Interview with Henry H. (Rick) Roll: Former US Army Aviator/Captain, Wyoming, DE
I was raised in an affluent family in CT and had a very happy childhood. Our family had a summer home on a lake in NH where I spent many wonderful summers with my two brothers and sister. Before starting Georgetown University, I had graduated from Fairfield Prep School in Fairfield, CT.
I started active duty in ‘65 and left the service in ‘68 with the rank of Captain after my three year obligation was completed.
Questions: How did you get involved in the Vietnam War? Were you drafted or did you enlisted? How old were you when your service started, and what year was it? Why did you join?
When I started Georgetown University in ‘61, I enrolled in its Army ROTC program because I wanted the military to train me to be a pilot. Upon gradation in ‘65, having earned a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, I was caught up in the war which was just beginning to escalate. After graduation from flight school in ‘66, I was sent to Vietnam to fly attack helicopters in support of my fellow soldiers on the ground.
Did you think the war was right? Did you think that was the right solution?
In retrospect I believe we should not have gone to war in Vietnam. The Vietnamese people were fighting for their freedom from colonialist control just as we did in our revolutionary war.
What branch of the military did you serve?
The US Army!
How long were you in Vietnam? What years? Start and end year.
I served in Vietnam for one full year from 1/’67-12/’67. At that time you could only be required/ordered to serve one year in Vietnam.
What was basic training like? Did it prepare you for Vietnam?
All of my training was excellent & I was well prepared to fight in Vietnam! I graduated #1 in my flight school class because I took my training very seriously. I knew I would soon be flying in combat & I wanted to do the best job possible in protecting my fellow soldiers on the ground from enemy attack.
Where were you stationed? What was the area like?
I was stationed in the SE area of S. Vietnam. The area was partial jungle and partial rice paddies. It was very hot in the summer and during the rainy season we had daily soaking rains that turned the ground to mud.
What was your job/assignment?
As I have mentioned above, I was an attack helicopter pilot. My helicopter was armed with machine guns, rockets, and a rapid fire grenade launcher. I had a co-pilot and two enlisted crewmen, there were no women in combat in that era, one was my crew chief and the other was a door gunner. I also had a wing man who flew a similarly armed and crewed helicopter. We worked as a “fire team” flying to the rescue/support of our troops on the ground when they were under enemy attack.
What type of things did you go through on an average day? What were the conditions there?
We flew missions every day, mainly at night, averaging about 6 hours of flying time per 24 hour period. We had to land to re-fuel and re-arm multiple times during the night. I was very intense flying because we were shot at during most missions.
Did you see any combat? If so, what types of things did you go through during combat?
90% of the hours I logged were combat hours but I was never shot down. I was never wounded but members of my crew received wounds from bullets and/or shrapnel.
What were some difficulties you had to overcome during your service?
The biggest difficulties related to dealing with incompetent fellow soldiers or officers who were incapable of fighting during very violent episodes. Those that couldn't stand the stress of combat were quickly given desk jobs away from the fighting.
Did you witness the use of napalm? If so, how did you feel about it?
I saw it dropped frequently and even though it is a very damaging weapon, it was used to keep my fellow soldiers on the ground from being overrun or killed by the enemy.
Did you witness the use of Agent Orange? If so, how did you feel about it?
I escorted USAF cargo planes which were spraying AO north of Saigon. I had heard that is was bad stuff so I always kept my helicopter up-wind of the spray patterns. I don’t think that our commanders knew how dangerous AO was/is to humans when they ordered it applied.
Did you develop any friendships during the war? If so, how did you meet?
I had many friendships during the war; all developed from within the unit I served. I keep in close touch with them to this day and we have several reunions each year.
What did you think of officers or fellow soldiers?
95% of the officers & soldiers I served with were 1st class and very brave human beings. We worked closely together to protect each other so we could return home alive after our 1 year was up.
Were there any casualties or injuries in your unit? Did you receive any injuries?
We had many KIA, killed in action, and wounded in my unit but I didn’t get a scratch. 40,000 helicopter pilots, from all branches of the military, flew combat missions during the Vietnam war and over 4,000 of them were KIA.
