VOICES OF HISTORY PRESENTS - Arthur Whitten, CW2, Dust Off Medevac Pilot, 45th Medical Co., Vietnam
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- Опубликовано: 26 апр 2023
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You are very well spoken, Art. Thank you for sharing your accounts of the war and thank you for your brave service. And Larry, yet another excellent interview.
I first met Art when i did some contracting work for him. Ive had the pleasure to get to know him and his wife well over the years. They truly are amazing people. And he is very proud to have served for us. Him and his wife are struggling with health and could use a prayer. God bless the whittens and all vets. Welcome home Art!
Thank you. I am in touch often with Art and his wife. Great folks!! 🙏
Great interview, Art looked to be on the top of his game in those Hueys. His stories were very well told, thanks you for your service Sir👍🏻
God Bless you Art! Thank you for your service!
Thank you Art for your service and sacrifice,and thank you Larry for bringing these stories.
Many thanks Joe. Art's story is truly one of my best. Please help me to share it. Thank you.
Chief Whitten, as a scout pilot (WO1/CW2, OH-6A's, B-1-9, 1st Cav Div Armbl, Camp Evans, I Corp, '68) we were called on, from time to time, to assist you guys by providing cover and security, when the slopes were too great for your Huey rotor diameter clearance, the hover holes through the trees were too small or flying under the trees themselves were required and when you were low on fuel and a fast trip out to the white boats with a critically wounded became necessary! Glad to lend a hand. I wear a 1st Cav Medevac, "So That Other`s May Live" pin on my cap to this day as tribute to all of you guys! Saaaaaaaaalute! "ABOVE THE BEST!"
My brother was a dust off pilot, same as Art went over 1968, did 2 tours. Came home ( I thank God every day) and was a changed person. He was and is brave selfless human being. Thank you for this, it helps me to understand what he and you went through and experienced.
"No matter what happens, don't give up."
Thank you Arthur. Your sure handed service and the courage to not give up is appreciated. A fine man/helicopter pilot.
James, many thanks for your continued support of my work. God bless you!!
All of these men are precious. However, this is my favorite interview of all of them. My dad served in Vietnam in 1970 & 71 with the First Cavalry Division. Thank God, he was never wounded. Although, if he had been, I would hope that someone as fine as this gentleman would have been there to get him out of harm's way.
Amen Curtis!!!
Great interview. I flew as an Instructor Pilot and Examiner with the 57th MEDEVAC. It was the most rewarding assignment in my Army career. Thank you for your service Sir!
I always salute back to the veterans at the end of the video. Thank you all.
So do I Eric. Over the years the salutes have become my trademark and signature. Hope you are subscribed to my channel and radio station.
Mr. Whitten has all his stuff in one bag. God bless and thank you.
Larry, this is Arts wife. I can’t believe it’s been 16+ years ago. I read the comments to Art. Our fellow Veterans commenting, some who were rescued by a Dust Off crew and Vets who know what they do, or really learned from Arts interview made his and my night.
Oddly his PTSD was hitting him at this time it was happening in night sweats, night dreams.
Many Vets who’ve been where he’s been picked up on his dry mouth. His held back emotions.
Only people who’ve seen what he saw would know.
They knew.
He mentioned his neck from the helicopter crash. Since the interview his neck was fused. We’re thankful for the pictures he had of the crash.
He’s also had a back fusion in the last year, which has already deteriorated above the fusion. So he was injured in the tail rotor failure.
But as your aware Larry, because of the ravages of Agent Orange on so many of our soldiers, Art flying and the rotor blades stirring up Agent Orange has wreaked havoc on Arts body.
Aggressive Prostate Cancer. Surgery, radiation, but lesions on his left lymph node resulted in it being left inside. They radiated the heck out of it. His PSA is still clear.
Diabetes II
Parkinson’s Disease, getting worse.
And right now, and we will take all the prayers anyone wants to offer.
Tongue Cancer and two Lymph nodes.
Tonight is 7/28/2023
Sunday 7/30/23 they are doing a brain scan.
Monday they are going IN to do core biopsies of the lymph nodes. They couldn’t get enough from needle aspiration.
But as you know Larry because I’ve asked for prayers. From reading the CatScan, looking at the spread of the tongue tumor to the lymph nodes the ENT Surgeon and PA already believe it’s Stage 4 Squamous cell.
Pray for him please.
This will most likely be a dissection of the right back of his tongue and radiation or chemo or both.
We love all our Veteran brothers and sisters.
BTW, someone on here said they felt guilty for not serving in Vietnam.
