219 Headhunters
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      • Letter from A Headhunter's Son
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    • Vietnam Wall Facts >
      • Tribute to All Vietnam Vets- General Anthony Zinni
    • Tribute to Major Arlie Deaton
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  • Photo Gallery
    • Beach Boy's Singer Mike Love
    • Headhunter Group Pictures
    • 2019 (Cruise Oct 2019- Mariner of the Seas )
    • 2015 (Ft Rucker/Dothan, Alabama)
    • 2011 Parris Island Marine Training Base
    • 2011 Frog More Stew Dinner at Fletch Maffett Home
    • 2011 Reunion Dinner #1 Holiday Inn Beaufort
    • 2011 Reunion Dinner #2 Holiday Inn Beaufort
    • 2009 Ft. Rucker Army Aviation Museum
    • 2009 Sky Ranch in Baker, Florida
    • 2009 Banquet at Enterprise Country Club
    • 2009 Breakfast Sunday Going Home
    • 2007 Atlanta, GA
    • 2007 Atlanta, GA ALBUM #2 Georgia Aquarium
    • 2007 Atlanta, GA Album #3 Low Country Boil
    • 2007 Atlanta, GA Album #4 Great Air Show
    • 2007 Atlanta, GA Album #5 Reunion Dinner
    • 2005 Daytona Beach, Florida
    • Video Shorts from Daytona Speedway & New Bird Dog Flies In
    • 2003 FT. Worth, Texas
    • 2001 Annapolis, Maryland
    • 1999 Annapolis, Maryland
    • Photos Courtesy Thomas Neilsen- 1965-66
    • Courtesy John Elmendorf - 1966
    • Photos Courtesy Lou Costello- 1965-66
    • Photos Courtesy Wayne Ammerman - 1965-66
    • EDWARD McCARTY PHOTOS '65-'66
    • Photos Courtesy Don Jordon - 1967*
    • Photos Courtesy Victor Hickok - 1966-67
    • Photos Courtesy Troy Duplessis - HH52 6/66-3/67
    • Photos Courtesy Al Paulsen - 1967-68
    • Photos Courtesy Ray Borza - 1967-68 (Camp Holloway)
    • Photos Courtesy Barry Mainardi - 1969
    • Photos Courtesy Grant McRorie- 1969-70
    • Photos Courtesy Douglas Krout - 1969-70
    • Photos Courtesy Frank Doherty - 1969-70
    • Photos Courtesy Martin Runkle - 1969-70 Camp Holloway
    • Photos Courtesy SP/5 Rich Anthes 1969-70 Camp Holloway
    • "Peter Gets A Bath"
    • "219th Vietnam Flight Scenes"
    • ROBERT KROMAN Photos- 1970-71
    • 219th 2nd Platoon Crewchiefs at An Khe 1970
    • TOM KAHLERT Photos- 1970-71
    • EDWIN CHUBB Photos - 1971
  • Past Commanders
  • Events
  • What's New
  • Articles
    • Cessna At War
  • News
  • Headhunter Blogs
    • Headhunter Song >
      • Part 1
      • Part 2
      • Part 3
  • Past Reunions
  • Unit Awards
  • Unit History
    • History of the 219th
  • Other Unit Links
  • Get In Touch
  • Who We Are
  • Members Only - Password
  • Home
    • 219TH UNIT HISTORY
    • L-19 Birddog - in "Cessna Warbirds"
  • REUNIONS
    • 2024 REUNION
    • 2011 REUNION >
      • Letter from A Headhunter's Son
    • 2009 REUNION
    • 2007 REUNION >
      • Air Show Program Cover
      • Special Write-Up
      • Winners
      • Group Photo
  • Store
    • Order Form
    • HH Polo Shirt
  • Combat Stories
    • About Combat Stories
    • 219th AVIATION COMPANY PERSONNEL
  • Obituaries
  • Guest Book
  • Memorial Wall
    • Vietnam Memorial Wall
    • Vietnam Wall Facts >
      • Tribute to All Vietnam Vets- General Anthony Zinni
    • Tribute to Major Arlie Deaton
    • Birddog Unit Memorial
  • Photo Gallery
    • Beach Boy's Singer Mike Love
    • Headhunter Group Pictures
    • 2019 (Cruise Oct 2019- Mariner of the Seas )
    • 2015 (Ft Rucker/Dothan, Alabama)
    • 2011 Parris Island Marine Training Base
    • 2011 Frog More Stew Dinner at Fletch Maffett Home
    • 2011 Reunion Dinner #1 Holiday Inn Beaufort
    • 2011 Reunion Dinner #2 Holiday Inn Beaufort
    • 2009 Ft. Rucker Army Aviation Museum
    • 2009 Sky Ranch in Baker, Florida
    • 2009 Banquet at Enterprise Country Club
    • 2009 Breakfast Sunday Going Home
    • 2007 Atlanta, GA
    • 2007 Atlanta, GA ALBUM #2 Georgia Aquarium
    • 2007 Atlanta, GA Album #3 Low Country Boil
    • 2007 Atlanta, GA Album #4 Great Air Show
    • 2007 Atlanta, GA Album #5 Reunion Dinner
    • 2005 Daytona Beach, Florida
    • Video Shorts from Daytona Speedway & New Bird Dog Flies In
    • 2003 FT. Worth, Texas
    • 2001 Annapolis, Maryland
    • 1999 Annapolis, Maryland
    • Photos Courtesy Thomas Neilsen- 1965-66
    • Courtesy John Elmendorf - 1966
    • Photos Courtesy Lou Costello- 1965-66
    • Photos Courtesy Wayne Ammerman - 1965-66
    • EDWARD McCARTY PHOTOS '65-'66
    • Photos Courtesy Don Jordon - 1967*
    • Photos Courtesy Victor Hickok - 1966-67
    • Photos Courtesy Troy Duplessis - HH52 6/66-3/67
    • Photos Courtesy Al Paulsen - 1967-68
    • Photos Courtesy Ray Borza - 1967-68 (Camp Holloway)
    • Photos Courtesy Barry Mainardi - 1969
    • Photos Courtesy Grant McRorie- 1969-70
    • Photos Courtesy Douglas Krout - 1969-70
    • Photos Courtesy Frank Doherty - 1969-70
    • Photos Courtesy Martin Runkle - 1969-70 Camp Holloway
    • Photos Courtesy SP/5 Rich Anthes 1969-70 Camp Holloway
    • "Peter Gets A Bath"
    • "219th Vietnam Flight Scenes"
    • ROBERT KROMAN Photos- 1970-71
    • 219th 2nd Platoon Crewchiefs at An Khe 1970
    • TOM KAHLERT Photos- 1970-71
    • EDWIN CHUBB Photos - 1971
  • Past Commanders
  • Events
  • What's New
  • Articles
    • Cessna At War
  • News
  • Headhunter Blogs
    • Headhunter Song >
      • Part 1
      • Part 2
      • Part 3
  • Past Reunions
  • Unit Awards
  • Unit History
    • History of the 219th
  • Other Unit Links
  • Get In Touch
  • Who We Are
  • Members Only - Password
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​HEADHUNTER (1ST PERSON) STORIES 1965-1972
​

