A History of the
281st Assault Helicopter Company
"INTRUDER"
Website
Established 29 March 1999
by
Steve Matthews
"Rat Pack 15" 6/68-6/69
Intruder Webmaster
With my sincere gratitude to all who have contributed!
On the 3rd Anniversary of the creation of this 281st AHC Intruder Website, I thought I would write a history of how this company website came to exist, for those who have recently rejoined their fellow Intruders. Below this history I have included some emails from early 1999 between Intruders that were then in contact online and discussing the 281st AHC. One question that I am most often asked is: "How and why do you take so much of your personal time to do this website?" My answer is always: "It is a labor of love for my fellow Intruders."
On November 11, 1998, the 30th anniversary of being wounded while on a Project Delta extraction, I wanted to see if there was any presence of the 281st AHC Intruders since I had only recently become interested in my Vietnam history. The realization struck me hard that it was 30 years ago (THREE-ZERO ) on Veteran's Day that I earned the AM w/V and PH for actions with the 281st AHC while extracting a "Road Runner" team in heavy contact west of Danang (probably in Laos). Man, that really got me thinking about all that I had forgotten about that tour. My wife told me, if you can't remember your past, you might as well not have lived it. Talk about something smacking you between the eyes!
Out of sheer frustration at not finding anything on the Internet about the 281st AHC ( I found the 155th StageCoach, the 48th BlueStars, the 335th Cowboys, finally the 10th CAB, even the 178th Boxcars, and a lot of units I recall, but NOTHING about the 281st AHC. ), I started searching the Internet in earnest. When I still found nothing on the Internet, I dug out an old copy of the 281st AHC Unit History Report from 1968 that I had been carrying around in my footlocker for 30 years, scanned it into an electronic document (including the drawing of the unit crest), and tried submitting it to the VHFCN webmaster. No response!
So, I kept searching the Net until I found Bob Johnson's 1st Aviation Brigade website, and his extensive unit listings, and his 10th CAB MailCall feature. But again NOTHING on the 281st AHC. Bob Johnson worked for the VA, so he had some latitude in helping vets share information through his job. He agreed to activate a "281st AHC MailCall" feature for me, and put up on the Internet the 1968 Unit History file I had sent him. I also went so far as to compile the list of 281st KIA from the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association website Wall Memorial Panels. Unknowingly at that time, I had created the beginnings of the 281st AHC Intruder Website.
Finally, I made contact with an Intruder (Mike ????) who led me to other Intruders. Before long I was among a small group of Intruders that had been in contact for some years. You can imagine my excitement to find Jim Baker, my successor "Rat Pack 15" and someone I remembered well. Better yet, Jim remembered me and started helping me fill in many gaps in my memory of those Intruder days. That was just the beginning, and since then I have been able to exchange memories with other Intruders who shared the same history. A truly fulfilling experience after so many years.
Back to the history of the 281st AHC "Intruder" Company Website. After a couple of months of planning and work, I established the website 29 March 1999, on the Angelfire free web hosting service. The grand unveiling came on 8 April when I announced it to all the Intruders I had email addresses for. Once my website hit the Internet, I found lots of guys, or rather they found my website and through it found each other. As the years have passed other guys keep finding my website so that the Intruder family has grown to well over 300 confirmed Intruders (including 3 guys who served in the 281st Aviation Company, USAR, during its post-Vietnam days).
I attended my first meeting with the 281st AHC Intruders in Nashville, TN in July of 1999 when the Association was first formed. The 281st AHC Association Reunion and General Membership meeting was held in conjunction with the VHPA reunion. Up until this time I had never attended any reunions with any Vietnam era organizations. I'd have to say, until the Intruders came back together, I had never been a "joiner." But, this is where the "labor of love" part comes in, because every Intruder is well worth the time and effort this website requires to make sure "We Will Not Be Forgotten!"