We always tell Veterans it takes every cog in a wheel. We thank everyone for their service.
My husband is my best friend and my hero. I’m a 100% perm. Disabled Vet too.
I got sick working on troops when they came home to the states during Vietnam.
Who knew THAT could ever happen? Not us!
We never dreamed we were giving up our young lives.
Not the way our friends on the wall did.
They gave the ultimate sacrifice.
We honor them, miss them and walking the wall in DC was the hardest thing we’ve ever done.
I saw so many young people in Madigan Army Hospital, arms, legs, no arms, no legs, heads all wrapped in white bandages. Arms held in suspension, legs in suspension. Our Vets know what I’m talking about.
Like something out of a Science Fiction Movie. People we went to High School with, coming home with a leg missing.
Or like someone we personally knew, leaving as one person, coming home forever changed.
We also would like to Salute a final farewell to Gunship Helicopter Pilot
Lt. Rodney Rawlings
3 Purple Hearts, 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses. 31 years service (Active and Army Guard)
Retired Colonel. RIP
Lastly, Arts last job in the military was in the Alaska National Guard. He was the Aviation Battalion Commander.
We left so he could fly with the FAA as a Flight Check Pilot. They fly Jets with instruments in the back and a technician and make sure all the Nav Aids are correct at every airport in the country. Big and small. Believe it or not - mountains move and trees change enough that they affect radar.
He’s a Dad, a Papa and a Great Grandpa (still goes by PaPa)
If you pray … please pray 🙏🏼
If you want to send good wishes, we’ll take those too.
And we ALWAYS Pray for all who served. Including their families.
We donate to T2T and Wounded Warriors along with our local Veterans ranches.
And Larry is going to be seeing $ too.
Thank you Larry for loving - truly loving all our Vets from all our conflicts and wars.
God Bless 🙏🏼
Mary Ann
Mary Ann, perhaps one of the most heartfelt comments I've ever received. Prayers for you and Art during this difficult time. I hope to see you face-to-face soon. God bless you both!!
We feel your prayers. To think of all our Vets affected years and years after leaving. So many have died, still suffer. Yet you and I know how proud they remain of their service. Our Korean and Middle East Vets are the same. Burn Pits ~ so disgusting, ruining so many lives too.
So many prayers to bend a knee for.
Love you Larry.
Thank you and God Bless 🙏🏼
I hope to come out soon to see you both.
Thanks for your service, one great American 🇺🇸
Very good. Thank you Arthur!
Good hearing from you David. God bless you.
Art, you arrived as I left the 45th (7/68) I believe you said. I'm the original Dustoff 22 for the 45th. Was part of the crew from Fort Bragg. Funny, I was also part of the flight school class with a name near the end of the alphabet. We were the first WO's to join the previously MSC only crowd. Our commanding officer didn't appreciate us but learned quickly that we were professionals and we got the job done. Great commentary by the way!
Wow amazing interview
One of my best Anthony. These Medevac pilots are the best!!!
Thank you Arthur for your service. My brother served as crew chief on Dust Off. You sir are a Hero as I felt my Brother was. I was so proud of his service. Welcome home !
always great interviews Larry........Thank you Arthur for all you have done....
Thanks Paul. God bless you. Thank you for your kind words. My stories are a bit slower coming forth these days. Art's is one of the best!!
I was in a USAF Helo outfit (USAF)20th Special Ops; what we did was dangerous as hell; but what we did was a walk in the park next to Dustoff; these were the Bravest Men I ever saw on my tour..I remember the KIA were called "Popsicles"
Been watching these types of videos just to say how proud I am of you Thankyou for your service my cousin butch was a ground ponder a SAW machine gunner in Vietnam in 68 he made it out in 70 I was 12 years old he send us a picture of him and his ammo carry I been carry that picture until now I am 64 he is still with us I see him a few times a year he’s 74 now I very proud of you guys my dad was a mp in ww11 and was at Japan subgamba prison at the end of the war with the war crimes Japanese and trails my oldies brother was up for the draft in 73 and was suspended and he never went into the military good luck to you sir
Welcome home Arthur.
July 1972 my ship and at least two other vessels were doing donuts in a typhoon off Guam looking for a downed B-52 crew. A submarine found and got them all aboard. I frequently tell families at funerals this to explain “We don’t leave anyone behind.” I am commander of an Honor Guard.
I served with a unit attached to the 3rd Field Hospital, and these guys were always our heroes. They put themselves in major danger to bring wounded guys to us. God bless them all!
Thank you Donald for your service and WELCOME HOME!!!
Thank you Arthur for sharing your story. It was very moving.
