Pachyderm and the Rat is the exciting tale of what it was like flying with the "Big Boys" in Vietnam. Many people are familiar with different tales of flying with the Huey, the most common helicopter of the "Helicopter War". The Chinook was roughly four times the size of the Huey and had over four times the lifting capacity. It was a workhorse and flew virtually every type of mission there. This included combat assaults, artillery raids, LZ construction, insertions and extractions, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, napalm and CS drops, and of course resupply. It tells of the heroics in the air and the insanity on the ground. One of the major differences in flying the Chinook is that you were normally alone. No 'wing man', no other helicopters in the flight. If something went wrong you were on your own unless you could radio for assistance. Even then it may take a half hour or more for help to arrive. A very long time in a combat situation. The Chinook was an incredibly complex aircraft. Two engines, five transmissions, two rotor systems, three hydraulic systems, and huge amount of moving parts. All looking for something to go wrong. There were a crew of five men, Aircraft Commander (AC) or First Pilot, Pilot, Flight Engineer, Crew Engineer, and Gunner. The AC was responsible for these five men and their lives plus the multi-million dollar aircraft. A lot of responsibility for some very young men. Most took their responsibilities very seriously while recognizing they were the lifeline for the men on the ground. There was very little they would not do to support those troops. That support could get very interesting. Harry, the Rat, and his buddies flew in all kinds of weather, through mountains and flat lands, through enemy activity, through whatever it took to get the support to the ground forces that they required. At times this could become a major challenge. The author served six and a half years in the US Army, four of them as a helicopter pilot. This included a tour in Vietnam flying the Chinook helicopter. Following his active duty he had a very successful career in health care human resources. Following a 28 year hiatus he now resides back in his hometown of Rochester, Minnesota. He remains in contact with many of the pilots and crewmembers he flew with in Vietnam.
About the Author: Harry R. Nevling was born and raised in Rochester, MN. He enlisted in the fall of 1965. Harry went through basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood Missouri then on to radio operator's school at Ft. Ord, CA. He was advanced out of that for radio teletype school at Ft. Gordon. GA. From there it was to Ft. Lewis, WA to join the 4th Infantry Division. His first tour he was based out of Camp Enari, near Pleiku. After being brought back early he attended warrant officers' rotary wing aviation course at Ft. Wolters, TX and Ft. Rucker, AL. Upon completion of that training he received his Warrant Officer rating and his aviator wings. On to Ft. Sill OK for transition to the CH-47 Chinook helicopter. In late December Harry and C Company, 159th Assault Support Helicopter Battalion were flown to Vietnam. Shortly after his arrival he was transferred to A Company, Pachyderm at Phu Bai, near Hue. Harry spent seven months flying in the mountainous terrain of I Corps in northern South Vietnam. This seven months was highly educational and extremely rewarding. Harry was again transferred to the 242nd Assault Support Aviation Company at Cu Chi, northwest of Saigon. This was very different flying as, except for the mountain of Nui Ba Dinh, the terrain was quite flat. Harry returned home at the end of December 1969 with several medals and a lifetime of memories. Some good, some not so much. He went back to Ft. Sill for a couple of years, receiving a direct commission to 1st lieutenant. His last duty station was at Ft. Belvoir, VA where he completed the Engineer Officers' Basic Course. He was discharged from there and returned to Minnesota. In just over two years Harry earned an Associate Degree in Business and Bachelor degrees in Business administration and Economics, cum laude. Following college he worked as a District Manager for Dairy Queen Corporation in Michigan. He relocated to Colorado where he worked in real estate and at a hospital as their top human resources professional. His HR career was very successful. He helped build an organization with a team approach that resulted in the significantly lowest turnover in the area. He also served as officers in his state and national professional organizations, becoming president of both. When Harry retired in 2000 due to heart conditions (Agent Orange) re relocated back to his home town on Rochester, MN. There he has been active as a volunteer in support of the disabled community.