Vietnam Snapshots

It was early in my tour in Vietnam and I was just getting into my camera. This little girl and her family were so enjoying the day I had to take their picture. It always amazed me how kids, from Vietnam to Honduras, all over the world just love air crew and the things we fly.

Since my base was close to Ho Chi Minh City, I would visit it often. It’s a city that is filled with everything on the move, it was exciting!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Growing up in rural New Jersey in the 1950s, Ray dreamed of being a pilot. But, being African American, he didn’t have role models or a clear path to that goal. While pursuing a degree in teaching, he decided to take the leap and enroll in private flying lessons. There an instructor introduced him to a recruiter and the rest was history. Ray joined the Army in 1968 to pursue his dream, completing flight school and warrant officer training in 1970. After spending 366 days in Vietnam as part of the 118th and 117th Assault Helicopter Company, he re-enlisted and had an Army career that spanned 22 years in Europe, Central America and the U.S. and included positions as flight school instructor, a Medivac Pilot, and a Chief Warrant Officer. A job with Northwest Airlines brought him to Minnesota in 1990, and Ray remains in touch with fellow veterans through the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association.