174th Assault Helicopter Company
DOLPHINS & SHARKS


The Official 174th AHC Fan Club


Webmaster note:

In the latter part of 1996, as a result of this website home page, the 174th Assault Helicopter Company Fan Club was born. From the humble beginnings of this unofficial fan club, with a president who was duly elected by majority vote from the general membership body of one, we began receiving supportive e-mail messages and sharing information about the 174th with our fan club President, Warren Hewetson of Atlanta, Georgia. Least you doubt his intentions, Warren is serious, and several of us in the 174th have exchanged numerous messages with him. In late 1996, Warren also accompanied some of the early 174th "Boat People" on a visit to the USNS Upshur that was the 174th's Taxi to the War Zone in 1966. This was the ten year aniversary visit for them.

Any of you 174th "alums" who would wish to talk with Warren, he'd be delighted to hear from you at twarrenh@alltel.net. Below I'll post one of Warren's first e-mail postings to us, then following a photo of Warren and Steve Ratcliffe (taken when Steve visited Warren in Atlanta) I will post a second e-mail from Warren. --Jim McD.

Subject: Fan of the 174th
From: TWARRENH@aol.com
To: shark4@pop.dn.net

I'm currently building a 1/35th scale replica of UH1-C circa 1971 "Surfer." I'm a scale plastic modeler and I've always wanted to build this kit (had to wait for MRC to release it). What I'm getting at is I'm actually a fan of the 174th AHC in Vietnam. I've probably read and printed every document on this net refering to you.

YOU GUYS ARE MY HEROES!

I'm sure you've been commended a few times so I won't get "sugary" about that. You should be and I'm sure you are proud! THANK YOU.

I'm 44 years old, so I missed the service draft, but if I hadn't--I wanted to be a UH1 pilot. You can imagine what my parents thought at that time.

Thank you for the rewarding pages and don't ever stop. Do you know of any site that has a full cockpit view for my model reference?

Please pass the word to your reunion buddies ("Dolphins" and "Sharks") that they're definety not forgoten!

"DOLPHIN and SHARK FAN"
Warren Hewetson (Atlanta)


The following e-mail message accompanied the above photograph of Warren Hewetson (left) and Steve Ratcliff:


To:
Ted Saunders
Mike Sloniker
Ike Israel
Jim McDaniel
Bernie Cobb
(and Steve Ratcliffe of course)

Hi gentlemen! Just wanted to pop you a note from your biggest 174th Fan!! On Monday nite 12/1/97 Steve Ratcliffe was here in town (Atlanta) on business and I invited him to my home. He gladly accepted and spent about 4 hours with me talking about the unit and giving me a unbelievable video!! I've watched it about three times since he's been here! He's quite an Historian (sorry Mike) and brought a whole trunk full of photos and documentation. NOW I REALLY FEEL LIKE I KNOW YOU GUYS.

I showed him my replica I built of the MRC Surfer (161) which I believe is museum authenticity (It even has red dirt on it). I think he was impressed because he's requested I build "Pink Panther" gunship for him... which is more than I can do for his time, memories, and video. I've just mailed in a Associate Membership fee for VHCMA... I've got to get that news letter/magazine! Thanks for lettin' me in!

Anyway Ted, he mentioned you might have an extra TShirt (XL). Can I get one? Also can I be included in any of your mailing lists?

Please let ALL the guys know I'm forever "tugging" for them, I'm proud of them and thank you all for responding to my fan mail. You're my heroes!

Dolphin and Shark Attack Fan,
Warren Hewetson (Atlanta)


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