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Departing Vietnam in this June 1969 photo of Colonel Bush 14th SOW Commander and LTC Pyle 71st SOS Commander. Colonel Bush 14th SOW Air Base Commander, LTC Pyle 71 SOS and LTC Johnson 71st SOS.
Kadena Air Base, Okinawa Passenger Terminal. 71SOS personnel boarding C-141 at Kadena Air Base on their trip home to Bakalar Air Force Base, Columbus, Indiana.
C-141 Crew getting a little rest at Kadena Air Force Base. The C-141 was being refueled for a non-stop trip to Bakalar Air Force Base Columbus on the 71st SOS return from Nah Trang, Vietnam on 6 June 1969. According to Al Heuss, there were whoops and shouts as they cleared the beach on takeoff from Nha Trang on their way home to Columbus, Indiana The 71st SOS lost no personnel in combat and all returned home. This was an amazing feat considering their dangerous gunship missions in Vietnam. 71st Special Operations Squadron Arrives Home June 6, 1969 to Bakalar Air Force Base, Columbus, Indiana. Then Governor Edgar D. Whitcomb a W.W.II veteran and former POW was on hand to greet the returning airmen.
(Welcome Home Photographs from The Republic Newspaper publication) click on photographs for full size viewing The 930th Tactical Airlift Group welcome home from Vietnam at Bakalar Air Force Base in June 1969.
Airman First Class Charles Johnson holds the five-month old daughter Melissa, he had never seen before. Airman Johnson just stepped from the C-141 Starlifter after the long flight from South Vietnam. The center photograph is his wife Darlene and daughter Melissa who was born the day before the unit was sent to Columbus Ohio for training. A group of beauty salon hairdressers welcome home Phil Bender.
More 71st SOS crewmembers receiving a happy welcome home. Greeters view a banner recognizing 71st SOS Flight "C" personnel. The lady in the scarf in the first photo is Mrs. Sandy Wyatt wife of SSGT Donald Wyatt.
No words needed here to tell the 71st SOS welcome home story. The third photo is of Mrs. William Tyler, daughter Cheree age 4 and SSGT William Tyler.
Staff Sergeant Floyd Deaton and family. Major Wally Minnette and Sue 71st SOS Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The Air Force's highest unit citation, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, was presented to the 71st Special Operations Squadron (SOS), a subordinate unit of the 434th Tactical Airlift Wing (TAW) at Bakalar AFB, Indiana, October 4, 1969. The 71st Reservists were honored for their outstanding performance as a combat AC-119 gunship unit in Viet Nam. Official presentation of the Outstanding Unit Award was made at the base parade by Brig. Gen. Alfred Verhulst, vice commander of the Air Force Reserve headquartered at Robins AFB, GA. General Verhulst was commander of Bakalar AFB, and the 434th TAW during the Reserve unit's mobilization. The 434th Reservists were mobilized in May 1968 as the 930th Tactical Airlift Group, later moved to Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, began training in the AC-119 gunship and were reorganized as an augmented squadron. They were deployed to Viet Nam as the 71st SOS in December 1968 and returned to Bakalar for demobilization in June 1969. The Air Force citation commends the Reservists for "Firing a new and relative sophisticated weapons system being battle tested for the first time, working often under intense ground fire, in period of inclement weather and almost totally during hours of darkness." They were also commended for "over 1,000 highly effective combat sorties against hostile troop concentrations, fortifications, bunkers and weapons emplacements." Most notable achievement of the unit was their return to the United States without a single casualty, concluding six months of combat during which time they flew 1,586 combat missions over South Viet Nam. Individual decorations were also presented to members of "The Shadow" squadron. Total awards recommendations submitted for approval were: 751 Air Medals, 143 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 18 Bronze Stars, 47 Air Force Commendation Medals and two Purple Hearts. Quote from Colonel Pyle: "We were called, we trained, we did the job and did it well." May 1969 A Service Recognition Certificate was presented to each 71st SOS member during the 71SOS Historical Marker dedication program on Bakalar Green at the former Bakalar Air Force Base on May 18, 2002 during their reunion. Former Indiana Governor Edgar Whitcomb was the featured speaker at the 71st SOS Historical Monument dedication. Governor Whitcomb was on hand at Bakalar Air Force Base in June 1969 to welcome the 71st back home from Vietnam. Colonel James Pyle addresses the crowd. Major General John Hoff at the 71st dedication program. Governor Whitcomb and General Hoff enjoying a cup of coffee at the Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum before the dedication.
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71st Special Operations Squadron on
the way home