​True Life (Uncensored & Unedited) Personal Accounts from Enlisted & Officer Personnel in Combat while Serving with the 219th Aviation Company "Headhunters" in the Republic of South Vietnam

The 219th Aviation Company (Recon) was an extraordinary unit comprised of dedicated enlisted and officer personnel who served in the Vietnam War between 1965 and 1972. Known as a Recon Airplane Company (RAC), the 219th sadly suffered the most casualties (KIA & MIA) of all the RAC units deployed during the war.

Whether in the air or on the ground, this group of professionals experienced a diversity of missions covering a very large geographical area in South Vietnam plus special operations missions in Cambodia and Laos. Many of these missions were in direct support of ground units that were U.S. Military, South Vietnamese (RVN) and other allied countries such as South Korea.

219th Missions ranged from general reconnaissance without a specific target to direct support of units in life & death combat where ground artillery, helicopter gun ships, Air Force tactical air and naval artillery were all coordinated in close support to rain down on the enemy forces. The stories contained herein are as varied as the personnel who experienced them. These first person remembrances come from both enlisted and officer personnel.

We hope you enjoy reading these accounts of  the war in Vietnam as it was experienced by these brave personnel from the 219th Aviation Company and the people who flew with us.

CLICK HERE IF YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO THE 219TH AVIATION COMPANY
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(Caution: Some accounts may be graphic in both language and description of action.)

WINGS OF ARMY AVIATION

 ​    Basic Crew Member
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   Senior Crew Member
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  Master Crew Member
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  ​          Army Aviator
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  ​        Senior Aviator
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  ​       Master Aviator
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​MILITARY MEDALS

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​               Silver Star
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​   Distinguished Flying                       Cross
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​             Bronze Star
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​            Purple Heart
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​                Air Medal
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​  Army Commendation
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​              Army Good
          Conduct Medal
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​   Vietnam Service Medal
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               ​Vietnam Campaign Medal
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     National Defense
​        Service Medal
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​        Army Valorous Unit Citation
© 2021 Eagle Team Publishing Group. All information on this website is the property of the brave military personnel who sacrificed their time and well being by putting themselves in harm's way in the service of their country. This website is dedicated to those 219th Aviation Company Headhunters personnel & their families who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives in this service. Permission for the use of any content on this website is reserved for use by any person who served on active military duty with the 219th Aviation Company . All others must obtain written permission in advance by contacting [email protected]