I joined the newly formed Association as a life
member at the inaugural organization meeting in Nashville. I was asked at that
time to become the Association's Webmaster. (This was kind of a
no-brainer, since my website was the only 281st AHC related website in existence.)
The first Association material on my Intruder Website was the Constitution and
By-Laws adopted in Nashville. After
serving as the Association's Webmaster for three years, on 6 May 2002 my 281st AHC "Intruder" Website was no longer the
"official" website for the 281st AHC Association, Inc. The Association
then proceeded to establish
its own website ostensibly for Association business related materials. There is no
formal relationship between these two websites.
At the time I began the Intruder website, I never would have imagined what it
has grown to today. Through the MANY contributions by MANY Intruders,
the website is now over 500 megabytes large, with about 500 pages, and more than
1,500 of your personal pictures - possibly the largest Vietnam aviation unit website on
the Internet! (Even won awards during its first year.) With so many Intruders'
contributions, during the past 3 years I have spent over a thousand hours of my time
as my contribution to all Intruders, both living and dead. I will
continue to maintain my Intruder Website as long as my fellow Intruders care to
contribute their stories and pictures to this website, or just visit the
website, for as long as I am able.
As I have said many times to many of you, I was the right guy in the right place at the right time with the right skills to build a
website for ALL Intruders. It has given me considerable pleasure to watch
the Association "borrow" material from our Intruder Website for their
Association website, because it just makes it available for everyone to view
again, and obviously validates so much of my work for my fellow Intruders.
I have also told all of you from the beginning that it is
the Intruders' company website, and that is exactly what it is and what it will remain -
a HOME to all Intruders everywhere.
WELCOME HOME INTRUDERS!!!
EARLY E-MAILS
Subject: NEW 281st INTRUDER Homepage
Date: Thu, 08 Apr 1999 12:06:57 -0500
From: Steve Matthews <matthews@>
To:
Wendell Allen, Jim Baker, Joe Bilitzke, FG Boisseau, James Cary, Mike Cook,
Donald Corkran, Roland Deleon, Edward Duke, Brent Gourley, Jack Green III, Roger Green, Rick Haines, Dwayne Hartwick, John Hyatt, Jim Jay, Jim
Welch, Rick Klemm, Trubee Krothe, Larry Latimer, Dan Logan, Joe MacCartney, Fred Mentzer, Jack Mayhew, James Minoque, Bob Mitchell, Jerry Montoya, Bill Mozzo, Al Owen, Don Ruskauff, Jerry Stanfield, Jim Torbert, Ron Turner, John Wehr, Leslie White,
Robert Williams, Roy Ziegler, Barclay Boyd, Bob Moberg, Ken Smith
INTRUDERS:
Thought it was time for the general announcement that there is NOW a 281st Assault Helicopter Company Homepage online at URL:
http://www.angelfire.com/ks/281stAHC/index.html
Let me explain what this "homepage" IS and IS NOT.
There are two reasons that I want to explain the "homepage" so as not to create any misunderstandings. First, and foremost, I (my own
initiative) have taken the liberty of putting some information on about a "281st AHC Association" which doesn't exist
as of yet. So, that information is ONLY draft and hypothetical. The whole group will need to get some consensus after due discussion in
Nashville for anything to be "official." (These are just my own over zealous webmaster efforts to get EVERYTHING done at once, so keep in
mind that this is ALL just a draft, and nothing has been decided by anyone, nor am I pushing any agenda. OK?? Understand??)
Second, I want everyone to review all of the homepage and give me feedback
on what you think about this website representing OUR unit. As I've stated to some of you already, this is NOT a 281st AHC Homepage
according to just Steve Matthews! I want this to be the UNIT'S "HOME" website. So, I want to know what you all
think about the contents and the format.
Remember that on various types of browsers (Netscape, AOL, Explorer, etc.), that it will look differently. I have tried to keep it
simple, but appealing so that NOBODY will have trouble viewing the site (none of this "frames" and Java crap). Not everybody has that
capability, and it only makes it harder to view and more frustrating for the novice Internet user.