Today we are told the war was fought to stop the spread of communism. What were you told you were fighting for when you were in service? How did you feel about fighting in Vietnam? Did you have any doubts about the war?
We were told we were fighting to stop the spread of communism. When in combat, however, we did not have the luxury of thinking about the national or international politics of why we were there. We had to concentrate 100% on doing the best job we could to protect our fellow soldiers on the ground and we expected them to do the same for us if we were shot down.
Did you have any trouble readjusting to life after you returned from Vietnam? How were you treated? Did you experience any problems?
I had no trouble readjusting to life n the US upon my return and was well treated by my family, neighbors , and friends. I am now retired from a very successful business career and am in excellent physical & financial health.
How did your service and experiences affect your life?
The keys to my success in business were the leadership skills I learned in the military and my ability to perform well under very stressful situations; learned in combat. Nothing I encountered in business ever came close to what I experienced in combat.
Did your military experience influence your thinking about war or about the military in general?
Yeas! We should re-institute the draft so that ALL eligible Americans should we required to serve if their country calls them. Also, if we had the draft, the American people might not be so willing to send our finest young men and women into combat in foreign lands. Our volunteer military asks waaay too much from too few and they come home after multiple obligated combat tours broken in mind and body. A great tragedy to be sure!!
Can you tell me about the Vietnam Veterans of America? What kind of activities do you guys do?
I am not a very active member of the VVA because 99% of its members are former enlisted men and I was an officer. Even after almost 50 years, there is still a gulf between officers & enlisted men which is too bad. Enlisted men resent officers because we had to tell them what to do and we had many more privileges and were paid much more. To learn more about what the VVA does, log onto; www.vva.org.
If you could do it (the war) all over again, would you?
Under the same circumstances I would have followed my orders into war. Otherwise you question is too hypothetical. I do not condone the acts of the Americans who went to Canada to avoid the draft. If Americans could pick and choose whether they wanted to go into combat or not, we would have a useless military. Our best weapon is the ballot box where we can choose leaders that will only send us into combat when it is absolutely necessary for the preservation of our freedoms.
Do you have any war stories you�d like to share?
I have dozens and dozens but my favorite is:
In October of ‘67 my helicopter's engine failed and I made an emergency landing in the middle of very hostile Viet Cong territory. A Navy helicopter in the area, after receiving my “May Day” emergency radio transmission, flew to my rescue and when he landed beside my aircraft to pick us up, there were Viet Cong shooting at him and a us. Five minutes later, he would not have been able to save us and we would have been executed on the spot. The VC did not take prisoners in that area at that time because it was too far away from the POW camps in the North. In 2010 I tracked that pilot, Mike Stock, down over the internet, and we had a great reunion in 2011. We have been very close friends ever since. I have attached the write-up I did of that event.
I started active duty in ‘65 and left the service in ‘68 with the rank of Captain after my three year obligation was completed.
Questions: How did you get involved in the Vietnam War? Were you drafted or did you enlisted? How old were you when your service started, and what year was it? Why did you join?
When I started Georgetown University in ‘61, I enrolled in its Army ROTC program because I wanted the military to train me to be a pilot. Upon gradation in ‘65, having earned a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, I was caught up in the war which was just beginning to escalate. After graduation from flight school in ‘66, I was sent to Vietnam to fly attack helicopters in support of my fellow soldiers on the ground.
Did you think the war was right? Did you think that was the right solution?
In retrospect I believe we should not have gone to war in Vietnam. The Vietnamese people were fighting for their freedom from colonialist control just as we did in our revolutionary war.
What branch of the military did you serve?
The US Army!
How long were you in Vietnam? What years? Start and end year.
I served in Vietnam for one full year from 1/’67-12/’67. At that time you could only be required/ordered to serve one year in Vietnam.
What was basic training like? Did it prepare you for Vietnam?
All of my training was excellent & I was well prepared to fight in Vietnam! I graduated #1 in my flight school class because I took my training very seriously. I knew I would soon be flying in combat & I wanted to do the best job possible in protecting my fellow soldiers on the ground from enemy attack.
Where were you stationed? What was the area like?
