January 2013 • “President’s Message” Robert Frost • “Kimberly’s Flight” Book Review John Penny • ”The Robert N. Tredway Award” Jay Brown • “Caring For The Fallen” Dan Lamothe • “Reunions and Gatherings” • and much, much more! Presenting! President’s Message Robert Frost This is my first message of the New Year and it is my hope that all of you had a wonderful holiday with family and friends. Now that all of us are settling back into a more normal routine and perhaps still living up (or perhaps not) to the resolutions we made, it is time think about our CHPA activities for this year. Coming up March 4‐7 is the biggest helicopter convention in the world, Helicopter Association International’s (HAI) Heli‐Expo in Las Vegas. Through the generosity and hospitality of HAI, the CHPA has been fortunate to participate and exhibit each year. This year is special to us though, because it will be the first time we have our new exhibit booth on display. Our primary focus for being there is to sign up new members, renew existing members in attendance, and for the first time, really concentrate on recruiting corporate sponsors. If you attend, please stop by and visit us at booth C 6107. Right after HAI, the CHPA will be participating and exhibiting at Quad A in Fort Worth. Again, the generosity and hospitality of Quad A has allowed us to participate and exhibit each year. The dates this year are April 10‐14. Quad A and HAI are the two best opportunities we have each year to tell our story and grow our membership ranks. I know I have mentioned this in some of my earlier messages but I think it always bears repeating. The life blood of the CHPA is to retain and renew existing members and to recruit new members. It is not easy, but it is that simple. To date, in our short history we have recruited over 1100 members, but we are just barely scratching the surface on the recruiting of those eligible for membership. At every monthly meeting of the board, time is set aside to discuss what we can do to be more effective in our recruiting efforts and to receive maximum utility from our very limited resources. I am sure most of you have at one time or another gone to our website and it is my hope each of you finds our newsletter “The Swash Plate” interesting enough that you look forward to receiving every month. For many of you, that is really the only exposure you may have had to the CHPA. It is my hope you will have the interest and find the time to get more involved in what we are doing. The number one way to do that is to make plans to attend our annual meeting and convention each fall. This year it will be in San Antonio (date to be determined soon). We always have a great time and I believe most who have attended look forward to attending again and again. Another thing you can do is promote our organization in your local community. Many of you live in areas near military installations and in civilian communities with a significant number of veterans who may qualify for membership. Please pass the word and let me (or other board members) know how we may be of service to you. As you all know, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY FROM CHPA
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
This is my first message of the NewYearand it ismyhope thatallofyouhadawonderful holiday with family and friends.Now that all of us are settling back into amorenormal routineandperhaps still livingup (or perhaps not) to the resolutions wemade, it is time think about our CHPAactivitiesforthisyear.ComingupMarch4‐7is the biggest helicopter convention in theworld,HelicopterAssociation International’s (HAI)Heli‐Expo in LasVegas.ThroughthegenerosityandhospitalityofHAI,theCHPAhasbeenfortunateto participate and exhibit each year. This year is special to us though,