I left the war early when I lost my hearing in one ear so I missed a lot of combat.
You are a hero sir.
Love, love, love!!! I get some money, you do too. Thank you more than i can say!
Dennis, thank you for watching and commenting. I appreciate it. God bless you!!
One of the best interviews I've ever seen. I feel the same way about my VN service and would do it again in a heartbeat---although, being 80 years old would probably put me out of the running.
God bless you. I will share your comment with Art.
"Dynamic Recall.." by Mr Whitten.." another Great interview/War Story .." Welcome back to the World Sir!!!
Thank you, Art, for your service and welcome home!
Thank you Art. Very moving. You service was noble and at great risk. I offer my sincere appreciation for your service. It must be a special feeling to have saved so many Americans and Vietnamese without discrimination, when called to do so. God loves us all. My father was a combat veteran of WW II and my brother served in the Air Force for four years, took a 2-year break, and then re-enlisted in the Army, where he received pilot training somewhere down south, Alabama I think, around 1970, He never made it to Viet Nam, and we eventually lost him in a domestic car accident , while he was still in the military. I loved them both and am very proud of their military service. I considered military service, but ended up serving in the United States Peace Corps in North Africa, working with children and adults, who had physical and mental challenges. I gained an immense admiration for those I served with and the Tunisians, who treated us as family. As a volunteer in Tunisia, I had contact with Seabees, who sent their unit with engineers to rebuild the orphanage where I worked. They were selfless and kind to the Tunisians with whom they had contact. They spread a lot of good will among to the Tunisians, who greatly admired them. Please keep talking, people need to hear your story.
Been there, WIA third and final time on January 28th, 1969. I don’t really remember the EVAC Unit that I brought to, I was wounded in Tay Ninh and we had to stop three times to redo my bandages and my splints. The 45th sounds familiar but it could have been the 65th also but after 55 years, I just can’t remember. I was with Delta Co 2nd Batt 8th Cav ABN 1st Air Cavalry Div 68/69. Oh yeah, I finally ended up in Ton Son Nut AB in Saigon They said some of my surgery in Saigon but after a few days, the transported me to the 106th General Hosp in Yokohama, Japan for the next three months. From there they sent me back to where it all started for me at Ft. Dix, NJ. I spent the net two years at Walson Army Hospital for the next two years recovering from my wounds. I was discharged from doctors care on my ETS date of April 22, 1971. We NEVER wore seatbelts in our choppers in the Cav. Our main mission in Nam was ONLY Ambush missions. The same for us, we got our orders every morning from our Black Jack 6 the Batt Commander and gave us our mission for that day. Sometimes we only moved a few hundred yards a day, all depends on the terrain we were in! But, no matter where or what we were in, we were ready for it. He is absolutely right here, the Dust Offs were not armed and were not the same as Medivacs, they were armed with two M-60 Machine guns. Everything this gentleman said was true!!! What he was talking about here was known as a “Scoop and Run” that was the case most of the time! You can see here that his mouth is very dry and he’s telling the truth. The HUEY’S were like paper thin skin To this day, I still thank GOD that I was assigned to the 1st Air Cav Div, I known they got me out of Vietnam alive!!! Any doubts in what I’ve said here, just google my name, Nicholas Donvito Vietnam 68/69 and it will bring it all back up. I still have the smell stuck in the back of my throat from the smoke and blood. They were called the Graves Registration Units that went out and brought the bodies back in. GOD Bless all these guys they were far more that “Support Staff” I got the medals but these guys were the real heroes!!! It was all terrible but bing a Grunt like me and my guys faced this everyday up to and the time I finally left! GOD Bless the CAV!!!!!!!
Thank you Art for your special skills in helping save lives in Vietnam. Welcome home brother. Thank you for being the hero you are. Thanks for sharing your experience in Vietnam.
Thank you art for sharing youre stories. I learn so much from these veterans, I am very thankful for them.
Thanks for watching! It is an Honor to share my Veterans with others.
I'm not gay, but I love this guy...
Thank You SIR........for everything.......WELCOME HOME SIR !!
Thank you sir for your service. Thank you Larry for bringing another veteran’s story to life. I really enjoy dust-off videos.
Thank you for your service Arthur. You sound like you were one bad a** helicopter pilot holy smokes. Love and respect to you and your family and thank you very much Larry🙏🇺🇸
Thank you for sharing your story with us, Art.
Dust Off pilots are one of a kind, thank you, Sir!
I plan to do a follow up interview with Art this summer. The first interview was in 2005.
@@VoicesofHistory This will be great, im glad hes still with us. :)
Appreciate your work, Larry. I'm going to sponsor another story.
