We still name our helicopter gunships after victims of genocide

[pinboy3niner]

107. It's nice to be remembered. :)

Last edited Thu Sep 13, 2012, 10:47 AM - Edit history (1)

I served with 2/501 Infantry in VN and I've posted the regimental crest both in discussions with other vets here and in last year's threads about the codenames used in the Bin Laden mission.

In the latter discussions I posted some of the history of the insignia and how they all came about because a few paratroopers went to see a movie and were inspired to cry, "Geronimo!" on their next jump.

It was only last year that I linked up with one of the guys from the unit who sent me a photo of us in VN, with a crude rendering of the 'Geronimo' crest on the wall behind us:




The officers of Bravo Co, 2/501 Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, Vietnam - Thanksgiving, 1969

Rear, l to r: Russ Shields, platoon leader (KIA), and our Captain (Company Commander)
Front, l to r: Mark Rivest, platoon leader (KIA), pinboy3niner, platoon leader, and Dan, Executive Officer, holding cup.


I thought the history of the insignia for the unit was interesting, especially because in this case it came from the bottom up, and not from the top down.