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Almost everyone in the 25th Infantry Division has at one time or another climbed aboard a helicopter with the familiar “Little Bear” painted on the side. It may have been on a combat assault or just a ride to Saigon, but everyone remembers the “Little bear”. Their job is to haul people, ammunition, gasoline, chow for the troops, and anything else that will fit inside of the reliable UH-1D Helicopter.

But not many people have heard of the “Diamondhead's ” since few people get the chance to ride with them. Their mission is to kill the enemy; they are the gunships of the 25th Aviation Battalion. One can often recognize them by the silhouette of Diamondhead, the venerable Hawaiian landmark, painted on the door of the gunships as they depart Cu Chi, escorting the “Little Bear” choppers.

To the casual observer it may have appeared that the Aviation Battalion has always been here at Cu chi providing support since the Division's arrival here over a year ago. But this is not the case. Late in 1965 when the “Tropic Lightning” division was alerted for movement to Vietnam, the Aviation Battalion was a mere shell of the once proud unit it had been. Growing demands for pilots and equipment to support the increase of combat airmobile operations in Vietnam drained the battalion of most of the experienced pilots and men as well as aircraft. However, the battalion was not long in getting back on its feet.

Members of the 176th, 281st, and 282nd Aviation Companies, then in various stages of organization and training at Fort Benning, Ga., were called upon to revitalize the 25th Aviation Battalion. These men, who had only recently arrived at Fort Benning from other assignments, packed their bags, and left to join the division in Hawaii just two weeks before departing for Cu Chi.

But the battalion was still minus one company, the airmobile company necessary to lift the troops into combat. While the aviation unit embarked on the USS Gordon for Vietnam, word was received that the 175th Aviation company just completed airmobile operations training at Fort Benning and would be redesignated as Company A of the 25th Aviation Battalion when it arrived in RVN. The Division was indeed fortunate for the 175th's personnel had a wealth of aviation experience, and they were soon to become as experienced in combat as those long established aviation units such as the “Thunderbirds” (118th Aviation company), “Rattlers” (71st Aviation Company), and the “Top Tigers” (68th Aviation Company) who supported the division during the difficult early months at Cu Chi.

And so, the new 25th Aviation Battalion was born. After a few weeks of in-country training with units working with the division and ARVN forces south of Saigon, the flying men of the battalion returned to cu Chi and conducted their first combat assault as a unit on May 2, 1966. Since that time the names of Little Bears and Diamondheads have become synonymous with airmobile assaults, resupply, and almost any aviation activity in support of the division.

Perhaps those who have caught a hop in a chopper at one time or another have noted that a crew of four is always on board the ship. These are the men of the unit who day after day see that the aviation mission is accomplished.

One pilot can fly the Huey aircraft, but in Vietnam two pilots are required as a safety precaution in the event one pilot becomes disabled. One pilot by virtue of his experience is designated the aircraft commander. He is responsible for the smooth functioning of the aircraft and the crew accomplishes the mission, be it a combat assault, or an administrative flight. He is the team leader.

The second member of the team is the pilot. He is fully qualified to operate the aircraft and often helps the team leader at the controls, as well as assisting by operating the ship's radios and insuring that all passengers are safe within the chopper.

Often the unsung heroes of the team are the aircraft crew chief and gunner. Both normally rise long before daylight to prepare the aircraft and its armament for the day's mission. Prior to the first flight of the day the chopper is given a thorough inspection by the crew chief as he makes the final decision as to the ships readiness for flight. While in flight the chief normally rides on the left side of the chopper and mans the machine gun in the door there.

The gunner has become a legend in helicopter operations in Vietnam. The 25th Aviation Battalion helped the “shotgunner” program immeasurably in the early stages of the Vietnam build-up by conducting training and providing replacements to the early helicopter units here. Today the program, as such, is no longer in existence. Gunners are recruited among the combat seasoned veterans of the division and are trained on the chopper machine guns on a continuing basis.

UH-1D Helicopters from the 25th Aviation Battalion “Little Bears” fly in formation enroute to another mission in support of the “Tropic Lightning” Division.

The gunner is an invaluable member of the team. Not only does he help the crew chief but he performs the care, cleaning, and installation of the door guns. When the aircraft is in flight he usually rides on the right side. He also helps in the overall safety effort by seeing that the passengers are properly strapped in their seats and keeping a sharp lookout for other aircraft.

