| This site has been established to provide information and the ability to communicate between Aviators & Enlisted Crewmembers that served with the 498th in Vietnam.
The purpose of this site!
Why a REUNION, Why we are here!
There are those among us who are extremely proud of our service with the 498th in Vietnam for a number of reasons: perhaps the first assignment out of flight school; the opportunity to have served proudly in a live combat zone; the opportunity to command, at some level where you know your decisions were important; the culmination of years of training in other parts of the world to then perform our primary mission--to evacuate the wounded from the battlefield.
To us, everyone who pulled pitch in 'Nam' is a hero to someone. Everyone who was picked up from the jungle, mountaintop, or sea will remember the crew who plucked him from harm's way. No, he will not know the name of the aviator or crew, but he will always remember that his life was saved or prolonged by being evacuated to a treatment facility. Many such feats have gone unrewarded, unrecognized, without even a 'thank you'. But that is what we were there for--to do our jobs in the best way possible.
In the event we should meet again, we will not engage in a popularity contest to 'vote' on who was the bravest of the brave or the most outstanding hero among us. Nor will it be a boring session of hearing, once again, how it was on a certain day or incident. As a matter of fact, no formal program is planned.
Yes we are proud of the 498th, proud of our contributions and proud of all those aviators and crew members who participated at different times during the engagement in Vietnam. We are especially proud of those who gave their all while serving with the 498th in Nam.
We ask all to remain in contact, reach out to other 498 Vietnam Veterans and keep the Web-controller updated!
Those individuals wishing to make suggestions for reunions, send an e-mail to one of the following:
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Joe Madrano
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Commander July 65 – July 66
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Al Flory
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Pilot – A/C July 65 – July 66
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Don Retzlaf
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Pilot – A/C July 65 – July 66
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Dick Scott
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Commander July 68 – July 69
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Ralph (Mac) McBride
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Pilot – A/C July 65 – July 66
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