I was stationed in the SE area of S. Vietnam. The area was partial jungle and partial rice paddies. It was very hot in the summer and during the rainy season we had daily soaking rains that turned the ground to mud.
What was your job/assignment?
As I have mentioned above, I was an attack helicopter pilot. My helicopter was armed with machine guns, rockets, and a rapid fire grenade launcher. I had a co-pilot and two enlisted crewmen, there were no women in combat in that era, one was my crew chief and the other was a door gunner. I also had a wing man who flew a similarly armed and crewed helicopter. We worked as a “fire team” flying to the rescue/support of our troops on the ground when they were under enemy attack.
What type of things did you go through on an average day? What were the conditions there?
We flew missions every day, mainly at night, averaging about 6 hours of flying time per 24 hour period. We had to land to re-fuel and re-arm multiple times during the night. I was very intense flying because we were shot at during most missions.
Did you see any combat? If so, what types of things did you go through during combat?
90% of the hours I logged were combat hours but I was never shot down. I was never wounded but members of my crew received wounds from bullets and/or shrapnel.
What were some difficulties you had to overcome during your service?
The biggest difficulties related to dealing with incompetent fellow soldiers or officers who were incapable of fighting during very violent episodes. Those that couldn't stand the stress of combat were quickly given desk jobs away from the fighting.
Did you witness the use of napalm? If so, how did you feel about it?
I saw it dropped frequently and even though it is a very damaging weapon, it was used to keep my fellow soldiers on the ground from being overrun or killed by the enemy.
Did you witness the use of Agent Orange? If so, how did you feel about it?
I escorted USAF cargo planes which were spraying AO north of Saigon. I had heard that is was bad stuff so I always kept my helicopter up-wind of the spray patterns. I don’t think that our commanders knew how dangerous AO was/is to humans when they ordered it applied.
Did you develop any friendships during the war? If so, how did you meet?
I had many friendships during the war; all developed from within the unit I served. I keep in close touch with them to this day and we have several reunions each year.
What did you think of officers or fellow soldiers?
95% of the officers & soldiers I served with were 1st class and very brave human beings. We worked closely together to protect each other so we could return home alive after our 1 year was up.
Were there any casualties or injuries in your unit? Did you receive any injuries?
We had many KIA, killed in action, and wounded in my unit but I didn’t get a scratch. 40,000 helicopter pilots, from all branches of the military, flew combat missions during the Vietnam war and over 4,000 of them were KIA.
Today we are told the war was fought to stop the spread of communism. What were you told you were fighting for when you were in service? How did you feel about fighting in Vietnam? Did you have any doubts about the war?
We were told we were fighting to stop the spread of communism. When in combat, however, we did not have the luxury of thinking about the national or international politics of why we were there. We had to concentrate 100% on doing the best job we could to protect our fellow soldiers on the ground and we expected them to do the same for us if we were shot down.
Did you have any trouble readjusting to life after you returned from Vietnam? How were you treated? Did you experience any problems?
I had no trouble readjusting to life n the US upon my return and was well treated by my family, neighbors , and friends. I am now retired from a very successful business career and am in excellent physical & financial health.
How did your service and experiences affect your life?
The keys to my success in business were the leadership skills I learned in the military and my ability to perform well under very stressful situations; learned in combat. Nothing I encountered in business ever came close to what I experienced in combat.
Did your military experience influence your thinking about war or about the military in general?
Yeas! We should re-institute the draft so that ALL eligible Americans should we required to serve if their country calls them. Also, if we had the draft, the American people might not be so willing to send our finest young men and women into combat in foreign lands. Our volunteer military asks waaay too much from too few and they come home after multiple obligated combat tours broken in mind and body. A great tragedy to be sure!!
Can you tell me about the Vietnam Veterans of America? What kind of activities do you guys do?
I am not a very active member of the VVA because 99% of its members are former enlisted men and I was an officer. Even after almost 50 years, there is still a gulf between officers & enlisted men which is too bad. Enlisted men resent officers because we had to tell them what to do and we had many more privileges and were paid much more. To learn more about what the VVA does, log onto; www.vva.org.
If you could do it (the war) all over again, would you?
