SP/5 Edward J. Mills
Enlisted in US Army - 1967
Volunteered for one of the most dangerous jobs in the country - crew chief on a Huey during Vietnam Conflict - 1967-1968
Basic Training - Fort Bliss, Texas - 3 Apr 67 to 2 Jun 67 - PVT-El
AIT - Fort Eustis, Virginia - 16 Jun 67 to 8 Sep 67 - (67N20) Single-Rotor Turbine Utility Helicopter Maintenance - PVT-E2
Combat - Viet Nam - 3 Oct 67 to 3 Oct 68 - Americal Division, 1ˢᵗ Aviation Brigade, 17th Group, 14ᵗʰ Battalion, 71ˢᵗ Assault Helicopter Company, call sign 'Rattlers', Chu Lai, Vietnam Crew Chief on UH-ID #859, UH-ID #803, UH-lH #416 - PFC & SP/4
Ed flew as a Crew Chief/gunner on Huey helicopters conducting Combat assaults, hauling troops into battle with direct support by carrying food, ammunition, wounded to hospitals, special forces units and anything that was asked of the helicopter crews to do (this was known as the helicopter war). The Crew Chief was tasked with checking over the condition of the helicopter every time they landed either in Chu Lai or in the field. Also the Crew Chief was responsible for the load in the helicopter, making sure it was not too heavy. The Crew Chief inspected and cleaned the ship at the end of the day to make sure it was ready to fly again the next day. Pilots and co-Pilots had restrictions on the amount of hours they could fly, the Crew Chief went with the helicopter whenever it flew with no hour restrictions. That is how Ed was awarded 26 Air Medals, one Air Medal for every 25 combat missions.
Ed and the crew were involved in several battles - Battle for Hue during TET offensive; support for the Siege at Khe Sanh; Support for Special Forces Camp at Kham Duc which was overrun by VC; A-Shau Valley; flying Special Forces into Laos; Siege at Thuong Duc; taking troops into battle at My Lai; nighttime flare missions; spraying of Agent Orange and Malathion. Ed was awarded The Army Commendation Medal with V device for Heroism.
Shot down 3 times by enemy, then being rescued immediately by helicopters in his unit - the 'Rattlers'.
Duty Station - Fort Riley, Kansas - Nov 1968 to 3 Apr 1970 - 306 Transportation Co & C. Co 67 Signal Bn. - Jungle Expert Training at Ft. Sherman, Panama Canal Zone - Jan 1969; served on Military Funeral Detail from Ft. Riley (Kansas & Nebraska) - SP/5