OK, that's the skinny. Keep in mind that everything is open for comment and general consensus. What information I
have included so far is through the assistance of several of you, including Jack Green, Les White, Bob Mitchell, Jim Baker, Bob Williams,
Fred Menzer, Trubee Krothe, Jerry Montoya, and some others which I apologize if I've left you out. THANKS to ALL!!! Everyone, let me know
what you think.
Steve Matthews
"Rat Pack 15" 6/68-6/69
Webmaster
Subject: 281st Homepage UPDATE
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 09:01:47 -0500
From: Steve Matthews <matthews@>
To:
FLIGHT:
Just to let you know that there have been several additions, revisions, and updates to your
Intruder HOMEpage this week.
Most important; thanks to Roger Green, four names of Wolf Pack crew members who gave their lives in service were added to the "Comrades
Lost in Combat" page. Thank you is inadequate to express how much this means to us all. Everyone, please, review the list and help us all
remember EVERYONE!!! This is one of the MAIN reasons we have a HOMEpage - to remember!!!
The Visitor Book is operational, and there are a few messages already. My plan is to make sure the "update" information on the
HOMEpage is current so that when you visit you can readily see which pages/links have been updated or changed.
If you have any information for the Message Board, please send it along so that I can share it with everyone. This is where
announcements of general interest will be posted periodically.
You will see links to Platoon homepages, so if there are any volunteers to develop those pages, as Bob Mitchell has done for the
Bandits, please let me know. Part of the problem is that the 281st AHC website is about 60% full already, so we need more sites to hold all the
stories, pictures and information that is sure to come.
There is now a 10th CAB page that gives the chain of command and some basic info about who, when, where. Eventually, I plan to link
"other" unit websites to this page, like Stagecoach, Blue Stars, etc.
The history page has had a revision to the 1969 Unit History Report that includes the cover page and heraldry page from the original
report that was omitted from the webpage. ( NOT to get any debate started but it also contains the same unit crest as the 1968 report,
so.......... ) We seriously NEED unit history reports from the other years, so please dig through those old duffle bags and footlockers and
find them!!!
More history info will get posted later, as I have received the OPORD 6-68 for Delta Operation Warbonnet, 13 Oct-14 Nov, 1968. I hope
to have all 41 pages scanned and on the website before too long. FASCINATING INFO. If anyone has similar information about Intruder
operations, or Delta Operations, please cough it up!!!! Also, I acquired Commanders Notes from 1969 containing monthly operational
status reports for about 10 months. I obtained these from the National Archives, and will have the hard copies in Nashville.
SO, that's the straight poop! Please feel free to offer feedback, and provide input to YOUR 281st AHC HOMEpage. Thanks for all
the support and information. Keep it coming!!
Steve Matthews
"Rat Pack 15" 6/68-6/69
Intruder Webmaster
Subject: Weekly 281st HOMEpage Update
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 09:57:13 -0500
From: Steve Matthews <matthews@>
To:
Flight:
Just a quick update for the week on our Intruder HOMEpage.
As of today, everything on the HOMEpage seems to be progressing well. I make small
adjustments and additions to the website as I get the chance, or inspiration, or input. And, I'll try to continue the weekly HOMEpage
Updates email to everyone, so you'll be advised of changes to the site. Visit the Message Board page of general announcements, especially as we
get closer to [Nashville Reunion] to see if there's any coordinating info. Bob Mitchell
reports getting dinner seats together for the banquet, and we'll try to find an LZ for linking up during the weekend.
I'm looking at a new website host server, so that we can have our own "281st AHC.org" domain name, so that internet search engines can
find the Intruders more easily. Stay tuned for an update.
