Richard Wright enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1969, completed basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina by April, then went to OCS at Quantico, Virginia, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in October 1969. He then went to Army helicopter flight training at Fort Wolters, Texas, and “never looked back. I’ve loved every day of it.” After forward air control school, and naval gunfire school, Wright deployed to Vietnam with Sub-Unit One, 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (1st ANGLICO), and was sent to Hoi An as air liaison officer with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Marines, the Blue Dragon Brigade, where he was responsible for aviation logistics. When his ROK battalion was in the rear, he volunteered to fly helicopters for the U.S. Army at Marble Mountain, including SOG missions. Wright discusses chocolate and village children, a puppy called One-eye, the killing of priests, nuns, and orphans by Viet Cong, and the ROK retaliation that pacified the area. He also recalls getting shot down, autorotating into a river and promptly sinking, escaping with the door around his neck, and then watching a Special Forces lieutenant drown. Wright talks fondly of care packages, a Christmas card from a third-grade girl, and then Valentine's Day, Saint Patrick's Day, and Easter cards from her whole class in New Jersey.
Key Words: Parris Island, South Carolina, OCS, Quantico, Virginia, Soviet Union, Communist China, Army flight school, Fort Wolters, Texas, helicopter, Navy Flight School, Pensacola, Florida, OJT, ITR, 1st ANGLICO, Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, forward air control school, naval gunfire school, Saigon, Hoi An, I Corps, Da Nang, Republic of Korea, South Korean Marines, Blue Dragon Brigade, Marble Mountain, SOG, CCN, Combat Control North, Charlie Ridge, UH-1H helicopters, Special Forces, Laos, Montagnard tribesmen, 173d Assault Helicopter Company, AH-1G Cobra gunships, ABC Nightline, swagger stick, wanton stick, Overseas Wives Club, Dong Ha, HMM-164, Okinawa, Easter Offensive, HMM-165, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, search and rescue pilot
Key Names: Richard M. Wright, Sr., Marilyn Duane Burgess, Senator Barry Goldwater, Lieutenant General Duane Gray, Major Dyer, Warrant Officer Bob Hopper, First Lieutenant Joseph Slifka, Susan Schemmenti, Lee Woodward, Bob Woodward, Lieutenant General Brown, Stan Antrum, General Douglas MacArthur