IknowIhavementionedthisinsomeofmyearliermessagesbutIthinkitalwaysbearsrepeating.ThelifebloodoftheCHPAistoretainandrenewexistingmembersandtorecruitnewmembers.Itisnoteasy,butitisthatsimple.Todate,inourshorthistorywehaverecruitedover1100members,butweare justbarely scratching thesurfaceon the recruitingof thoseeligible formembership. Ateverymonthlymeetingoftheboard,timeissetasidetodiscusswhatwecandotobemoreeffectiveinourrecruitingeffortsandtoreceivemaximumutilityfromourverylimitedresources. Iamsuremostofyouhaveatonetimeoranothergonetoourwebsiteanditismyhopeeachofyoufindsournewsletter“TheSwashPlate”interestingenoughthatyoulookforwardtoreceivingeverymonth.Formanyofyou,thatisreallytheonlyexposureyoumayhavehadtotheCHPA.Itismyhopeyouwillhavetheinterestandfindthetimetogetmoreinvolvedinwhatwe are doing. The number oneway to do that is tomake plans to attend our annualmeeting andconventioneachfall.ThisyearitwillbeinSanAntonio(datetobedeterminedsoon).WealwayshaveagreattimeandIbelievemostwhohaveattendedlookforwardtoattendingagainandagain.Anotherthingyoucandoispromoteourorganizationinyourlocalcommunity.Manyofyouliveinareasnearmilitaryinstallationsand inciviliancommunitieswithasignificantnumberofveteranswhomayqualify formembership. Pleasepassthewordandletme(orotherboardmembers)knowhowwemaybeofservicetoyou.Asyouallknow,
HAPPYVALENTINESDAYFROMCHPA
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Kimberly’sFlightABookReviewbyJohnPenny
Kimberly’s Flight byAnnaSimonandAnnHampton is the storyofCPTKimberly Hampton, America’s first female Army Aviator killed in combat.KimberlywasanaccomplishedaviatorandCOofDTroop1/17thCavalry, thearmedreconaviationsquadronofthe82ndAirborneDivisioninIraqwhenshewaskilledinactionoverFallujah,Iraqon2January2004whenherOH‐58Dwashit by a surface to air missile. This book is Hampton’s story of service andsacrifice and a mother’s story of love for her daughter and pride in herachievements.
Kimberlycouldbeanyoneofourdaughters,orbethegirlnextdoor.ShewasbornandraisedinthesmalltownofEasley,SouthCarolina(12mileswestofGreenville,SC). Thebookfollowsher college andArmy career, culminating in the cockpit of anOH‐58DKiowaWarrior in Iraq. Mrs.Hampton describes Kimberly as a perfectionist; whether it was academics, sports, flight school, or flyinghelicoptersinIraq;Kimberlyexcelledandwasrespected.
KimberlyenteredflightschoolatFt.Ruckerin1998,followinginthefootstepsofwomenArmyAviatorslikeCOLSallyMurphywhograduatedfromArmyFlightSchoolin1974.SincethattimetheroleofwomeninArmyAviationhasexpandedandwomenpilots,crewchiefs,andmedicsserveintheUSArmyinunitsallovertheworld and in combat zones in Iraq, and Afghanistan. Though it is still aman’sworld in theUS Army,womenarenow15%of the forceandhaveachievedmanymilestones. Sadly thecasualtiesofwardonotdiscriminatebygenderandall lossesarethelossofAmericantreasure.Weareallhonoredbytheirserviceandsacrifice.
Kimberly’sFlight:TheStoryofCaptainKimberlyHampton,America’sFirstWomanCombatPilotKilledin Battle by Anna Simon and Ann Hampton (240 pages, $21.84, $3.99 Kindle) ISBN 978‐1612001029, isavailablethroughyourlocalbookstore,casematepublishing.com/,Amazon,orotherbooksuppliers.TheroyaltiesforthisbookbenefittheCaptainKimberlyHamptonMemorialFoundationwww.captainkimberlyhampton.org
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our members. Things like the President’s Message, book reviews and notices ofupcoming reunions and gatherings come together pretty easy. What we don’tregularly get are those interesting stories fromourmembers. Nobody tells a betterstory than a combat helicopter crewmember, whether it’s the truth or “enhancedtruth.” Our most entertaining and informative stories come from you, ourmembership.
Takeamoment to lay fingersonkeyboardor justputpen topaperand send inthosestories.Youcanemailthemtohq@chpa‐us.orgorthroughtheUSPostOfficeto:CHPA•POBox42•Divide,CO80814‐0042
[CallForArticles]
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CHPA continues to receive quite an assortment of patches from our members. These patches are displayed at our booth at HAI, Quad A, and VHPA. Several of you have donated patches, but we’re always looking for more. They are very eye catching and help us garner attention. So please dig through your old patches and if you have some you’d like to share, send them to us at: CHPA • PO Box 42 • Divide, CO80814‐0042
GOT PATCHES?
