From it's inception in the Korean War in 1952, flying solitary missions in primative helicopters, these pioneer aviators performed, unaided, all ambulance duties---Pilot, Co-Pilot, Medic, and Crew Chief. Solopilots routinely flew hazardous missions in underpowered helicopters lacking navigational aids and limited to external litter carrying capabilities.
From the lessons learned on the frozen battlefields of Korea, the Solopilots' skill and dedicatiion brought theory into practice and verified the tactical importance of the helicopter as the vital link in battlefield emergency MEDICAL care. The same link, over the next fifty years, would save thousands of American lives in places like Lebannon, Vietnam, Bosnia, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, each owing it's success to a cadre of brave and resourceful Army Aviators---the SOLOPILOTS !
Director: Administrator: Treasurer:
H.P. Capozzi A. Robb V. Mielke
(210)497-5604 (619)435-6576 (210)654-6394
hpcapozzi@sbcglobal.net arislander@yahoo.com virgil.mielke@sbcglobal.net
EXECUTIVE BOARD;
G. Beltran gibbeltran@msn.com
W.A. Campbell. wcampbell6@satx.rr.com
H. A. Huntsman mhuntman@satx.rr.com
R.H. McBride omcbride@satx.rr.com
V. Mielke virgil.mielke@sbcglobal.net
R.E. Smith. realks@prodigy.net
______________________________________________________________________________________
P.S. Please send the name and address of any widow whose husband you think qualified for membership. If both are deceased, the eldest surviving child qualifies for the medallion and the certificate. The cost of the medallion and certificate is waived for recipients qualifying under this last paragraph.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Toast to deceased Solopilots:
Invitation to join the SOLOPILOT SOCIETY
You qualify if you:
- Were assigned to a AMEDD Helicopter Ambulance Unit,
- Served as a “Pilot/Medic” who flew alone while transporting seriously ill, injured or wounded patients in a Helicopter Ambulance with Red Cross markings and configured with external litter racks/pods,
- Agree to wear the “SOLOPILOT” medallion with ribbon to appropriate social functions and occasions,
- Pay a one-time fee for the cost of the medallion with ribbon, mailing expense, history and membership roster/register.
- Please provide the following information:
The unit to which you were assigned during the qualification period, ___________________________
The year(s) you actually evacuated patients using helicopters configured with external litters. ___________________________
Total cost: $30
Make checks payable to: SOLOPILOT Society
Mail check and application to: Virgil Mielke
4223 Modena
San Antonio, TX 78218
Please provide your email address if you have one: _________________________________
These are general guidelines about what might be said, but the protocol for the time should be followed:
REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU MAY BE:
THREE (3) DAYS AFTER YOU BECOME AWARE OF THE LOSS OF "ONE OF US", YOU WILL SET ASIDE A TIME (ALWAYS 1700 LOCAL) TO OFFER YOUR FINAL FAREWELL TOAST, WITH THE BEVERAGE OF YOUR CHOICE, TO THE SOLOPILOT WHO HAS FLOWN HIS LAST FLIGHT. THIS MAY BE DONE IN PRIVATE, OR IF THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, SILENTLY.
1. HERE IS A FINAL TOAST IN RECOGNITION OF THE HONORABLE SERVICE TO YOUR COUNTRY. WE WILL MISS YOU.
2. TO THOSE REMAINING...GOOD HEALTH.
SOLOPILOTS DATABASE
Daniel J. Acosta 231 Samantha Dr. Schertz TX 78154
Gilbert Beltran P.O. Box 44 Carlsbad CA 92018
gibbeltran@msn.com
Kent Bennetts 1923 Seneca Leavenworth KS 66048
soulservant@kc.rr.com
James Bizer 1204 Catskill Circle Huntsville AL 35802
jk2bitz@comcast.net
Carl J. Bobay 3844 Likini Honolulu HI 96818
Ray Bosworth P.O. Box 39072 San Antonio TX 78218
rpbosworth@yahoo.com
William D. Brooks 1131 Red Cliff Circle Enterprise AL 36330
thebrooksgroup@entercomp.com
C. A. Burris 5359 Ravensworth Rd. Springfield VA 22151
carshal@aol.com
Donald C. Bush 2387 North Hwy 99 Emporia KS 66801
William A. Bush 1450 Lookout Dr. Wichita KS 67207
dustoffwab@aol.com
William A. Campbell 3030 Single Peak San Antonio TX 78261
williamcampbell3@cox.net
Raymond R. Carlson 1600 Red Crow Rd. Victor MT 59875
Henry P. Capozzi 19527 Crystal Oak San Antonio TX 78258-3001
hpcapozzi@sbcglobal.net
Robert A. Carr P.O. Box 385 Crumpton Md, 21628
bobcarr1951@aol.com
Vince Cedola 2739 W. Sunset Dr. New River AZ 85087
vince506@msn.com
Thomas Christie 5 Welsh Ct. Petaluma CA 94954
tjchristie@aol.com
Bill N. Colbert 302 Wellington Ct Madison TN 37115
Richard S. Demory 3308 Velle Lane Carlsbad CA 92008
ddemory@juno.com
Willard W. Dillonaire 105 Lakewood Dr. Enterprise AL 36330
deyonair@roadrunner.com
Willie M. Dixson 3620 Du Barry Dr. San Antonio TX 78219
Ernie French 45860 North Ave. Macomb MI 48042
golfereandb@comcast.net
Curtis O. Greer 1724 Carl St. Ft. Worth TX 76103-1912
Robert M. Hall 200 Transylvania Ave Raleigh, NC 27609-6318
(Honorary Member-former Surgeon-support Air-Amb)
John W. Hammett 5 Clermont Ct. San Antonio TX 78218-1741
bhammett@texas.net
Edward A. Haswell 11 Briglington Ct. San Antonio TX 78218
Bob Heinz 17542 W. Winslow Dr. Grays Lake IL 60030
OPA57@aol.com
Densmore Henschel 9306 Wire Ave. Silver Spring MD 20901
Shirlden2@msn.com
Warren (Punchy) Hoen 1404 Barrington Circle St Augustine FL 32092
wkewhoen@aol.com
Byron P. Howlett 10 Chester Downs San Antonio TX 78257-1254
bybkhow@satx.rr.com
Donald R. Hull 427 Tomahawk Trail Anniston AL 36206
fthull@aol.com
Howard A. Huntsman The Legends 1813 San Antonio TX 78232-1011
mhuntsman@satx.rr.com 130 Talavera Pkwy.