Something for your consideration. I'd really like to see more input from everyone concerning their
STORY with the 281st. (Specifically, see the Personal Histories and Unit Stories link. There
are only Bob Mitchell and myself right now.) I know you all have fascinating and informative stories to tell, because you've been sharing
little snippets with us for weeks, but putting it all down in one continuous story would really be a boost to unit history and the
collective memory. How many of you have EVER told your family about the things you accomplished and experienced in Vietnam?? Have you told them
about the lives of SF teams, or downed crew, or ground troops you saved?? Well, now's your
chance before you lose that opportunity to share it with them, and with your fellow Intruders. I think the greatest thing that may come from
sharing these stories, is the opportunity for someone (like Jim Baker did for me) to say, HEY!!! I was your co-pilot/crew chief/gunner on
that mission and here's what I remember!! We can help each other fill in the holes in our memories. I personally
think we owe it to ourselves, each other and those who didn't go home (like Roger Green telling me about the 4 Wolf Pack crewmen who had been
omitted from the honor roll). Please, think about it.
Also, I received a response yesterday from the Army's Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks concerning 281st unit
history reports. They say they have reports from '67 to '70, and 1 page (?) of a 1971 report. For the '67 and '70 reports it will cost
me $22 for copies. SO, if anyone has original copies (good Army oxymoron) of these
two annual history reports, it would save me some $$, AND we still NEED the '65, '66 and '71 reports. So, everyone keep digging through those
footlockers and duffle bags!! Thanks!!
Also, I was able to get the 10th CAB page linked to at least something about all the "other" units, so if you're looking to jog your
memory, visit our sister units' sites when you get the chance.
AND, I did scan the After Action Report for OPORD 6-68 for Delta Operation
Warbonnet, 13 Oct - 14 Nov 1968. Unfortunately, it is over 3megs LARGE, so it may be a little while longer before I can get it on a
website. Again, if anyone has similar information about Intruder operations, RECONDO or Delta Operations, please cough it up!!!! Visit
Bob Mitchell's Bandit website for more info on Delta Ops!!
The HOMEpage has the dates for the latest updates of each link, so visit there often to see the changes. Don't forget to VIEW the
Visitor Book and see if anyone is looking for you or someone you know. And PLEASE continue to provide input on corrections, clarifications and
info on what's there and what isn't. We all want this Intruder site to be complete and accurate. Which by the way reminds me, we're still
looking for volunteers to create Rat Pack and Wolf Pack websites. Any volunteers??
Steve Matthews
"Rat Pack 15" 6/68-6/69
Intruder Webmaster
Subject: 281st AHC HOMEpage Weekly Update
Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 09:32:48 -0500
From: Steve Matthews <matthews@>
To:
Flight:
Since I'll be out of the net tomorrow, I'm sending the weekly 281st AHC HOMEpage update today. (In case anyone has ever wondered why
I write HOMEpage, it's because I'd like for everyone to feel that the website IS their HOME for
all Intruders.)
First order of business is to announce the "WINNERS" of the "Guess the Puzzle." In case you've forgotten (there's a lot of CRS
going around), the acronym puzzle was CR-CL-C2H. The "official" answer is "Clear Left-Clear Right-Clear to Hover." Now tell me that wasn't
something we heard or said every day in the 281st!!!
And the prize goes to - Bob Mitchell was the FIRST to answer (in about 15 minutes of
posting) and Jack Green was second (within about an hour of posting) - and now we know how else has too much time on their hands!!!
Honorable mention - John Korsbeck for "Clear Left-Clear Right-Clear to Haul Ass!!"
and Ken Boling for "Clear Left-Clear Right-Crew too High!!" and Andrew Wilson for "Clear Left-Clear Right-Clear to Hell!!"
So the rest of you will just have to look on in envy. The PRIZE is located at the bottom of this message as an attachment. (If you don't
get attachments with your email - change it.) Congratulations to all those who played, 'cause EVERYONE'S A WIENER!!!
