Product Description
by William Sharpe (Author)
I flew through the Vietnam War in the cockpit of a helicopter, hauling troops in combat assaults and anything else that would fit on a Huey cargo deck. Helicopter crews were asked to do many things in Vietnam and I did most of them, albeit to a lesser extent than my peers. My involvement was further enriched by time spent in the nerve center of a combat aviation battalion. I returned home with a trove of personal recollections- some grim, some angry, some humorous and many unique to my experience. To these, I have added tales of events that occurred in college ROTC training, flight school and post-Vietnam army service. Taken together they offer a complete picture of a brief, but compelling military career, filled with ups and downs.
Author Biography
Bill Sharpe grew up in a small coal mining town in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The son of a third-generation coal miner, he and his twin brother were the first in their family to graduate from college. The two of them worked their way through The Pennsylvania State University, lived in a poultry barn and performed daily chores in lieu of rent. Bill completed ROTC flight training and graduated with a private pilot's license, the designation of Distinguished Military Graduate and a commission in the US Army. He completed a Master of Science in Forestry degree at Penn State in 1968. Following graduation from the Army's rotary wing officer's course in 1970, he married Carol Robinson and went to Vietnam, where, in addition to flying helicopters and commanding a flight section, he performed many additional duties. He was selected to serve on the staff of the 214th Combat Aviation Battalion as the Battalion Intelligence Officer. He also served the 214th as Assistant Operations Officer and for a short time was acting Operations Officer for the 175th Assault Helicopter Company. He was released from active duty at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in December, 1971 with the rank of Captain and began a career at his alma mater in 1972. Bill completed a PhD in Forestry in 1979 at West Virginia University and retired as Professor Emeritus of Forest Hydrology from Penn State in 2007. Bill authored and co-authored numerous scientific and educational publi-cations during his career. His rather modest military decorations include a Bronze Star for meritorious service, two Air Medals, the Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars, and three unit awards of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. He is a lifetime member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association and the Vinh Long Outlaws Association. He founded and currently operates Sinking Creek Resources Consultants, LLC, a small water resources and environmental consulting company.