Thank you Chris!!!
Thats a nice man , God love you sir and thankyou for what you did for this country
You sir are a great american.Thank You for your service. The obvious pride in your salute brought a tear to my eye. Another great interview Larry, Thank You also.
Thank you Sir, and to this channel. I never considered that some, probably quite a few of these guys, were “re-wounded” once on the bird. Just adds a whole dimension I never thought of.
Thank-you for your service Art...God bless you! I have some Gvt. Huey time....Great dump truck of a helicopter. Noce work Larry, much appreciated.
You are a very humble man...and a good man. Note your memories then record it. I was a medic in Cdn Forces, I've forgotten lots of things I've done until reminded for some reason. Something to be said for being able to glance at something and think to yourself...yup, been there. done that. I'm extremely honored to hear this small snippet of your story.
Welcome home brother . Though I was lll Corp . I have both shipped and took guys to Long Binh for care . Brave men those " Dust Off " crews . 10's of thousands of our guys would not of lived , except for these guys bravery .. Thanks to ALL .. doc Gubs 25th ID / others ...
AMEN!!! Thank you for watching.
Thank you Mr Whitten for your service and for a great story. Best regards from Sweden!
My Father, may he Rest in Peace, was out of Vietnam by 1964. Those who understand, I salute you.
[edit: I mean, out of Laos, Burma, etc...]
Art, your definition of Freedom moved me terribly. You and the crew members you flew with are heroes in every sense of the word. There are not enough words to adequately express my respect and gratitude for your brave service in Vietnam. Very cool that your father was a B-17 pilot (my favorite WWII aircraft) in WWII and wonderful that you were ‘called’ to fly as well. Impressive footsteps to follow in. I read the note your wife posted and send all good wishes for your health and well-being. 🇺🇸🙏
Larry: Another wonderful interview asking the questions all of us, given the opportunity, would like to ask to our veterans. Many thanks. (Susan)
Susan, I so appreciate your comment and kind words. I am sending this comment to Art. He will be pleased. I enjoy hearing from you. God bless you!!
@@VoicesofHistory Thank you, Larry. Thought of you often during what has been a challenging year. Awfully kind of you to share my comment with Art. From my heart to his with sincere appreciation for his exemplary service in Vietnam. Happy Thanksgiving and Blessings, Larry.
Thanks Susan, Happy Thanksgiving to you too. Are you subscribed to my other RUclips channels? Please let me know. I just released a video that you might be interested in. You can reach me through my website: larrycappetto.com
I always know if these cats start out sayin "Well? Ill have to really think about my answers cause its been so long ago" THEY are ones who will really BRRRING IT!😎 Sheesh? I thought I had all the 411 on the dust off heros from MANY other interviews, but Arthur REALLY enlightened me with so many NEW details I woulda never considered? I had to watch this twice to "KEEP UP"☺Thank yee so much Arthur for your sacrifice and patriotism for what your service did THERE, as well as HERE keepin KHRUSCHEV's prophetic words from afftecting MY generation of "sons & daughters" HE spoke of. My life has been GRAVY, gettin to pursue a life long passion in peace , with FREEDOM.....EXCULSIVELY....because OF Vietnam Vets..
Anytime I happen to meet a Vietnam veteran I always beg their indulgence while I thank God for their safe return and say to them that I thank them for their sacrifice and tell them "Welcome home!"
The war wasn't anymore of a friend to me than anything else of that type, but these people did not deserve the shit they were hammered with upon coming home, either "baby killers", etc.
So I will continue to thank them at any opportunity. And if YOU are a veteran reading this, then Welcome Home and God bless you.
Good interview, Vietnam Veteran HM2 69-70 with USMC. Thank you
You are a courageous soldier. Thank you for risking your life for others. God bless!
Thank you Olivia.
Thank you, Chief. Chief Whitten's Capt. Truscott was Maj./L.Col Truscott in 77-78 and my CO for the 421st AA in W.Germany. He was well respected by us all as a CO and pilot. Dustoff medic.
Thank you for watching David. Were you a Dustoff medic? Please send me more information. God bless you!! EMAIL: lcappetto@icloud.com
@@VoicesofHistory Yes I was, 91B2F. USAEUR 1977-80 during the Cold War..
God bless you David for your service. I would be interested in hearing and learning more about your story.
That was great, what a smile.
Thank you sir for your service.
Powerful stories! Very proud of you and what guys like you did over there. You and others like you are the real heroes of the war. Wish we could just all get along with no more
war. From a Viet Nam era vet (never served in 'Nam and still feel guilty for not being there, but uncle sam made that decision for me). USAF, ret.
