19 minute read
HI, SOCIETY
REMEMBERING VIETNAM
Don Van Beck had a vision for a Vietnam War memorial to be added to the Veterans Memorial Park in Leesburg. He met a great deal of resistance when he presented the idea to Leesburg city leadership. But engaging in battle is nothing new for the veteran of World War II and the Korean War, he just dug in and continued moving forward with plans to get a Huey helicopter.
“It has been a long time to see this happening,” Don said recently as he watched volunteers remove the transmission from the helicopter. “I feel great about it.”
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois military helicopter, unoffi cially called a Huey, was developed by Bell Helicopter to be used as a United States Army medical evacuation and utility chopper. Production began on the helicopters in March 1960, and approximately 7,000 of them fl ew in Vietnam for the Army and Navy.
Chuck Brainerd, owner of Brainerd Helicopters in Leesburg, fl ew search-and-destroy missions in Vietnam, and he says often wounded men would be loaded onto his helicopter because they could get back quicker to receive medical care. “A lot of Vietnam vets are alive because they could ride in one of those. They didn’t have to wait for the medevac,” Chuck says. “If you were alive when you got on the chopper, you had a 90 percent chance of survival.” Chuck, who was also instrumental in getting the helicopter to Leesburg, had his men put it outside one of the Brainerd Helicopter hangars, and the volunteers had their fi rst meeting with the familiar bird. As the men opened the doors and touched the helicopter’s body like it was gold, Chuck smiled and admitted he wasn’t too sure the helicopter should be in a static place. “I think aircraft ought to be fl ying,” says the man who is often at the helm of a Brainerd Helicopter.
This chopper was among more than 50 stored in Sanford and owned by the United States State Department. The insignia painted on the side of the helicopter reads, “Med Co Air Ambulance 249th DET1 Dustoff.” In its center is a heart with wings attached and an anchor in the middle. The choppers became known as Dustoffs in Vietnam because the Army medevac pilots were CHUCK BRAINERD
known for fl ying into dangerous places to rescue the wounded. Though many of them still fl y, Hueys are gradually being phased out due to their age and being replaced with the UH-60 Blackhawks used in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Don had no problems getting help restoring the big bird. “My phone number was in one of the articles, and I started getting phone calls from these guys right away. We’ve got some great mechanics working on it,” Don says.
There was plenty of discussion at that fi rst meeting about where to begin, what was expected, and plans for the fi nished product. They exchanged ideas, shared experiences, and generally enjoyed being in the company of other men who truly appreciated the Huey helicopter, occasionally glancing at the big green bird that was basking in the sun on the tarmac.
“It has been 50 years since I’ve been in a helicopter, but when I saw the article, I immediately called to volunteer,” says Greg Fernance, crew chief of the volunteers. He was in the United States Marine Corps and served as an instructor, training crews to go to Vietnam from 1962-1968.
Though Don isn’t able to do the physical labor himself, that doesn’t keep him from being in the hangar whenever the volunteers are working. He watches them work with a pride similar to a father’s, knowing their work toward making the memorial real is vital.
“We have nine volunteers, and they’re doing a terrifi c job. In fact, Chuck said he’d like to have some of them working for him,” Don says. “Their combined years of experience is amazing.”
“I fl ew Hueys for 22 years,” says Mike McCourt. “I’m honored to be able to be a part of this project.” Mike was in Vietnam from 1968-1969.
The cockpit of the Huey is big but also incredibly small as you realize all those instruments and gauges had to be monitored during fl ights where the helicopters were targets for people with rocket launchers on the ground. The pilots’ seats were armored, and the men wore bulletproof vests that weighed 40 pounds. They called them “chicken plates.”
“My seat was hit twice, and it protected me,” Chuck said. “But I was afraid they’d hit me in the head. I painted a red and white target on my helmet, fi guring they could try to hit it but couldn’t because it was so far away.”
The design for the memorial has the copter looking like it’s in fl ight, with the crew (replaced by mannequins, of course) in place. Before it can be placed on the pole in its permanent place, it has to be tested to see if it’s structurally sound and able to withstand up to 140-mile-an-hour winds. That’s where Michael Springstead enters the picture.
Michael is a structural and civil engineer who’s making sure everything is done correctly so that the monument is as safe and durable as possible. “I’m working on the drawings and plans, but I’ll leave it to the helicopter experts to move it. I’m just helping with the mounting.”
Don says by the time the helicopter is ready to be go on the pole it will weigh just under 5,000 pounds. Removing the engine and all internal working parts makes the aircraft much lighter than its original 9,500 pounds.