Now for more serious business. Not much new with the website this week, but there was an exciting break through in the "WHO had
primary aviation support of Project DELTA?" question. While browsing around the web looking at some of my bookmarked sites, I about dropped
my uppers when I looked at this 5th Special Forces Group organizational chart - http://www2.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/vietnam/90-23/chart7.GIF
as part of the publication "Vietnam Studies: U.S. Army Special Forces, 1961-1971 ( Center for Military History Publication 90-23, Department of
the Army, Washington, D.C. 1989 [First Printed, 1973]) at URL: http://www2.army.mil/cmh-pg/BOOKS/Vietnam/90-23/90-23C.htm
The "281st Aviation" is shown as a SUBORDINATE UNIT of the 5th SF Grp!!!!!!! Of course, that is highly unlikely, but it does
establish, without qualification, that the 281st AHC was considered primary aviation support for 5th SFG, Project DELTA, and the RECONDO
School. SO THERE to the rest of those naysayers out there!!!! Get your own proof!!
Well, Flight, that's all the news for now. Again, to beat the dead horse,
I would REALLY like to have your vitals correct, so if you haven't done so - VISIT THE
INTRUDER DIRECTORY AND MAKE SURE YOUR VITALS ARE CORRECT AND COMPLETE!!! Do It Now!!
http://www.angelfire.com/ks/281stAHC/index.html
B&J [ short for Bartels & James slogan "Thank you for your support" ]
Steve Matthews
"Rat Pack 15" 6/68-6/69
Intruder Webmaster
Subject: 281st HOMEpage Update
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 15:00:29 -0500
From: Steve Matthews <matthews@>
To:
FLIGHT:
Hopefully, everyone had a fantastic 4th of July celebration. Since Nashville the email chatter has diminished noticeably. But, I
know your new 281st Assault Helicopter Company Association leaders are working hard on getting the fledgling Intruder off the ground and in
full flight.
Since the establishment of the Association, I have been busy getting their details on the
Intruder HOMEpage. The elected Association officers are listed, with links to their email for
anyone who has comments to them. I have also converted the Constitution and By-Laws to
webpages. [ Just in case CRS has hit you recently, or your computer crashed like mine did, the HOMEpage URL is:
http://www.angelfire.com/ks/281stAHC/index.html ] Visit the HOMEpage, scroll down to the "Intruder Links" table, check the upper right-hand
box and click on "The 281st AHC Association" link. That will take you to the Association
information that I have uploaded to the Intruder website. At the bottom of the
Constitution webpage is a link to the By-Laws. (You might want to print your own hard copy since it's
long for computer screen viewing.) These documents contain all the information you'll want about Association purpose, membership
eligibility, committees, meetings, duties of the leader positions, etc., etc., etc. (Check it out!)
Also, the Association Membership Application form is online now. From the HOMEpage ( "Intruder Links" table, upper right-hand,
second box), click on the "281st AHC Assn. Membership" link to go to the Application form page. You'll need to print this form, fill it out and
send it snail mail to the Association HQ in Salem, OR. As of this UPDATE, the Association bank account has not yet been established, so
make your check/money order payable to Fred Mentzer, President, or Joe Bilitzke, Treasurer. IMPORTANT NOTE: Most people at Nashville were so
eager to join they gave Fred their check on the spot for their first dues. THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO PRINT OUT AND SUBMIT THEIR MEMBERSHIP
APPLICATION FORM FOR THE RECORD!!! Just make a note that you already gave your check to whomever. If you have any questions about joining,
or membership, or dues, feel free to contact Fred or Joe. (If not by email, their address and phone are in the member directory.)
Lastly, I have included a "counter" on the HOMEpage to keep track of the number of visitors to our website. This is just a gauge of
how it's doing, and whether we're getting many visitors. If you haven't visited the HOMEpage recently, I've made a few changes.
As always, if you have any comments about the website, let me know. Just today I got a query from an Intruder who said: "Hey Steve,
I'm getting an illegal operation and shut down when I click on some of the photo links." Has anyone else had that problem? or any problem with
the website links? It sounded to me like more than a website link problem, but I'll check it out.