AnotherCHPASuccessJayBrown
Last month CHPA enjoyed anothersuccessful Christmas Boxes for the Troops Project.Asyouallknow,everyyearwesendasmanyboxesaswecantoAviationservicemembersdeployedtoAfghanistanovertheChristmasholidays.Despitealate start we sent forty‐four boxes toservicemembers who would be away from familyandhomeduringChristmas.
Of course none of this would take placewithout sponsors and you all have our deepestgratitude. It would also not happen without thesupportofmanyunsungheroeswhogivetheirtime,theireffortandelbowgrease.CHPAmemberPatGlassonceagainwentaboveandbeyondwithhiseffortstogettheboxespackedandshippedtoarriveincountryon time forChristmas. WithoutSantaPatandhiselves thiswouldnotbeasuccessstory. The“elves”arecadetsfromMcDanielCollegeinWestminster,MD.
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TheRobertN.TredwayAwardJayBrown
TheRobertN.TredwayAwardisgivenbytheCombatHelicopterPilots Association in recognition of an individual or corporation fordemonstratedaccomplishmentsinsupportof:
• theUnitedStatesMilitaryHelicopterCommunity;• United States Military Veterans with an emphasis on helicopter
veterans;• for an individual, significant accomplishments in his/her
Award nominees should have significant accomplishments in at least two of the above areas. The
Awardshallbegiven,iftheawardcommitteedeterminesthereisanappropriaterecipient,inoddnumberedyears during CHPA’s Annual Meeting weekend. The committee is to make an award selection only if anomineemeetsthehighlevelofaccomplishmentthatwouldhonorBobTredway.
TheAwardrecipientwillbeselectedbyacommitteeappointedbythePresidentofCHPAconsistingofeitherthreemembersorfivemembers,atthePresident’sdiscretion.AllcommitteemembersmustbeduescurrentmembersofCHPA.Athreemembercommitteeshallhaveatleastonenon‐boardmemberwhileafivemembercommitteeshallhaveat leasttwonon‐boardmembers. ThePresidentmayappointhim/herselftothe committee. Nomember of the committee shall be eligible to receive the award in the year inwhichhe/she has served on the committee. Nomember of the committeemay nominate an individual for theaward.NomemberoftheBoardofDirectorsofCHPAiseligiblefortheawarduntiltwoyearsafterservingontheboard.
The President of CHPA shall appoint the committee during the annual business meeting in evennumbered years. The committeewill solicit nominees in variousmedia including publication inThe SwashPlate and postings at events at which CHPA attends such as the Quad‐A and HAI annual meetings. Thenominationmust be inwriting and contain theName,Address andother contact information for both thenominee and the individual making the nomination. In addition the nomination shall include a writtennarrativepresentingtheaccomplishmentsthatqualifythenomineefortheaward.Thecommitteeshallmakethe selection before July 1 of the year in which the award is to be presented and the selection will beannouncedintheJulyeditionofTheSwashPlate.
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The2013AnnualConventionJayBrown
The CHPA Annual Convention and Business Meeting is always a greatparty. It isalwaysanopportunitytomeetoldfriendsandmakenewonesandgatherwithfellowcombatveteransoveranadultbeverage.Itisalsoachancetoparticipateinthemanagementofyourorganization. Thereisnoothertimeduring the year that provides such an opportunity to talk face to face withmembersoftheBoardofDirectors,rightuptothePresident,andprovideyourthoughtsandsuggestionsdirectly to thosewho“hold thereins.” Idon’t thinkI’ve ever been in an organization where access to the officers was so freelygained.ThisyearinSanAntoniowillbenodifferentbutthereareacouplemorereasonstomakethisyeartheyearyouattend.ThosereasonsaretheelectionoftheBoardofDirectorsandtheRobertN.Tredwayaward.