Raymond A. Jackson 4525 58th Ave. Vero Beach FL 32967
Thomas C. Jackson 731 Lari Dawn San Antonio TX 78258
tjackson15@satx.rr.com
William R. Knowles 3479 Don Lorenzo Dr. Carlsbad CA 92010
marmibill@sbcglobal.net
Owen A. Koch 423 Warren Circle Clarksville TN 37040
okoch@bellsouth.net
Bert G. Leach. 6710 Vernon Ave. SO #318 Edina MN 55436
Robert MacLennan 917 Barnegat Lane Annapolis MD 21401
Huey Lang 4006 North Hills St. Meridian MS 39305-2405
Joseph P. Madrano 5842 Winterhaven San Antonio TX 78239
jmadrano@satx.rr.com
Joe Martin 104 Nina St. Enterprise AL 36330
ruokjoe@hotmail.com
Ralph McBride 7500 Callaghan Rd, #207 San Antonio TX 78229
omcbride@satx.rr.com
Bob McCreary 2601 Caladium Atlanta GA 30345-1325
bobmccreary@comcast.net
rlmacl@verizon.net
Robert D. McWilliam 6007 Winter Haven Dr. San Antonio TX 78239
mcwscope@satx.rr.com
Virgil Mielke 4223 Modena San Antonio TX 78218
Virgil.mielke@sbcglobal.net
Freddie Mills 656 Chesterfield Lawrenceville GA 30224
rmills3800@aol.com
Louis L. Mizell 3431 Yorkshire Dr. SE Olympia WA 98513-4265
Don Murphy 3238 Summer Chase Circle Augusta GA 30909-4151
dustoffapf@themurphyfamily.us
Donald Retzlaff 12211 Wallace Lane Upper Marlboro MD 20772-7561
rmeflyr@verizon.net
Larry Rusiewicz 6448 Gemstone Way Colorado Springs CO 80918
lrusiewicz@comcast.net
William R. Schmidt 1795 Bishop Chehalis WA 98532
Richard H. Scott 437 Mount Joy New Braunfels TX 78130
dcscott88@hotmail.com
Raymond E. Smith 7630 Lake Adlon Dr.
San Diego CA 92119
realks@prodigy.net
Robert A. Stephens 263 Squirrel Dr. Ozark AL 36360-1591
James Walker 10376 W. Burnett Peoria AZ 85382
Charles L. Webb 301 Holly Hill Road Enterprise AL 36330-1220
William M. Willcox 9827 Gemini Dr. San Antonio TX 78217
wawillcox@earthlink.net
A. Robb (Administrator) 427 Orange Ave. H Coronado CA 92118
arislander@yahoo.com
____________________________________________________________________________________________
(†) Deceased members (Honorary widows)
Kenneth W. Armstrong † (Jean) 437 Country Grace New Braunfels TX 78130
William R. Bentley † (Joanie) 15135 Manorhill Dr. Houston TX 77062
Donald F. Bissell † (Joyce) 31 Riceville Road Belt MT 59412
Frank Copeland † (Nancy)
1789 Millhouse Run Marietta GA 30066
John Cross † (Lee) 613 Moorside Dr. San Antonio, TX 78239
David Danhouser † (Yvonne) 321 Chestnut St. Mineral Point WI 53565
James B. Fisher † (Marlene) 6413 S 1680 E Salt Lake City UT 84121-2571
Kenyon L. Forrest † (Joan) 8930 Westcreek Converse TX 78109James H. Nichols † (Ann) 984 Winston Ave. Elba AL 36323-1427
Arlie D. Price † (Faye) 114 Fieldbrook Dr. Enterprise AL 36330
Thomas C. Smith † (Barbara)
Spurgeon, Neel M. Gen. † (Alice) 4106 Tarlac Dr. San Antonio TX 78239
John Temperelli (Nancy) 3007 Manilla Dr. San Antonio TX 78217-3921
Robert Thackston † (Mimi) 4747 72nd Ave. NE Olympia WA 98516rthackston@aol.com
Thomas C. Smith † (Barbara)
Robert Thackston † (Mimi) 2912 Stone Edge Rd. El Paso TX &n