That's all for now. Contact me with your comments or questions. And, as
the new Association Historian, I'm looking for a few good men to help me collect the history and tell the whole story from beginning to
end. Bob Mitchell has already volunteered to be the Special Ops SME (that's subject matter expert), and I'm looking for others to be SMEs in
whatever area you choose - FOB An Hoa, maintenance, armaments, A Shau Valley, R&R, etc., WHATEVER! - as well as SMEs for each time period -
1965, 1966, etc. Our goal is to have THE MOST complete unit history on the web.
Cleared to Crank!
Steve Matthews
"Rat Pack 15" 6/68-6/69
Intruder Webmaster
Subject: 281st AHC Assn HOMEpage Update
Date: Fri, 13 Aug 1999 11:48:28 -0500
From: Steve Matthews <matthews@>
To:
FLIGHT:
I stated last week that I had registered the Intruder HOMEpage with 11 search engines so it should be easier for others to find. By way of
clarification; I use MetaCrawler Search Engine/ PowerSearch at URL:
http://www.go2net.com/index_power.html because it searches 10 other engines at the same time ( AltaVista, Excite, Infoseek, Lycos,
WebCrawler, Yahoo, Thunderstone, LookSmart, About.com, and GoTo.com ). While it sometimes comes up a hit thru Alta Vista, or Excite, it doesn't
hit consistently every time. Sometimes I can re-search the same query 3-4 times in a row and come up with different hit results. So, GO
FIGURE!?!?!?
If you've tried to 'search' the Internet for the "281st AHC" homepage, and haven't had any luck, please let me know what search
engines you've tried. I'm doing what I can by way of "freebie" services to get out there so the
Intruder HOMEpage can be found, and I'll take all the help I can get. And, maybe it's working because this past week there
were 2 new sign-ins on the Visitor Book - SO GO LOOK!! I also had a direct contact, so we're really growing guys. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
SPREADING THE WORD!!!
By way of real Association business, the Membership Application form has been revised, so please, if you haven't submitted your
application yet, go to the Assn. Membership link, print off the new form and send your money to the Secretary/Treasurer made out to the "281st
AHC Assn." I've been asked to tell you that by the time the snail mail application arrives in San Francisco, the Assn. bank account will be
operational. ALSO, let me repeat - for those who wrote checks for membership dues in Nashville - PLEASE, fill out the application form and
send it to Joe and indicate that you paid already - THE BEAN COUNTERS THANK YOU!!
Last week I mentioned that "I'm pleased to announce that since I put the hit counter on the home page, there have been over 200
visitors." WELL, something has happened in the past week and the counter now reads 350!!! In the past week almost 150 people have
visited the HOMEpage. WHAT'S THE DEAL???? AIN'T IT GREAT!!!!! WERE YOU ONE OF THEM????
During this week we got TWO brave souls (not soles!) to volunteer to create a Rat Pack and a Wolf Pack platoon website. HOW
ABOUT THAT!!!!! THANKS A MILLION!!! (Names will be withheld to protect the guilty.)
Which brings me to this weeks 'ATTA BOY!! AWARD to Joe Bilitzke for recognizing that the HOMEpage hits counter should count SOULS on
board not SOLES on board!! THANKS JOE!! (It's fixed, so if you missed it, you better go look when I tell you to from now on.) As much as I'd
LIKE to say I was just testing you all to see if you were really reading the
HOMEpage, I'd be lying. And, I'm sure you all remember that 10 ATTA BOYs can be wiped out by 1 AW SHIT, so I'm keeping track.
That's it for another week with the HOMEpage. Stay in touch with each other.
Clear To Crank!!
Steve Matthews
"Rat Pack 15" 6/68-6/69
Intruder Webmaster
IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN MORE INTRUDER WEBSITE HISTORY, JUST LET ME KNOW.
Steve Matthews
Still your Intruder Webmaster