“The plan is to put infantry guys and a door gunner with an M-60 on the left side so people can how they fl ew most of the time,” Chuck says. “No one else has displayed a helicopter like this. We’re going to make it a Gladiator bird.”
To this day, the Huey helicopter is a true symbol of the Vietnam War. For the fi rst time, Americans watched on their televisions as those in service on the battlefi eld were fi lmed for the evening news from the war.
Cary Cuyler, a volunteer who entered the Army as an enlisted man, went to OCS fl ight school after serving in Vietnam. He fl ew Hueys for 3,000 hours and Cobras for 1,200, serving
MICHAEL SPRINGSTEAD
HUEY PROJECT VOLUNTEERS
COMMANDER DON VAN BECK
AMVETS Post 2006, Coordinator U.S. Army World War II and Korea CARY CUYLER
Helicopter Pilot U.S. Army GREG FERNANCE
Crew Chief/Mechanic U.S. Marine Corps MIKE MCCOURT
Helicopter Pilot U.S. Army TIM CARROLL
Flight Engineer/ Mechanic U.S. Air Force JIM CHRISTENSEN
Crew Chief/Mechanic U.S. Army
Not Pictured: DUANE HAVERSTOCK, U.S. Army; BARRY MANFREDI, U.S. Air Force; TODD SMITH, U.S. Army
a total of 36 years, and ending his career as a reservist in the Michigan National Guard as a colonel.
“It means everything to anybody in aviation to be here for this,” Cary said. “To have guys like Mr. Brainerd and Mr. Van Beck doing this, that’s what America is all about. I was blessed getting what I did from the Army, and now I’m giving back what they gave to me.”
It was said that only the Huey could have accomplished what it did during that war, such as placing men, supplies, or artillery where they were needed in less time. The agility of the machine meant projects were handled in a matter of days rather than weeks.
Tim Carroll was a helicopter mechanic for the United States Air Force and worked on the Huey H-3 and H-53, and was a fl ight engineer. Tim says he believes this is a worthwhile project, and that’s why he volunteered. “I did a lot of testing for the Huey helicopters like electronic rotor blade tracking and things that build horsepower to see where we could get the most out of the helicopter,” Tim says. “My fi rst duty station was Hickam [Air Force Base], and I was put on a ship where we did recovery of spy satellites. We’d go out to sea and pick them up and fl y them back to Kodak in New York.”
Huey helicopters also played a signifi cant role when hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, plucking people off rooftops and highway overpasses and carrying them to safety.
In Vietnam from May 1967 to December 1968, Jim Christensen was a crew chief and mechanic, working on C, D, and H models of the Huey. “My helicopter company was the 281st Assault Helicopter Company, and they were the fi rst Special Operations helicopter in the Army,” Jim says. “Being here brings back memories. I’m surprised I can remember most everything they taught me, and I learned a lot more with experience.”
Duane Haverstock was a crew chief while he was in Vietnam in 1967. “I performed maintenance on the aircraft 13 hours a day, every day, and fl ew as a crew chief on missions,” Duane says. “I knew how much the infantry depended on the Huey to save lives and extract them out of hot spots.”
Serving in the Army National Guard for 38 years was how Duane completed his service to his country. “Working on this project brings back many good times and thoughts that I forgot…it’s our last chance.”
p y g y In Vietnam from May 1967 to December 1968, Jim Christensen was a g p j g ma m ny good times and thoughts that I fo orgot…it’s our last chance.”
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THE SECOND IN OUR SERIES FOCUSING ON ISSUES FACING LOCAL VETERANS VETERANS
AN UNTAPPED RESOURCE
STORY: PAT JOCELYN
One of two veterans will likely face a period of unemployment and the problem is escalating at a disturbing rate. During the next fi ve years, more than 200,000 military men and women will transition into civilian life—each year. That translates to overburdening a system already broken and unable to provide the necessary assistance to veterans striving to reenter civilian workplaces.
The statistics are alarming. According to a Joint Chiefs of Staff report from the Offi ce of the Chairman (Sept. 2014), in 2013 veterans, ages 18-24, averaged an unemployment rate of 21.4 percent. In July 2014, the statistics raised to
L FL F O OR R DI IDA A V VE ETE ET AR RAN NS SA A AIN N A IN INA I I DE DEP D P EP H TH T-DEP E LOOK OOKLOO O OKLOO O LO A AT T H TH THE E HET AT K ATAT AL CHAL HALCHA CH L G LENG ENG EN NLE E SE ESHA ENGLEN EN TH HEY THEY YTHE E FAAC C FAC AF EEYHE
32.1 percent. The civilian unemployment rate in that same age group was much lower—14.3 percent in 2013 and 12.7 percent in 2014.