Art, God bless you!
Please say a prayer for Art. He is in a fight for his life. Thank you.
Larry you're doing God's work and helping are angles of freedom
I had just over 1100 hrs in the UH-1H before I went to the AH-64. I miss the Huey. I really enjoy listening to Art’s story. I was trained by Vietnam Vets when I was at Rucker (IERW 86-41) and now I’m a combat vet (OIFx2 (04 and 08)
Have you ever told your story? Please feel free to reach out to me.
Great interview. Thank you for your service. Seeing all the horrible things you learn to disassociate from what is going on to cope with what is going on. I became like that. Some people said I became cold as ice. The horrible part is that you can never get rid of those memories. We develop ptsd and it becomes hard to deal with others and society in general. Everyone deals with it differently. Sir I’m glad you didn’t have these issues. God Bless!
Thank you Ed. I'd like to interview you someday. Your journey has been very tough. I'm glad you got to watch Art's story. God bless you my friend.
I was a crew chief and it was 10 years after that the cold went away.
Thank you for your service Alan!!
I have just listened in awe at Art’s recollection of his time as a Dustoff pilot, I served in Vietnam in 70-71 with the Australian Army at Nui Dat, I was lucky enough to work as a medic with 45th Medical Company when they did the standby there in support of the Australian Task Force.
Wonderful pilots and crew chiefs and a humbling and unforgettable experience it was working with them.
I would be interested in recording your story with the Australian Army.
@@VoicesofHistory I would be happy to discuss it with you .
Please email me some information about your service and any photos you might have from back then. Larry Cappetto, EMAIL: lcappetto@icloud.com
Are you currently living in Australia?
@@VoicesofHistory yes in Brisbane Queensland
Thank you Larry for your noble work! We do appreciate the care and respect you show for the veterans and their history! God bless you!
Larry, I’m extremely proud of you. Will donate to support your cause. JNGUYEN
Blessings always brother John. So good when I hear from you. Look forward to having you sponsor another story. I have so many of them in my archives. I am a bit slow getting them out these days. I want to share them with the world.
Thank you Arthur for such a great story of your tour in Vietnam, you where surtunly winged angles on the infuntry soldiers backs. Thank you for your service and sacrifice sir and God bless you and your family Dustoff 14.
Thank you Tony. Were you a Dustoff pilot?
What this man has observed during his missions must have been just horrific. God bless him for serving his country. He was literally a sitting duck every single mission he flew. There isn't enough appreciation in the world for him.
Thanks for your service sir!
Thanks for your service! Everyone please remember the ones that didn’t make it back home!
AMEN Gary!!
I salute you Sir!
Always good hearing from you. Thank you for watching.
What a phenomenal storyteller. Fantastic interview.
One of my best Vietnam friends and stories. Tell me more about your business Todd. EMAIL: lcappetto@icloud.com
Welcome Home Brother! Thank you for a job well done ! Danang 8/68-8/69.
Thank you Larry.
It would be interesting to learn what some of these guys did for careers after they returned.
Great interview.
Thanks Jeanne.
A real unassuming guy telling some amazing accounts, thank you for sharing. A true hero. I had a tear in my eye at the end watching that.
This is my 4th time watching this video I enjoy it every single time
Thank you for watching. Art's story is one of my favorites. I'm in touch with him today. He's struggling with his health.
@@VoicesofHistory we will bring him and his needs to GOD in prayer 🙏 ❤️🕊❤️⛪️❤️🇮🇱❤️😇❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you!!
Welcome home brother, you done so damn good for so many, God bless you always...72 yo Navy Veteran
Many thanks Kenneth.
My father told me you folks saved a bunch of his men. Thank you for helping those men and know you were and always will be treasured. Airborne all the way.
#HR2281 Vietnam dust of gold medal
Kindness in abundance
Splitting chests and doing heart massage?....that is brutal
This man did life flight on steroids. Thanks for your service
Damn he doesn't want too remember some of this shit u can see him think
Good job and nice story.....sad thing in todays world...people drive kia,s/hyundia,s...korean built and toyota,s/Honda and especially Mitsubishi which made the bombs that was dropped at pearl harbor....i,m 50...but worked with ALOT of older mechanics at dealerships back in the day....that would get very worked up on a....quote....grown man driving a ricer when i was 19. Love these guys from bottom of my heart man...sad thing is...if vietnamese built a car....there would be americans driving them not giving a thought on American pride.
Should of offered this man a drink of water , you can see his mouth is dry