Author: LTC Retired Vince Cedola – Member DUSTOFF Hall of Fame
My last day in Vietnam
Major Vince Cedola, CO, 571st Med Det (Helicopter Ambulance) DUSTOFF and Major Dave Dryden XO, are waiting at Phu Bai, RVN for the Group Commander to participate at the change of command ceremony today. It is Vince’s last day in Vietnam after his second tour and Dave will assume command. The Colonel MD arrives and joins them. He has a stern look on his face. He asks, “What am I going to do with those two guys down south?” I know he means the CO and XO of his other medical detachment about 50 miles south of here. I asked him, “What did they do?” He said, “They flew together as ac and pilot on missions all night, and if they crashed, they would have left me with a skinny, new Lieutenant in charge!” Dave said, “I’m sure they had a good reason for this, Sir.” I chimed in, “Sometimes when a life is at stake, you do what you gotta do!!”
At that moment our alarm bell rang. Dave was on first-up and ran to his aircraft and cranked-up waiting for his pilot. I yelled out “Where’ the pilot?” Someone yelled back, he’s in the head with a bad stomach!” All the other pilots were out, so I jumped into the pilot seat and told the radio operator to bring me my helmet. He did and said, good luck, it’s a hoist mission!! Dave and I looked at each other and said Sh**!! A hoist mission is the most dangerous since you are hovering inches from the treetops and hanging purely on the power of the engine!
We took off and unbeknownst to us, the Colonel had jumped into the back of the helicopter! When we arrived on-site, I called in to the Air Command who told us to wait in place as the area was still hot!! Again, Dave and I looked at each other and yelled Sh*t again!!
We told to watch for two Jets which will be dropping some napalm. Zoom, Zoom both jets flew by us, one under and one over and a few miles out dropped their destruction. Several minutes later Air Command told us to come in for the pick-up. We found the spot in the treetops, lowered the forest-penetrator and prepared to bring the patient up. The crewchief and medic both watching outback telling me how to keep the tail rotor out of the limbs, while they brought the patient up. About that time, when the wounded is almost home, the medic yells, “Taking fire from 3o’clock!! I rapidly pulled pitch and brought the patient up through the few branches and into the aircraft. I asked Dave to take the controls and bring us home!
When we arrived at the hospital and home, we were shocked to see the Colonel jump out of the helicopter with the patient’s blood on his shirt and come over to Dave and I with a big smile, saying what a great flight that was! We both just looked at him and finally I said, “Colonel, not only did you cause us to violate the command against taking a doctor on a combat mission, but if we crashed, that skinny lieutenant would have been in command since the CO and XO were on this same flight!!! What were we talking about before the bell rang??
The troops had assembled. So, we walked over to the change of command ceremony, after which we enjoyed a great farewell party hosted by the 101st Air Assault Division Band. While Dave and I were enjoying a few memories over a beer or two, the Colonel joined us and said, “I know you have a no flying during your last week in Vietnam policy, so, why did you take the chance of flying a hoist mission on your last day in country? I answered, “Yes, but remember what I said earlier, “When a life is at stake, you do what you gotta do!” It’s my Unit motto “TO SAVE A LIFE”
DUSTOFF