David Booth is CEO and founder of Combat Veterans to Careers, a local nonprofi t gaining national attention as a driving force that’s helping bridge disconnects between military and civilian life. He met with the Joint Chiefs of Staff offi ce with the intent of working with the government and other nonprofi t organizations to bridge this gap, and ultimately provide a well-coordinated and uncomplicated approach each veteran can easily follow.
One of those uncomplicated approaches is used at Combat Veterans to Careers. They developed an established process that assists and guides veterans transitioning into civilian life. It’s help that is badly needed.
“A veteran goes to our website (www.combatveteranstocareers.org), verifi es he is a vet, fi lls out a form, and contacts us,” David explains. “We also ask for a resume so we have an idea of what kind of career they want to get involved in.”
But veterans aren’t expected to just write a resume. They’re given a powerful online tool (www. hireourheroes.org/veterans/build-a-resume/) that walks them through the resume-building process.
“[Hire our Heroes] took every single military job and translated it into civilian terminology,” David continues. “Every job performed in each branch of service is covered. Then the veteran can add personalized skills. After the vets fi ll it out, they sit down with a volunteer and a plan is developed based on their individual needs.”
This is just one of many tools available for veterans, but they need to know about them to use them. “We need to fi nd ways to get information to our veterans,” David says. “That’s what I’m trying to do. If I can’t help them, I will fi nd somebody that can.”
Ironically, those same veterans who are unable to fi nd jobs are an untapped resource that would benefi t most businesses—but they don’t know about each other. Toss into the mix numerous nonprofi ts that
support veterans in their job search but are having diffi culty getting the word out to the vets, and it creates a chain reaction of confusion.
Another example of a service few veterans are aware of is any Staples store will print 50 copies of a resume and business cards at no charge.
With the objective of providing a clearinghouse of information and services for vets, David founded another 501(c)(3) (nonprofit—pending) called Coalition for Florida Veterans. Its membership consists of nonprofi t organizations and businesses that support veterans. Individually, one organization may be able to help a vet in one area, but collectively the coalition it belongs to can provide 360 degrees of support and opportunities.
David is also in the process of developing a veterans’ resource web page. “I already have 200 organizations listed for people to use,” David says. “They’re
in alphabetical order and have their name, mission, services, and contact information.”
Other initiatives include veteran workshops and an online streaming radio show called Veterans Resource Radio. Vets can go to www.combatveteranstocareers.org for archived copies of radio shows and information about workshops.
“It can’t be done alone,” David says. “It takes just a little bit from a lot of people—time, talent and treasures—that’s what we’re looking for.”
—DAVID BOOTH
COMBAT VETERAN AND CEO/FOUNDER OF COMBAT VETERANS TO CAREERS
On the scene
OUT & ABOUT 84 THE TO-DO LIST 86
LOCAL TALENT 88
SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT 91 HI, SOCIETY! 98
june
To have an event considered for the calendar, send a short text description along with a color photo (if available) 45 days in advance of event to: calendar@akersmediagroup.com or Lake & Sumter Style Calendar, P.O. Box 490088, Leesburg, FL 34749
EVENTS
JUNE 3 EUSTIS FIRST FRIDAY STREET PARTY
Dancin’ in the streets! Don’t miss the street vendors and live music . Live entertainment and street performances throughout downtown Eustis. Come and enjoy the charm of the city by the water. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. 127 N Grove St, Eustis. For
more info, visit Eustis. org.
JUNE 4 ELLIS ACRES RESERVE NATURE HIKE
Get back to nature! Ellis Acres is home to black bears, sandhill cranes, wild turkeys, and white-tailed deer. Summer tanagers, swallowtail kites, and blue grosbeaks also fl y about. Join the crew on a hike and explore the ecology of the uplands and wetlands. 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. 25302 CR 42, Paisley.
For more info, contact Jonathan Woodruff at 352.431.8798, or email parksandtrails@ lakecountyfl .gov.
JUNE 4 FAMILY FUN & FITNESS DAY
Family Fun and Fitness Day is being held by the CFH Foundation to announce the grand opening of the new Fitness Trail around LRMC Urgent Care. See demonstrations of brand new fi tness equipment, community wellness vendors, music, and fun! Lake Regional Medical Center. 9 a.m. to Noon, 600 E. Dixie Ave., Leesburg.
For more info, contact Audrey Portanova at 352.323.4292., or email aportanova@
cfhalliance.org.