Theelectionsaregovernedby theBylaws,whichareavailableonlineatwww.chpa‐us.org. TheonlypositionsnotopentoanypilotoraircrewmembermemberofCHPAareChairmanoftheBoard,PresidentandVicePresidents.TheChairmanoftheBoardistheimmediatepastPresident.ThequalificationsforPresidentandVicePresidentsinclude,“TheindividualmusthaveservedontheBoardofDirectorsforatleastatwoyearterm.” Thatmeans thePresidentandVicePresidentsmusthavebeenamember forat leastoneyearandserved on the Board for at least one two–year term. The positions of Secretary, Treasurer and Directorrequireonlymembershipforatleastoneyear.
ServiceontheBoardofDirectorsrequiresattendanceviatelephoneatthemonthlyBoardmeetinganda willingness to “roll up your sleeves” and get things done. All ideas are welcome for presentation anddiscussionandallPilotandAirCrewmembermembersareencouragedto“throwyourhatintothering.”
Forthoseofyouwhoaren’tsosureyouwanttoserveontheBoardofDirectors,yourparticipationishighlyencouragedintheelectionprocess.JoinusinSanAntonioandensureyourvoiceisheardthroughyouractive participation in the voting. This is the first year that voting will be open to both Pilot and AirCrewmembermemberssoyou’llbetakingpartinanhistoricevent.
This year we may also name the second recipient of the Robert N. Tredway award. I say “may”becausenominationsmustmeet somepretty stringent requirementsand selectionof a recipient isneitherguaranteednorrequired.EveryoneisencouragedtosubmitnominationstotheAwardCommitteebysendingthem to HQ either by email to HQ@chpa‐us.org or by the postal system to CHPA, PO Box 42, Divide, CO80814‐0042. Requirements for theawardareonpage6of thisnewsletterandcanbe foundon theCHPAwebsite.TheAwardCommitteeismadeupofRobertFrost,RandyZahnandMarkHilton.Recipientsofthisaward must have demonstrated significant accomplishments in support of the United States MilitaryHelicopter Community, United States Military Veterans with an emphasis on helicopter veterans, for anindividual,significantaccomplishmentsinhis/herprofessionalarea,theCombatHelicopterPilotsAssociationand the community at‐large. To say that the man for whom this award is named exemplified theserequirementswould be an understatement. COL Tredway, asmanymembers of CHPAwill attest, was anofficerhismenwantedtofollow,alwaysleadingbyexampleevenafterhistenureofmilitaryserviceended.Therequirementsforawardaresetveryhighandjustifiablyso.Itwouldbenosmallhonortobenominatedforthisawardandanevengreaterhonortoreceiveit.
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CaringForTheFallenDanLamothe,MarineCorpsTimes
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On chilly stainless‐steel tables, asmall group of Marines perform themeticulous work that begins the longjourneyhomefordozensofUScasualtiesofwareachyear.
The Personnel Retrieval andProcessingunitisbestknownforconducting“dignified transfers,“ ceremonies in whichthe remainsof fallenMarinesandotherUSforcesare respectfullyplacedonaplane tobegin their voyage home. It’s far from thegroup’sonlyduty,though.
Most casualties arrive by helicopterat CampBastion’s British‐runhospital. ThelandingzoneisnamedafterfamousbattlefieldnurseFlorenceNightingale.TheMarinesplaceblackshroudsoverthewindowsoftheprocessingroomwheretheywork,ensuringprivacyastheysearchtheremainsfromheadtotoe,theysaid.Jewelry,familyphotographsandotherpersonaleffectsarecataloged,andthenplacedinaplasticbagwithazipperthattravelswiththefallenservicemember.
