dick Sklar and his company had to face a lot of fire while stationed in South Vietnam. After fighting back as best they could, they were able to push the enemy back. During this firefight, some of his friends and colleagues lost their lives. (7:08)
Dick Sklar went through a number of close encounters that he considers himself to be very lucky for making it through. After one particular arm incident, he was sent back to the States to go get heal up. (3:39)