Under the same circumstances I would have followed my orders into war. Otherwise you question is too hypothetical. I do not condone the acts of the Americans who went to Canada to avoid the draft. If Americans could pick and choose whether they wanted to go into combat or not, we would have a useless military. Our best weapon is the ballot box where we can choose leaders that will only send us into combat when it is absolutely necessary for the preservation of our freedoms.
Do you have any war stories you�d like to share?
I have dozens and dozens but my favorite is:
In October of ‘67 my helicopter's engine failed and I made an emergency landing in the middle of very hostile Viet Cong territory. A Navy helicopter in the area, after receiving my “May Day” emergency radio transmission, flew to my rescue and when he landed beside my aircraft to pick us up, there were Viet Cong shooting at him and a us. Five minutes later, he would not have been able to save us and we would have been executed on the spot. The VC did not take prisoners in that area at that time because it was too far away from the POW camps in the North. In 2010 I tracked that pilot, Mike Stock, down over the internet, and we had a great reunion in 2011. We have been very close friends ever since. I have attached the write-up I did of that event.
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An Interview With Rick Owen
Were you drafted or did you enlist?
I enlisted in the US Air Force.
Where were you living at the time?
I was living at home with my family.
Why did you join?
I enlisted because I likely would've been drafted if I hadn't.
Why did you pick the service branch you joined?
I picked the Air Force because it gave me a greater choice of jobs I might do.
Do you recall your first days in service? What did it feel like?
My first days in the Air Force were very chaotic and hectic. The Training Instructors kept us hopping all day long. They could be very intimidating
Tell me about your boot camp/training experience.
My experience in basic training was strenuous and stressful. There was so much to learn, and I didn't want to make any mistakes. I learned that I was capable of doing more than I thought possible. Also learned about teamwork and being responsible.
How did you get through it?
I got through it by doing what they told me to do.
Which wars did you serve in (WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf)?
I served in Vietnam twice.
Where exactly did you go?
My first tour in Vietnam was at Tuy Hoa Air Base. It was located about halfway up the coast of South Vietnam, right on the South China Sea. My first barracks was about 300 yards from the water. My second tour was at Da Nang Air Base, which was getting close to the DMZ.
Do you remember arriving and what was it like?
When I first arrived in Vietnam, it was like being hit in the face with a hot, wet towel as I stepped off the plane. That was in May, 1969. The heat and humidity were unlike anything I'd ever experienced.
What was your job assignment?
My job was called "munitions specialist". I worked in the bomb dump, assembling various types of bombs for the fighter jets.
Did you see combat?
I did not see combat. Most people in the Air Force didn't, except for pilots and aircrews, and the security forces.
Were there many casualties in your unit?
There were no casualties in my units during either of my tours. However, while at Da Nang, a rocket hit a barracks in another squadron and killed 4 airmen.
Tell me a couple of your most memorable experiences.
One of my most memorable experiences was the last rocket attack before I left Da Nang. It hit about 75 feet from my barracks. The blast was very loud, and it threw a lot of debris onto the roof of the barracks, and rattled the walls. Pretty scary! My best memory is probably leaving Vietnam the last time, on my way back to the States to be discharged.
Were you a prisoner of war? If so, tell me about your experiences in captivity and when freed.
Not a POW
Were you awarded any medals or citations? If so, how did you get them?
I was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for my service during my first tour.
How did you stay in touch with your family?
I stayed in touch with family and friends by mail. It took 7-10 days for a letter to get home from Vietnam, and the same to get one from home.
What was the food like?
The food was usually pretty good, except for fried chicken when I was at Tuy Hoa. The cooks there could really mess it up!
Did you have plenty of supplies?
We usually had enough supplies. Tuy Hoa was a sort of remote base, and sometimes supply convoys would be attacked, which would temporarily interrupt shipments to us.
Did you feel pressure or stress? Was there something special you did for “good luck” ?
There were times that were stressful, like when we had a mortar or rocket attack. Just being in Vietnam caused some stress, but I got used to it.
How did people entertain themselves?
People entertained themselves by hobbies, like photography, playing card games, reading, listening to music, or exercising at the gym and playing sports.