TheMarinesworkcarefully,butquickly.Thetimeofthecasualty’sarrivalisdocumented,andtheunitmakesarrangementstobegintransportationoftheremainsbacktotheUS.Thegoalisnotonlytocareforfallen service members, but also to put them into refrigeration as quickly as possible until an aircraft isavailabletocarrythemhome.
All fallen US service members in Regional Command Southwest, based at neighboring CampLeatherneck, go through the processing center atBastion. They are delivered to Kandahar Airfield, asprawling base to the east that serves as the common
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Everywarhasitsdead,buttheCorps’handlingoffallenMarineshasevolvedinthepastdecade.In2005,itcreatedthePersonnelRetrievalandProcessingCompany,outofWashington,DC.Elementsofabout100ReserveMarineseachwereplaced thereand inMarietta,GA. During theheightof the Iraqwar, theydeployed in groups of up to about 80 to handle casualties. Prior to that, a unit out of Dayton, OH sentreservistsforwardtofillthejob.
SearchesandrecoveriesalsohappeninAfghanistan,butnotnearlyasoften. Moreoperationsthereare dismounted, and casualties declined as mine‐resistant vehicles became commonplace. The PRP unitheadedbyAdamsonhandledabout30casualtiesduringitsdeployment,butperformedonlyonesearchandrecovery,followingahelicoptercrashinHelmandProvince.
Still,PRPMarinescontinuetoprepareforvariousmissionsandtoadaptasneededinthefield.InIraq,forexample,theunitoversawtheremainsofmorethan500insurgentswhowerecollectedatanoldpotatofactoryoutside Fallujahwhen fightingwasheavy there in2004and2005,Kinley said. LikemanyotherUSforcesatthetime,theyneededtoimprovisetoarmortheirvehicles.
“Wehadtoup‐armorourownHumveeswithtie‐strapsandwhateverarmorwecouldfind,”saidSGTCal Swenson, a personnel retrieval and processing specialist now based at Quantico. “We had open‐backHumvees…noballisticwindowsoranything.Itwasgoodtimes.”
More recently, the Corps deployed detachments to Bastion and Camp Dwyer, a large forward‐operating base in Garmser District, said SSGMichaelMaldini,who servedwith the unit at Dwyer in 2011.CommandershavesincerealigneddeployedPRPMarinessotheyallworkoutofBastion,consolidatingforcesandcreatingonecommonfacility.PreparationRequired
workbecause they’re able to take careof fallen fellowMarines, other servicemembers and their families.They also pay attention to each other for signs of stress, and undergo a post‐deployment decompressionsession–focusedonencouragingthemtoopenupabouttheirdeployment–inGermanyonthewaybacktotheUS.
ATroop,1/9Cavalry,1AirCavDivisionApache Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division will host itsannual reunion at the South Lake Tahoe Embassy Suites. Check in will beSunday, August 25, 2013 with a final Memorial Service and departure onThursday,August29,2013.Thisreunionisforallformermembers,familiesandhonoredguests. Specialemphasis isforenlistedpersonnelregardlessofflightstatusorposition.ContactJeffCromaratapachetroopreunion2013@gmail.comor817‐647‐5213formoreinformation.
ArticleV,Qualificationwaschangedtoreflectthenewrequirementandcurrentlyreads,inpart,“OnlyPilotorFlightCrewmembersingoodstanding,whohavebeenPilotorFlightCrewmembersforoneormoreyears,whetherornotconsecutive,mayserveontheBoardofDirectors.” Article IX,Qualifications forbothSecretary and Treasurer currently reads, in part, “shall be a Pilot or Flight Crewmember of CHPA for aminimumofthreeyears.”ThisisclearlynotinagreementwithArticleV.
SincethemembershipapprovedreducingthemembershiprequirementtooneyearandArticle IX isnot in accordwith this approvedamendment I have,withBoard approval, editedArticle IX tobring it intoalignmentwiththeapprovedtext.NowthemembershipqualificationforserviceasSecretaryandTreasurerisoneyearasapprovedbythemembership.