114th Aviation Company Association

"Archive"

The Huey Crewmen

 A Tribute By Bub Parrish

The pilot may fly the mighty Huey, but the Crewmen keeps it in the air.
He knows each bolt, rattle and vibration, each gauge and spiders lair.

After flying all day he returns and prepares his baby for tomorrows runs.
Alone after dark, cleaning out what war has left, checking rockets and guns.

He may be the Crew Chief or he may be the Door Gunner, many times he is both.
He often tends the wounded, holding a compress or just a bloody cloth.

He will risk his life for men he does not know, seeing tired faces under stress.
He knows the supplies and replacements he delivers will help ease the nasty mess.

He treats the Huey as if it were his own, his life and others depending on his skill.
He will curse an engine, tenderly stroke the tail boom and use the M-60 to kill.

He will always regret those he could not save and suffer nightmares for many years.
He will remember lost friends, crewmen and pilots, and shed so many tears.

He is the Huey crewman, unheralded warrior, dedicated to his machine.
He is the Huey crewmen, none better.
I thank you Soldier, Sailor, Airmen and Marine.


Copyright June 1997, I. S. Parrish