Veterans Day: Terry Willman

Army - E5

Sept. 16, 1967 to April 15, 1970

Terry was a Crew Chief and Door Gunner with Company B 158th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade. He flew in and out the full duration of Hamburger Hill, taking in men and taking them back out.

He wrote, “An Eagle’s Eye View” about his experience flying and maintaining his Huey 658 while he was in Vietnam.

This is from the preview of his book:

The Combat History of Army Helicopter Tail #67-17658 as told through the journal kept by its Crew Chief...Over fifty photos (including Hamburger Hill) that are related to 658s history while in Vietnam.

I start from the beginning, with my orders to report to Fort Carson, Colorado in July of 1968 and continue up until the time 658 crashed on Fire Support Base Eagle’s Nest on 31 May 1969.

Writing my story this way, I hope to give the reader an opportunity to experience and understand what flying in a combat zone was like and the hardships endured while in South Vietnam.

Most of the information contained herein came directly from my journal, which I kept during my tour of duty.