JUNE 5 AUTO & CYCLE SWAP MEET
Since 1995, enthusiasts across Florida come to show and see amazing vehicles and shop a selection of unique parts and accessories from more than 200 vendors. Find that special part you’ve been looking for. In the corral, buy or sell a car or bike or just enjoy sharing with other enthusiasts. There will be trophies and cash prizes. Food, drinks, an ATM machine, and camping also available. Bring the whole family. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 516 NW 3rd Street, Webster. For more
info, visit cyclemeet. com.
JUNE 11
Taste of the Caribbean and Jerk Festival
Enjoy a little island getaway in Clermont as they bring the Caribbean to you at Waterfront Park. Enjoy the sights, sounds, and wonderful smells of the islands. The event will include vendors with food and crafts, live music from around the Caribbean, and a Jerk cook-off competition. Come down, fi ll your plate, and play a friendly game of dominoes. Tickets are $10 and $3 for children under 10. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 100 Third Street, Clermont. For more information contact Valerie Bray 407.312.3909., or email vybray1949@gmail.com.
JUNE 10 CLERMONT HARVEST FESTIVAL
Join Lakeridge Winery for the annual stomping of the grapes and loads of fun for the entire family, all ages may participate. Over 80 local artists and crafters will display their work. Incredible live music available all weekend. Lakeridge wine, beer, soft drinks, and a variety of food can be purchased. Enjoy complimentary winery tours and tastings. This is the 26th year of the celebration. June 10-12. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 19239 U.S. 27 North, Clermont.
For more info, visit lakeridgewinery.com.
listening and grooving to some of the best Rock ‘n Roll hits. Tickets are $7. Food and drink available for purchase. Put on your blue suede shoes and hit the dance fl oor. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 2728 West Old Highway 441, Mount Dora.
For more Information contact Ron Greene at 352.729.2939.
JUNE 11 QUARTERLY BIRD & BUTTERFLY SURVEY
It’s time to grab your binoculars and join the offi cials at The Pasture Reserve to conduct a count of the fair-winged friends. Volunteers may assist in surveying the population of birds & butterfl ies on the property. 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. 5144 Lake Erie Road, Groveland. For more info,
contact Gallus Quigley at 352.242.4950., or email parksandtrails@ lakecountyfl .gov.
MUSIC+THEATRE
JUNE 2 THE BEAT GOES ON
Olympia Banquets presents a weekly dance party. Every Thursday join the Beat Goes On Band
JUNE 18 FOLK MUSIC
Indulge in a night of music at the Trout Lake Nature Center. Visiting performers will be strumming your favorite folk tunes under the stars. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 520 E. County Road 44, Eustis.
For more info, contact Eileen Tramontana at 352.357.7536., or email tlnc.director@gmail. com.
ARTS+EXHIBITS
JUNE 17 FRIDAY NIGHT NATURALIST
Each month a different expert comes to the Trout Lake Nature Center for presentations. Attendance is free and you will learn more about nature, wildlife, nature photography, etc. This month Gary Kuhl from the leadership team of the Florida Conservation Coalition discusses the work of the Coalition and use his photos to illustrate. Gary is a wildlife/nature photographer. 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. 520 E. County Road 44, Eustis. For
more info, contact Eileen Tramontana at 352.357.7536., or email tlnc.director@ gmail.com.
JUNE 25 FOCUS PHOTO CLUB EXHIBIT OPENING
It’s the opening of their exhibit on the subject of Turtles. Come support local artists’ and see how the lens captures Florida wildlife. Event takes place at the Trout Lake Nature Center. 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 520 E. County Road 44, Eustis.
For more info, contact Eileen Tramontana at 352.357.7536., or email tlnc.director@ gmail.com.
JUNE 17
The Longest Yard Sale
The biggest and longest yard sale in Central Florida. Three days of antiques, vintage, collectibles, plants, produce, household goods, tools, designer clothing, everything needful. Join and set up at Renninger’s Mount Dora Flea Market and Antique Center. Spaces are $25 (the size of your car or truck). Bring your own tables and tents. If you want to reserve their tents and tables, spaces are $75. Come out and browse. June 17-19. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 20651 US441, Mount Dora. For more information call 352.383.8393.
JUNE 12
Herp Hike at at Ferndale Preserve reserve
Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. Join staff on a hike to look for these elusive and cryptic creatures and learn something about their lifestyles. This event is free, but you will need to register. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. 19220 County Road 455, Ferndale. For more information contact f Justin Pouliot at 352.516.7011., Justin Pouliot at 352.516.7011., or email parksandtrails@ or email parksandtrails@ lakecountyfl .gov.lakecountyfl .gov. dy of ans. Join for these eatures about
