TBS 2-67 Cruisebook_Updated_7Jan23

Second Platoon
there were a report of a CH-46 crash (which there were
many) I would wait saying prayers, looking out at my
front window with a pounding heart for the Chaplain
and Officer to deliver the worst news possible to me. I
never shared that worry with our families and tried to
make life as normal and fun as possible for everyone’s
sake.
Hank did arrive safely home early in 1970. His parents
had a Mass in their small living room for family to
thank God for his safe return. There were no parades,
parties or recognition of our troops coming home in
those days. It was a sad time to say the least for many
of our friends died in the War. Hank wrote little or
spoke little of the war while there or when he came
home. It wasn’t until Hank died in 2013 and we were
planning his funeral that we found out he had flown
500 Combat Missions while in Vietnam. Our third child,
Sara, was born healthy and beautiful, thank God,
March 1971 at the Naval Hospital, Annapolis, MD. Hank
was a Company Officer there for the next three years.
Hank became one of President Jimmy Carter’s
helicopter pilots in Marine Helicopter Squadron One in
Quantico. It involved many weekends that he would be
away at Camp David, taking part of Presidential trips or
on stand-by near DC. He was thrilled the time he had
the duty on September 17, 1978 at Camp David. It was
the day the Camp David Accords Peace treaty was
signed between Egypt and Israel. During that same
period Pope John Paul II visited the United States on
the request of a small farming town in the Mid West.
The Presidential Squadron was then in charge of
transporting the Pope. Hank said as they flew the Pope
above the thousands of waving people over the
beautiful landscape that it was THE (“no offense,
Kathy”) “highlight’ of his life! I never resented being
#2 to the Pope.
Hank left periodically on three-and six-month Cruises
and had a one year unaccompanied year tour in Japan.
Hank retired as a Lt. Col. after 20 years in the Marine
Corps and went to work for Boeing Vertol in Ridley
Park, PA for 27 more years as an engineer working on
the same helicopter he flew in the Marine Corps. Sadly,
Hank died unexpectedly at age 72. He died on
September 12, 2013 a year and a half after he retired
from Boeing. He now rests at Arlington National
Cemetery where he was buried with Full Military
Honors he so well deserved. Daily (from Vietnam),
Hank wrote wonderful long and beautiful letters from
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