Were there entertainers?
The clubs on base had entertainers most weekends. These were usually bands from the Phillipines
What did you do when on leave?
When on leave, I was at home, visiting family and friends.
Where did you travel while in the service?
My travels in the Air Force: 1. Basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX; 2. Tech school at Lowry AFB, Denver, CO; 3. First assignment, Eglin AFB, Ft. Walton, FL; 4. Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam; 5. England AFB, Alexandria, LA; 6. Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam.
Do you recall any particularly humorous or unusual events?
I can't think of anything that was particularly humorous or unusual. Being in a foreign country, in a war zone, was unusual enough.
What were some of the pranks that you or others would pull?
There weren't many pranks. People tended to just want to relax when not at work, and most people got along pretty well.
Do you have photographs?
I have a few hundred photos from my times overseas.
Who are the people in the photographs?
People in the photos were usually the guys I worked with, or guys who lived in my barracks
What did you think of officers or fellow soldiers?
Most of the guys I worked with were OK. Some of the officers were OK, too, but some were simply jerks.
Did you keep a personal diary?
I didn't keep a diary.
Do you recall the day your service ended?
My last day in the Air Force was after I returned from Da Nang.
Where were you?
I was at McChord AFB, near Seattle, WA.
What did you do in the days and weeks afterward?
After I got home, I chilled for a few days, then was offered employment at the Ford Truck Plant(I live in Louisville, KY, where the plant is).
Did you work or go back to school?
I started college full time in the fall of 1975, and worked part-time while getting my degree.
Was your education supported by the G. I. Bill?
I used every dollar I was entitled to by the time I graduated college.
Did you make any close friendships while in the service? For how long?
I had many good friends in the Air Force. I stay in touch with 5; one just visited me last week.
Did you join a veterans organization?
I am a member of the VFW(Veterans of Foreign Wars) and Vietnam Veterans of America.
What did you go on to do as a career after the war?
After my service, I worked as blue collar, middle management, and business owner.
Did your military experience influence your thinking about war or about the military in general?
My experience taught me not to believe everything the government tells you, and to think long and hard about the need to go to war. Vietnam was a civil war that the US shouldn't have been involved in. Iraq was a mistake, too. Our involvement in both countries was mostly the result of lies.
If in a veterans organization, what kinds of activities does your post or association have?
I don't attend any meetings of the VFW or VVA.
Do you attend reunions?
I haven't attended any reunions.
How did your service and experience affect your life?
My life was affected in many ways. There's no short answer other than say that I learned to be skeptical of the government when it comes to the use of force.
Is there anything you would like to add that we have not covered in this interview?
Nothing to add.
I enlisted in the US Air Force.
Where were you living at the time?
I was living at home with my family.
Why did you join?
I enlisted because I likely would've been drafted if I hadn't.
Why did you pick the service branch you joined?
I picked the Air Force because it gave me a greater choice of jobs I might do.
Do you recall your first days in service? What did it feel like?
My first days in the Air Force were very chaotic and hectic. The Training Instructors kept us hopping all day long. They could be very intimidating
Tell me about your boot camp/training experience.
My experience in basic training was strenuous and stressful. There was so much to learn, and I didn't want to make any mistakes. I learned that I was capable of doing more than I thought possible. Also learned about teamwork and being responsible.
How did you get through it?
I got through it by doing what they told me to do.
Which wars did you serve in (WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf)?
I served in Vietnam twice.
Where exactly did you go?
My first tour in Vietnam was at Tuy Hoa Air Base. It was located about halfway up the coast of South Vietnam, right on the South China Sea. My first barracks was about 300 yards from the water. My second tour was at Da Nang Air Base, which was getting close to the DMZ.
Do you remember arriving and what was it like?
When I first arrived in Vietnam, it was like being hit in the face with a hot, wet towel as I stepped off the plane. That was in May, 1969. The heat and humidity were unlike anything I'd ever experienced.
What was your job assignment?
My job was called "munitions specialist". I worked in the bomb dump, assembling various types of bombs for the fighter jets.
Did you see combat?
I did not see combat. Most people in the Air Force didn't, except for pilots and aircrews, and the security forces.
