James Long

About James Long...

I was drafted into the Army on 7 April 1970 at the induction station at Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL and flown from Maxwell AFB to FT. Bragg, NC for basic combat training and after eight weeks bused to FT, Eustis, Va for Advanced Individual Training as a Medium Helicopter Aircraft Mechanic on the CH-47 helicopter, after sixteen weeks I went home to Newton, Al on leave for two weeks then reported to Ft, Dix New Jersey for processing to South Vietnam, and flew from Philadelphia, Pa to Travis AFB, Ca, then a stop in Anchorage AK and arrived on 6 Nov 1970 at Bien Hoa Air Base, and assigned to C Company 228th Aviation Battalion (Assault Support Helicopter), First Cavalry Division, along side 11th Aviation group, in Phuoc Vjnh and after six months our unit moved to Pleiku and we were redesignated as the 68th Aviation Company (AS), First Aviation Brigade, Left Vietnam on 6 Nov 1971 and reported for duty at Ft. Benning, Ga in Dec 1970 and left Ft. Benning for duty at Ft. Rucker, Al August 1972 and assigned as a CH-47 Helicopter Flight crewmember (Flight Engineer). Further assignments included (1974) 271st Aviation Company (ASH), (1975) 196th Aviation Co. (AS) 18th Abn Corp, Ft. Bragg, NC, (1980) 271st Aviation Company (ASH, (1982) 13TH Co, School Bde, USAAVNC, Ft. Rucker, Al (1990) D Co 1st Bn 2nd Avn Bde (Attack Helicopter) duty as First Sergeant (1SG). (1992) A Co 1st Bn 1st Avn Bde, Duty as Logistics NCOIC at the Directorate of Logistics, USAANNC and retired 30 April 1994. {Omitted several Schools and temporary duty assignments)