174th Assault
Helicopter Company
DOLPHINS & SHARKS
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We'll try to describe the contents in these 15 photos below the best
we can. The first four are wide angle shots (sorry for the long download).
Please keep in mind that there are more than 100 framed photos on the
walls that you probably cannot visualize. Maybe you can see yourself or
friends in some of those photos and feel free to e-mail Warren at anytime
at twarrenh@alltel.net if you
have any questions. In addition, there are more than 2000 photos (in
books, shelves and cabinets), dozens of small memorabilia items and lots
of copies of classified and unclassified documents. You just have to visit
the Museum here in Atlanta to get the full impact. All 174thers, family
and friends are welcome at a moments notice! Please contribute or loan
anything you deem worthy for this room. It truly is a tribute!
The above photo is the rear of the room (south). The above photo is the front (north) view of the room.
Much of what you can see in the photo above is explained in some of the
close-up photos below. However, I would like to point out the framed art
print in the center of the photo (partially cut off). That is a customized
print (which many of you have seen) done for me by Joe Kline. It is a "one
of a kind" depiction of Shark gunship #137 and is the only "Frog" (40mm
nose turret system) he has painted to date. It hangs over my "modeling
area" (notice hoses for my airbrush which come from a air compressor
downstairs).  Above is oviously our country's flag. It was actually flown over our
Nation's Capitol Building on 3/22/2000, at the request of Senator Herb
Kohl, "Representing the 174th Assault Helicopter Company and to honor all
members of the Organization". Donated to the Museum on 10/9/2000 by the
late Gary Levine (E5 1969-70 Tech Supply).  The above photo is the right corner of the front of the room. Two
things I would like to point out: The warm-up suit on the left is a very
special gift from Tom Gauby (SP4 1969 C/E of Dolphin #223). It is
embroidered over the right breast to read: "Warren, 174th Assault
Helicopter Company Fan Club President". Over the left breast is the Unit
patch. This is on display only during the warmer months of course (smile).
Otherwise, it is on display on me. I'd like to also make mention that he
gave me the gift of the famous Franklin Mint pocket knife depicting slicks
with Shark teeth. I know for a fact, it ain't cheap! On the right of this
photo is a one piece nomex suit... though not a 174th piece of memorabilia
(long story of whose it is), I've velcro'd an original 1971 "Witchdoctors"
patch (which certainly is memorabilia) to the breast pocket. The cherry
cabinet in the middle is stocked full of 174th AHC photos and document
copies.   (Above left photo) Six items here that are fairly visable that I would
like to mention. On the top shelf far left, is what I believe to be a .51
cal NVA shell...has ChiCom markings. On the second shelf far left is a 12"
figure of a North Vietnamese Regular. In the center is a flight helmet on
loan by Andy Anderson (Cpt 1968-69). He actually wore this through Flight
School and his Tour with the 174th AHC. To the right of the helmet is a
12" figure of a Shark Crewchief (yes that's right , he has a Shark patch
on his breast pocket). On the floor is a large ChiCom shell (caliber?).
Both shells were donated to the Museum by the late Gary Levine... as was
the next item (on the floor right). This is a "shadow box" of a photo of
Gary and a photo of the area where a VC rocket hit during a night rocket
and mortar attack on Duc Pho in 1969. The object in the center of the
frame is an actual fragment of the VC rocket which exploded near his
hootch. (Above right photo) This is a 1/35 scale model I built depicting
Jim McDaniel's (WO1- CW2 1967-68/ Shark 4 and Webmaster of course) UH-1C
Shark gunship #165 circa 1968 (according to his reference and photos).
Please know that these models I build are pretty much "scratch" built,
except for the kit's main parts (fuselage, rotor assemblies and skids). I
"scratch" make all my own decals, markings, interior and
armarment. (Above left photo) This is my "pride and joy", because it is almost
entirely "scratch" built with the exception of the kit's fuselage halves!!
It is a (huge!) 1/24 scale replica of Shark gunship #137. Thanks to Jim
McDaniel, Jim Towle, Paul Kunelius, Bud Maher and Roger Mitchell for their
efforts, photos and reference. (Above photo right) Four items I'd like to
mention: On the top shelf/left you can see a cyclic grip (again a gift of
the late Gary Levine) in this photo. Gary believed it to be a replaced
grip from Dolphin UH-1H #511. On the far right is a bottle of Vietnamese
fish sauce donated by Ted Saunders (SP4 1966) in 1997. All the blue books
with white labels are my 174th photo albums by year (1966-1971). In the
bottom center of the photo is a 1971 Centex flight helmet mailed home to
me, in Jan. 1971, by (at that time) one my best friends. He was a pilot
killed in Feb. 1971 during the Lam Son 719 operation. However, I bring the
helmet annually to the 174th AHC Reunions. We display it on top of the
tri-folded flag in memory of those not with us today. All attendees sign
their autographs to it. Now that's a piece of memorabilia! Ohhh...you can
barely see it in this photo, but there's a kit of C-rations below the
helmet. I won those at the 1997 174th AHC Reunion auction. The sliced
peaches are about to "blow"! (Above left photo) Flight suit of Tom Gauby (SP4 1969 C/E of Dolphin
#223). (Above left photo) Interior of the model I made for Jim McDaniel.
(Above right photo) Exterior view of Jim's model. It is a replica of his
aircraft (Dolphin slick #946), in which he crashed in the mountains in
September 1967. The aircraft was destroyed in the crash and had to be
blown in place on the mountain side. Click here to read of Dolphin 946's
final flight. Again, the model was muchly "scratch" built. Authenticity as
per Jim's photos and reference. (Above left photo) On the cot is the 174th AHC "Guide On" from 1968.
This is on loan by Terry Tecca (E5 & Sgt. 1968-69). Below the flag are
two pamphlets. One is a copy of Operational Report "Lessons Learned " Task
Force Oregon period ending 4/30/67. The other is Operational Report
"Lessons Learned" Headquarters Americal Division period ending 4/30/68.
Both folders are copies donated by Ted Saunders. (Above right photo) This
is the famous "21st Century Toys " plastic toy released this year of a
UH-1C "Cav" gunship. It is authentic in many ways, but I wanted a Shark.
So I stripped it of all unauthentic parts and paint. And remodeled it as
Shark gunship #140 "Cobra" circa late December 1970 as per photos and
reference by Fred Thompson (Shark 7 1970-71). This thing is really huge!!!
It's 2+ feet long! This one was just for fun. Warren would like to thank the following 174th AHC Members for their
contributions of gifts, photos, documents and memorabilia Cliff Berg Robert Brackenhoff Bernie Cobb Butch "Witchdoctor" Elliott Mark Fisher Tom Gauby Glen Gibson Abe Gomes Bob Hackett Marty Heuer Ed Hutcheson (Duc Pho Tower 125th ATC 1968) Bob Jansen Ken Johnson "Black Sam" Kalagian (14th AvnBn) Andrew Kasarda Ben Kennedy Paul Kunelius Gary Levine (Gary passed away in October 2000. God bless you my close Friend!) David Lindsey Mel Lutgring Bud Maher Jim McDaniel Jim Messenger Roger Mitchell Ron Newcomer Wally Nunn Dick Overhamm Dennis Pelliccia J.C. Pennington Steve Polgar Steve Ratcliffe Yogi Reaves Don Richardson Dave Rosenthal P.J.Roths Ted Saunders Derald Smith Sam Sours David Spahr Terry Tecca Fred Thompson Jim Towle Jeff Zavales |
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