Were there many casualties in your unit?
There were no casualties in my units during either of my tours. However, while at Da Nang, a rocket hit a barracks in another squadron and killed 4 airmen.
Tell me a couple of your most memorable experiences.
One of my most memorable experiences was the last rocket attack before I left Da Nang. It hit about 75 feet from my barracks. The blast was very loud, and it threw a lot of debris onto the roof of the barracks, and rattled the walls. Pretty scary! My best memory is probably leaving Vietnam the last time, on my way back to the States to be discharged.
Were you a prisoner of war? If so, tell me about your experiences in captivity and when freed.
Not a POW
Were you awarded any medals or citations? If so, how did you get them?
I was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for my service during my first tour.
How did you stay in touch with your family?
I stayed in touch with family and friends by mail. It took 7-10 days for a letter to get home from Vietnam, and the same to get one from home.
What was the food like?
The food was usually pretty good, except for fried chicken when I was at Tuy Hoa. The cooks there could really mess it up!
Did you have plenty of supplies?
We usually had enough supplies. Tuy Hoa was a sort of remote base, and sometimes supply convoys would be attacked, which would temporarily interrupt shipments to us.
Did you feel pressure or stress? Was there something special you did for “good luck” ?
There were times that were stressful, like when we had a mortar or rocket attack. Just being in Vietnam caused some stress, but I got used to it.
How did people entertain themselves?
People entertained themselves by hobbies, like photography, playing card games, reading, listening to music, or exercising at the gym and playing sports.
Were there entertainers?
The clubs on base had entertainers most weekends. These were usually bands from the Phillipines
What did you do when on leave?
When on leave, I was at home, visiting family and friends.
Where did you travel while in the service?
My travels in the Air Force: 1. Basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX; 2. Tech school at Lowry AFB, Denver, CO; 3. First assignment, Eglin AFB, Ft. Walton, FL; 4. Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam; 5. England AFB, Alexandria, LA; 6. Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam.
Do you recall any particularly humorous or unusual events?
I can't think of anything that was particularly humorous or unusual. Being in a foreign country, in a war zone, was unusual enough.
What were some of the pranks that you or others would pull?
There weren't many pranks. People tended to just want to relax when not at work, and most people got along pretty well.
Do you have photographs?
I have a few hundred photos from my times overseas.
Who are the people in the photographs?
People in the photos were usually the guys I worked with, or guys who lived in my barracks
What did you think of officers or fellow soldiers?
Most of the guys I worked with were OK. Some of the officers were OK, too, but some were simply jerks.
Did you keep a personal diary?
I didn't keep a diary.
Do you recall the day your service ended?
My last day in the Air Force was after I returned from Da Nang.
Where were you?
I was at McChord AFB, near Seattle, WA.
What did you do in the days and weeks afterward?
After I got home, I chilled for a few days, then was offered employment at the Ford Truck Plant(I live in Louisville, KY, where the plant is).
Did you work or go back to school?
I started college full time in the fall of 1975, and worked part-time while getting my degree.
Was your education supported by the G. I. Bill?
I used every dollar I was entitled to by the time I graduated college.
Did you make any close friendships while in the service? For how long?
I had many good friends in the Air Force. I stay in touch with 5; one just visited me last week.
Did you join a veterans organization?
I am a member of the VFW(Veterans of Foreign Wars) and Vietnam Veterans of America.
What did you go on to do as a career after the war?
After my service, I worked as blue collar, middle management, and business owner.
Did your military experience influence your thinking about war or about the military in general?
My experience taught me not to believe everything the government tells you, and to think long and hard about the need to go to war. Vietnam was a civil war that the US shouldn't have been involved in. Iraq was a mistake, too. Our involvement in both countries was mostly the result of lies.
If in a veterans organization, what kinds of activities does your post or association have?
I don't attend any meetings of the VFW or VVA.
Do you attend reunions?
I haven't attended any reunions.
How did your service and experience affect your life?
My life was affected in many ways. There's no short answer other than say that I learned to be skeptical of the government when it comes to the use of force.
Is there anything you would like to add that we have not covered in this interview?
Nothing to add.