Both the gunner and crew chief are always alert for enemy ground fire. If the helicopter is shot at and the source of the fire can be identified, they return the fire with the machine guns. But they are extremely cautious not to fire at civilians or friendly ground forces. On combat assaults into hostile areas, the gunner and crew chief shower the area with rounds to keep the VC down until the infantrymen are safely landed.

A team effort is the best way to describe every helicopter flight. Each crewmember has his job to do and his individual effort plays a part in a successful and efficient mission.

Vietnam pilots will tell you there is no such thing as a routine flight. There is always the possibility the aircraft will get shot at anytime it leaves Cu Chi. Also, the possibility exists that the aircraft may be diverted to help someone in trouble. Although these situations are not the rule, they do occur frequently.

Only the type of missions flown by the aviatiors remains the same day after day. They rarely change except when an enterprising ground commander or an imaginative pilot thinks of a new use for the Huey.

One of the latest tactical innovations, perhaps not entirely new, but used extensively by the “Wolfhound” battalions is the “jump team” or “snatch team” concept. After the landing of combat troops in a zone, one to four aircraft return to the staging area to pick up more infantrymen. Meanwhile the ships remaining at the scene circle the vicinity, ready to pounce on the unsuspecting fleeing Viet Cong. This technique, on occasion, has been used with amazing results. For the aircrews, this crafty employment of the helicopter lends a bit of adventure to what would otherwise be an ordinary combat assault.

“Little Bear” choppers enter a heated battle area to drop off needed supplies to an infantry battalion. The ships make a quick delivery and then return to pick up more supplies.

Normal missions other than combat assaults are the follow-up resupply sorties of ammunition, chow, water, and other necessities. If the night is to be spent in Charlie's country, lots of barbed wire is airlifted to the area. In addition, there is the airborne command post for the commander of the field troops. This aircraft is commonly known as the C and C ship.

The Aviation battalion helicopters fly several missions daily that are affectionately termed “ash and trash” flights. Actually they are administrative and liaison missions to help keep the division running smoothly.

Quite often the crews of the 25th Aviation Battalion are called upon to perform a mission that can be described as different, demanding or just downright dangerous. The most common mission of this type, if it can be called common is a night ammunition resupply or medical evacuation flight by a single helicopter into an unlighted, unmarked landing zone. Frequently the force on the ground in the LZ area is embattled with VC. Enemy fire adds to the danger. The “Little Bears” perform these missions without hesitation and on short notice. “Diamondhead's” provide gunship escort when the possibility of hostile fire exists.

To date missions of this type have been accomplished successfully without incident, except for a minor accident involving a poorly placed tree in the landing zone.

The 25th Division can point with pride to possessing one of the few aviation units in Vietnam that conducts night airmobile operations. The 25th Aviation Battalion has accomplished frequent successful night assaults and is prepared to go any place at any time where a night airmobile operation is needed. Although the entire operation is difficult the battalion has developed concepts that have reduced the degree of difficulty to a minimum.

A close relationship has developed between the aviation unit and units it supports. Perhaps the best example of this close bond is an experience by a “Little bear” pilot, which occurred last spring. On that day the pilot was leading a flight of four choppers on a resupply mission to a unit near the Boi Loi Woods. During the afternoon the ground troops ran into a VC force and were running

Infantrymen load equipment and themselves aboard a “Little Bear” chopper as they embark on another mission. Everything from mortar tubes to hot chow is airlifted for the troops.

dangerously low on ammunition. Typical of a Vietnam afternoon, the weather had turned bad. But the “Little Bears” took off, attempting to get to the location by going “low level”. North of Trang Bang the fog was even heavier and the flight was forced to stop. The flight leader reluctantly made a radio call to the beleaguered troops explaining that the flight was forced to return to Cu Chi because of bad weather. From the ground commander came a reassuring reply, “Thanks Little Bears”. We know that if you can't make it, no one can.”

The day, the action, and the situation have long been forgotten; but the encouragement of the ground commander is, and will continue to be, a source of inspiration to the “Little Bears” and to the entire 25th Aviation Battalion alike to uphold the motto, “We Fly For The Troops.”