174th Assault
Helicopter Company


DOLPHINS & SHARKS

Biography of

1LT Ronald A. Newcomer
Dolphin 20
1966-1967

225 South Hanover Avenue
Lexington, Kentucky 40502
(606) 266-4688
newcomer@gte.net
newcomer_ron@hotmail.com



Born February 21, 1943, Neptune, New Jersey. Graduated Murray State University Murray, Kentucky in 1965 and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. Completed Army Transportation Officer Basic Course [TOBC] in November 1965 and was assigned to the Primary Helicopter School in Fort Wolters, Texas December 1965, (ORWAC 66-11). Graduated from flight school in August 1966 at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Assigned to the 174th AHC (Dolphins & Sharks), 14th Aviation Battalion, Qui Nhon RVN, September 1966.

Platoon leader of the 2nd Platoon from May 1967 until September 1967, call sign Dolphin Two Zero. For a short period of time (November '66 through May '67), in addition to my flight duties, I was designated motor pool officer.

While serving with the 174th AHC I was stationed at Lane Army Heliport outside of Qui Nhon; TDY at Nha Trang flying special missions for the 5th Special Forces Group; Ninh Hoa where the 174th flew support for the Korean Infantry Division headquartered there; Tuy Hoa which was a field assignment with the Koreans; and finally Duc Pho in support of the newly reorganized Americal Division.

While in country I was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Army Commendation Medal with "V" device, the Bronze Star, and the Air Medal with 19 oak leaf clusters.

At the conclusion of my tour I was assigned to Fort Rucker, Alabama as a Tactical Instrument Instructor. In August 1968 I completed my three (3) years of active duty service and attended the University of Kentucky College of Law, graduating in December 1970 with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree.

During my first year of law school I was certified as a commercial helicopter instructor by the FAA, and worked part time as a helicopter instructor at Bluegrass Field in Lexington, Kentucky.

I practiced law in Lexington Kentucky until 1998, at which time I began post graduate studies in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky in Instructional Systems Design (ISD), also generally referred to as curriculum construction. In the fall of 1999 I was admitted to the Graduate School in Instructional Systems Design, with work on my Masters to be completed in December 2000. Thereafter I will work on my doctorate.

I am married to Betty K. Brown of Henderson Kentucky, who I met the first week of our freshman year at Murray State University in 1961. We have two children, Tim who is a physician [radiologist] practicing in Louisville Kentucky, and Bethany who lives in Chicago with her husband. We have two grandchildren.

I presently teach a class of Behaviorally Disabled [BD] students [alternative education] with the local school system.

At left is a photograph of me from my tour in RVN, sitting in the cargo bay of a UH-1D Dolphin on the ramp at Duc Pho in July 1967. Incidentally, I still use that same watch you see on my right wrist.

A few weeks ago I had over sixty 35mm images from my tour copied on a CD for use in a book I am writing. From time to time I will down load an image [or two] to your server.

I remember a lot of the guys who flew together back then: 1LT Jack Flynn; WO1 Larry Martin; WO1 Jim Campbell; WO1 Mike Cruikshank; WO1 Mike Cavin; WO1 Jim McDaniel [a green young pilot in the spring of 67']; WO1 Willy Williams; and many others.

Ronald A. Newcomer
© March 2000
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